Valerius had not truly understood the depth of his failures until he arrived at the edge of the Ashlands with the remainder of his army.
And there, they were not greeted as heroes, but as traitors.
A force of Ignarion cavalry surrounded the broken host almost immediately upon their return. And there, they rendered the Lord's judgment.
"Valerius Ignarion, the Ember Court and the Lord of Flames have deemed your actions during the Siege of Dawnhaven treacherous. You are hereby stripped of your name, your title, and your position. Any possessions you once owned are now forfeit to your Lord Father, who requests your immediate surrender to judgment."
Valerius's jaw nearly dropped upon hearing this.
