Morning broke with a pale-gold sky, the air carrying the faint sweetness of dew and the bite of a day that promised to be long.
Camp stirred at first light....soldiers moving with quiet discipline as they struck tents and doused fire pits, the clang of steel ringing as armor was fastened and swords belted.
The Stormborne banner was hoisted high above the column, snapping against the breeze: a silver thunderbolt cleaving through a black storm cloud, framed on a navy field streaked with jagged lightning. It caught the rising sun, gleaming like a herald of power.
Valerian mounted his black warhorse, armor glinting, and took his place at the head of the column.
Kaelen and Therion rode at his flanks, Rael slightly behind, ever watchful. Behind them, the carriage rumbled into line, its polished wood stark against the dust of the road.
Within sat Aurelia, veiled, with Gwen by her side and young Vaelric perched with a small wooden carving in his hands.
