day and night for t

like the heavens were removing the terrible history of the land. Even now, Ember could

a pool of blood made of red silk. Behind her stood the crimson cloth from her former c

l hadn't

times, hoping to find meaning, warnings, or hidden things in his eyes. He appeared t

somewhere where the hills, the forests, and the mist met, he was fighting. The Crimson Orde

ck broke h

-the kind of knock only one

," she

he wore her robes, and her braid lay insid

, Aeris observed,

ned away from the windo

t. But the runes held. He pas

three ni

rder," Aeris reminded her. "For Ash, it could

swallowed the

called protectors of the realm. Despite this, her kingdom was destroyed, her family

r hands on the velvet cushion underneath. I

y. "The bond would have brok

'm not sure I'd fee

s not true. I've watched you bear more than any woman should.

"Sharp enough to cut m

nough to carve a new path. One that ends

Another b

simply nodded, letting the silenc

ood to leave, th

n. "High Lady! Riders at the eastern watch

that the bench clattere

an audience. Said they carry

caught in

lder. "Go. I'll prepar

ns, represented by their carvings, stared out as their faces were covered by the wandering shado

or was scarred, marked with the talons of beasts and the runes of fo

eyes like black opals. "High Lady Ember. I am

aid, stepping do

Crimson Pack has returned. He's building an army i

stilled. "Who

ated. "You

e had hit her in th

she said softly. "My mot

. "But she lives. And she is bound t

back. The room

. The collapsing tower. The certainty of loss. Now-aft

" Ember asked, her

ent after her. Alone. He ordered us to brin

it with sha

The wax cracked as s

e was taken. Twisted. Changed. Don't kill her unless you have to. I'll hold the Crimson Alpha back as long as

s

rembled in

t her side. "We

folding the parchm

ard through

h from the underworld. Ember rode at the front, her crimso

right, Aeris murmured protective charms. And on her left

Varenth Hollo

vely between the mountains was now turned into a graveyard. Charred s

at the edge of a

he shadow

ked at the center of the formation, her eyes

reached

ber

tu

tar stood

black as Ember's, streaked with silver. H

" Ember

orward. "You've gro

throat

?" she asked. "Why

no choice. They took me. Broke me. Reb

n. "Then come with me. Now.

er stepp

ly, her ey

altar, the Crims

th fur like bloodstained snow

o late," h

eside him, bleedi

scre

battle h