The Crown Of Ash and Silver
The open page showed neat rows of words written in small, careful script:
They say the Light has no shadow, but even stars fall upon the ground.
She smiled faintly, then closed the book and covered him with her cloak.
When she stepped outside, the snow had stopped. The sky was clear, the stars so sharp they seemed to hum. Frost had crept higher along the chapel walls, spiraling into intricate patterns that glowed faintly with silver light. Balance was stirring, restless.
Lucien approached from the gate, his breath misting in the cold. “The fires from the valley are visible now. You can see them from the ridge.”