"Boy, I know what you're thinking. Pen | fun | pavilion www. ｂｉｑｕｇｅ。 info But if you continue to look at me with that strange look......"

Edda walked to the side of Tails' mount, her fists clenched, the knuckles of her index finger prominent, and her tone was extremely impatient: "You know what's going to happen. ”

"Okay. Curious, Tails stuck out his tongue and turned his head away.

"If you don't want to answer, forget it. ”

Eda let out a soft breath, resealing the memories of the past in her heart.

Bright Star.

Damn the stars.

"But then again, Ada, how did you become the secret guardian of the Bright Star Royal?" Tails asked faintly, looking at the vague mountains that were gradually revealing in front of him, "How could an elf be employed by the human kingdom of the stars?"

"I've heard that they are all very proud, and they are unique in their service to humanity. ”

Eda bowed her head slightly.

"Hey, boy," the elf's voice sounded awkward, "I told you, I'm not your family's bodyguard. ”

"And ......"

Eda folded her arms and said with disdain in her tone, "As a little kid, how much do you know about elves?"

Tails stuck out his tongue and shook his head helplessly.

Just as the team had crossed a snow-covered hillside, Putileh rode his mount to Tails' side, and saw the thin lieutenant with a solemn face and a hand pointing in the direction they were heading: "We have arrived." ”

Tails reacted, quickly raised his head, and looked down the hill.

In the blurred vision of the snow, a silver-black giant appeared in front of the mountains.

No, not giants.

Its silhouette in the snow appeared dimly in the distance—a majestic city built against a mountain.

Red and black flags could be faintly seen fluttering over the city.

I saw that its gray and black walls were dotted with silver-white falling snow, and the highest point of the city just fell on the top of the mountains, looking from afar, like a giant leaning on the snow-capped mountains, standing on the northern land in the arch of many surrounding villages and towns.

Tails motioned for Wya's restless mount to stop.

He took a deep breath of the cold wind peculiar to the north, and quietly looked at the thick and powerful Xiongcheng in the distance, and a small excitement swelled in his heart.

This is the Northern Dragon, the capital of the kingdom of Exeter?

Before they knew it, they had crossed the Willan Snow Field and entered a new territory.

"It is the first time I have seen such a spectacle," said Nicolai, who rode to them, the corners of his mouth curled up, and his face full of nostalgia and reverence, "a great city carrying mountains, the largest, most majestic, most magnificent, and longest-standing city in the Northland. ”

"A sacred place in the hearts of the Northlanders. ”

"Longxiao City. ”

At this time, there was an untimely snort on the side.

"It wasn't originally called Longxiao City. Back in the days of the Ancient Empire, it was the central capital of the Northland provinces of the former Empire," Putirai took Nicolai's words with a blank face:

"The hillside fortress, formerly known as Aarendburg, was home to the Arende family, who ruled the Northlands by the order of the Emperor, and after the collapse of the empire, it was plunged into three hundred years of chaos and alternating powers. Until one day, the armies of Necaju and Tormund met nearby and won the first victory of the end battle. ”

"It was Necajou who led the army and galloped to the aid of the precarious Tormund," Nicolai shook his head indifferently, 'correcting' the words of the Stellar with his own opinion, "Hence the call 'Reversal of the Cold Wind' - it is said that in a clearing near here, Necajou's troops marched at great speed, almost as if they had fallen from the sky, and routed the enemy from the rear. ”

Tails pouted helplessly.

Well, again a small "difference of opinion" between the Exeters and the Starmen, the Northlanders and the Imperials.

And—though they were all Northlanders, Nicolai seemed to be even more stubborn than Kambida.

Sure enough, Putile let out a breath with a disapproving look on his face.

"So, how did this place become the capital of Exeter?" Tails immediately spoke up in a fitting voice, interrupting the "heated discussion" that the two of them saw was about to begin.

