Page 60 of Song of the Heart Scale
I groaned. This was the last place I wanted to be.
The High Priest’s voice rose. “Do you swear to serve the realm and the bloodline of dragons? To protect the peace and preserve the legacy of the Immortal Flame?”
Thorne’s voice rang out clear, confident. “I swear.”
I opened my eyes just in time to see the crown being lowered onto his head.
Thunder cracked.
Not from the sky.
From the ground.
A rumble echoed through the plaza, sharp and deep. Gasps rippled through the crowd as petals scattered into the wind. The bright flowers lining the dais withered in seconds—vibrant reds and pinks turned to gray husks. Leaves curled and blackened. Grass died where it stood.
People screamed.
“What’s happening?!”
“The Immortals—have we angered them?”
The High Priest dropped the ceremonial scroll. A tremor rippled beneath our feet. I caught sight of Lady Mirena clutching her chest and collapsing. Lords drew back. Guards pressed forward.
Julian, who had looked bored moments before, now stared up at the darkening clouds with a twitch in his jaw. “That’s not supposed to happen.”
No rain fell.
Just thunder.
And death blooming where life should have thrived.
Thorne stood frozen, the crown heavy on his brow, his robes fluttering in a wind no one could feel.
Uncle Bai leaned in close to me. “An omen.”
“A bad one,” I muttered. My eyes never left the dais as I thought about what Malachar told me the other day when I went to the emperor’s room and found him shackled to the foot of the bed. He mentioned there would be no more thunderstorms or rain. The seer warned we would be struck with famine if Thorne took the throne. Is this what he meant?
Whispers rose, not just from the crowd, but from the council.
“The enthronement must be invalid.”
“This is a curse—an affront to the Immortals!”
Thorne raised a hand to speak, to calm and control the crowd, but no one listened.
Because nature had spoken louder.
And even emperors must bow to something.
My mouth went dry.
I turned to Uncle Bai. “We need to get out of here.Now.”
He nodded once. “It’s begun. Thorne won’t stand for this for long.”
I swiveled my head to search for an exit, but the plaza was in pure chaos and I didn’t see an immediate path. Since we hadn’t wanted to sit up front with the rest of the royal family, Uncle Bai and I were in the back of the crowd.
The shadow of something far greater than a crown had just fallen across Elaria.
