The Bastard Prince of Hollowvale

ds shook as he tried to rise, but Lareth

ruin what little b

e," Cael

stupid." The mage reached into hi

more mystery brews. You remem

"That was an accident

, metallic, with an after-surge of warmth that set Caelen

creams still echoed, farther now-near the sout

"You always show up wh

ders lined with silver embroidery that shimmered i

to his feet. "You

uspe

n't warn

rned

l was a blackened frame, caved in. Shapes mov

a step

bbed his a

s still

out of that bui

nked his

w collapsed. Past the stables, gutted. The smell hit him first-

ar wall, half-buried

en. Not surprised. N

rled around the

. Touched her cheek

low. He tried to close her eyes, but they wou

ps behi

re

cked in places he didn't expect. "She

believed in

lieved

any

ok up. "You came

give you

't wan

ped. "The world doesn't care what yo

uck to his knees. His face

with reverence. A name in ornate ink. A seal press

. You have lands now. A title. A forged h

ared at t

o lie my way i

ecome what they

n trembling hands. The name s

n Vae

y n

again," Lareth said. "And th

ime. Then he turned to the fire. The h

a torch,

r w

is place di

utpost, lighting building after building. The flames climbed

burned be

, onl