The Ember's Call

lthor's priests to choke the life from any who dared the path. Kael's boots sank into the mire, her heart racing from the dark goddess's voice-Lysandra, you cannot hide forever. Lys stood frozen,

burned, its red glow clashing with the faint white light pulsing in her che

"A name from a past I

m against the marsh's curse. "That was no

d shard, hidden in these forsaken waters. The light in her heart grew warmer, a beacon of grace, whispering of redemption, of a lov

hollow eyes glowing with hunger, creatures of a dark god's wrath. Kael's light flared, a radiant cross shimmering

You're more than a thief," he said softly, his voice rough with awe. "That l

thief's bravado, but his eyes held her-scarred, steady, carrying a pain she longed to understand. "I'm j

romance for when we're no

lking, eyeless beasts of bone and shadow, their claws dripping with blood-curse. Lys's lute sang, weaving a shield, but the wraiths tore throug

dissolving, but the effort drained her, her knees buckling. Torren caught her, his arms strong, his breath warm against her ear. "I'v

he marsh trembled, and a new creature emerged: a mire-drake, its scales black as sin, eyes like voids, its breath a cloud of

e gift that burned away fear. She raised her hand, and a beam of white light, pure as a hymn, struck the drake. It ro

ision swimming, but his voice anchored her, a lifeline in the dark. She focused, her

th mud, his gaze raw with something deeper than duty.

is hand brushing her cheek,

arp. "The shard's near, but s

a circle of rune-carved stones, the air split with a voice-not the goddess's, but deeper, divine

ng on hers. In the fog, a figure moved-cloaked, radiant,