The road stretched endlessly before Elias, winding through the frost-kissed hills of the western provinces. He pulled his cloak tighter against the biting wind, his thoughts heavy with the mystery of Selene Veyne.
He had checked the archives of three cities—no birth records, no lineage, no mention in any book. Yet the name had weight in his mind, as if he had spoken it before in a life now lost to him.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Elias reached the outskirts of a village called Hallow's Reach. The scent of woodsmoke filled the air, and lanterns flickered along the narrow streets. He guided his horse toward the inn, "The Hollow Oak," and dismounted.
Inside, the warmth of the hearth welcomed him, along with the murmur of tired travelers and the clink of mugs against wooden tables. He found a seat in the corner and ordered a simple meal. As he waited, his gaze drifted over the patrons, searching for—what, exactly? A face he had never seen but would recognize instantly?
Then, he heard it.
A whisper.
Not spoken aloud, but carried through his mind like a breeze shifting the pages of an ancient tome.
"Elias Blackwood."
His blood ran cold.
He turned sharply, scanning the room, but no one was looking at him. No one had spoken his name. And yet… it had been there, as real as the fire crackling in the hearth.
He forced himself to remain still, though his heartbeat thundered in his chest. Slowly, carefully, he reached into his coat and pulled out the strange gold coin. He placed it on the table and ran his thumb over the unfamiliar queen's face.
The moment his skin touched the metal, the whisper came again.
"Selene Veyne waits where the stars do not shine."
Elias exhaled sharply, gripping the coin tighter.
He had no idea what it meant.
But he knew one thing.
Tomorrow, he would leave before sunrise.
And he would not stop until he found her.