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And she would not lower herself, lower the Thirteen, to becoht be desperate for aid, ht have promised it to their allies, but she would not debase herself any further

Manon halted at Glennis’s ca A fire that would always remain kindled

A reminder of the prole, solitary flaainst the cold

Manon rubbed at her face as she slu the hearth

A hand rested on her shoulder, warht She didn’t bother to slap it away

Glennis said, "We’re departing in a few ood-bye"

Manon peered up at the ancient witch "Fly well"

It was really all there was left to say Manon’s failure was not due to Glennis, not due to anyone but herself, she supposed

You’re afraid

It was true She had tried, but not really tried to win the Crochans To let the To let them see what it had done to her, to learn she had a sister and that she had killed her She didn’t kno, and had never bothered to learn

You’re afraid

Yes, she was Of everything

Glennis lowered her hand froh war and back ho the crone there was no home for her, or the Thirteen

Glennis turned her face toward the sky, sighing once

Then her white brows narrowed Her nostrils flared

Manon leapt to her feet

"Run," Glennis breathed "Run now"

Manon drew Wind-Cleaver and did no such thing "What is it"

"They’re here" How Glennis had scented them on the wind, Manon didn’t care

Not as three wyverns broke fro for their camp

She knew those wyverns, almost as well as she knew the three riders who sent the Crochans into a frenzy of motion

The Matrons of the Ironteeth Witch-Clans had found them And come to finish what Manon had started that day in Morath

CHAPTER 56

The three High Witches had co, broo hat could only be recognition

Manon’s grip on Wind-Cleaver tightened at the slight tree of Glennis’s fire, their wyverns crushing tents beneath them

Asterin and Sorrel were instantly beside her, her Second’stents "The Shadows are airborne, but they signaled no sign of another unit"

"None of their covens?"

"No And no sign of Iskra or Petrah"

Manon sed The Matrons truly had coathered, and somehow found theht settle That she ht to this camp The soft snarls of the Crochans around her, pointed at Manon, said enough of their opinion