Ashes Of Aetheria

id not

The camp's warriors kept their weapons raised, but Kael could feel their

y his kin

peated, trying to steady his voice.

. We buried it. We bled for it." Her voice cracked like flin

e from her kneel

he throne bind him the way it bound th

tching. Not just with suspicion-with hope

ouldn

his cloak a

it in one smooth motion. The fire hummed alon

aced the blade

llow me," he said. "Bu

le

wn at the blad

t, pick

d and hissed against her sca

she said. "Do you know what it

d. "I'm l

ut the swo

learn

t, they s

ildren, smiths, hunters-all gathered to hear Kael's story.

ow. Of the Emberthrone.

the wraith that

the d

just mine. Yours. Your ancestors. The ones

a long time. Then: "

. "That's w

aked cheeks asked, "You mean

d not just them. Every twisted lord who tr

ssed throug

price, Kael. You fight them, the

ked at t

ll burn

alf the camp had al

looked at him with wary respect. One man-Hale, the armorer-offered t

here," Hale said. "Bu

ed. "I'm

en let's make you

"They'll hit the eastern flamewell first," Seris said. "It's sti

ere. Narrow enough to hold. If we ride

ith supp

e ride light. Take only

p look. "You're not

But I'll be on the fr

ed once.

arted by

ts ranged ahead on ashwolves, and archers flanked the caravan. Kael rode

said, as they cleared

said the

why it

ed toward

orm was

lowed faintly in the dark. The bark hissed when touched. Seris said the

at the stars. For the first ti

r if we can actual

nt for a momen

rned hi

ecause if I did, I wou

"You always h

t I've learned

osed hi

thin him st

pa

ra

rp

even the reach of the Rekindled scouts, a figu

hed the

t the

throne ha

s no longe

s a f

must either b

tingu

rouded Flame turned

nd