“Wars were fought over these knolls for centuries.” Stonehands led us up a sloped cobbled pathway, pointing out stones and foundations that belonged to ruins of an original palace. “It is believed the Wanderer once ruled here, making it the most coveted land across the realms of Stìgandr.”

“The Wanderer lived on Jorvan lands?” a woman asked. She was joined with two young boys and a bearded man whose belly sank low over his belt.

Stonehands gave a stiff nod. “So the sagas say. Here, his warriors bled, his children played. There is power in these lands, and lust for more of it breeds hate. It was much of the cause of the Divisive Wars that split the kingdoms in the modern three of Myrda, Dravenmoor, and Jorvandal. Now, follow me. I will show you the painted windows.”

My fingers trailed over the moss-soaked stones of the old fortress. “Stav Nightlark.”

Emi wove backward between a few other visitors. “What?”

“Is it true?” I tilted my head back, squinting through the sunlight toward the upper towers. “Did the Wanderer live here?”

The Wanderer King was no mere king. He was the father of our lands, the legendary genesis of craft across the kingdoms.

“It’s a common belief back home.”

“So, Dravenmoor accepts it.”

“Some do.” Emi placed her open palm on one of the walls. “Others believe the old Jorvan king who won his treaties was simply lucky in battle and selected the richest lands, then called them gods-blessed to become more important than was true.”

She followed the flow of the crowd. I held back a moment, looking around the towers, the roads, and onto the distant hills beyond the inner walls. Could these be the knolls where myths were born?

“Who can tell me what this signifies?” Stonehands paused beside a stone juncture where three paths convened into one.

Over the archway that covered the single lane was a bind rune made of gold, bronze, and crimson iron. Silver filigree made the edges, like the rune was nestled in a night bloom.

When no one spoke, Stonehands let out an irritated growl and pointed to each shade of the rune. “Crimson in the rune of a warrior signifies the blood of those lost in the Divisive Wars. Bronze in the rune of loyalty stands for the treaties of craft between Jorvandal and Myrda. Gold in the rune of protection, a vow from these walls to always protect those who remain loyal and steadfast against our enemies.”

Stonehands barreled on about the grandness of King Damir’s distant grandfather in battles that divided the folk and kingdoms. Divisive Wars made Dravenmoor the enemy and signed treaties that demanded Myrda deliver the craft of melding to the service of Stonegate if ever it was found in their borders.