Heir of Shadows

the thick cloak he wore. His thoughts were still a tangled mess, the revelation of Isla's true identity pressing heavily on hi

s

ept from him for a reason he couldn't yet understand. What would she be like? Was she prepared to ta

hrough treacherous forests and mountains. Few had ever ventured to the northern reaches of the kingdom

village. But as each mile passed, his resolve only grew st

He hadn't spoken to anyone in days, save for the brief conversation with Eldric. There had been no time for farewells, n

e early winter, barren of the bustling life of the capital. The villages here were few and far between, each one isolated from

from the shadows, nestled at the foot of a towering mountain range. The air was thick with the scent of pine and the earthy smell

es, small and worn from years of harsh winters, stood clustered together in the fading light. The snow-cover

th age, his hair long and silver, his clothes worn but practical for the cold. The moment

man asked, his voice

ide his unease. "I'm looking f

moment, he didn't speak. Rowan noticed the shift in the man's posture, as if a wall

id, turning back into the

a fire from within the house as the door closed behind him. The interior was dim, lit only by the soft glow of a hearth at the

ve been looking after Isla for years. But I don't know wha

ipped a beat. "W

from the world. But she's not the innocent girl you imagine. The world

He had envisioned a young woman, frightened but capable of rising to her destiny. But what if Eldric's word

. But don't expect a warm welcome. She's not one for st

ach twisted with anxiety. Wha

ld the traces of a life lived in isolation. Finally, they reached a

was to them, but Rowan could feel the tension in the air as soon as she he

voice gentle. "There's

as silent. Then, slowly, Isla

th caught in

piercing blue eyes were sharp, assessing. But it wasn't her beauty that took his breath away-it was the coldness in he

ht she carried, the bitterness in her eyes that matched Eldric's words. Isla was not the innocent girl he had hoped to find. She

sla's voice was steady, her ton

he stood his ground. "I'm Rowan," he s

at him, her expression unreadable. Then, with a

ome to claim

dy assuming that this would be a fight for the throne. But he hadn

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mething in the way she held herself that made him pause. She wasn't afraid. She wasn't intimidated. Instead, there was

life had been a steady climb toward this moment. Yet, now, standing before Isla, he was unsure. He wasn't sure if she would

y but tinged with the weight of his truth. "I've come because you're no

"My birthright? You mean the throne that was stolen from me the moment

t he refused to back down. He had to remind himself that she had lived a life of hardship. She hadn't had the privilege of growing

voice quiet now,. "I never knew.

ow, measured. "It doesn't matter now, does it? The truth is only useful if

dn't know how to reach her, didn't know how to convince her that this was more than just p

is gone. What matters now is what you both do next. This world is unforgiving. The

see that the mention of the kingdom's troubles struck a chord in her. She

fixed on Isla. "But I will fight by your side. The kingdom needs both

in her eyes. Her expression remained unreadable, but the sile

p, you can undo the years of betrayal, of loss? I've spent my life building walls to kee

t to question him. She had every reason to distrust him, and perhaps even more

asking you to tear down your walls. I'

rying to read every thought, every hidden motive he might have. Then, to hi

for you. I won't do it for anyone but mysel

in him. He hadn't expected her to embrace him or his off

prepare. We'll need more information about the state of the kingdom, the

on't be alone in this. But be warned-there are forces at play here that

adn't come this far just to be defeated by the same forces that had to

fered her a small but genuine

-a flicker of hope, however small. "We'll see," she said s

ed in place, watching her with a mixture of admiration and apprehension. She was a warrior, a s

f. He would not let her fight this battle a

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