“Starshade," Cyr said softly, fingertips brushing the edge of the old census record.
The ink had faded, but the name burned brighter than fire.
Eileen Starshade.
The same name that vanished from the registry sixteen years ago.
He stared at the matching handwriting—an old royal ledger tucked deep inside the restricted archives.
“Presumed dead," he murmured. “But she wasn't. She survived. And hid."
Captain Varek stood behind him, arms folded. “You knew her name?"
“I've seen it before. In a dream."
Varek frowned. “Your dreams are getting specific."
Cyr closed the book slowly. “This wasn't just memory. It was *remorse.*"
He looked at the portrait above the fireplace—King Halric Ulmir. His father.
The man who supposedly died defending the palace.
But now… Cyr wasn't sure.
Another s