Nicolai motioned for them to continue on their march, and the commander of the White Guard, riding his horse, began to speak slowly, like a real receptionist:

"This land centered on Longxiao City belongs to the Walton family, the family from Nunn VII, and the most famous ruling family in Exeter, which has passed on the title of Grand Duke of Longxiao City for generations. ”

"The hero of humanity, Necaru Aix, became lord of this place more than 600 years ago, and here he allied with the Nine Knights, vowing to defend the Northlands and their homeland in the chaos that follows the end of the war, and to restore the pride of the Northlanders. ”

"From that time on, the proud Northlanders called the new kingdom 'Exeter,' and the Exeter League was born. ”

The following year, the Nine Horsemen returned to the area and appointed Nakaju Aix, the king whom the people of the Northland sincerely believed and swore to follow, while the Nine Horsemen led the way to defend Longxiao City. ”

"This is the end of the history of the Alliance, and the history of the Kingdom of Exeter begins. ”

In the spirit of rotation and fairness, the supreme ruler of Exeter, the co-king, was chosen from among the ten archdukes, and the rest obeyed his authority and commands—a vow made by Necajou to rule together, and his prestige and influence continue to this day. ”

At this moment, a Herald of the Black Sand Collar made his way through the obstacles of the White-Bladed Guards to Nicolais and asked him to meet with Viscount Kambida.

After Nicolas left, Tails turned his head and looked at Putira.

"You have something to say. "The traverser is definitely authentic.

"Of course," the deputy envoy shook his head disdainfully, "don't believe our hot-blooded friends in the Northland, his nonsense of 'ruling by turn and rule fairly' is used to deceive the people of the Northland, in fact, in the Northland, or anywhere in the world, it has always been the power that speaks, and the strength is the king." ”

"Oh?" Tails chuckled softly, "Now that that hot-blooded Northland friend is gone, would you mind talking more, my knowledgeable deputy, the versatile Northlander?"

Putile put his hand into his bosom and tried to take out his pipe, but he didn't know whether he cared for the tobacco or his conscience found out, and after hesitating for a few seconds, the former bard withdrew his hand in pain.

He then turned to the second prince and said, "I don't know if you have noticed, the first ruler of Longxiao City, the first co-king of Exeter, is Nekaru Aix. But the city we see now was under the reign of Nunn Walton VII. ”

Tails reacted quickly: "Aix and Walton, these are two surnames - that is, after Necaju, it is not his direct blood relatives who inherit his name and title?"

Putile raised an eyebrow and nodded: "The true history, or the history that the stars can turn to, is that the young Nekaru did not give birth to an heir, and the throne of the lord of Longxiao City left behind after his death was inherited by his nephew, Nunn Walton. ”

"That was the first Nunn after the Walton family became the rulers of DragonSky City, Nunn I. ”

"But Nunn I's bloodline has led to the lords coveting the throne of the king—no matter how many times he emphasizes that his mother is Nekaru's sister, Nunn himself is the closest to the orthodox heir to the previous king, and he cannot extinguish the ambitions of the nine lords, even if they were all knightly models loyal to Nekajou. ”

Tails frowned slightly.

At this moment, he thought not of Necaru and his nine knights, but of the huge portrait in the center of the Mindis Hall: a scarred young knight charging fearlessly in the company of six men on the battlefield of the setting sun.

The Revival King of the Stars, Tormund Bright Star I, and the Six Horsemen around him, the Duke's family and the Six Giants of today's illustrious side.

Even the Thirteen Wang.

Were they also "loyal" to Tormond back then?

Just like the nine knights, the nine lords behind Nekajou?

"For the legitimate succession to the throne of Exeter, Nunn I of Longxiao City broke out into a violent conflict with the Nine Knights and their descendants. Putile continued: "After the war, the stalemate and confrontation between the major lords lasted for decades, and at that time Exeter was almost ten pieces, called a country, but in fact they were enemies and incompatible with each other. ”

During this time, the remnants of the empire eventually established a new and insignificant state on the banks of the Muhe River in the south, in the territory of the former Shawen Province, began to slowly rise and expand to the periphery. ”

Tails replied with understanding: "Tormond I, King of Revival?"

