All Chapters of The Howling Throne: Chapter 91 - Chapter 100

The morning was eerily quiet, as though the world itself mourned the loss of Rael. The fire they had lit the night before smoldered in dying embers, casting long, weak shadows against the damp earth. Elior hadn’t slept. None of them had.The weight of Rael’s absence pressed against his chest like an iron brand, hot and searing. His mind kept replaying those final moments, the way Rael had looked at them, the way the Hollow Crown had taken him without hesitation. First Sienna had betrayed them. Now Rael was gone. It felt like the world had decided to strip away everything he held dear, leaving him only with a broken path forward and a hollow ache in his soul.Myrra sat on a nearby rock, her head bowed, fingers twisting at the edge of her cloak. Her silence was heavier than words. Bram paced near the remnants of the fire, his frustration manifesting in sharp movements and restless energy. Vame stood apart, watching the horizon, their expression unreadable.“We should go,” Elior finally

The Hollow Keep trembled, its ancient stones groaning under the weight of the battle unfolding within. The air was thick with shadow and power, the oppressive energy pressing down on Elior like a crushing tide. Yet he did not release Rael’s hand. His fingers tightened around his friend’s wrist, a lifeline between two worlds, one of darkness, one of light.Rael’s body was rigid, caught in the throes of the Hollow Crown’s will. His breath came in ragged gasps, his eyes flickering between the abyss and recognition. The shadows screamed around them, a chorus of fury and desperation.“You are ours!” the voices shrieked. “You belong to the abyss!”Elior gritted his teeth, ignoring the deafening wails. “You don’t belong to them, Rael. You never did.”Rael’s grip tightened, his fingers trembling as he fought against the chains binding him. “I… I can’t…”“You can.” Elior stepped closer, forcing Rael to look at him. “You are not alone.”Myrra, Bram, and Vame stood behind him, their presence unw

The wind howled through the broken peaks of the Hollow Keep, carrying with it the stench of blood and ash. Elior pulled his cloak tighter against the cold, but the chill that ran through him had little to do with the wind. The battle was behind them, but the war loomed ahead, a shadow stretching across the horizon.They moved quickly, their footsteps crunching against the frost-laced earth. The scout who had brought news of Sienna’s advancing forces led them toward the valley’s edge. The terrain was treacherous, jagged cliffs and ancient ruins dotting the landscape like bones of a forgotten age.“How much ground do they cover?” Elior asked, breaking the silence.The scout wiped his brow, his face still pale with exhaustion. “They’re not marching, not like an army would. They’re moving in waves, striking at villages, gathering more fighters. It’s chaos, but it’s calculated.”Myrra scowled. “She’s making sure we have nowhere to run.”Rael exhaled sharply, his grip tightening on the hilt

The first impact struck like a thunderclap.Stone shattered as the war machines of Sienna’s army unleashed their fury upon the fortress. The defenders braced themselves behind crumbling walls, gripping weapons with white-knuckled hands. Smoke and dust filled the air, choking out the dawn’s light. Elior stood at the battlements, his cloak whipping in the wind as he watched the enemy advance.“They’re bringing the siege engines closer!” Myrra shouted, ducking as another ball of fire crashed into the courtyard below.Edrik cursed. “We can’t hold out against this forever.”Elior knew that well enough. Sienna’s forces vastly outnumbered them, and her mercenaries were ruthless. The fortress had stood for centuries, but it was never meant to endure an attack of this scale. The outer defenses wouldn’t last long.Bram rushed to Elior’s side. “If those engines breach the main gate, we’re finished.”Rael, standing just behind them, exhaled sharply. “Then we hit them before they get close enough.

The battlefield roared around them, a storm of steel and blood. The fortress burned, its stone walls crumbling beneath Sienna’s relentless siege. Yet, in the midst of the chaos, Elior saw nothing but her.Sienna stood at the edge of the ruined courtyard, her crimson cloak snapping in the wind. Her blade, sleek and dark as midnight, dripped with fresh blood. Shadows curled around her, shifting like living things, hungry and waiting. She met Elior’s gaze with a smirk, tilting her head as if amused by his approach.“You took your time,” she mused, stepping forward.Elior’s grip tightened around his sword. “This ends tonight.”Sienna let out a soft laugh. “Oh, Elior.” Her voice was velvet, laced with mockery. “Do you really think you can stop me?”He didn’t answer. There was no need.With a single breath, he lunged.Their blades clashed in a violent spark of light and shadow. Elior struck with unrelenting force, each swing meant to cut her down. But Sienna was fast, too fast. She dodged,