I clutched the Shard of Wisdom tightly as we made our way deeper into the Whispering Caves. Its faint blue light illuminated our path, casting eerie shadows on the ancient stone walls that seemed to watch our every move.
"We're close," I whispered to Alaric. "I can feel it."
My husband nodded grimly, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead. The weeks of searching had taken their toll on all of us. His normally immaculate appearance was disheveled – stubble darkened his jaw, and his clothes bore the marks of our journey. Yet he remained formidable, a bulwark against the encroaching darkness.
"The final shard," Sir Kaelen murmured from behind us. "The Shard of Sacrifice."
Something about those words sent a chill through me that had nothing to do with the cave's damp air. Each trial had been more difficult than the last, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this one would demand more than we were prepared to give.
