Ash raised a hand, signaling to the guards above.
The heavy gates creaked open.
He stepped inside the fortress walls, boots dragging dust behind him. Eir and Tim were already there, waiting in the flickering light of torch sconces.
Eir's brow furrowed.
"That... thing out there. Was that Max's doing?"
Ash gave a short nod, eyes drifting toward the southern sky where the ship still hovered like a silent god.
"Yeah. With that ship... the south's already won."
He turned, gaze shifting north. Wind howled over the ramparts. The smoke from distant fires mixed with the red dusk.
Eir followed his line of sight. Then Ash turn to him.
"What about the north? Are they doing good like we are?"
Tim's shoulders sagged.
"It's bad. Worse than we thought. The creatures they kill up there... they come back. Undead. Harder to put down."
Ash clenched his jaw. His fingers curled tighter around the grip of his blade.
He took one step toward the northern gate.
"Then I'll go."
