The impact shook the mountain.
Stone exploded from Frostvale's western wall as the massive boulder slammed into the ancient battlements. Cracks spread through the centuries-old masonry, and clouds of dust billowed into the freezing air. Soldiers staggered but held their ground, gripping spears and bows with white-knuckled determination.
Another horn echoed across the valley.
Then another.
Corvus's army surged forward.
Thousands of armored warriors advanced through the snow in disciplined ranks, their black banners snapping in the bitter wind. Between them lumbered towering siege engines, while the monstrous Engulfers prowled ahead of the main force. Their bodies of black stone glowed faintly beneath the ash coating their hides, and smoke poured from the gaps between their ribs.
"They're coming!" a watchman shouted.
"Hold the walls!"
Arrows darkened the sky.
The defenders of Frostvale answered with a storm of their own. Hundreds of shafts whistled downward, striking shields and armor. Some soldiers fell, disappearing beneath the advancing ranks, but the Hollow Flame army did not slow.
Corvus rode calmly behind the first line.
His expression never changed.
He simply watched.
Waiting.
Darian stood atop the battlements beside Serenya.
His heart pounded as another boulder crashed into the wall several yards away. The impact threw fragments of stone across the walkway.
A young guard cried out as debris struck his shoulder.
Without thinking, Darian rushed to him.
"You should be inside," the injured soldier gasped.
"So should you," Darian replied.
Golden warmth flowed from Darian's hand as he helped the man to his feet. The soldier blinked in surprise.
"The pain..."
"It's gone."
Darian stared at his own hand.
He hadn't summoned fire.
It had simply answered.
Keeper Elyon, watching from farther along the wall, smiled quietly.
"The Flame heals as willingly as it burns."
The first Engulfer reached the gates.
It stood nearly twice the height of a horse, its stone jaws opening with a grinding roar that sent ash spilling onto the snow.
The creature slammed itself against the iron gate.
The entire entrance shuddered.
Again.
And again.
Each impact bent the iron inward.
Captain Roderic, commander of Frostvale's guard, drew his sword.
"Boiling oil!"
Large cauldrons tipped over the walls.
Scalding oil rained onto the creature.
For an instant, steam filled the air.
Then the Engulfer lifted its head.
The burning oil simply rolled off its stone hide.
"It isn't slowing!" someone shouted.
The monster struck the gates once more.
The hinges groaned.
High upon the ridge, Lady Miren rode beside Corvus.
"The walls will not hold long."
"They're not meant to."
Corvus never took his eyes from the city.
"I'm waiting."
"For what?"
"The boy."
"He won't hide forever."
Another section of the wall collapsed.
Enemy soldiers rushed toward the breach.
Serenya reacted instantly.
"For Frostvale!"
She leapt from the battlement onto the broken stones below.
Her father's sword burst into brilliant light.
The first enemy raised his shield.
The Radiant Blade cut through it as though it were cloth.
She spun gracefully, every movement precise.
Three more soldiers fell before they could strike.
Watching from above, Darian felt the Ember Flame stir inside him.
Not with rage.
With purpose.
He jumped down beside her.
"I told you to stay on the wall!" Serenya shouted as she parried another attack.
"I've ignored your orders before."
She almost laughed despite the battle.
"Fair enough."
They fought back-to-back.
Her blade shone like dawn.
His hands glowed like living embers.
Together they forced the attackers away from the breach.
Then everything changed.
A deep roar echoed across the battlefield.
Louder than any siege engine.
Louder than the horns.
The largest Engulfer stepped forward.
It towered over the others, its body covered with glowing crimson cracks.
Its eyes burned with gray fire.
Keeper Elyon's face lost all color.
"The Ash Titan..."
Master Aldren looked toward the valley.
"I thought it was only a legend."
"It should have remained one."
The giant creature raised both fists.
Then brought them crashing down upon Frostvale's gate.
The explosion echoed through the mountains.
Iron twisted.
Stone shattered.
The western gate burst inward.
A terrible silence followed.
Then came the roar of Corvus's army.
"They've broken through!"
The cry spread across the city.
Panic rippled through the defenders.
Captain Roderic pointed toward the smoking entrance.
"Second line!"
"Protect the civilians!"
Bells rang frantically throughout Frostvale.
Corvus slowly urged his horse forward.
At last.
The gates stood open.
He drew the Obsidian Brand.
Black fire raced along its blade.
"The city is ours."
Before he could advance, however, a brilliant pillar of golden light erupted from the center of Frostvale.
It shot into the heavens like a second sunrise.
Every soldier stopped.
Every citizen looked upward.
Even the Ash Titan hesitated.
The light came from Darian.
He floated several feet above the broken street, surrounded by golden flames that neither spread nor consumed.
His eyes blazed like molten gold.
The wooden bird the little girl had given him remained clenched in one hand.
The Ember Flame had answered.
Not to destroy.
But to protect.
Corvus stared in silence.
For the first time since the siege began...
His confident expression disappeared.
Instead...
He smiled.
"So," he whispered.
"You've finally awakened."
The wind carried ash and snow together across the battlefield as two ancient flames faced one another once more.
And every soul in Frostvale knew that the battle for the city had become something far greater than a siege.
It had become the beginning of a war that would decide the fate of the Flame itself.