SECRET OF THE ASHES AND CROWN

re. Justice will

L

six days throu

en forest they crossed, where trees were burned

was a step deepe

Kael's cloak and a sword s

ized her-not from her face, but from the symbol

onbloo

rebellio

re

A

hed her

sl

so

d questions like,

y guards can we outrun?" or "How f

ambushes i

r more fier

so feared

't spare the brave. It

E

resistance cell in th

. Scars on their faces

when they

flin

e said. "Kneel to justi

n fortresses, ancient siege paths, and two forgotten gates u

ower, now her general, tappe

een's city by r

added, "we burn eve

TR

rcenaries had be

always watching Elir

Elira caught him rifli

u looking fo

dn't

d behind him

k lu

met

clean like Kael's usual

nned him to the tre

lost, you know. Your little pri

Her hand didn't shake w

he said, "because I've

rned t

him

ha

she said. "

ME

at the Ebon crossroads.

burned into t

of Elira's

spies. We ne

ion double

A

side her, sharpening

anged," he

had

the army." He looked at her carefully. "I

ooked

w you bleed. I saw them take you. And I

tect me,

et hi

sed him

ke a s

ike a

edge of war, who c

QU

d the palac

had su

gathered

ching east again-wi

idn't rage.

lion," she said to

ut

lieve they're winning. Let th

d t

at it costs to take a

river, Elira stood ben

besid

soldiers in

sed her

e cross into

ind h

take i

rowd

s beyond, someo

lira on

ce D

betr

und leashed

ready to be