“The woman who gave birth to me was passing through town. My mother said she arrived heavily pregnant, a highborn, covered in blood, and spoke of a battle where her entire family was slaughtered for a magic they held.” He frowned. “Eighteen winters ago? There were no Eclipse Dragons left then, unless…” Something dawned on his face and he fell against the wall, his back hitting it hard. “My grandfather died eighteen winters ago. Fighting a threat to the crown, my father said.”
