Chapter 19 – The Ashblade Ambush

They flew through the high skies above the Scorched Valley, where thunderclouds never rained, and the trees had long turned to blackened husks.

Kael gripped Cinder's back tighter than usual.

The Breath of the First Flame still burned in his chest—no longer painful, but not comfortable either. Like holding a sword at all times: useful, but tiring.

"You're not balanced yet," Cinder warned."The Flame bends to your will—but it will test it every time."

Below, Lira and Finnel rode swift gliders, cutting through the smoke-swirled winds like hawks.

They had a destination: the Ruined Library of Solareth, a vault of pre-cataclysmic knowledge. Lira believed it held a map to the remaining dragon Vaults.

Kael had other reasons.

He needed answers. About the visions. About the cost.

A Shadow in the Wind

They weren't alone.

High above, hiding in the burning clouds, a shadow followed them—swift, silent, and smiling.

Ashblade.

Raven's deadliest hunter. A rogue dragonrider turned mercenary killer. Cloaked in obsidian leather, twin daggers laced with dragonbane, and bonded to a stealth-borne wyvern: Shythe—scaled in midnight smoke.

He didn't attack immediately.

He waited.

Watched.

"Let's see what the golden boy can do…"

Solareth Falls

The library was half-buried beneath the cliffs, its upper domes shattered, its doors melted by fire centuries ago.

Kael landed first.

The second his boots touched the ground—he felt it.

An ambush.

"Lira—behind!"

But the warning came a breath too late.

Shythe descended like a thunderbolt, slamming into Finnel's glider and sending him tumbling into a ruined archway.

Ashblade dropped in front of Kael, blades already drawn. His smile was all teeth and no soul.

"You're carrying the First Flame?""Then let's test how hot it burns."

First True Duel

Kael ignited his blade with flame—white-hot, blazing from his rune. But Ashblade was no ordinary killer.

He moved like smoke, dodging, twisting, parrying faster than Kael could swing. Every clash rang with sparks. Kael fought back, but something was wrong—

The flame flickered.

He tried to channel the Breath… and it rebelled. It surged too hard—nearly searing his own hands.

"Control it, Kael!" Cinder shouted in his mind.

But Ashblade saw the weakness.

He struck low—cut Kael's thigh.

Kael gasped. Blood hit stone.

The Turning Point

Ashblade raised a dagger to finish him.

Then a sword flashed—Lira slammed into the assassin, driving him back. She was breathing hard, face bloodied, but eyes fierce.

"No one dies today, Flamebearer. Not you. Not yet."

Kael's mind cleared.

He remembered the Vault.

The voice.

"You must burn true, or be consumed."

This time, he didn't force the flame. He invited it.

The rune pulsed once—twice—then his sword blazed clean, golden-red, not wild, not angry.

Kael stood.

And struck.

His blade met Ashblade's with a burst of force that sent the assassin tumbling backward, cloak aflame.

Ashblade whistled—Shythe dove from the skies, scooping him up just before Cinder could pounce.

"Impressive," Ashblade laughed as he vanished into cloud. "Next time, boy… I'll carve the rune from your bones."

Aftermath

Finnel was bruised, Lira bleeding, and Kael aching in ways flame couldn't fix.

But they had survived.

And in the inner chamber of the Library, they found what they came for:

A cracked mural—depicting six Vaults, each marked by a dragon sigil.

But one had been scratched out.

Kael stared at the missing sigil.

"That's where Raven's going."

Lira nodded grimly. "Then we go first."

Cinder stepped forward, wings spread wide.

"Then the Vault of Storms is our next destination."