Chapter 1:The Last Candel

The candel had burned to it's final inch

It's falme waverd in the silence,Casting long shadows across the crumbling stone walls of

Ravaryn hall. Dust gathered like mourning velis over forgetten portraits, their eyes too proud too weep.

Ardia stood alone beneath the tattered banner of her house, black silk threaded with silver thorns. Once it had hung high above banquet tables and royal courts. Now it draped like a shround across broken heart.

"We were kings once"she murmured to the cold air, her voice low and brittle. "And now ghosts".

She reached out ran her fingers over the soot-stained stone, and whispered "You all lied". Her voice cracked the silence.

The candle died with a soft hiss, leaving her in darkness but she did not move. For beneath her boot, half buried ash, was a corner of parchment curled like a died leaf.

She knelt.

It was sealed with red wax.the sigild pressed into it was unmistakeble : a coiled piece by a blade. Her father's mark.

"Father"....she breathed "what did leave behind ?"

Ardia's heart did not race . It beat steady like a drum of war. She broke the seal. The prachment crackeld as she unfolded it, carefully not tera it's brittle edges. The ink was faded but the words was clear like a mirror.

"If you're reading this my daughter then they have taken everything thing from us .

Do not mourn. remember .

There is a ledger hidden in the vault beneath the old chapel. In it are the names of those who betrayed us. Friends, family, lovers ,kings.

"Let them sleep no longer".

"A ledger... Names" she said aloud, her breath quickening. "He knew all along. He knew..ha.

She folded the letter slowly. Hands steady depsite fire building behind her ribs. So it was true. Her father had known. He had watched their runed unfold and left behind map of vengance.

A faint creak echoed behind her. She turned sharply, her hand brushing the hilt of her drager of the hip. But it was only the wind pushing through the broken windows, stirring the remains of velvet curtains.

Still she whispered- "if you're watching known this - iam not here to grieve".

She stood straingthed her cloak, and turned towards the broken stained- glass window. The moon hung above the ruin like a pale coin. And somewhere in the darkened kingdom beyond those nameless still breathed.

"Not for long " she said, voice cold as steel.

"Ardia Ravaryn would make them remember".