The Lost Queen Is Back

r the battle

he spires of Velshade and the broken fields below. The silence wasn't emp

rest-silver flames cradling a rising tree. She traced the image with her eyes, her mind already moving beyond

r, soft f

s shoulder bound tightly from the blow he'd taken. He carried two cups

voice husky from smoke and sho

e clinked his cup gently against

d, then looked at him sideways.

row l

e we make from here-every speech, every crack in the mortar w

re legend. But you're also still flesh. Still a wo

akery when her father was taken. Who stole bread for her brothers and learned to lie wit

didn't bury her. You t

ed between them. Not u

pered, "There's som

they weren't followed. Past the outer gates, down through the ash-washed farms and into the remn

e grave-new, but already

. Brother.

her chest no less sharp despite the crown she wore. "You'd have laughed at how many people sal

behind he

ice would've steadied mine when I hesitated. I thought winning

the stone, letting the

t, Rey," she whisp

d to Dain. "We ride bac

followed, Velsh

who had heard of Elira's rise and marched days to swear fealty. Trade routes reopened. Grain flo

h them,

rin of Delmere-t

of Valemarch-veiled thr

d wax, from a hand E

her chamber. Dain wa

imself," she said.

ares-

osing grip. And because

rward. "This co

letter down. "Or it could be our cha

lifted,

ll

nched. "Then I

the early wars and long since abandoned. Elira rode with a contingent of twenty, Dai

arriv

was streaked with silver, and his armor bore fresh scrapes. Hi

ruined hall, where light filt

said, voice like gravel. "Queen o

les," Elira replied e

ice comes on the blade's edg

n ash will fall in ash. I'

bitter. "You think

it starts

closer, eyes

Join me, Maeron. Not as a king-but as a guardian of w

ime. Then said, almost gently

ely. "You don't

as my

lira said sharply. "

at followed was

cannot undo what was done. But

t to raise it, but to lay i

est

e

ed on his hilt, but

. "You're the fire

hs p

returned to the fields. Festivals filled the squares, lau

but as a queen present in every stree

myth

orders, verses of rebellion and renewal. And in the quiet of her keep, she kept the crown o

atching starlight shimmer over rooftops. Dain joine

aid softly, "

t answer

's all. The real kingdom..

around her. "The

of something greater than vengeance. N

ied between banners and breath,

amebor

. And destined to reign not