Shield of Thorns. Book One, #1

The Shield of Thorns was not merely a weapon; it was a legend forged in fire and blood. In an age when kingdoms rose and fell by the sword, a sorcerer named Veylan crafted a shield unlike any other-one said to turn aside the deadliest of strikes and protect its bearer from all harm. But such power was never free. The shield's surface was etched with thorned vines, each thorn a curse that would pierce the soul of whoever carried it.
Those who wielded the shield found themselves bound to a fate of sacrifice. For every injury deflected by its magic, a thorn would embed itself in their heart, bleeding unseen and unrelenting. Stories spread through villages and castles alike-heroes who vanished into shadow, their names swallowed by time, leaving only whispered warnings of the Shield's curse. King Eldric Ashford, the last known bearer, was a man of great valor and conviction.
He raised the shield high against invaders who sought to tear his kingdom apart, turning aside blade after blade as if untouched by war. But the price was heavy. Eldric's heart grew heavy with each battle, his body worn and broken beneath the shield's unyielding defense. The pain was invisible to others but burned inside like wildfire. When he fell, so too did the shield disappear into the night, taken by unseen hands who sought to wield its terrible power.
Rumors spread of shadowed figures and secret deals forged beneath moonlight. The kingdom mourned the loss, knowing the protection was gone.