The Prince Who Tried to Steal the Mark
The first time Prince Lucien saw the mark, he forgot how to breathe. It happened during the royal succession banquet beneath Saint Vaelor Cathedral while rain hammered…
The Rusted Sword Beneath the Harbor
The sword washed ashore three days after the storm swallowed half the western fleet. By then, the Atlantic harbor beneath Vareth already smelled of rot, seawater, and…
The Sky Above the Sacred Blade
The sword beneath Saint Avaris Cathedral was never called by its real name anymore. Officially, the monarchy referred to it as the Sacred Relic of Unity. The…
The Sword That Burned Kings
The throne hall of Castle Valdorin had survived six wars, three assassinations, and one failed rebellion. But on the night the sacred sword awakened— the ancient fortress…
Full – THE SKINNY BOY WAS CHAINED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXECUTION SQUARE AS BAIT FOR THE FIRE DRAGON
The execution square of Ashkar smelled of smoke, blood, and wet stone. Rain poured from the black sky in freezing sheets while thousands of citizens crowded behind…
Full – EVERYONE LAUGHED WHEN THE BLACKSMITH BOY OFFERED TO REPAIR THE ROYAL SWORD BROKEN FOR TWENTY YEARS.
Rain hammered the towers of Ashkar so violently that night the entire royal city sounded like it was drowning. Thunder rolled across the black mountains beyond the…
Full – NO ONE COULD REPAIR THE ANCIENT WAR MACHINE
The first scream came from somewhere deep inside the mountain. Not human. Not animal. Something older. Something made of grinding iron, collapsing chains, and ancient rage. The…
Full – THE BAREFOOT BOY STARED DIRECTLY AT THE MAD WAR BULL INSIDE THE ARENA
The royal beast arena of Ashkar had seen executions. It had seen wars. It had seen kings torn apart by monsters while crowds screamed for blood beneath…
Full – EVERYONE THOUGHT THE BOY HAD GONE MAD WHEN HE RAISED HIS HAND INTO THE STORM
The battlefield of Black Hollow drowned beneath thunder. Rain hammered the shattered valley so violently it looked as though the sky itself had split apart. Mud swallowed…
Full – Everyone Thought the Blacksmith Boy Had Gone Mad
The first time Ash touched fire, the fire went quiet. Not out. Not dim. Quiet. The flames in the royal forge of Ashkar bent toward his tiny…