"Yes," Putile nodded, his eyes shining with a strange color, "Star Kingdom." ”

"Eventually, under pressure from the emerging Star Kingdom, Nunn I and the Nine Lords reached the final and most awkward compromise. ”

With the joint support of the Nine Lords, Nunn Walton succeeded to the throne of Co-King. In the name of the great king Necajou, Nunn I redefined the territory of Exeter, and canonized the ten lords, including himself, as the ten orthodox archdukes of the kingdom of Exeter. But after the death of Nunn I, the throne had to be re-elected among the ten archdukes, who voted for a new co-king, who ruled for life, and so on, and so on, and the system of electoral councils was established and lasted for 600 years. ”

"This is the so-called 'Nexajo's Oath of Condominity' - because it was an oath made by ten men in the name of Nekajou and signed by him, ironically, it has nothing to do with Nexajo. ”

"Wait," Tails was stunned for a moment, "Elect the king...... I just had a rough look at the Mindis Hall...... Do the ten Grand Dukes vote together to choose one of themselves?"

"What if there happens to be someone with the same number of votes? Is there a mature system and system to determine the smooth birth of the king at the election meeting?"

Tails remembered a magical movie from his previous life, in which the pirates elected the Pirate King, only to have each candidate vote for him.

"Yes, and it's simple, straightforward, and effective. Putile whispered, "The customs inherited from the empire, inherited from the glory days of the knights, were continued in Exeter, in order to determine the king's attribution when the Grand Dukes were in a difficult position." ”

"Inherited from the customs of the empire, to determine the king's belonging?" Tails gripped the reins of his horse, remembering what he had heard in the Heroes' Tavern in Kaslan, and couldn't help but be surprised: "You mean ......"

"Hmm," Putile nodded, his eyes complicated, and he gently spat out a powerful word:

"Duel. ”

Tails froze.

"When the Divine Elector is unable to make a final decision, the different candidates for the king, regardless of age or status, must prove themselves in the dueling arena. ”

"Prove that you have the courage to be worthy of the king, the courage to lead the people of the Northlands, the fearlessness to look down on life and death in duels, and the final victory in the dueling arena. ”

Hearing this, Tails's mind suddenly appeared with the face of Chaman Rumba, the Grand Duke of the Black Sands, flickering in the firelight, and the old sword on his desk, which was all worn out.

They are Northlanders after all.

Tails suddenly realized that the country of the Northland, known for its strength and iron will, was much more complex and strange than he had imagined.

And I'm about to face them.

"Go on," Tails frowned solemnly, "Before meeting them, I want to get to know the Grand Dukes of Exeter." ”

"Like, their relationship with the co-king?"

Putile only paused slightly, then nodded and continued: "The Grand Dukes of Exeter have absolute autonomy in their own domains, and they only have the obligation to obey the Gongju King and send troops in wartime, but they do not have to pay taxes to the Gongju King, and the affairs of the territory are purely self-determined, and whether or not to accept and implement the king's decree of the whole territory is completely up to the Archdukes themselves. ”

"The power of the Grand Duke of Exeter is a little too much," Tails showed surprise on his face, and he inhaled slightly as he marched: "Exeter has not split up so far, can it be said to be a miracle?"

"Yes, that's why they're called 'archduke', not dukes of the Imperial Age," Ptirai sighed, "In a way, Exeter, born out of compromise, is more divided than our Star Kingdom. ”

"Their autonomy in their own realm is far greater than that of the dukes of the stars. At least, no matter how stingy and reluctant he is, Duke Cullen will allocate a batch of money from the East China Sea Territory every year to pay a sufficient amount of taxes to Yongxing City and His Majesty. The appointment and dismissal of important officials of the stars and the demotion of nobles must be in accordance with the "Sacred Star Covenant", and even reviewed by the warrant of the Supreme King. Therefore, if the dukes want to interfere in the politics of the kingdom, the fastest way is to meddle in the central department of Yongxing City, or to infiltrate the local officials of the kingdom through the influence of the territory. ”

Tails shook his head: "Then what is the meaning of the existence of the co-king, if he can't even restrain his subordinate grand dukes, then why should he become the co-king?"

