[Two Weeks Later—Silthara Palace—Night]
Silence.
Two weeks had passed since the war ended. Azhrakaal, the greatest calamity the Serpent Kingdom had ever known, was dead. It should have been a time of celebration. The streets of Zahryssar should have been filled with music.
The palace should have echoed with laughter. Victory banners should have flown proudly above Silthara.
Yet, no bells rang, no feasts were held, and no songs were sung. The entire empire mourned because although the war had ended...the Mother of the Empire...the Malika of Silthara and the Consort of the Prime Alpha Silver Serpent had never returned.
For fourteen days...Zeramet and the Serpent Knights searched every inch of the Eastern Horizon.
Every cliff, every cavern, every river, and every valley. They found only one thing, the scattered ashes of Azhrakaal.
