The moonlight spilled across the private council chamber in cascading silver ribbons, illuminating the tension etched on every face present. Queen Elysia stood beside the massive oak table, her fingers tracing the edge of an ancient tome that Queen Elena had placed before them moments earlier. The book's cover was weathered leather, but what captured everyone's attention was its condition—roughly half of it had been torn away, leaving jagged edges like the teeth of some primordial beast.
"This," Elena announced, her voice carrying the weight of centuries despite her youthful appearance, "has been passed from mother to daughter in my line since before the Sundering itself."
Lyra leaned forward, her curiosity overriding protocol. "A family heirloom?"
"Not merely an heirloom," Elena replied, a shadow passing across her features. "This is the same book that led my mother and the Fire Kingdom into war. They managed to keep half of it, as did we."
