Blood of the Crown

led across the sky. The once golden sunlight that bathed the kingdo

with happy villag

g and weeping. The King, Alden the Brave, lay on his grand bed, pale as the snow on the haunted mountain. The

ands, her royal robe soaked at the hem from kneeling too long. She held his hand, but

She knew she can't rule the kingdom all by herself.

ed with a trembling v

yes slowly like the c

ak smile "You are no longer little.

alled her that, it was the name he gave he

u," she said. "Not

taining the corners of his mouth. "You were born

was heard at t

closest advisor. Behind him s

downcast. "It is time. The council

scared, tremblin

. "Bring the seal

, both in praise and in hate. Many saw her as strong, fair, and wise. Others, especia

he only true

they b

the Tower of Kings, the

e king's trembling hands. He was carried on a throne of ironwood, wheele

aid, voice echoing through the hi

sed through

id clearly, raising the s

rose among

wed!" some

young!" an

he throne wil

raight, her chin high. She had to

father's wish. She would do anything to ma

With the strength of my father's

with golden rings, stepped f

ldly. "Elder Varek. He is your

m turne

een spoken in the

's firstborn son. Born to a woman from the outer

hrone by force, years ago. It was said he studied forbidden spells. Some sai

en said with finality. "He chose c

ow. The magic in it burned her

ut of the room quietly. He carried a note bound in black threa

ce where V

ath, she got married to the guy

appily with

first son, Nyra, her daughter and D

and to the cold hands of death, this wa

ed she killed

uld have been easier if she had

re leave the throne for

re and her father's wish

ained by smoke and dust. The kingdom of Eldoria was no longer peaceful. Farms

e blamed

illagers said. "Her rule has

her husband with h

he city. Fires burned in the far quarter. There h

aited behind

dvisor, Lady Venna.

na said. "They whisper

ened. "Kael and N

s glow at night. Nyra speaks to shadows and in riddles

rowing wild. He bit a servant l

rs," Amira said. "Th

become restless. He disappeared during full moons, ret

f Eldoria's palace. But the peace it brought was fragile,

e him, maps of villages burned, routes taken by Varek's forces, and areas where rebels whispered in the night. His mind raced

el, we have to move fast. The traitor's betrayal has sh

you think they wil

follow the Queen. The problem is the fear in t

need to find a way to tu

blood. He said, "scouts spotted a group heading toward the northern pass. They

"If that's true, it co

But it could a

and handed Kael a folded letter sealed with crimson wax.

he seal and

before nightfall. Alone. I

lowly. "This could be th

a trap, we walk into it. If i

vening, Kael, Nyra, and Draven prepared to leave. The castle

roken stones and forgotten magic. The trees seemed

the shadows. It was an old woman, her silver hair flowing like a

a voice that seemed to echo from the earth itse

ward. "Why have

is not just a punishment. It is a promise made long

have already heard this. W

lowing faintly red. "This is the Heart of Vareth. T

opped him. "Beware. The power withi

let cautiously. "

you must face the truth inside yourselves.

Kael. "Are we r

hard. "We don't

night, followed by the sharp crack of arrow

" Draven

back, as figures cloaked in black s

an incantation, and a barrier of

flared in bursts of light and shadow. Kael fought with the stren

knocked back, her han

ngers touched it,

stors, battles lost and won, and a voic

off the visions. "The

ting down a shadowy fig

ed, dragging her b

e Heart chooses its master. If

w Court roared in fury, poundi

the Heart to the Queen. She is th

h her eyes reflect

he ruins under cover of darkness, hearts poundi

oat-the only thing she wore since the coronation

he needed more

eded a

ates. She walked deep into the forest beyond the city walls. Past t

twisted trees. The moo

altar made of bone-white stone. The ai

a kn

whispered. "I am your daug

was si

e grew cold. A low voice, not o

do you o

mira said, drawing a

the stone, glo

let it b

screamed, she felt the pain through her body, then

thing ha

se had

mountains. The forest had thinned, giving way to blackened t

e jagged peaks ahead. The air was thick with silence, but deep beneath it, he could hear

t alone

isper came fro

of them. The weight of what he was becoming was too great. The beast in hi

ere," Draven said.

loser. "Neithe

above the mountain cracked with a sudden flash of

orest... she warned me about this place. She said somet

night since the curse started changing me. It pulls

hem to steady themselve

h this mountain is what he's after. The gods poisoned

walking. Nyra followed, and together t

oath was feeding on her. Every night the visions became stronger. Her children in danger. The land tea

h Priestess Lirien enter

mountains," she sai

est tighte

sealed by the gods themselves. There are ancient things in the mountain. Spirits of the fir

from weakness. "Then

ned. "You a

replied. "And I will no

s like mist. The stone glowed faintly, etched with runes older than any they had seen. Nyr

l that?" sh

t's like... the m

a chamber, round and vast, with a stone altar in its center. Around the altar were skeletal remains, d

wall above the alt

. Crown. F

d. "These are the

closer. "What

round shook. A sound like a thousand wolves howling at o

he altar, a figu

glowed like dying stars. When it spoke, it s

nd divine. You come seeking truth

firm. "Wh

you betrayed. Your blood is our pri

st inside him rising. "

was broken. And the land was

wrapping around Draven, pinning him to the floor. Nyra scre

him

curse. As are you. Bu

eached Draven and held his hand. The power between them

the figur

es. And you will choose, life or balance. O

ll from above. Draven grabbed Nyra and they ran toward the ne

-

had grown stronger, and Amira could barely stand. But when she saw h

apsed in

she whispered. "Something anci

and shaking. His eyes had

irien. "They've s

ded. "Then

Varek watched a pool of black water. His eyes glowed red. Around h

thing. Nyra. Drav

r than I though

ows. It was one of his spies,

bowing. "Should we

th twisted

lieve they have a choice. It wi

e image of the mountain faded, re

ispered. "And now your chi

er turn

d changed. Draven no longer looked restless, he looked haunted. Nyra barel

or ba

oon was onl

they returned. His eyes wide

ppened?"

d up, her

just watching.

And they want o

d settled like a weight

behind the clouds, the

es glowing gold under the moon. His hand shook as he

beside him, cl

demons," she whispe

enched

t t

er his bed, growling to himsel

ountains, Elder Varek stood before a dark

h a wicked smile , "the

ens of shadowed

Court had

f Cha