Simon continued watching Vhal-Sar from his chair.
A carriage crossed one of the high bridges, its golden frame flashing between the towers. Below it, water poured down a flight of carved steps into a pool surrounded by purple trees.
He had seen cities larger than this but few had made him want to sit and simply look at them.
His gaze lowered to the gardens surrounding the residence.
Workers trimmed flowering branches and gathered fallen leaves into baskets. Beside a fountain, two demons carefully cleaned the wings of a silver sculpture. Another stood on a small platform, polishing the crystals hanging from an outdoor lamp.
There were guards too.
Some stood beside the entrances and garden paths. Others watched from balconies overlooking the bridges. Simon also noticed several concealed beneath the eaves and among the trees.
Their positions covered nearly every approach.
Occasionally, he felt their attention move toward him.
