"The Mellertang Way is the longest single trade road in Teraf. It begins far in the north - in the amorous, not to mention bankrupt kingdom of Astmad - and sweeps thousands of miles south-east to terminate at Port Crabal, East Zabrial's sister city. The road was built centuries ago to follow the course of the River Mellertang; nowadays it also follows fashion by briefly detouring to take in the Triple Cities. In places the road can resembled a potholed hell but is on best behaviour when approaching the pinnacle of civilisation. It was broad, well-maintained and even. A long row of elm trees, their green buds just starting to open out, stood guard on either side. As Kenner and Calli walked westwards the three lines stretched out in front of them, absolutely straight and following a gentle decline. In the distance Jalkin's low marble walls were visible through the clear air. Behind it they could see the familiar buildings on the skyline - the beacon tower by Jalkin's Westgate, the white gleam of Huwdone House, the peak of Laer Heln, the huge keep and bell tower of the Garran church in Yaleth. Freed from the high hedgerows, the sense of space in the Dorlafan Central Plains was finally apparent. Miles of fields were visible, the green crops swaying with dizzying ripples in the wind; and above them dirty clouds swam rapidly through a huge sky.
"As with all major Christotan roads the Mellertang Way is partitioned into six lanes, for pedestrians, heavy carts and fast carts or riders to travel in both directions. A series of low ridges in the stone demarcate each of the lanes. Vehicles were passing regularly along the lanes but the serious congestion often seen close to the Cities was missing. It would come. Numerous tributary roads flow into the Mellertang Way. Kenner reckoned that they would reach the Westgate at around five o'clock and so would witness the full chaos of thousands of daily migrants, farmers vans and merchant wagons trying to leave the city."
(from A Shining Light)