Ardasa wasn't surprised by the servant's comment. She had heard it too many times in this city, most often from Ternoc himself. She didn't want to live in fear like these people did, expecting at any moment for a cold-blooded killer to leap from the shadows and put her to death. Yet, these people knew the city better than she, and it was not her place to tell them how their city is, or even ought to be. "Thank you, I'll keep that in mind," she said, removing the crown with a sigh. Carefully, she replaced it beside its counterpart, and closed the box. "Now, I suppose I'd best be off now."

Ardasa found her carriage outside the palace, flanked by kobold guards. Had they better armor, they would have been almost intimidating. As she approached, one opened the carriage door while the rest knelt. "Uhh . . . arise, warriors. No need for this ceremony," she said. The carriage driver idly tossed a slab of meat to the worgs, as she made herself comfortable inside. Well, this was it. "We'd best be going now. I hear stories about the crime in this city." The driver nodded, and set his whip upon the worgs, bringing the carriage into a jolting start as it made its way towards the city gates.