Putileo pondered for a moment, and then replied earnestly: "For the sake of high prestige, the obedience of the lord, and the name of orthodoxy." ”

Tails frowned again.

"This thing works much more in the Northlands than in the stars, and a Northlander, no matter how uncultured, knows that the authority of the King of the Commons cannot be violated, and that the oath of Necaru cannot be violated," Putile continued, reflecting on his knowledge:

"There have been three times in history when the Grand Dukes of Exeter rebelled against the Commoner because of their dissatisfaction with the Commonwealth, but each time they failed, because no matter how much the Archdukes who raised the banner against the Commonwealth of Kings, if they openly flouted the oath of Necajou, they would lose the hearts of their people, and even the most greedy Northlanders would not fight for them—and some of the Archduces would even withdraw from Exeter's rule forever. ”

"It's so simple. Tails said lightly.

"Huh?" said Putile, looking puzzled.

"I mean, it would be too simplistic to attribute Exter's stability to the prestige of Necaju to the character and traditions of the Northlanders. Tails lowered his head and pondered carefully:

"Human behaviour and social power structures are always mutually influential, and there can be no situation in which behaviour unilaterally reinforces the structure while the social structure has no effect on human behaviour -- no matter how much the people of the Northland may behave in a noble manner, revere their ancestors, and respect their traditions, they will not be able to sustain such a state system. ”

"A power structure that is destined to be divided and shattered will only have the same effect on the Northlanders. They were destined to be under different lords, different interests, different institutional structures. In the process of the disappearance and birth of generations and social changes, behaviors and motivations have evolved in line with the structure of the times. ”

"In Exeter's strange divided system, it's hard for the Northlanders not to fight each other against each other. ”

Right.

Tails nodded secretly.

This is the society he knows.

Exeter, however, ......

"Do you have any more ideas?" asked Putira, squinting his eyes.

The second prince pondered for a moment, then spit out the words: "Stars." ”

Tails raised his head and said affirmatively, "Kingdom of the Stars." ”

Putira's eyes flashed, waiting for the prince's answer.

"As you just said, the expansion and strength of the stars should also contribute to the stability and unity of Exeter to a certain extent. Tails patted his mount on the crotch, causing a commotion, and Whya scrambled to control his mount, and Tails gave him an apologetic smile.

Tails turned his head and continued: "With such a behemoth in the south, it is impossible for any Grand Duke or Lord of Exeter to face it alone, they must sit down, coordinate their own contradictions, and unify the enemy. ”

"This is a good angle," Putile nodded approvingly: "Indeed, the existence of the stars has greatly restrained and diverted the conflict between the Gongju King and the Grand Duke. ”

Tails took a deep breath.

Conversely, isn't the presence and threat of Exeter an external cause that aggregates the internal forces of the stars?

No.

Tails looked at the city that was getting closer and clearer, and lowered his head slightly.

How do the stars interact with Exter?

Even such an analysis is completely insufficient.

This is not the main reason why Exeter has maintained so much to this day, and not because the co-kingship is so stable.

What kind of power is it that maintains the kingdom of Exeter, which should be scattered, and continues all the way to this point, stable and strong?

Tails stared at the red and black flag in the distance, narrowing his eyes.

――――

They met the first outpost of Longxiao City in front, and the White Blade Guards were negotiating with each other, and at this moment, Tails ushered in the escort of the past few days.

