There were survivors; lots of them. Those who managed to escape had waited until the army had left before returning. Others had simply heard of the invasion and made the journey to see for themselves or to find relatives and loved ones. A week after the walls were blown down, throngs of people wandered back into the city from all around. Raegith and the Helcats were among them. Beretta had insisted that they continue on to Lord Kensei’s domain in the west, but Raegith would not abandon the Citadel without learning what had become of the Empress. When the group of refugees they were travelling with were hailed by an advance group from Lord Kensei’s personal guard, Raegith was able to convince them all to return. None of them, least of all Raegith, were prepared for the destruction they found as they approached the city. “How is this possible?” Beretta asked. “The walls are… gone. Everything is gone. It’s as if some terrible demon stomped the entire city underneath his foot.”
