Tirzah never intended to defy Babylon-only to push the limits of what was possible. As a gifted engineer under the empire's watchful eye, she was tasked with building advanced constructs to serve the priesthood. But when she creates Kishar-an automaton unlike any before him-her carefully controlled life begins to unravel. Kishar isn't just a machine; he thinks, questions, and most dangerously, chooses. As Babylon teeters on the edge of rebellion, both the empire and the resistance see Kishar as a weapon, one that could tip the scales of power. But Kishar refuses to be controlled. Haunted by fragmented memories of a past he shouldn't have, he embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about his creation-and his own existence. With the priesthood tightening its grip and a rebellion brewing in the shadows, Tirzah must decide where her loyalties lie. Is she willing to fight for the freedom of the creation she once called hers? Or will she watch as Babylon turns Kishar into the very thing she swore he'd never become? A gripping blend of historical fantasy, dark intrigue, and ancient secrets, Ashes of Clay explores the fine line between innovation and control, loyalty and betrayal, and what it truly means to be free.