On this ordinary morning, Rostislav stood up and looked ahead, and the magnificent Kiev, bathed in the morning light, appeared before him, its towering golden domes shining like polished golden cups—a city of gold and silver.
The Saint Sophia Cathedral is the most prominent and magnificent building in the city; its largest dome is located on a high drum at the central crossing of the church, surrounded by twelve domes decreasing in height in groups, forming a pyramidal outline that reveals the supreme authority of God.
This is an ancient Slavic city; initially, it was located on a plateau about a hundred meters high, with steep cliffs on three sides, making its position dangerous, but now it has become a famous city of the North.
Kiev is not an isolated city; dozens of villages and towns of various sizes are located within its sphere of influence. In mid-summer or late autumn, the boundless snowfield at the foot of the city walls would be neatly cultivated farmland covering the entire plain, almost extending to the horizon.
As the fleet approached Kiev, various Slavic-style wooden houses came into Rostislav's view, and the streets were paved with wooden planks.
The citizens' clothing was mostly suitable and proper, indicating the city's wealth. Fully armed mercenaries occasionally walked through the crowds, and everyone paid them no mind; this city was never short of such people.
There were also Nomads on the street, their bodies wrapped in dirty furs; they had come to Kiev for business.
Although Nomads preferred plunder over trade, this was the seat of the Kiev throne, and the people of the felt tents, no matter how unruly, would not cause trouble here.
The market was always incredibly bustling, with goods from all directions being sold, and countless amounts of money flowing through it. Veche soldiers moved within it, maintaining order in the market.
Jewish moneylenders and merchants were most pleased to see such a scene; many of their ancestors came to Rus' after the collapse of the Khazar Khaganate, and the more prosperous the commerce, the better their business.
Countless gold and silver glittered here; the city was vast and vibrant. Perhaps it was precisely because they witnessed such prosperity that outsiders referred to this Rurik kingdom as the Land of Cities.
At the port, a fleet preparing to head south could be seen. Slavic merchants gathered goods like furs, beeswax, and honey across the vast Slavic lands; these were not very valuable in Rus', but in the Imperial Capital, it was another matter.
Laborers were loading goods onto cargo ships, and some goods were also being forced onto the ships—these were slaves. The demand for slaves in the South was also very strong. The fleet would then head to the Imperial Capital in the South, where these goods would be sold for high prices.
It was also here that merchants and the Prince would part ways. After a brief rest here, they would travel with other colleagues to the Southern Imperial Capital. The road further south was not safe, with Nomad bandits scattered among the Seven Waterfalls (Note 1), so merchants would band together for warmth or travel with the Prince's fleet.
Meanwhile, the Prince's fleet sailed into the royal exclusive port area. Thus, Rostislav stepped into this famous Northern city for the first time, his heart filled with anticipation for his life in Kiev.
As Yaroslav's flagship docked, sailors skillfully used iron hooks to pull the ship closer, then set up a gangplank for everyone to cross.
Yaroslav walked towards his great ship, surrounded by his retinue. The Prince wore a purple robe and a silver crown, flanked by his subjects and subordinates, among whom was Rostislav.
At the port, people were also waiting for Yaroslav's arrival. Though not required, the nobles and wealthy merchants of Kiev were respectfully waiting here. Rostislav's gaze swept over silks and satins, and valuable fur coats and hats.
The leader was a strong man with a sword; though not as tall as the Norwegian King, he stood out in the crowd. He exuded a strong warrior's aura, which made Rostislav glance at him.
Upon seeing the Prince arrive, the welcoming crowd quickly bowed in respect.
"Sviatoslav, you're back from Chernigov? Why are you the only one here? Where are your brothers?"
The Prince frowned, his displeasure obvious. Rostislav realized who this was—his second uncle.
The Nuo City Prince immediately became highly vigilant, because the masterminds of those conspiracies in the North were among his uncles!
Sviatoslav Yaroslavich, Rostislav carefully observed this uncle, and the deeds of this Prince came to mind. He knew this uncle was a learned man skilled in battle, and most importantly, this uncle never hesitated to get his hands dirty.
If Rostislav were asked who he most suspected of orchestrating these conspiracies, it would be this uncle. The second uncle was the most difficult to deal with among his uncles; if he hadn't died too early in history, he would surely have achieved even more accomplishments.
"Father, Izyaslav has gone to patrol the areas around Kiev, and Vsevolod is in Pereyaslavl; there have been some unusual movements on the steppe recently. They have all received news of your return and will be back soon. Also, congratulations on your victory; the whole of Kiev is very happy with the news from the North."
"Alright, don't talk about that here. Where is my carriage? I want to return to my palace immediately."
His second uncle merely stepped aside, gesturing for him to proceed, and the crowd dispersed accordingly. At the end of the path was an exquisite carriage, guarded by the Prince's Bodyguard Unit, one of whom opened the carriage door.
"Jika, have there been any troubles in Kiev recently? As for the irrelevant people, disperse!"
Yaroslav familiarly placed his hand on the Bodyguard Unit's shoulder, his tone very intimate, while not forgetting to dismiss the crowd.
Rostislav later learned that this person was his grandfather's Captain of the Guard, who had followed him since his grandfather raised troops in Nuo City. It could be said that his grandfather trusted him even more than his own sons.
"Prince, Kiev is calm and peaceful."
The Captain of the Guard's answer was simple. He was about to close the door for Yaroslav, but the Prince raised his hand, and the Captain of the Guard stopped his action.
"That's my eldest grandson over there. Make sure you settle him and his people properly."
"Yes, Prince."
Upon seeing this, Yaroslav closed the carriage door, and the carriage began to move. The Bodyguard Unit and subjects quickly followed, including his second uncle.
As Yaroslav departed, the other nobles also dispersed, and the port continued to be busy, disembarking soldiers.
The Captain of the Guard named Jika then came to Rostislav to discuss the arrangements.
However, what Rostislav did not notice was that his second uncle, following the carriage, looked back at him deeply, with complex emotions that were hard to describe flickering in his eyes.
Note 1: Refers to the seven rapids on the Greek-Valangian route.