ログインAmelia coughed, her lungs burning as the sweet smoke cleared. She pushed herself off the cold stone floor, her muscles trembling violently. Her heart hammered against her ribs."Arthur!" she cried, her voice raw.She scrambled on her hands and knees toward the wooden cradle near the bed. She reached over the carved rim, her shaking fingers tearing back the fleece blanket.It was empty."No! Arthur!" Amelia screamed, tears blinding her eyes.Beside the sofa, Alexander dragged himself up, his face pale and sweat-stained. "Amelia... what happened?""He took him! Alexander, he took our baby!" Amelia sobbed, clutching the empty blanket to her chest.Alexander’s eyes snapped wide open. He rushed to the shattered balcony doors, looking down into the dark, rain-soaked courtyard below. Rain poured through the broken glass, but there was no sign of the intruder."GUARDS!" Alexander bellowed, his voice echoing down the hallway. "SEAL THE GATES!"Torin burst into the master bedroom, his broadswor
The wooden cup in Amelia’s hand shattered as it hit the dirt floor of the medical tent. Warm broth splashed over her boots, but she didn't feel it. Her heart stopped beating for three agonizing seconds."Arthur," she whispered, the name tearing out of her throat like a ragged sob.Alexander swung his legs over the edge of the cot before anyone could move. Pain ripped through his freshly stitched chest, making his face turn as white as a sheet, but he forced himself up. He grabbed the front of the young scout’s mud-stained tunic with a hand that trembled with raw rage."How many hours ahead of us are they?" Alexander demanded, his voice dangerously low."At least... at least four hours, Sire," the scout stammered, shrinking back from the King’s terrifying glare. "They took the high ridge trail. It’s narrow, but it bypasses all our border outposts. If they keep that pace, they will reach the capital by nightfall.""Torin!" Alexander shouted, turning toward the tent opening where the hea
The freezing water hit Amelia like a physical wall, knocking the breath straight from her lungs.Darkness tumbled over light as the violent current threw her down into the deep, swirling river. The roar of the battle vanished, replaced by the muffled, terrifying rushing of white water. She kicked her feet frantically, her heavy wool dress pulling her down like a sack of lead weights.She breached the surface for a split second, gasping a desperate mouthful of air before a massive wave crashed over her head."Amelia!"Through the roaring spray, she saw Alexander. He was swimming through the churning foam with furious, desperate strokes, ignoring the searing pain in his bandaged chest. The river raged around them, tossing them like dried leaves toward the sharp black rocks of the lower canyon."Alexander!" she screamed, her voice instantly swallowed by the rapids.He reached out, his long fingers catching the sleeve of her dress. He yanked her close, locking his good arm around her wais
The sickening crack of bone on wet stone echoed up the gorge walls, followed by a terrifying, heavy silence.Amelia’s hands flew to her mouth, her chest heaving as tears of horror cut clean tracks through the mud on her face. Beside her, Alexander let out a low, guttural roar of pure agony. He took a violent step toward the edge of the ridge, but Torin grabbed his arm, holding him back with all his strength."Don't do it, Sire!" Torin growled through gritted teeth, his face twisted in grief. "They want you to charge down into the trap!"Across the hundred-foot chasm, Empress Mei-Ling watched them through a polished brass spyglass. A cold, wicked smile spread across her face. She signaled to the two massive guards in black steel armor who held the next chained scout–a young soldier named Jamie, no older than eighteen, whom Amelia had treated for a broken wrist just two weeks ago."Alexander!" Jamie’s terrified voice echoed across the canyon. "Help me!""Mei-Ling, stop!" Alexander screa
The silence in the room was so thick you could hear the soft crackle of the wood in the hearth.Amelia stood frozen by the doorway, her eyes fixed on the black wax seal lying face-up on the hardwood floor. The cozy warmth of the bedroom–the sweet smell of Clara’s blackberry pie, the quiet laughter from just moments ago–vanished in a single heartbeat."Two hundred thousand men?" Alexander repeated, his voice barely a breath.He tried to swing his legs over the edge of the mattress, but a sharp wave of pain shot through his chest, forcing a harsh gasp from his throat. He clutched his bandaged ribs, his skin instantly turning pale under the warm candlelight."Stay down!" Amelia cried, rushing to his side and placing her hands firmly against his chest to hold him back. "Alexander, you can't stand! Your stitches tore again just three days ago!""Amelia, a massive army is standing on our doorstep!" Alexander said, his dark eyes wide with frantic desperation as he looked at her. "Mei-Ling di
The hiss of the burning fuse filled the stone mill like the deadly rattle of a viper."Get back!" Alexander roared, shoving Amelia behind his body as the spark raced toward the three black powder barrels against the timber foundation.Torin didn't hesitate. He dropped his heavy battleaxe, lunged across the blood-slicked floorboards, and threw his entire two-hundred-pound body over the burning line of powder. He slammed his thick leather glove directly onto the sizzling trail, smothering the flame against the stone floor just inches before it reached the main barrel.The stench of burnt leather and singed flesh filled the damp room. Torin groaned, his face twisting in pain, but he held his gloved hand down until the last ember died in the dark."Is it dead?" Bryn shouted, her sword drawn as she scanned the shadowy corners of the mill."It's out!" Torin panted, pushing himself up off the floor and cradling his blistered palm. He looked at Alexander with a breathless grin. "I told you I







