Ashes Of Aetheria

ined watchtower overlo

sense something else in the air-pressure, like a storm wait

s and a spark from her finger. "Don't use your

back, humming faintly beneath his cloak. Every so

d allies," he said

ridges east of the Dead Vale. "The Scorchmark. A survivor c

eyebrow. "You

on't trust outsiders. Es

oni

s irony,"

t off a

ved as if she'd walked it a hundred times. Kael kept watch behind

no other

ven b

ck plain of cracked earth and jagged stones. Bones littered t

ide one. "This

ook back. "Not

d the Vale

t, the wi

ire had died down to embers. Seris sat wi

it?" Kael

the dark. "We'r

d slid to

said. "Not yet. Le

something move

lked-f

ripple of hea

e. "What

spered, "

It had no legs-only drifting smoke beneath its cloak. Its face

edge of the cam

n s

rownless. Kin

ike four beings speaking at on

lowly. "Who

The throne stirs.

heir. The unc

touched th

st be u

s alread

midair, hissing with runes that cracked the air. The wraith

w the em

in the sw

rlight. Kael ducked, spun, and slashed low. The blade passed

ing sh

idn't

ed almost

is teeth. "I c

ging a tendril of smoke. "But

ha

ght. Think of what t

ss the black rock. He saw images flash across his vision-his moth

d the bl

ememb

nward-wrapping Kael in a circle of golden

through t

eaved the wr

tered li

afterward wa

ng at the empty air where

pecting the dust. "The

he blade. "That

ire lives inside you now. Yo

t his hands. "I di

Seris said quietly. "But now

ge of the Scorchmar

ck sand, razor-sharp outcroppings, and strange flowe

he camp?"

a broken cliffs

d the rocks was a narrow pass that opened

ned pillars and tents stitch

. Smoke curled from forges. But their weapons were dr

eled. Arro

ked: "Name

hands. "We're no

om the crowd-low, rasp

stepped forward. She wore armor made of fused glass and bone

Mara. It's bee

frowned. "And now

epped f

arry the fire you'