The return of the emperors to Katolis was triumphant.

The Delbarite campaign had been long and difficult, but unquestionably victorious. Ezran and Aanya had succeeded where Amaya had failed, defeating Neolandia: the people welcomed them as heroes, and the capital celebrated their return with a week of festivities.

In the two years of war, Ezran had matured. The Infant King of Katolis, as he was called disparagingly by his opponents, was now a strong fifteen-year-old boy, and had shown on more than one occasion that he was able to rule the kingdom both in peace and war.

"He looks like his father more and more every day," writes Callum, "the war made him grow up fast, too fast. Only his eyes have not changed: he has the same kind look as two years ago."

Even the empress had changed. Many had already compared her to the late Queen Sarai for beauty and fighting spirit, but it was soon clear that such a comparison was reductive. During the campaign Aanya personally took part in all the fights, throwing herself into the fray at least a dozen times. She had been wounded on three occasions, and proudly showed the scars: the soldiers idolized her.

However, do not think that the role of Ezran had been marginal during the campaign of Del Bar: although he was not a warrior, Ezran had turned out to be a discreet commander, and especially a prudent administrator: even in the most difficult moments of the war, his soldiers were never without pay.

In short, the two emperors had abundantly demonstrated before their subjects and the world that they had become adults. A further confirmation of this came within weeks of their return, when Aanya announced to the council that she was pregnant.

It is necessary here to open a parenthesis to dispel some legends too widespread about the alleged infidelity of the empress. Of course, we cannot be completely sure that Aanya remained faithful to her husband, just as we cannot rule out that Ezran had any extramarital affairs. However, we can be certain of the absurdity of the rumor that Prince Harrow was actually the son of Callum: which is impossible because, by checking the dates, it is evident that the heir to the throne was conceived when the imperial couple had not yet arrived at the capital. Equally absurd, however widespread, is the legend that the father of the heir would have been Soren, the exarch of the imperial guard. Even in this case the dates do not coincide: in fact Soren had remained at Del Bar on special leave, to spend some time with his mother.

The most likely thing in my opinion is that Aanya was a victim of later propaganda: Harrow III, who succeeded Ezran, was not a popular ruler, and probably these stories were born during the era of his reign to discredit his image and make him lose legitimacy.

Whoever the father of the child was, it is certain that the Empress' pregnancy was particularly difficult. Aanya gave birth to little Harrow on February 9, 1244, after a exhausting labor lasted almost two days: only the ability of the royal doctors and of Bzishk, a Sunfire healer mage who had been sent specially to Katolis by Queen Janai, managed to avoid the death of the mother and the child. Aanya was forced to stay in bed for weeks after the birth, to recover her strength.

Once again, Callum's diaries give us an idea of the situation: "Rayla spends hours and hours every day in the queen's room, to keep her company. She's the only one allowed in, except for my brother and the doctors. My wife is more and more worried every day, and I fear the worst."

Despite the fears of the High Mage, Aanya eventually recovered, although it would have taken her another two months to fully recuperate. The doctors were, however, categorical: the delivery had succeeded almost by miracle, and her body would not have endured another pregnancy.

This did not prevent the kingdom from rejoicing: the emperor had an heir, the dynastic continuity was assured. Now, after almost a year, the imperial couple could again focus on the northern threat. It was not an easy undertaking, as the disaster of 1240 had shown. King Ilehas was defended by the desert in case of attack by land, and by his formidable fleet in case of attack by sea. The desert had already proved insurmountable... it was time to test the fleet.

It was time to decide who would have ruled the oceans.