CHAPTER 5
THE HEIR'S HIDDEN NAME
The eastern archives had been sealed for years.
Aldric unlocked them himself.
Dust covered the shelves.
Elena followed him inside.
"We're looking for what?"
"Birth records."
They searched for hours.
Finally Elena found an old royal ledger.
The page containing the heir's name had been torn out.
Aldric's expression darkened.
"Someone removed it."
Elena touched the empty page.
The mark on her wrist glowed.
Ink appeared.
One letter.
Then another.
A name slowly formed.
Elyan.
Aldric stepped backward.
"No."
Elena looked at him.
"What?"
"My son's name."
Silence filled the room.
Elena's hands trembled.
"Why would it appear for me?"
Aldric didn't answer.
She turned another page.
A second message appeared.
The heir lives where the king cannot look.
Aldric clenched his fists.
"Someone has been guiding us."
"Or warning us."
Aldric looked at Elena.
"You may be the key."
Before they could continue, the door slammed shut.
Smoke poured beneath it.
Aldric grabbed Elena.
"Stay behind me."
The room filled with darkness.
Someone had set the archives on fire.
They escaped through a hidden passage.
Outside, Aldric turned to Elena.
"Someone knows what we're doing."
"Who?"
"I don't know."
"Then we find out."
Aldric studied her.
"You aren't afraid."
"I am."
She looked at the burning archives.
"But I'm tired of being afraid of a truth I haven't even heard yet."
Aldric nodded.
"Then we'll find it."
Behind them, a shadow moved across the palace wall.
The traitor was already inside the royal court.