Part 2

In an Ashen Empire carriage, Princess Verka fussed over her aging father Prince Heather like a mother fusses over a small child. Making sure he had enough to eat and was comfortable, now she was forcing drinks upon him.

"Father you're far too old for this kind of trip, why did you insist on coming?" She asked as she offered him water.

"Verka, the Ashen Empire is why those men died at their posts. I owe it to them to relieve them of their duty personally." Heather replied, downing the glass of water in a single gulp.

"What do you mean?" Verka asked, finally relaxing somewhat.

"In the chaos of us uniting Southern Karand, Fort Axiom was forgotten about. They, and the city they protected, had come under siege from some of the desert tribes that inhabit this area of Itari. By the time the Empire found out about them and sent reinforcements, it was too late. The city was quite safe, make no mistake. The Fort though?" Heather paused, and shook his head. "Dead at their posts, every single one. But that didn't stop any of them. Like Dwarven automatons, they continued to load their cannons, firing them day and night for nearly a decade."

"So why have they stopped?" Verka asked, as the carriage continued down the desert road, kicking up dust behind it.

"That's the question, isn't it?" Heather said, giving a smile. "Maybe they finally woke up from their long nightmare."