The carriage careened through the streets, in a mess of splinters and thatching. Ardasa quickly whispered a prayer to Scen when the carriage drifted wide and missed the wall by mere hands. The back end of it was on fire, and massive holes had been gouged from it by equally massive arrows. In the background, somewhere far away, the sounds of explosions rang out through the city streets. It was magic, it must be. 
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The court stood silent. Rughoi stared at the messenger, with an expression that would strike fear into any kobold. The messenger shifted about on his feet, and continued.

"Yes, Your Might. A carriage was spotted approaching the talon pass, claiming to house the empress."

"And you didn't let her in?" Rughoi growled, his voice barely audible. The messenger gulped.

"We thought it best that it go through you first," he said.

"Ready my worg. Tell the good warriors at the pass that should I find their judgement false, they will all suffer a humiliating demotion." The messenger turned to leave, but Rughoi stopped him. "Wait. No, I'll have it this way. If their judgement is false, I will turn them over to Ardasa, and she will decide what is to be done with the guardsmen that chose not to admit her." The messenger nodded, and ran off to complete the tasks given.