For the first time in quite some while, Morgan is travelling almost entirely alone.  His troop, for the most part, are serving as scouts on the outer perimeter of Arden, while he moves further into the land, towards Kolvir, and Amber itself.

The road he follows is little more than a game trail, at this point, leading through deep forest, and water drips continually from the branches above him.  As he passes through occasional clearings, it becomes clear that there is a constant cold drizzle falling... more like a wet fog than honest rain.

From some of those clearings he can see the mountain rising higher, a little to one side of his own course.

Once, as he rides, he encounters a small group of ordinary cats, six of them, with assorted markings and coloration, seemingly intent on their own business, as they hurry across the path, heading towards the mountain, without so much as a glance in his direction.

Finally, after the long ride, he rides on to a clearer road of hard-packed dirt and, shortly after, exits the forest.  Now there are fields beneath the looming bulk of the mountain, and the rain-sodden air carries the scent of the sea.  Topping a low ridge, an outflung root of Kolvir, Morgan can see the water far away to his right, stretching away to the horizon, appearing and disappearing as curtains of rain sweep across it.

Ahead, and seeming to stretch just as far as the sea, is the city itself.  There is a wall surrounding it, but the road leads directly to a massive gate, which stands open.