The Thirteenth Ember - Chapter 29: Chapter 29
You are reading The Thirteenth Ember, Chapter 29: Chapter 29. Read more chapters of The Thirteenth Ember.
The rebellion didn’t begin with fire.
It began with whispers.
Kael and Aeryn spent the next nine days moving from town to town, releasing fragments of the truth they’d uncovered in the Vault. Each night, they left behind recordings — memory-flames infused with Mirael’s testimony, with names the Court had erased.
People began to listen.
In the shadows. In the silence.
And slowly, across the flame-border towns, fear began to shift.
From rebellion… to belief.
One morning in Fenhollow, a blacksmith pressed a burned ring into Aeryn’s hand and said quietly, “My sister vanished after refusing the ember-branding. You’ve given me back her name.”
In Thornbay, a healer passed Kael a weathered letter signed by Mirael herself.
They were building something. Quietly. Patiently.
But the Court was watching.
On the twelfth day, Aeryn received a message wrapped in silver twine — the old code. It had only been used between apprentices of the Ember Temple during her training years.
It was from Liora.
Her oldest friend. Her closest sister-in-flame.
I know you’re alive. And I know what they’ve done.
Come to the Shale Bridge. I can help.”
Kael was wary.
“This could be a trap.”
“It is,” Aeryn replied. “But not hers.”
They reached the Shale Bridge at dusk.
It was abandoned. Wind-blown. The last remnants of the outer Flame Cities flickering far in the distance.
Liora stood waiting in a grey cloak.
Her hair was shorter now. Her expression — older, tired.
But when she saw Aeryn, something broke in face. “You really made it.”
Aeryn hugged her fiercely.
“You saw the broadcasts?” Kael asked.
Liora nodded. “All of them. And it’s spreading. Even the Inner Flame Guard is beginning to question.”
“But?”
Liora looked away.
“The Court knows you’re here. They want to stop the message before it reaches the Citadel.”
Aeryn’s voice dropped. “They sent you?”
“No,” Liora whispered. “They sent me to lure you. But I came to warn you.”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
Too late.
A scream echoed across the bridge.
And suddenly — from behind the pillars — cloaked figures emerged.
Nullborn.
Liora shoved Aeryn aside. “Run!”
But they didn’t come for Aeryn.
They grabbed Liora.
Wrapped iron chains around her wrists. Muffled her mouth.
Kael ignited instantly — fire surging up his arms.
“Let her go!”
One of the figures stepped forward, holding a silver torch — unlit.
A message.
He threw it at Aeryn’s feet.
And vanished.
The torch sparked open.
A memory-flame flared to life.
Her mother’s voice.
“You spread lies, and now I hold your truth.
Come to the Hollow Chamber by the next blood moon.
Alone. Or she burns.”
Aeryn stood frozen.
Kael said nothing.
Because there were no words big enough for what she felt.
Only fire.
Only choice.
It began with whispers.
Kael and Aeryn spent the next nine days moving from town to town, releasing fragments of the truth they’d uncovered in the Vault. Each night, they left behind recordings — memory-flames infused with Mirael’s testimony, with names the Court had erased.
People began to listen.
In the shadows. In the silence.
And slowly, across the flame-border towns, fear began to shift.
From rebellion… to belief.
One morning in Fenhollow, a blacksmith pressed a burned ring into Aeryn’s hand and said quietly, “My sister vanished after refusing the ember-branding. You’ve given me back her name.”
In Thornbay, a healer passed Kael a weathered letter signed by Mirael herself.
They were building something. Quietly. Patiently.
But the Court was watching.
On the twelfth day, Aeryn received a message wrapped in silver twine — the old code. It had only been used between apprentices of the Ember Temple during her training years.
It was from Liora.
Her oldest friend. Her closest sister-in-flame.
I know you’re alive. And I know what they’ve done.
Come to the Shale Bridge. I can help.”
Kael was wary.
“This could be a trap.”
“It is,” Aeryn replied. “But not hers.”
They reached the Shale Bridge at dusk.
It was abandoned. Wind-blown. The last remnants of the outer Flame Cities flickering far in the distance.
Liora stood waiting in a grey cloak.
Her hair was shorter now. Her expression — older, tired.
But when she saw Aeryn, something broke in face. “You really made it.”
Aeryn hugged her fiercely.
“You saw the broadcasts?” Kael asked.
Liora nodded. “All of them. And it’s spreading. Even the Inner Flame Guard is beginning to question.”
“But?”
Liora looked away.
“The Court knows you’re here. They want to stop the message before it reaches the Citadel.”
Aeryn’s voice dropped. “They sent you?”
“No,” Liora whispered. “They sent me to lure you. But I came to warn you.”
Kael’s jaw tightened.
Too late.
A scream echoed across the bridge.
And suddenly — from behind the pillars — cloaked figures emerged.
Nullborn.
Liora shoved Aeryn aside. “Run!”
But they didn’t come for Aeryn.
They grabbed Liora.
Wrapped iron chains around her wrists. Muffled her mouth.
Kael ignited instantly — fire surging up his arms.
“Let her go!”
One of the figures stepped forward, holding a silver torch — unlit.
A message.
He threw it at Aeryn’s feet.
And vanished.
The torch sparked open.
A memory-flame flared to life.
Her mother’s voice.
“You spread lies, and now I hold your truth.
Come to the Hollow Chamber by the next blood moon.
Alone. Or she burns.”
Aeryn stood frozen.
Kael said nothing.
Because there were no words big enough for what she felt.
Only fire.
Only choice.
End of The Thirteenth Ember Chapter 29. Continue reading Chapter 30 or return to The Thirteenth Ember book page.