Yes.

So ends the reign of King Edward. Though born infirm and frail, his mother and other supporters had often assured sceptics he would grow up to be a king of unexpected strength and skill.

Unfortunately, Edward perished in a foreign land before this could come to pass. Or before he could secure an heir.

When Donald and Daena returned to the Valley, Edward's barely identifiable corpse in tow, there was an uproar. The Itherian delegation departed immediately, their King disappearing with the Beathan prince and his henchwoman, only to return slain, a situation to suspicious to be explained, despite Donald's efforts.

Diplomacy continued between the two Kingdoms for a couple of weeks after Edward was buried. Marissa, resuming her position as Regent until the Beathan "threat" was dealt with, was furious in her grief. She spoke only of war and retaliation, and many listened.

Itherian knights rode across the border, razing several of the Beathan's southern-most towns and settlements. The Beathans retaliated in turn, Prince Donald reluctantly at the head of their forces. The first Itherian attack was blunted, and as Donald remained apologetic and open about what had transpired, many Itherians were open to an end to the ****.

It was not to be. The Crown-Prince was found one morning in his chambers at the front. Naked, on his back, spent in more ways than one. Four claw-like slash marks adorning the young royal's throat.

Their beloved Prince murdered, the Beathans discarded any possibility of conciliation. They massed an attack of their own. Beathan berserker marching south in unprecedented numbers.

At the same time, the Itherian Regent, Marissa had vanished, never to be seen on the continent again. In that form, at least.

Leaderless, the lords of Itheria fell to squabbling, fighting for the crown neither the cripple or the cursed woman could hold, even as the unified **** of the Beathans descended on their fiefdoms.

What followed was a swift but unusually bloody campaign. After several self-proclaimed kings of a burning Kingdom, vicious betrayals, and thousands of lives torn apart, Itheria fell.

Princess Kara, who had become as distinguished in matters of warfare and statecraft as she had the contests of the Valley, was the unanimous choice to administrate both Beatha, and it's subjugated foe, until Harris, Donald's heir, came of age.