Ironhold, the once bustling fortress city, was now a little quieter than usual. Lucen had sent a majority of the people to the newly expanded city of Dorsen and the nearby villages.
With them was Lucen's brother Cael, and the old butler Vahn. Despite Cael wanting to stay, he understood that he would only be getting in the way, so he, alongside the others, left for Dorsen.
So now the only people left in Ironhold were soldiers. At the break of dawn, his Father, the Iron Duke, arrived alongside the army of Stellhart.
At the break of dawn, the gates of Ironhold opened. The sound was deep and heavy, wood reinforced with steel grinding against stone. A thin mist lingered over the streets, pale gold under the rising sun.
The city that once rang with hammer strikes and merchant calls now stood silent, disciplined, and bootsteps echoed.
The army of Stellhart marched in column formation through the main road. Armor bore dents. Cloaks were torn.
