Echoes of Her Disappearance

ed wish to the heavens. The scent of honeyed figs, roasted nuts, and spiced wine filled the night, while laughter wove its way through the cobbled

her skin kissed by the soft glow of moonlight-Princess Liora of Eldoria,

wd. Her smile, graceful and poised, betrayed none of the boredom she secretly felt. Tonight marked the Festival of Stars,

red to her handmaiden, "How man

the girl replied with a s

words she gave every year. Words about light, about love, ab

ved again. Her people adored her. For their

rmor gleamed with the insignia of the phoenix. Queen Miralys stood beside him, r

thousand eyes," the King repl

art," the Queen

s who fought for a glimpse of her, he didn't worship her from a place of fantasy. He admired her grace, yes-but m

courage. His parents were a distant memory-faces blurred by time and hunger. He'd learned to hunt before he

hout coin. But Kael had come anyway. Something about the way the stars danced tonight tugg

xtinguished half the lanterns above the square. The crowd

-dar

, the plaza

rippled like a tidal wave. The royal chariot halted. Soldiers

d. His heart thudded against his ri

he cry that cha

CESS! SHE

ng answers. But there were none. Liora's seat was empty. The silk cushion sti

e simply stared into the night as though she

dn't explain it, but a strange cold settled in

the kingdo

ed to distant villages, announcing a reward for information. An

ueen refused food. Whispers of ancient ritua

pas

n w

no sign of

m a predator, but toward destiny. And behind it would follow a b