Chapter 4: The Regent’s Diwan
The palace of Ravan was one of the architectural wonders of its age. It was built of the finest materials available: rare marble from the quarries of Chudistan, delicate alabaster from the far shores of Libayy, sturdy cedar from the coastal forests of Bann. The central courtyard was vast enough to stage parades of the king’s mounted troops, and the throne room indoors was nearly as large. The palace housed not only the royal family but also the army of servants, slaves, and scribes needed to run the household and administer the affairs of the kingdom. Behind the palace, against the northern wall of Ravan, were separate barracks for both the Royal Guard and the city police, as well as stables for the guards’ horses and for the mounts of the royal princes.
The
