The Relic’s Guardian

As Kael and I reached the ridge that overlooked the ancient hollow, the moon showered silver light through the trees. Beneath us nestled the clearing surrounded by mist, and at its heart a single standing stone engraved with moon-lit delicate runes that beat weakly in time with my mark. Moonclaw buzzed against my ribs in my satchel, and I remembered why we'd come this far. More than the relic, we had to confront whatever protected it, as Mira had cautioned – treasures of power did not rest unsundered.

I glanced at Kael. His gray eyes were dulled with fatigue, but there was a quality of life there— the first glimmer of hope I'd seen in days. The curse was still eating at him, tearing at the fabric of him, but the very fact that he'd come with me at all told me everything I needed to know about how deep the tentacles between us went. I took his hand, and he squeezed it once, then let go and took his dagger and the knife I'd given him.

"Ready?" I whispered.