Ashes of the Moon

Healer's Chamber

though it wanted to erase the fever burning through the girl's skin. Aeryn tossed it on the pallet; her silver-blonde hair w

He had not moved in an hour. He had not spoken to anyone since he brought her in. E

Siva had said. You don't ev

the sound was so raw and cold tha

just wat

ed Mira, the healer, as he grinded a root between s

owned.

o deeper than infection. Something is insi

At that moment, her eyes flew open. It was violet and wild.

ispered his na

diately; his voice was

that her eyes were not in the room,

blade, no don't you trust

ryn, he softly told her,

most searing him, and in her palm, Kael saw the faint outline of a s

ht. I have seen

then they became focused, and

e whispered. "W

lverpine territory, then you collaps

r and confusion. "I dreamed that I had gotten burnt, and I could f

ened on his sleev

was gravel.

you looked different. It was like, she looked

w was clenched. He stared d

muttered. "It is carved into the

y, breathing faster.

, the answer was

nd to f

ple of Stone, Sil

with blood rites; its obsidian walls had the appearance of centuries on it. Vines coiled a

ber as he entered. Torches registered his

e lined in the stone. He remembered visiting once as a boy when the ru

rning gold and red,

shone brigh

, and ashes yearn for blo

was thudding. His wolf stirred restl

rise,'" Kael murmur

e from the doorway. "And

turn. "The

ining. "There are no coincidences in pro

re she woke. She dreams of fire, of betrayal.

ber who she is," Maelin sai

es were dark. Do you th

id carefully. But importance is not always salv

rophecy. "Do you believe

ve she i

e runes mean, Maelin? 'Fire re

fall of the Crimson Age, about a girl who was born from moonfire. Not of a mother, but of a rite. She

breath

She was meant to bring balance, or ruin.

se. "You are saying t

at we should tr

rtifact, its surface did not reflect light, rather it absorbed it. They said it was

fore it, starin

n reflection. It was a weathered and ha

the surfa

back a step as

n fire. Its fur burned like it were coals, its eyes were golden suns

und, but there w

but the reflection stil

him, his breath was sh

nodde

d grimly, "the Hollow

ed into t

low... but it

temple, the

near the border, Aeryn sat up in her

d on her tongue, but

meone els

" she wh

t is deep beneath the

coming