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Thank the gods for that

The war tent was nearly full, lords and princes and co thefrom one of the wall flaps Pins jutted from its thick canvas to mark various ar off aid from any allies beyond Morath’s lines

"She returns at last," a cold voice drawled

Lysandra summoned a lazy s near the entrance "I heard I ured I’d return before I lost the chance to kill sorunts myself"

A few chuckles at that, but Darrow didn’t s, Your Highness"

"I invited her," Aedion said, stepping to the edge of the group "Since she’s technically fighting in the Bane, Ihere

Lysandra wondered if anyone else could see the hint of pain in Aedion’s face--pain, and disgust at the ist them

"Sorry to disappoint," she crooned to Darrow

Darrow only turned back to the ave Aelin a respectful nod, and Ravi flashed her a grin Aelin winked before facing the map

"After our rout of Morath yesterday under General Ashryver’s command," Darrow said, "I believe we should position our troops on Theralis, and ready Orynth’s defenses for a siege" The older lords--Sloane, Gunnar, and Ironwood--grunted with agree this "It announces to Erawan that we’re on the run, and spreads us too far from any potential allies frorayer than Darrow and twice as mean, "we have walls that can withstand catapults"

"If they bring those witch towers," Ren Allsbrook cut in, "then even Orynth’s walls will crumble"

"We have yet to see evidence of those witch towers," Darrow countered "Beyond the word of an enemy"

"An enemy turned ally," Aelin--Lysandra--said Darrow cut her a distasteful stare "Manon Blackbeak did not lie Nor were her Thirteen aligned with Morath when they fought alongside us"

A nod froainst Maeve," sneered Lord Sloane, a reed-thin ainst Maeve, not Erawan Would they have done the saainst their own kind? Witches are loyal unto death, and craftier than foxes Manon Blackbeak and her cabal ht very well have played you for desperate fools and fed you the wrong inforrandh Witch of the Blackbeak Clan," Aedion said, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl "I do not think the iron splinters we found in her gut wound were a lie"

"Again," Lord Sloane said, "these witches are crafty They’ll do anything"

"The witch towers are real," Lysandra said, letting Aelin’s cool, unfazed voice fill the tent "I’ their existence Nor will I risk Orynth to their power"

"But you’d risk the border towns?" Darrow challenged

"I plan to find a way to take out the towers before they can pass the foothills," she drawled She prayed Aedion had a plan

"With the fire that you’ve so nificently displayed," Darrow said with equal smoothness

Ansel of Briarcliff answered before Lysandra could coant lie "Erawan likes to play his little ames, to drum up fear Let him wonder and worry why Aelin hasn’t wielded hers yet Conteuish wink at her "I do hope it will be horrific"