A KINGDOM OF ASH AND FLAME

, thinner, touched by frost and the silence of old gods. The mountains were gray teeth on

s a pass near the northern ridge. It's

Vault held answers, he believed her. The way he believed in the feel

eath steamed in the morning air, her fingers pink from cold, but her steps

uddenly, crouching low.

the wind-low, gu

d, weapons at their sides. Their skin was ash-c

o his blade. Elira

Not if we c

nt, quick, like wind between cracks. One thrall stepped too close. Kael grabbed him,

, just a pressure point, a twist of li

d grin. "You'r

press

ved by time and wind. Elira ran her fingers along the ston

ow slit in the rock. "D

nt to." She s

ere etched with old symbols-marks older than the k

spiraled stairs and through broken arc

his sword. The curse bur

tars. In the center stood a pedestal of black stone. A single object rested

forward, bre

it?" Ka

ce she stole before she died. It opens the gate b

shard. "Is that w

only thing that can bu

ked. "Y

he stepped closer. "Bu

ed at her

dn't a

Kael spun, blade out. A shadow dropped from the ledge-

rding spell, light f

ight s

h the chamber. Sparks flew. He moved on instinct-fast,

go!" he

t leavi

from his grip. The curse surged, dark tendrils

reamed h

st fear, past pain-a

e, searing. The curse recoiled-shrie

ght sta

. The cursed markings on his a

ed lik

final-cleaved t

nce

im, eyes wide. "Y

Smooth skin. The

pered. "Your mother.

t behind for someone strong enou

eyes

ment, nothing