"The furthest we can get you here, Your Highness Tails. Viscount Kambida of the Black Sand Territory was gathering his troops, he looked at Longxiao City close at hand, and sighed: "Fortunately, there was no trouble along the way. ”

"Thank you for escorting you all the way—even though we didn't ask for it," Putileh sighed, his face grim, "and thank you for the welcome ceremony." ”

Kambida didn't care about Puttilai's attitude, and didn't pay any attention to the unkind gazes of the nearby white-knuckle guards, Kambida nodded to Tulha in the rear, signaled to leave, and then turned back to Tails and said:

"Then farewell, I wish you all the best in Longxiao City in the future. ”

Tails looked intently at the Rumba Grand Duke's brain.

After a few seconds, he suddenly spoke, "Why didn't Your Excellency the Grand Duke come?"

Viscount Cambida was stunned.

"King Nunn has extended invitations to all nine Grand Dukes of Exeter, hasn't he, but Rumba has not come," Tails said silently, reflecting on the discussion he had just had with Putile, "You know, he may want the whole of Exeter to see what the Co-King does with the Prince of the Stars—starting with the friendly welcome of the White-Bladed Guards." ”

At this moment, Tails does not have two actual people in his mind, Nunn and Rumba, but two concepts of "co-king" and "grand duke", in the same social structure, each representing different power and rank, playing with each other.

"The Grand Duke has his own reasons," Viscount Cambida reacted quickly, and he replied lightly: "And I believe that the Grand Duke has told you before, both you and the Grand Duke himself are in danger, and only your sincere cooperation ......"

"King Nunn hates him, doesn't he? In Putile's strange gaze, Tails interrupted Kambida.

Cambida stopped, his face expressionless.

"I guess that the matter in the court of the stars has reached Longxiao City, and although there is no evidence, the Grand Duke of the Black Sand Collar has nothing to do with the death of Prince Moral, just like the cold-faced Meteorite said......" Tails said word by word:

"Sooner or later, King Nunn will settle accounts with him. ”

"And what is Rumba going to do?"

Tails stared at Kambida's expression carefully, trying to find something out of it.

Viscount Cambida frowned slightly, then shook his head slightly, and a strange smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

He no longer responded in a polite and distant tone, but in serious and serious words:

"The Black Sand Territory is based on the frontier of Exeter and the Stars, and has faced the North for hundreds of years, and it is not as weak as you think," His Excellency Viscount said with deep meaning, "And His Majesty Nunn, including the power of the Walton family, cannot extend into the Black Sand Territory. ”

"What's more, Exeter is a king. Cambida smiled eeriely: "The Grand Duke is still very young, and His Majesty Nunn ......"

Tails' eyes moved slightly.

"Good. Intentionally or unintentionally, he muttered, "Because I'm young too." ”

Cambida stared at Tails steadily.

"Before leaving, the Grand Duke also asked me to bring you a word. ”

Tails looked up.

"Choose your enemies and friends carefully," said Cambida, smiling again, knocking on his heart, "Benevolence and mercy are not the shortcomings of kings. ”

"But seeing things unclear is a big taboo for kings. ”

Tails frowned and snorted.

"Ah," the second prince shook his head, "it is better to wait for His Excellency the Grand Duke to become king himself, and then use it to teach me." ”

Cambida smiled and nodded, "I'll bring it as I said." ”

Right now.

"The people of the Black Sand Collar - why haven't you left yet?" Nikolai came to them and said unceremoniously, "What, you still want to take two thousand people to visit Longxiao City?"

Marquis Slay gently followed aside, laughing, "Don't mind, I think, Lord Nicolai just spoke something special." ”

"Shopping?"

"How dare you, after all, this is the territory of the Dragonlance Family, and it is also the place where the co-king is located," Kambida smiled bitterly, "We will leave early tomorrow morning...... If Your Majesty is as generous as ever, can offer us some ......"

"Then get out of here—if you don't want to freeze to death in the freezing cold," Nikolai interrupted Cambida with a cold face, "unless you let Rumba come by himself." ”

"Otherwise, Your Majesty is not in the mood to entertain you. ”

Kambida froze for a moment, but did not speak again, and he bowed slightly on his horse, and left with a calm face.

