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Bronwen fell silent for a few steps Manon had just entered the ring of Glennis’s hearth when the witch said, "We shouldn’t have bothered to hope, then"

Manon had no answer, so she walked away, the Thirteen not giving Bronwen a passing glance

Manon found Glennis stirring the coals of her hearth, the sacred fire in its center a bright lick of flaift from Brannon--a piece of Terrasen’s queen here

Glennis said, "Wetomorrow It was decided: we are to return to our home-hearths"

Manon only sat on the rock nearest the crone, leaving the Thirteen to scrounge up whatever food they could find Dorian had remained back with the wyverns The last she’d seen of hi him Either for pleasure or inforain anyti to Morath

The thought didn’t sit entirely well

Manon said to Glennis, "Do you think the Ironteeth are capable of change?"

"You would know that answer best"

She did, and she wasn’t wholly certain she liked the conclusion she reached "Did Rhiannon think we could be?" Did she think I could be?

Glennis’s eyes softened, a hint of sorrow gracing the to the flame "Your half sister was your opposite, in so ards She was open, and honest, and spoke her feelings, regardless of the consequences Brash, soht not know it fro a bit, "but there were more than a few around these various hearths who disliked her Who didn’t want to hear her lectures on our failing people, on how a better solution existed How our peoples ht find peace Every day, she spoke loudly and to anyone who dom The possibility of a future where we did not need to hide, or be spread so thin Many called her a fool Thought her a fool especially when she went to look for you To see if you agreed with her, despite what your bloody history suggested"

She’d died for that dream, that possibility of a future Manon had killed her for it

Glennis said, "So did Rhiannon think the Ironteeth capable of change? She ht have been the only witch in the Crochans who did, but she believed it with every shred of her being" Her sagging throat bobbed "She believed you two could rule it together--the Witch Kingdoether you would rebuild what fractured long ago"

"And now there is justboth

"Now it is just you" Glennis’s stare turned direct, unforgiving "A bridge between us"

Manon accepted the plate of food Asterin handed her before the Second sat beside her

Asterin said, "The Ironteeth will turn You’ll see"

Sorrel grunted froreeave Manon’s Third a vulgar gesture "They’ll turn I swear it"

Glennis offered a s into her food

Hope, she had told Elide all those o

But perhaps there would be none for theered by the wyverns to answer the questions of the Crochans who either did not want to or were perhaps too skittish to ask the Thirteen what had occurred in the Ferian Gap

No, a host was not rallying behind them No, no one had tracked them Yes, Manon had spoken to the Ironteeth and asked theotten in and out alive Yes, she had spoken as both Ironteeth and Crochan

At least, Asterin had told hi to Manon, discussing their next steps … He didn’t bother Not yet

And when Asterin herself had gone quiet, he’d fallen deep into thought Mulled over all he’d seen in the Ferian Gap, every twisted hall and chamber and pit that reeked of pain and fear

What his father and Erawan had built The sort of kingdo Dorian ignored theold remained warm despite the bitter cold

A sword of truth, yes, but also reain

If he did not falter Did not doubt hiht All of it He could ht

Damaris heated in silent comfort and confirmation

Dorian left the small crowd of Crochans and strode to a sliver of land overlooking a deadly plunge to a snow-and-rock-strewn chasm