Chapter 23. The Path of Ash

The flames had not faded from the sky.

Even as the sun rose, they lingered—veins of fire streaked across the horizon, trailing smoke like ash spun into silk. Hollowridge had known war before.
But this...
This was prophecy made real.

Seraya stood at the gates.

The warfires behind her cast long shadows. Her soldiers stood quiet, too quiet, as if afraid that even breath might draw the mountain’s gaze. Mairead approached from the west wall, armor dusted with ash, her expression grim.

“She’s not waiting,” Mairead said.

“She’s never had to,” Seraya replied.

They turned their gazes toward the ridge.

The trees had withered. The ground smoked where the forgotten queen’s beasts had passed.
What had once been forest now resembled scorched bone.

“She’s