The noon sun was blazing overhead when they rounded a charred garden, its palm trees blackened and its cobblestones cracked, and saw the city fortress ahead. The complex rose upon a hill, watching over Eteer. Walls snaked around the hill in a ring, topped with battlements and turrets. Beyond, upon the hilltop, rose several buildings: a columned temple to Sharash, the god of war; squat armories, silos, and smithies; and a towering round barracks, nearly the size of the city palace, holding the city garrison. Once cypress trees had grown beneath the walls, and once a gilded statue of Sharash had stood upon the hill. The trees were now burnt, and demons had severed the statue's head, replacing it with a metal mockery, a demon head with a lurid tongue and hollow eyes. But soldiers still guarded this place; Issari could see them on the ramparts, spears in their hands, helmets on their heads. Eteer's army still stood.

Issari walked uphill, moving along a pebbly path between burnt trees. Tanin walked close behind. The wind stung Issari's face, hot and scented of ash. A skeleton lay on the hillside to her left, bite marks in the bones, the skull stuffed into the ribcage. A single banner thudded above from the citadel's wall, the only movement she saw. The soldiers stared down, still as statues.

When she reached the gates, she looked up and called out, "I am Issari Seran, Daughter of Raem, Heiress to Eteer!" She was only the youngest princess, but with Laira outcast and Sena fallen, she supposed that left her the heiress. "I've come to shine the light of Taal and cleanse this city of darkness." She raised her palm, and the amulet blazed with light. "Allow me entrance and I will speak with your lord."

She stared at the doors, thick oak banded with copper. The marks of demon claws marred them, and black blood stained the path below her feet. Slowly, creaking on their hinges, the doors opened.

Issari glanced at Tanin. He gave her a slight nod. They entered together.

They found themselves in a cobbled courtyard surrounded with columns. The statue of Sharash rose ahead upon a pedestal, fifty feet tall, its new demon head leering down at them. Stairs rose between charred cypress trees, leading to the barracks. Several soldiers stood in the complex, their bronze breastplates and shields dulled with ash. Still no sound rose, only the single banner that rose and fell with thuds, hiding and revealing the sigil of the city, a winged bull. Issari and Tanin climbed the staircase, stepped between columns and onto a portico, and finally walked through an archway into the city barracks.