He was accompanied by the army of the Black Sand Collar that stretched for hundreds of meters.

For a moment, only the Mission and the White Guards were left on Tails' side.

Facing the majestic Longxiao City.

Tails exhaled, turned his head, and looked at Longxiao City that was getting closer and closer, and suddenly, he frowned.

"That cliff—why is it so flat and empty?" Tails wondered, looking at a stone bridge that connected to the top of Longxiao City.

The stone bridge hung in the air, and the other end led to a huge cliff, which was flat and wide, but unlike the cliffs of the other buildings in Longxiao City, the cliff was not small, but it was empty.

And also......

"And the big cave behind it, which seems to have been dug out by hand?" Tails narrowed his eyes and looked into the distance.

Slais crossed several people and came in front of Tails.

"That's the legendary 'Sky Cliff'," the Marquis of Comas looked at the cliff and shook his head with a frown: "Although I have been here many times, the story of that place, alas, I heard that it was the exclusive domain of Her Majesty their queen. ”

"Your Majesty the Queen?" Tails, who was observing the cliff, was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously asked, "What Queen?"

"What queen?" said Nicolai, turning, with a peculiar look on his face, as if slightly dissatisfied:

"Are you kidding?"

Tails shrugged, trying to exchange a look with Putile, who was only silent in a meaningful way.

"I've heard a little about this, about the Sky Cliff of Longxiao City," At this time, the attendant Huaiya, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly said: "I heard that it is the palace of the 'First Queen'?"

"First Queen?" Tails was even more puzzled, and he let out a breath and looked at Nicolai.

A desolate and empty mountain cliff as a palace?

Asceticism?

"Whose queen is it?" asked Tails impatiently.

"I thought the prince of the stars should have at least some knowledge," Nicolai sarcastically said, "certainly the savior of the end of the war, the greatest hero in the history of mankind, the founder of Exter, His Majesty Necaju Aix...... It's his queen!"

Tails froze firmly.

"The queen of Necaju?"

Tails frowned slightly, and he looked up at the cliff, the cliff of the sky.

Wait a minute.

A queen six hundred years ago?

"Hmm. Nicola nodded, his expression solemn and respectful.

"Exeter's legendary first queen. ”

"In the War of the End, the most reliable presence behind His Majesty Nekajou. ”

"His comrade-in-arms, his beloved, when he was crowned king, eternal and eternal queen. ”

It is also the most noble and perfect symbol of the hearts of the Northland people for 600 years. ”

Nicolas looked reverent.

Although the Whiteblade Guards covered their faces, Tails still felt their emotions, just like Nicollet.

I saw the leader of the White Blade Guard say lightly:

"Although she quietly disappeared after the death of Her Majesty Nekaju, her legends and myths live forever in the hearts of every Exeter. ”

Nicola said softly:

"In the battle of the end, the battlefield legend of the Red Winged Flame. ”

"Queen of the Sky (the_queen_of_sky) - Her Majesty Chrolet. ”

Tails frowned.

Why the sky?

Could this queen still fly......

Wait a minute.

Tails looked at the massive cliff and opened his mouth wide.

Yes......

Fly......

"What did you just say...... Red Winged Flames?" Tails turned his head grimly and looked at Nicolai dumbfounded, "That is...... You mean......"

"Ah, that's right. ”

Nicolas grinned rarely, this man who was usually cold and serious, with a pale face, was now full of glory and pride:

"In the battle of the end, the great hero, His Majesty Necaju Aix......"

Nicolai proudly raised his hand and pointed to an Exter flag flying in the distance.

“...... It's a knight. ”

Tails turned his head and stared blankly at the black banner on which a crimson beast faced the wind, teeth and claws.

"A ...... who fights side by side with his beloved Queen of the Skies"

Nicola's words rang in my ears:

"Dragon Knight. ”

(To be continued.) )