Chapter 3 - The Letter From a Dead Man
The letter began:
My little star,
If you are reading this, then the crown has done what I prayed it would never need to do.
Elara stared at Mara.
“Papa wrote this?”
“Yes.”
Prince Cassian and Captain Rowan had been called into the room.
Mara continued reading.
The Star Crown does not belong to a royal family. It belongs to Aurelion. Kings changed the story because bloodlines are easier to control than conscience.
Cassian went still.
“That’s impossible.”
Rowan whispered:
“Keep reading.”
When the royal line becomes corrupted or threatened from within, the crown may choose a Keeper.
The Keeper may be noble or common, old or young, royal or nameless.
The crown looks for one thing: someone willing to protect the realm even when power gives them every reason not to.
Elara stared at the crown.
“I don’t want power.”
Mara smiled sadly.
“Maybe that’s why it chose you.”
The letter continued.
Eight years earlier, Tomas had discovered the original Charter of Choosing hidden in the royal archive.
Chancellor Varro discovered what he had found.
The next morning, Tomas was accused of treason.
He escaped.
Before disappearing, he hid three copies of the Charter.
One beneath the Eastern Chapel.
One inside the old observatory.
One somewhere only the crown itself could reveal.
The final lines read:
If the crown has chosen you, Elara, then something terrible has happened.
Never trust anyone who tells you a crown makes you better than other people.
Never trust anyone who says destiny excuses cruelty.
And never trust a ruler who fears questions.
A crown is not a reward.
It is a promise.
Your father, Tomas Vale.
Elara swallowed.
“Is Papa alive?”
Mara closed her eyes.
“I don’t know.”
Cassian looked toward the secret tunnel.
“We find the Charter.”
“No,” Mara said immediately.
“My daughter is not crawling beneath a palace because an eight-year-old letter tells her to.”
Elara stood.
“What if Papa is alive?”
“Elara—”
“What if he needs us?”
Mara stared at her.
Elara continued.
“I want to know why everybody is frightened of me.”
“And I want to know why Papa disappeared.”
Cassian removed his royal signet ring.
He placed it on the table.
“I will not order you.”
Elara frowned.
“You’re a prince.”
“Yes.”
“You order people.”
“Too often.”
He pushed the ring away.
“If you go, I go because you ask me.”
Elara turned toward Mara.
“Please.”
Mara sighed.
“Your father was exactly this impossible.”
“That means yes?”
“It means I chose my husband badly.”
Rowan laughed quietly.
They entered the secret passage at midnight.
The tunnel descended beneath the palace.
The Star Crown illuminated the darkness.
Eventually they found a black stone door.
Seven stars were carved into it.
Elara touched the center.
The door opened.
Inside stood an enormous mirror.
Words appeared across its surface.
THE FIRST TEST OF THE KEEPER:
WHAT WILL YOU GIVE UP TO LEARN THE TRUTH?
Then the door slammed behind them.
May you like
And water began pouring into the chamber.
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