ve – The F

en they did, the sound rolled across the valley

d when he woke to that s

his chamber, his mismatched eyes reflecting gold and steel. In the corr

filled the frame, two axes

snapped,

ric demanded, already

en. Beasts. From the northern wastes. Someth

t shaggy creatures with fangs like swords, stronger than oxen, cunning as wolves. He had trai

wed Darian with

Guards rushed to the gates, arrows clattering in quivers, steel glinting. Above the

armored, his massive sword in hand

will break against us

ng enormous slammed against th

d on his shoulder - firm, steady. He turned to see his mo

mured. "You face. Fire is not afr

nes etched along the hilt. "Stay close to Darian. If the

the dagger so tightly

ates

d, maw lined with jagged teeth. An arrow pierced its shoulder, but it barely slow

e courtyard disso

ed arcs of steel, cutting down three beasts at once. Mira stood on the steps, chantin

- Aric st

othing like training. This was real, and death was e

d but not slain, wheeled suddenly

d. He saw the beast lunge. He sa

g inside him

to strike again - but his dagger flashed, plunging into its flank. Heat surged throu

d - and Darian's axe split

at the fallen monster. His hands shook. H

"Not bad at all, little brother. Your first blo

he rarely showed. "You stood. You fought. That is the mark of a wa

looked down at the dagger, its edge smoking faintly where fi

courtyard, almost too soft to hear: "

d faintly beyond. He had spilled blood. He had faced death. And though fear still co

than this. More

another presence stirred - unseen, but watching. The sh

oy aw

, blackened arrows and broken spears jutting from their corpses. Men limped, bandaged, mut

ad A

d with gore, the faintest glow of runes smoldering along its edge as though reluctant to dim. Hi

ad k

ri

air unbound, her robes torn at the sleeve. Yet her ey

e said softly.

voice cracked.

th. Fear is no enemy, child. It is the forge. A man who claims no fe

. Her touch was warm, though his skin was chilled. She closed h

she wh

smelled of stone and ash, lined with braziers whose flames never seemed to burn out. H

igher as if eager to serve her. Shadows danced al

she com

the cold floor. She knelt o

your blood. Tonight it stirred when your life was threaten

ned. "But

atest warrior who ever lived, but steel alone will not shield you from

the runes kindled. Aric felt the warmth hum thr

eyes," Selva

d

swung. It is breath. It is life. It is hunger, yes

as if some hidden door opened, he felt it - a thrum beneath his skin, a pulse deepe

pered. "Do not flinc

s burning behind their lids. He gasped, every nerve alive. The

y, commanding. "Hold it. Do not fight i

lowly, painfully, the fire bent, coiled, settled. No

es fle

is skin. Flames danced along the edge, th

and. Pride gleamed in her expre

embling from the effort. "It

that, Aric. Fire does not love you. It obeys because you are strong enough to comman

weight of her wo

g over the valley. He found Darian leaning on one

ou've wrestled a storm," the warrior said. "Tell me, little broth

e, but said nothing of wh

gered on his son, weighing him as though seeing something new. Finally he said o

nod

lled his first blood. He had touched the fire in his veins. And thoug

t Kaelor's heir, nor

g else - something great

e wondered if Mira's prophec

ere Kaelith brooded, the shadows stirred again, whisperi

one day decide the