Fire reveals the truth. Markan has never questioned what it might reveal about him
Newly branded by the Ember Crucible, the militant order that raised him, Markan is finally a knight. His scars prove his strength, his faith, and his place within its ranks.
When Veyl, the city that once cast him out, falls under siege, the Crucible marches to its aid. Markan sees the campaign as a chance to return, as a warrior carrying salvation at the point of a sword.
Yet the road to Veyl is lined with choices no creed can make clean.
Sacred ground is condemned. Necessary deaths multiply. Old enemies speak with voices Markan understands all too well, while Senna, an alchemist with little patience for doctrine, keeps asking questions he has spent years learning not to hear.
As the siege draws closer, Markan’s faith begins to fracture. The order that gave him purpose demands obedience. His buried past demands something else.
To save the city, he may have to decide what his scars truly mean, and whether the fire he serves can tell justice from cruelty.
Fire will judge.
But first, Markan must choose what deserves to burn.
