Chapter 10 - The Iron Cell
The heavy iron door of the subterranean cell gave way under a brutal kick from Kalin. The hinges snapped, sending a shower of stone dust into the damp, torch-lit corridor below.
Kalin strode down the steps, his heart hammering against his ribs. At the end of the hall sat a solitary reinforced cell with a small barred window.
"Meera!" Kalin shouted, rushing to the heavy door.
From the darkness within, a weak, disheveled figure stumbled toward the light. A young woman with tangled dark hair, hollow cheeks, and the unmistakable royal eyes of Ashenmore clutched the iron bars.
"Kalin?" her voice cracked, disbelieving and breathless. "Is that... is that really you?"
"It’s me," Kalin said, his voice breaking as he jammed the hilt of his sword into the locking mechanism, shattering the rusted iron bolts with a final, furious heave of magic.
The door swung open, and Meera collapsed into her brother’s arms, sobbing as Kalin buried his face in her hair, holding her as if afraid she would turn to dust.
Eloin stood quietly in the doorway, watching the reunion with a profound, aching warmth in her chest.
"Who... who is she?" Meera asked weakly, looking up from her brother’s embrace to meet Eloin’s
May you like
strange green-and-gold eyes.
"She is the reason we found you," Kalin said, pulling Eloin gently into the circle of his arm. "And the next Queen of Ashenmore."
