Frosthelm's capital, the Winter Keep, still stood tall and proud, in stark contrast to the world outside.
Its massive ice-covered walls rose toward the sky, and the towers and buildings within the city shimmered as if they were part of a frozen fairy tale.
Unlike the ruined villages and diseased faces Cassian had seen along the way, this place was still the last bastion of order, power, and safety.
Frosthelm's main street was like a vein that remained alive even in winter. Although covered in snow, the city streets were surprisingly orderly and well-maintained. Frozen water filling the cracks between the stone cobblestones polished the ground with a thin layer of ice; the bluish light of the lanterns refracted on this surface, creating a ghostly shimmer.
The houses were generally built from a mixture of granite and brick. The roofs were sharp, the windows narrow and high; all designed to break the freezing winds encircling the city.
