Ozragad watched as the Princess covered her yawning mouth with one slender white hand. Was he boring her? No, it had been a long journey for her, at least three days already. They may not have even stopped properly the night before last when they entered the marches. She must be tired. He would give her a chance to rest before they arrived at Cirith Anyr. It would probably be the best for both of them frankly, he already had plenty to consider from their conversation thus far.

[b][color=f7941d]"My regent must return my seal of office when we arrive. The wider court will be in attendance but you will not have to speak with them, that can wait until tomorrow."[/color][/b] He looked out of the carriage window once more, they had crested the mountain pass he saw, the road ahead of them led back down into a wider but more desolate valley than the last. The trees were fewer, the grass patchier. Though the mountain tops were still mostly composed of rock, the soil seemed sandier and had a distinctly greyish tinge. Now was as good a time as any to take his leave. Ozragad thumped twice on the roof of the carriage, signalling for the driver to stop. 

[b][color=f7941d]"I can see you are tired. It would be wise to rest to now, you shall still have a few hours before we arrive at Cirith Anyr. I will take my leave, Your Highness."[/color][/b] When the carriage came to a halt he pushed open the door and stepped out. Further down the road his men had noticed the delay and were turning to face the Eorzian entourage. He gestured to them to bring his horse up for him as he re-buckled his sword belt around his armoured waist.[color=f7941d] [i]I think that went surprisingly well, considering the fact we both openly provoked and insulted each other on our first meeting.[/i][/color]

When they brought his horse back around he remounted swiftly, glancing back over his shoulder once to see if he could catch the eye of the Princess with his own smouldering gaze before he rode off. So long as they both understood she was just a tool to used, his schemes would ultimately be realised, he was sure of that. Ozragad felt he had gotten the better of her in that encounter, his power over her would only grow once she was in the palace surrounded by his own people.

They rode onward. Ozragad took the point of a wedge of his soldiers in front of the carriage and the Eorzian guards as they made their way back down from the mountain pass. The wind that blew in down the valley and rippled through his long unbound hair smelled faintly of brimstone. In the distance he could see a pall of smoke hanging above the horizon. One of the fire mountains must be erupting, there would be a heavy ashfall tonight. They should hurry, darkness would come earlier with the ash. He spurred his horse forward.

For sometime they travelled onward through the barren landscape, the brooding clouds drawing nearer and nearer. At the end of the valley they came to river, smaller and gentler than the Kazadun, the road split in two there. One branch continued out across a low arched bridge and off into a seemingly endless grey plain beyond - the Ashlands. The other branch swung north, along the meandering course of the river, tracking it to its source. That was the path they chose.

[color=f7941d][i]Not long now...[/i][/color] The night was closing in fast, but before them he could see the great mountain beneath which the hidden city of Cirith Anyr was concealed. As they approached the gates, Ozragad felt something softly fall upon his forehead. It felt like a snowflake, but with none of the cold. He raised a hand to wipe it away, the fingers came back smudged. Ash. He stared up into the sky and watched as the ashfall began, the flakes dancing down from the leaden sky above.

The river split before them, the larger part came boiling out of a low cave beneath a high rocky cliff. The other half was a narrow stream that tumbled down from the mountains and ran along the bottom of the cliff face to join the flow they had followed up from the crossroads. This narrow stream was bridged also, but it did not lead to another valley or vista beyond - it lead directly into the cliff side. A great gateway had been carved there, rudimentary battlements and towers protruded from the rock face, and two long red banners fluttered to either side of the open gates. 

These were gates to Cirith Anyr. He was home.

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