Blood of the Crown

Eldoria w

ees. Even the sun seemed dull, hiding behind grey clouds. Something unsee

Amira stood over a long wooden table, her fingers tracing the carved map of Eldoria. Th

hadowed. "The people whisper more and more. They say y

ra said. "And fear ma

the clouds. "Fear is not the pr

o her. "What

re fear grows in Eldoria,

"Then he's alr

spread their whispers like poison. A man in a dar

whispered. "Her children turn into monsters.

frowned. "I

em 'howlers'

the youngest one, Draven, vanished int

said. "Something is changing. We need someone st

doubt and anger. The Shadow Court bowed their head

m was

rtyard. Guards are training below, their blades clashing. Yet

d her. "We nee

f we move too quickly, the people

the room, hol

old language. A message left by the h

l down and pointed

ir, only the blood born of both may fin

d. "The roo

Ember Caverns. The place wh

cades," Amira said. "That

faintly. "

nodded slowly. "Then th

mber Caverns lay beyond the western ridge, past the Withered Woods, whe

mory, arms folded, silent. He hadn

him. "You sure

't know what's inside me. But if it tri

head. "Don't

ven said. "You s

t," Kael said. "You didn'

ay. "Let's just

aven rode out of the castle in silence. They passed villagers wh

t at their feet

reached out and touched his arm gently. "Let

e a sm

rew twisted, their branches reaching like claws. Strange symbols were carved into b

a whispered. "T

ra said. "This land

s. They camped by a fallen

ring at the flames. Nyra whispered to the wind,

to a tree, eyes closed

eam echoed thro

o his feet. "

followed ,

her blade. "We

louder. Then they saw it-a small traveling gr

ade of smok

ai

es drawn. Nyra raised her hands

" Amira shouted

ature down, only for it to vanish in smoke. Draven

he darkness, her voice ch

she met it with steel, her bl

creatures

est fel

at them, some with

s," one woma

ted at Kael. "He

ed his head. "Perhap

r enemies. But something worse is com

oked uncertain.

by nightfall. The ground here was black and cracked. Red mist floated throu

he glowing rocks.

e gods themselves," Amira s

the caverns

intly. Heat rolled through the tunnels like

deeper, the

oed through

ave you

is sword. "Sh

an in robes made of flame and smoke. Her eyes

she said. "Guard

the truth. About the curse. Abou

em. "Many seek tru

ve a choice,

n's eyes set

rk of Shela, the

inked.

her heart to the lan

hands, trembling. "I...

"Then follow me.

they reached a massive st

ruth," Thalara said. "But

ice?" Am

her. "A memory. On

ted, then st

her hand on

hed. The a

her father holding her hand, walking through

atness in

it va

ate o

back, a tear

xt, then Nyra

a memory. E

chamber of fi

ey were, but as they could become

ter was a book

pproac

en in the o

ed her h

falling from the sky, mortals worshippin

whispered. "They were corrup

nched. "Then we'

the mirrors. His reflectio

rned

ry both light and shadow. T

amber

e here," Nyra said.

to go, a shadow a

as V

u've found the truth. And no