Knight of Two Hearts

A valley starves while a king blames a dragon and the river turns foul. Young knight Roblen climbs to a mountain cave to kill a beast and finds a guardian instead. Nathan lies weakened by poisoned water. In the chamber beyond, a stone vault bears the record of an old oath. A ruler once shared half a heart with the keeper of the valley, and prosperity followed truth. Roblen places his palm upon the cut and chooses to bind his life to the guardian. With healer Serenya, scholar Ceyrin, river man Garran, and captain Sir Kaelor, he follows a trail of marked casks and crooked stamps to the royal dock.

The city wakes. Boards with charcoal rubbings hang in the market. Proof replaces rumor. The crown calls for curfew. The people answer with calm defiance. Poison burns at the pier while Nathan cleans the air with measured flame. The north shed fires, yet the watch and common hands save the yard and the names. Power shifts in the square. Steward Marna steps out with keys and courage and walks the ledge to renew the pact. Heart shares with heart. Rain returns. Fish noses break the surface. The crown is hammered into a bell.

This is a story of oath and river, of a knight who lives long because he keeps a promise, and of a city that learns to guard truth with work rather than noise. The magic is old and quiet. The battles are fought on steps and docks and in the rooms where people decide what kind of neighbors they wish to be. The valley keeps its promise. The dragon keeps watch.