th. Elira sat on the temple steps, the crown heavy in her lap, its silver facets dipped in the dim mornin

Let Maeron send his armies. Let t

not just leading a rebellion-you're defending a throne.

it aloft. "Then we'll give the

Velshade stirred: citizens bracing walls with timber, smiths forging blades, teachers teaching

disciplined-was approaching through the south pass, more than twice

er Cael and his acolytes flanking a smoky brazier of burning incense. At the head

hush that followed, even t

ies. Our land. They claim I'm a usurper. They say I'm an orphan in borrowed greatness. But I wear this c

Hold the pass. Don't let them reach Velshade. And Dain... you lead the

ng her palm to the shoulders of tired men and women, gripping the ch

es along the western cliffs, prompti

l armor, bearing crimson banners-emerged from the tree line. Their general rode at the front, a

aden fate. Shields clashed. Flesh met steel. The clan

Elira, center-line, commanded not just with words-but with presence. Her voice r

o the shoulder-but he rose again and roared a challenge that rallied nearby fighters. She urged the archers to redouble, then

nes. Elira saw them, eyes blazing. With a command, she leaped onto a cart with a war horn st

his men, and charged into the flank, steel meeting steel. The w

rd in hand, and dashed forward across the broken field. Smoke from burning siege tower

He was taller than many, but she recognized the drawn

her. No words. Jus

ger of vengeance. She didn't notice the guards retreating. He did curled parries

p, in her ear. She didn't need to s

hroat. Mud and sweat rang from their

," she

sword back.

Sparting armies preserved the moment; every

ed and dropped to one

r soldiers, watching, held-cutt

stood before her, shamed but

. Their command structure broke; some fl

he fields were strewn with bodies-but many more of Maeron's lay broken and

arm, nodding to another. Wounds on her knuc

blood from her knuckles a

d at him.

n pens where the captured general and a dozen

. "Some loyalty can be bought

d. "There's

eld counsel around a scarred table. Elira presided: crown back

r right, Cael opposite. Mercy and

red. "The King is wounded in pr

vassals and hold lands under Queen Elira-or

s loyalists won't

them enough time to choose-the worl

aling wards-restore farmland, improve recovery for

r of ap

hboring realms. Word must spread beyond Elarion:

oftened. "And

streets tonight. Meet the people. Show the

er. "We'll g

on his, eyes fea

limmered on rebuilt walls. Children peered around corners. A baker offer

len overnight-dusting splintered siege equipment. One young farmer o

he said quietly.

he pressed the seedling into the earth. Dain placed hi

breathed. "O

and homecoming. Silver flame banners fluttered in moon

"You planted more

ngdom," she said, voice f

n. "Then let them

in her veins. Vengeance had sparked the fire. Mercy had stre

people-not lost, not vengeful, but whole. And in that un