Krakas shivered as the carriage approached the ruined walls of Traeton. The steady stomping of the giant lizards sent quakes up the reins and rattled the cart uncomfortably. It was as if the carriage was intentionally trying to slow down, to put off arriving at the city's massive gates for as long as possible. Knowing her son, Krakas could see why. Eventually, the wheels creaked to a halt. "Why are we here? The city is still miles away," she asked, to a nervous looking dracon driver.

"Apologies, madam. This is as far as I'm willing to go," the dracon stuttered out, looking in horror at the city walls. Krakas nodded.

"Thank you, that will be all," Krakas said, stepping out of the carriage. With a shout, the driver turned his lizards around and took off in the other direction far quicker than he came. Slowly shaking her head, Krakas made her way to the gates. When she arrived, she was stopped by two guards. 

"Glorious day, fellow kobold," he said. "Another enlightened individual, come to join the mighty Rughid Empire!"

"Shut up, you," Krakas spat. "Tell me where your emperor is." The guard almost recoiled at the sudden directness of her statement. He raised his spear in a wordless threat.

"And on what grounds do you think you can speak to His Might?" he asked.

"On account of Rughoi being my son," she answered. The guard straightened himself and held his spear at his side. Without saying anything, he pointed toward the ruined Castle Traeton. Nodding, Krakas began walking in that direction.