Chapter 16 - THE HEART OF THE BROKEN MOUNTAIN
The journey to Mount Veyr took five days.
Elara, Kael, Theron, and Aldric crossed barren valleys where ash fell like snow.
By the time they reached the mountain’s base, the air smelled of sulfur and burning stone.
Rivers of molten rock glowed along the slopes.
Aldric studied the eruption.
“The mountain is tearing itself apart.”
Theron opened the ancient journal.
“The Fourth Flame once kept its heart stable. Malrec’s corruption has broken the balance.”
Elara looked toward the summit.
“Then we restore it.”
They climbed for hours through choking smoke.
Twice, rocks fell from the cliffs above them.
Once, a bridge collapsed beneath Aldric’s feet, and Kael caught him by the arm before he fell into a ravine.
At sunset, they reached the Sanctuary of Embers.
A colossal warrior made of volcanic stone stood inside a cavern.
Its chest contained a dying red flame.
The guardian opened its eyes.
“WHO COMES TO A BROKEN COVENANT?”
Elara stepped forward.
“Elara Veyne.”
“THE BLOOD OF AURION.”
“Yes.”
The guardian looked toward Kael.
“AND THE BLOOD OF THE USURPER.”
Kael stiffened.
Elara stepped between them.
“He is not his mother.”
The guardian stared at her.
“YOUR ANCESTOR SAID THE SAME WHEN HE BEGGED US TO TRUST HIM.”
Elara felt cold.
“What did Aurion do?”
The stone warrior lowered its head.
“He demanded obedience. When we refused to sacrifice the innocent, he bound us to his crown.”
Elara remembered Nareth.
Another piece of the First King’s legend had fallen apart.
“Then I won’t bind you.”
The guardian laughed bitterly.
“YOU NEED OUR FLAME.”
“Yes.”
“THEN TAKE IT.”
Its chest opened.
Inside, a small red ember floated above a chasm of molten fire.
Elara stepped toward it.
Theron caught her arm.
“The heat will kill you.”
The guardian spoke.
“THE FLAME CAN BE RESTORED ONLY BY SOMEONE WILLING TO SURRENDER WHAT THEY VALUE MOST.”
Elara felt the meaning of the words.
“What must I surrender?”
The guardian showed her a vision.
She stood upon the throne of Aurelith.
Thousands knelt before her.
Her golden magic flowed across the kingdom.
She could command armies.
Raise mountains.
Destroy cities.
Then the image changed.
Elara stood in the servants’ courtyard.
She held an ordinary wooden broom.
No crown.
No magic.
No one kneeling.
The guardian spoke.
“CHOOSE.”
Elara stared.
If she surrendered her magic, how would she save Lyanna?
How would she defeat Malrec?
How would she protect the people who now depended on her?
She looked toward Kael.
He understood her fear.
“You don’t have to prove anything,” he said.
Elara looked back at the ember.
For her entire life, she had dreamed of becoming powerful enough that nobody could hurt her again.
Now she was being asked to abandon that dream.
She took a breath.
“If the choice is between protecting people and possessing power, then take the power.”
The guardian’s eyes brightened.
“YOU WOULD RETURN TO BEING A SERVANT?”
Elara smiled sadly.
“I was never less human when I was a servant.”
She stepped into the molten light.
Fire surrounded her.
She screamed.
For a moment, the three flames upon her wrist vanished.
Kael rushed forward.
“ELARA!”
Then the mountain trembled.
The dying ember burst into brilliant red fire.
The Fourth Flame entered Elara’s wrist.
Her original flames returned, brighter than before.
She emerged from the chasm unharmed.
The guardian knelt.
“YOU HAVE DONE WHAT AURION REFUSED.”
Elara looked toward it.
“What?”
“HE WANTED POWER WITHOUT LIMITS.”
The guardian lowered its enormous head.
“YOU HAVE PROVED YOU CAN RELEASE IT.”
Suddenly, the mountain stopped shaking.
The rivers of lava slowed.
The Fourth Seal was restored.
But a warning appeared within the flame.
A vision of Malrec standing before an enormous black door.
Behind him waited not one shadow.
But thousands.
May you like
The Devourer was not alone.
And something beyond the prison had begun calling Elara by name.
