The Cursed Empress

tch as the crown was

fire runes that blistered her skin. Each individual symbol blinked

eked of burned

t her c

use she

them see her br

her below. They had each voted for thi

ase of the burning altar, was

ael of T

en

king who slaugh

he army that burne

nded her finger, forged in the ve

that cruel way only conquerors were. His sil

calcu

look lik

e a man waiti

sealed," said th

ned to

Elthria as your Empre

voice w

pt her

rned to her.

nothing,"

led throug

ly. The first sign of int

red his throat.

ragged me from exile. Branded me with my mother's crown. Ti

r head, slowl

l endure i

hispers rolled th

voice, when it came, was soft - and

e. That's more t

the rumors claimed," she

d slightly, not

d your warmt

id. "Just my

bers were worse

marble floors. The fire in the hearth crackled, but she didn't move to it. H

ed her back to t

xed her

ong her veins, glowing brighter each day. A legacy

blood could bind

now was that it wa

opened be

idn't

't want guards in

" came Rae

ed then,

d, still wearing his ceremonial cloa

re you

ing the door shut behin

d of woman I was

arth. "Then look. Decide if you wa

row. "You think I

'll kill me politically first. Drown me in noble expectations. Have me si

he said coolly. "Yo

a f

pped c

t burns you from the inside. That's why they want t

im sharply. "Th

from the Flamefather too - though

ason. You think our cursed bloodl

k the elders are desperate. And des

only inches

iron on his breath.

your tool,

be your savio

lence st

quiet it almost got lost

ght be yo

teppe

behind he

ned. "It's gettin

aid n

coiling tighter, whispering in ancient tongues, craw

ht it got

got closer to

out," Rael said, wat

d. "If I do... so

his head

e she cou

oom s

sli

rattle t

lutching the e

aught

t is

ed up, e

ething's alr

ar below the sealed crypts

ph cr

it down t

pths of the sea

breat

bur

l call M

beneath the e