City Gates
The line to get into the Imperial Capital was quite long, and it gave the three of them some time to think. Elias mostly thought about what to do if he was recognized by any of the Guards, as he did still have nearly a hundred active arrest warrants. Vordea busied herself making some changes to her Visa. It was during this time Francisco realized a rather serious problem, and brought it up.
"How are we getting in?" Francisco asked as they waited in line at the Gates of the Imperial Capital. "I'm missing and I'd rather stay that way."
"That's a good question. Mira, how are we getting in?" Elias asked, looking at Vordea expectantly. "Wait, let me guess."
"That's a secret." All three of them said at the same time, before laughing.
"Why did I expect anything else?" Elias said with a chuckle.
The next few minutes passed uneventfully, until they at last arrived at the Gate Guards. The city gates were extremely ornate and massively overbuilt, like most things Dwarven. They were well protected from the scorching heat of the Dwarven desert inside, and the usage of ice runes meant it was actually quite chilly inside. Stepping up to the customs booth, the three guards at the booth they chose regarded them very little if at all.
"Nature of visit?" The first guard asked impassively.
"That's a secret." Vordea said coyly.
"Be that as it may, we have a requirement to know." The guard answered, barely even acknowledging the ridiculousness of what Vordea said.
"Fine." Vordea said, pulling her Imperial Visa out of her pocket. All three guards immediately noticed the crimson red colour of the Visa, and the attitudes changed immediately.
"Port of entry?" The second guard asked, taking the Visa immediately.
"Port Sulala, aboard the Kraken's Revenge." Vordea answered.
"Expected casualty count?" The third guard asked as he picked up the radio headset.
"Low, under 40." Vordea said with a smile.
"Current count?" The first guard asked, as the third one radioed the palace for instructions.
"Four. Bandits who attacked me first. Godsfire Division One will verify." Vordea said. Imperial Guardsmen were always all business.
"Entry approved, fees waived. The Eternal Emperor requests to speak to you at your earliest convenience. Welcome to the Capital, my lady." The third guardsmen said, returning to the other two.
The three guardsmen gave Vordea a salute, and then bowed deeply as they handed the visa back to Vordea.
Vordea looked over at her dumbstruck companions, who couldn't believe what happened as they followed her into the city. After the three of them left, the three guards briefly conferred with each other.
"It was really her?" The first one asked. "I didn't actually get to read the Visa."
"Lady Chaos, no doubt about it. Vordea herself, in the flesh." The second guard said. "Searching for a new High Priest, it said. It also said not to read the Visa out loud under any circumstances."
"The other two with her." The third guard said. "I definitely recognized both of them."
"You did? Who were they?"
"The teenager was Francisco Vargas, the son of Duke Vargas up in Lestia. He's been missing for months."
"I don't think there's any safer hands he could be in, being in the company of a God." The first guard said, causing the other two to nod. "Who was the other?"
"Elias Malloit. Bandit, murderer, thief, but also one of the most powerful wizards I've ever had the misfortune of trying to arrest."
"He's with the Goddess. I don't think we have authority to arrest him anymore."
"I'd call it diplomatic immunity but..." The third guard began. "Divine protection, I'd say."
"Send out the word. Cancel all arrest warrants for Elias Malloit." The Captain said as he walked up to the three of them. "I just got word from central. Lady Vordea and Mr. Malloit executed four of the most wanted bandits in the Port Sulala region. The Godsfire cleaners described it as gruesome, to say the least."
"I thought his last name was Malliot?" One of the guards said.
The four Dwarves murmured for a bit over the spelling and pronunciation of Elias's last name.