Page 3 of Where Darkness Falls

As usual, Tiernan knows where to strike the killing blow with his words. When Emyr was in his eleventh year, his abilities manifested stronger than any other Galrosan his age.“A miracle,”the high priest had said. Usually, only a small glimpse of power manifests until one’s twenty-fifth year, but Emyr could fully harness his abilities. Tiernan, seeing an opportunity, taught Emyr how to wield his abilities—often spending hours training him, as well as Emyr’s two closest friends: Laisren and Riordan. The young lads were told it was a great honor to serve the King of Zulgalros. They were promised riches, fame, and glory for their service.

By their thirteenth year, the boys were ready to begin combat training. This consisted of grueling exercises and sparring matches for at least five hours a day. Sometimes, the sparring involved using their abilities, while others involved learning the art and dance of sword play. At first, it seemed almost like a fun game with dull practice blades… until it wasn’t.

Emyr was in his sixteenth year when he received his first assignment. It was in his seventeenth year that the boy was ordered to take another’s life. It would be the first time he had blood on his hands—the first time he questioned his loyalty to the king he served.

The High General shudders at the memory of the pleas for mercy. He can still feel their blood as if it’s permanently stained on his hands.

“I remember quite well, Your Majesty,”Emyr says with indifference.

Tiernan glances over him one last time before returning to the documents strewn on the table.“Now, High General, come. I have a new assignment for you.”He holds the reports that he’d been studying out to Emyr. “I need you and your cadre to track down the Malvorian in this report. Then I need you to bring them here alive. They’re of great value to me.”

Taking the documents from the king’s hand, the High General skims over the reports about a strange occurrence in the small southern Malvorian town of Aurelius.

“Who am I supposed to find, Sire?”Emyr asks trepidatiously.

As if sensing his unease, Tiernan’s lips curl into a broad smile.

“The young woman with the Dragon’s Flame.”

Four Weeks Earlier…

Thick, black smoke rolls out from the windows of a house.

Shrieks of terror ring throughout the expanse.

Warm blood splatters across my body as muffled voices yell.

A hand reaches for me, but I slip from its grasp.

Someone is screaming for me to run.

I hesitate.

“RUN,” they shout again.

My heart aches as I run away from the burning house.

Everything else happens in a blur.

All sound, except for snapping branches, is drowned out by my rattled breaths.

I’m being chased by… someone.

Darkness surrounds me on all sides as the skies and trees grow dim.

My heartraces as I desperately search for a place to hide.

Suddenly, I see an opening in the base of a hollow tree.

“Where are you?” echoes a shadowy voice.

I slip inside just as my pursuer comes through the foliage.

Their steps are slow—deliberate.

I close my eyes, willing the footsteps away.

Thump… thump… it stops.

---