The Ember's Call

lled of ash and sorcery. The streets twisted into a labyrinth of crumbling arches and glowing runes etched into doorways, wards against the things that prowled the night. Kael's dag

pers-bearer, chosen,

d like a dying beast. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of old wine and older secrets. A single candle flickered on a table, casting shad

d, sliding into a chair. "She'

thief," he said, voice low and rough, like

d answers. What is this thing?" She pulled the ember from her pocket, its red glow pulsin

, // five, made in the Dawn Age. The legends say they hold the power to shape reality-land, sky, life itse

ons flooded back-burning skies, a crowne

If he gets all five, he'll be a god. And yo

one of his spies, Soren. Y

. "The ember chose her.

harp. "It's a rock. A glowing

embers are tied to a prophecy-the Flame's Chosen will either save

sound. "I'm no hero.

en said. "They're made. And th

s the city crawling with Valthor's hounds? They're not a

its heat searing her fingers. "Th

can't run from it. The ember's bound to you now.

orus of voices chanting words she couldn't grasp. She wanted to hurl it into

s mages will track that ember's aura. There's a safehouse in the

ce rose. "That's a death t

nd humorless. "Better

shadow-wolves. The Bonewood loomed beyond Vyrn's walls, its skeletal trees glowing faintly wit

d faint whispers echoed-not the ember's, but something older, hungrier. Soren led the way, her staff glowing faintl

em, dotted with ancient stones carved with runes. Soren froze.

sion slammed into her: a marsh, a glowing shard, and a figure cloaked in

rong?" he

er shard," Kael said, her voi

d. "Then we're on t

und shook, and from the shadows of the Bonewood, a massive shape emerged, its eyes glowing like twin moon

ng her staff as a bolt of l

eaming in her mind: Fight