Eight weeks later.

Axis pulled his horse to a halt, peering through the southern mouth of the Salamaan Pass into whatever was left of Isembaard. The sun burned bright overhead, and Axis was grateful he’d changed into lighter clothes the day before.

He was in the hot southern lands now, the ice and snow of the north a long way behind him.

There was a crunching of the land’s sandy grit, and Axis looked over to where Isaiah, Insharah and Zeboath had pulled up their horses.

“It will not be much of a home for any of you to return to,” Axis said.

“Nonetheless .” Isaiah said.

“There are family to be farewelled,” Insharah said.

“And family to be found, perhaps,” the physician Zeboath said.

Axis nodded. The past two months had been vastly healing for all four of them as they trailed slowly down through the Outlands, staying here and there with Outlander friends as they travelled — including Georgdi, who was fascinated to hear of Axis and Isaiah’s destination, and looked as if he might one day decide to join them.

Insharah and Zeboath kicked their horses forward, but Axis and Isaiah waited a few minutes.

“There goes the future of Isembaard,” Isaiah said, quietly.

“It will grow again,” Axis said. “It might take generations, but it will grow again. The Lhyl runs, the soil will be fertile, and whoever is left from among this once mighty population will return from their hiding places.”

Isaiah gave a nod. Already many tens of thousands of Isembaardians had returned from the northern lands through the Salamaan Pass into Isembaard. They carried news that almost all of the settlers that Isaiah had dragged north would eventually return.

As would the Isembaardian army. It had stayed a few weeks longer with Maximilian at Elcho Falling, but now the eagle, who constantly soared overhead and who communicated with his brethren further north, told Axis and Isaiah that Kezial was leading it south.

Kezial and Insharah would need to battle it out for the Tyranny, but Axis and Isaiah hoped they’d do it peaceably enough.

Meanwhile, the far, far unmapped south, and further adventures, awaited.

Axis caught Isaiah’s eyes, and they grinned simultaneously.

“There is a long road ahead of us,” Isaiah said.

“Then let us ride it,” Axis said, and booted his heels into his horse’s flanks.