Winter's breath was heavy over the Kryos Sea. Icebergs dotted the waters like jagged sentinels, forming natural barricades that made sailing perilous. Most merchant vessels had long since dropped anchor, choosing to wait for better tides. Only fools—or the fearless—dared to press forward.
Yet through the drifting white maze, two colossal ships carved their path unhindered.
They were the Estate Ships, each a floating fortress several kilometers long. The icebergs that stopped lesser ships shattered beneath their iron-banded hulls like brittle glass. Glaciers cracked, waves rolled back in surrender, and still, the twin giants moved with grim purpose.
There were a hundred smaller vessels, sleek and tightly constructed—Servant Ships, forged from blackened hardwood and enchanted metal rivets.
