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Morath had halted coy now that the Crochans had appeared froend Not hunted nearly as close to extinction as they’d believed, it seemed

It left Manon and the army she’d raised the chance to catch their breath, at least

And a night to sleep, if fitfully She’ddinner, when it beca them off today

Five thousand Crochans would not win this war They would not stop a hundred thousand soldiers But they could keep the Ironteeth legions at bay--keep the in the deh for whatever small miracle, Manon didn’t know She hadn’t dared ask, and none of the mortals had posed the question, either

Could the city outlast a hundred thousand soldiers haates? Perhaps

But not with the witch tower still operational on the plain She had little doubt that it was currently being repaired, a neyvern being hitched up Perhaps that hy they had halted--to give theain And blast the Crochans into oblivion

Only the daould reveal what the Ironteeth chose to do What they’d accomplished

Manon and the Thirteen, Bronwen and Glennis with the thee of their enemy’s formations

She’d created those formations Had planned to lead the with the rim-faced but not quite so near panic, Manon and the Thirteen found a chamber in which to sleep

A few candles burned in the spacious roo save the bedrolls they brought in Manon tried not to look too long at hers, to mark the scent that had faded with every --she didn’t let herself think about

If only because doing so would send her flying southward again, all the way to Morath

In the dim room, Manon sat on her bedroll, the Thirteen seated around her, and listened to the chaos of the castle

The place was littleevery corner She wondered what this roo room, a place to sleep, a study … There were no indicators

Manon leaned her head back against the cold stones of the wall behind her, her crown discarded by her boots

Asterin spoke first, cutting through the silence of the coven "We know their every move, every weapon And now the Crochans do, too The Matrons are likely in a panic"

She’d never seen her grandh "We shall see tomorrow, I suppose" She surveyed her Thirteen "You have come with me this far, but tohting friends or lovers or family members" She sed "I will not blame you if you cannot do it"

"We have come this far," Sorrel said, "because we are all prepared for what to"

Indeed, the Thirteen nodded Asterin said, "We are not afraid"

No, they were not Looking at the clear eyes around her, Manon could see that for herself

"I’d expected at least soroused, "from the Ferian Gap to join us"

"They don’t understand," Ghislaine said "What we even offered theed therureen-eyed deain Despite their clear eyes, her Thirteen ell aware of the liainst the Ironteeth, and the ar them each in the eye, "I would rather fly with you than with ten thousand Ironteeth at htly "Torinned, wicked and defiant, and touched two fingers to their brows in deference

Manon returned the gesture, bowing her head as she did "We are the Thirteen," she said "Froeline had decided that she no longer wished to be page to Lord Darrow, but rather a Crochan witch

One of the woirl an extra red cloak, which Evangeline was still wearing when Lysandra tucked her into bed She’d help Darrow toeline promised as she nodded off After she made sure the Crochans had all the help they needed