The group got to the city of Fancy halfway through the afternoon. Like most cities he’d seen in this country, there weren't any walls or other distinct features that showed where the wilderness ended and the city began. There were just some houses, and then more houses, and then shops sprinkled in, and then it was mostly shops, and then there were fancy office buildings before the order reversed itself.

  Maki didn't particularly approve of it. Part of him understood that expansion was a thing, and not having walls meant the city could expand as much as the people in it wanted.

  But he was a Guard. Guards patrolled city walls, keeping the people inside safe from the evil things outside. Where would a Guard for this city stand to fight off monsters? Which block was the line that an invading army couldn't be allowed to cross?

  Next to him on the tailgate, Maeve said, “I’m disappointed.”

  Maki nodded. “Same.”

  “The city isn't living up to its name,” Maeve decided.

  “Nope,” he agreed. A city should be a clearly defined thing, not something very hazy around the edges.

  They found the Traveler’s Guild and were given a spot to unload. It took fifteen minutes to get all their cargo out, then Maeve went to sign paperwork as Cali went to pamper the liondrakes, leaving Luke and Maki to get a room and shower for the night.

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  As they waited in line to speak to the receptionist, Maki picked up a newspaper.

  [EMPIRE NAME TO BE CHANGED!] was the main headline. Maki smirked, wondering what they’d found which was better than “Bestest”. He read the next sentence.

  [At a press conference two days ago, Empress Echo stated her desire to change the name of our great empire.]

  His eyes stuck on her name. For a while he hadn't believed her when she’d told him who she was. Not because he thought Echo was a liar; just because it was extremely unlikely.

  And then she’d left.

  And now her name and title was in the newspaper.

  Luke leaned over to read the headline and laughed. “Maeve is going to spend at least three hours ranting about place names when she sees this.”

  Maki agreed with a smile. “I wonder if this is due to her influence.”

  “Probably.”

  They spent a few moments reading the rest of the article. The writer clearly didn’t like change of any sort, but also clearly thought that a more respectable name would be good. There was going to be a huge voting thing going on for the next month.

  Suddenly Luke’s ears flattened as he looked at Maki. “You… knew, right?”

  “Yeah,” Maki said quietly. “She told me.”

  “Ok, good,” Luke said, scratching the back of his head. “Bonnie told me. And Dad knew her mom, so…”

  They were silent for a moment.

  “Maeve and Cali know, right?” Luke finally asked.

  Maki looked at the newspaper. “Probably? I mean, they didn’t question why we were headed to Winner.”

  “We should probably double-check that.”

  “Yeah.”