The night was growing old and the morning star had risen, heralding the start of a new day at hand, when they finally came to Villenspell's Gate. It was shut and no gatekeeper appeared to be anywhere around. Dale frowned slightly, then looked at Aerline.
"Don't they keep someone on the gates to let travelers in?" he asked.
"They do, but it's late," she said. "And no one comes this way. Well, no one that they want coming in after dark. He probably won't answer until it's fully light."
"Which won't be for at least two hours," Dale said, looking up at the sky. "How long would it take to ride around the city to the other gate."
"Well," Aerline said thoughtfully, "IF you could do such a thing, it would probably take most of the day. The city is huge. But unless you can fly, you'll never get around it. Most of the walls are either right on the edge of very deep canyons or carved right out of the mountain. You could try to climb over the peak itself, but the horses would never make it."
"Wonderful," Dale replied, swinging down off his horse. "Then I guess we wait here unless I can wake someone up."

He walked up to the gate, then picked up a rock and banged with full strength on it. The rock shattered into powder from the force of the blow, a powerful booming noise echoed through the darkness and suddenly the gate began to vibrate rapidly. Dale dove to the side out of the way as the gate imploded violently scattering debris over the city street within.
"Announce our arrival why don't you?" Jarl said dryly and Dale made a face in his general direction.