Distraught from the war, Ashla spared Dirks' life (he was willing to give his head without a fight) on the condition he find and kill Tobias Stalt. After two years in Tular, he returns to her, believing he failed his mission. He knows nothing about the end of Pale or Ashla's transition. We go from there, perhaps ala Logan, though Dirks is only about 15 years older than Ashla, so there wouldn't be the father daughter dynamic, but perhaps brother sister? Someone to care for? Someone for her to betray to learn how far down the rabbit hole she's gone. Anything works for me, though it sounds like whatever we do will be gritty.