Keiren moved through the hall now, Duke in name and soon in deed. He stopped at Garrick's table.
"Firemane held," Keiren said. "Because of you." Garrick looked up, eyes tired but clear. "We held because we had to, Duke Vexar. But your fire gave us air. We remember that."
Keiren nodded. "I'll remember Redkeep. I'll remember you."
He moved on to Thane Stonefist. "Dragon's Teeth held. Because of you." Thane grunted. "We held because we had to. But we heard Redkeep held. That's what kept us going." Keiren found Ryker and Maric together. "Ashwood held. The breach held. You two held."
Ryker raised his cup. "We held because we had to. And because you gave us reason to believe we'd see dawn."
Maric clapped him on the back. "Duke Vexar. Don't let Harlen retire too far. We'll need him."
Harlen, overhearing, called over. "I'll be in the gardens, Maric. Try not to burn them down."
Laughter followed him.
Lady Arianna found Keiren by the railing. Her cloak was off, hair loose, no armor. She looked younger without it.
"You flew," Keiren said.
Arianna shook her head. "We flew. Winged Guard. We hit them from above. We lost two legions . But we broke their air seige ."
Keiren nodded. "I saw the phoenix. Lyra wrote it into song."
Arianna smiled. "Good. Let them remember. Let them remember it wasn't just swords."
Lyra Fierysong found him next, her eyes bright. "I'll write you into song too, Duke Vexar. 'The Phoenix of Erenhall.' It'll make you sound older."
Keiren laughed. "Please don't. I'm still getting used to Duke."
Lyra grinned. "You'll get used to it. Or you won't. But the song will be sung."
Liana Windwhisper touched his arm gently. "The winds remember you, Keiren. They remember your fire. They'll carry your name."
Keiren didn't know what to say to that. He just nodded.
Lady Ember Rose found him later, her hands clean but tired. "You charged Lilith's swarm," she said quietly. "I saw the men you brought back. Some I couldn't save. Some I did."
Keiren's throat tightened. "I'm sorry I couldn't save them all."
Ember Rose shook her head. "You saved who you could. That's all any of us can do. Don't carry the ones you couldn't. Carry the ones you did."
He nodded, and for the first time that night, he felt like he could breathe.
Lord Arin the Unyielding found him by the hearth, Crimson Shield leaning against the wall. "You held the line at burning plains ," keiren said. "We all saw it. You didn't run."
Arin shook his head. "I didn't have anywhere to run to."
Arin smiled. "That's why you held. That's why we all held."
Sir Julian Firebrand came with a scroll case. "Pyroxis remembers," he said. "And so do we. You'll read it someday, Duke Vexar. When you have time."
Keiren took the case. "I'll make time."
Lady Lila Earthsong and Lady Nymphadora Riverbrook found him together. Lila placed a hand on his arm. "The land remembers you, Keiren. The fire you brought. The life you saved."
Nymphadora nodded. "The rivers remember too. They wash clean what they can. The rest, the land holds."
Keiren didn't know what to say. He just listened.
Kael watched from the high table as Keiren moved, as he listened, as he spoke. Harlen stood beside him, quiet.
"He's ready," Harlen said. Kael nodded. "He's more than ready. He's what we need." Harlen smiled. "He asked the right question."
The night wore on. Songs turned to quiet talk. Quiet talk turned to plans. Plans for treaties. Plans for rebuilding. Plans for the next generation.
Duchess Sophia Emberstone spoke with Duchess Eira Shadowglow about the Crystal Sea. "We don't want another war," Sophia said.
Eira nodded. "Neither do we. But we will be ready if it comes." Sophia nodded. "So will we."
Lady Selene Sunforge spoke with Sir Bracken Ironbeard about the Sunsteel sword. "It remembers fire," Selene said.
Bracken grunted. "It'll remember this night too. And the next. And the next."
Sir Julian Firebrand spoke with Sir Lysander Starweaver about the stars. "They remember," Lysander said. "They remember every battle. Every life. Every fire."
Julian nodded. "Then we'll make sure they remember this one as the one where we chose peace."
Lord Arin the Unyielding spoke with Lord Hawthorne Silverleaf about standing firm. "We held," Arin said. "We didn't move."
Hawthorne nodded. "The treants remember. They don't move either. Not unless they have to."
Lady Lila Earthsong spoke with Lady Nymphadora Riverbrook about the land and the water. "The land remembers blood," Lila said. "The water washes it clean."
Nymphadora nodded. "Then we will keep the rivers pure."
As the night deepened, Kael rose again. The hall quieted.
"Lords and ladies," he said, "tomorrow we speak of treaties. Tonight, we speak of fire. Ardentia was forged in fire. It was saved by fire. And it will live by fire."
He lifted his cup. "To Ardentia. To those who fell. To those who stand. To those who will stand after us."
The hall answered as one: "To Ardentia!"
Keiren felt Harlen's hand on his shoulder. "Ready?" Harlen asked.
Keiren looked at the city below, at the banners, at the faces. He thought of the question again. If not me, then who?
He nodded.
Harlen smiled. "Good. Because the crown's heavy. But you'll carry it."
The Ember Crown was brought forward. Kael lifted it. Keiren knelt.
And Erenhall roared.
Two months after Redkeep, Ardentia had its peace. And its future. And it would hold.