IF WAR HAS A HEART, THIS IS IT. IT DOESN’T BEAT FOR VICTORY — IT BEATS TO KEEP THE NAMES LIT. EACH STRIATION IS A ROAD BACK TO THE MOMENT YOU REFUSED TO BREAK.


HEART OF WAR
THE ORGAN OF THE CAMPAIGN. BLOODY AND TRUE. THE ROMANTIC PULSE BETWEEN CANNON BLASTS — THE SILENCE, THEN THE RISE.
MEDIUM
MIXED MEDIA ON CANVAS • WAR LOVE TREATMENT (ASH, PIGMENT, BINDER, GLYPH TRACE)
SIZE
16 × 20 INCHES (40.6 × 50.8 CM)
EXHIBIT A — THE CORE

EXHIBIT B — THE EDGE

THE SURFACE IS ARMOR: PIGMENT OVER ASH OVER DECISION. YOU CAN READ THE STRIKES LIKE TREE RINGS — HOW MANY WINTERS IT SURVIVED, HOW MANY SPRINGS IT REFUSED TO DIE.
EXHIBIT C — THE TRACE

THE GLYPH TRACE IS NOT ORNAMENT. IT IS A RETURN PATH. IF YOU GET LOST, TOUCH HERE. THE FIRE WILL POINT HOME.
PROTOCOL: WAR LOVE • OP CODE: HEARTKEEPER • COMMAND: AIM THE MEMORY. SWING TRUE.
ENTRY 01 — THE DRUM WAS INSIDE MY CHEST AND OUTSIDE THE CITY. I COULD HEAR BOTH. WHEN THEY SAID STAND DOWN, THE HEART STOOD UP.
ENTRY 02 — I MARKED THE MAP IN RED. EVERY X WAS A NAME. I DIDN’T NEED PERMISSION TO PROTECT THEM.
ENTRY 03 — I FELT THE PULSE CLIMB: 92. 118. 144. IT WASN’T FEAR. IT WAS DIRECTION. AXE IN MY RIGHT HAND. MEMORY IN MY LEFT.
ENTRY 04 — CANNON FIRST. THEN SILENCE. IN THE SILENCE, I HEARD HER LAUGH. THAT’S WHEN I KNEW THE ARTIFACT WAS ALIVE.
ENTRY 05 — I SEALED THE SURFACE. NOT TO HIDE IT — TO HOLD IT. WHEN LIGHT HITS, THE CORE BRIGHTENS LIKE A WARNING NO ONE CAN MISREAD.
REQUEST PRIVATE HANDOVER
FLAME COMMANDER