g flags-some bearing empires Elara had never studied, others that hadn't been born y

e middle of it all, calm as a

what Elar

braid, and a silver coat that shimmered like mercury. But her eyes... her ey

er head. "The granddaughter of a traito

u must be Arabella Vale. The wal

aught you sarcasm. He was always g

, shielding Elara. "S

a had conviction. But this one..." She turned her gaze on El

timated," El

ung into her palm w

d. "Not yet. Not before you see wha

've twisted time

lias. "Ask him what happened in

flin

a no

she talki

e Concord Collapse, did he? About the moment time tor

ough!" Eli

ruel and sad. "The

ld react, the ba

ono Needle Arabella carried a

ike pages in a boo

ground in a

all

en in waistcoats. Women in gowns.

o her feet. "W

la

e looked *younger*. No stubble. Ey

aw her. Dropped hi

" he wh

aid softly. "

didn't

ehind a column,

iza Quinn*-in her p

straight t

couldn

n't b

er arm into Elias's. Watched t

sed-right there, in

clenched. Not

*know

moment everyt

echoed from nowhe

. What they stole

looked

Chandeliers crumbled. Gowns t

n a golden snapshot as

hrough the memory

ara. "They broke the timeline for love. And

her fists. "The

blinked

it takes. I'm not afrai

d. "Brave. But bravery

n she v

ke on a floor of

ve were spinn

ide her-bleed

rasped. "Y

dn't a

led him

n't you

ruth doesn't change the war. O

ped him

she said. "Arabell

cking clock," Eli

the coin from her pocket.

oin-and the hourg

opened i

time

ew

to the Bastion of Echoes. The on

here before she f

the light-and vanishe