Ashes of Innocence

Petro and Suzanne flee through burning streets witnessing horrific violence. They hide in an alley as rain falls and fighting continues. Morning reveals Ashwick destroyed. Petro finds the priest's golden sun pendant. Sir Martin of Westminster appears and takes them away from Ashwick.

Executions begin: Duke Aldric, Duchess, and innocent citizens are brought to the guillotine. When the Guard Captain is executed, his son Hank erupts in magical blue fire that consumes the priest and spreads through the square. The town descends into chaos.

Imperial soldiers have assembled Ashwick's citizens in the town square. A priest reveals Duke Aldric is accused of heresy and demon worship of Mithras. A guillotine is presented. The crowd is divided into good citizens and heretics.

Petro Marok, a ten-year-old orphan in Ashwick mining town, endures abuse from his drunken miner father and bullying from Hank, the Guard Captain's son. The Church of the Lord of Light controls the mines and ignores the suffering of the poor.