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She had barely the breath to scream for a healer as she dis to the bird as she did Solines from the ilken sentry deep No sheen of poison, but--

"Are you hurt?" Sartaq The prince’s eyes ide, his face bloodied, as he scanned her from head to toe Behind him, Kadara panted on the battleripped her shoulders "Are you hurt?" She’d never seen such panic in his face

Nesryn only pointed to the now-still enemy, unable to find the words

But others did One word, one name, over and over Yrene

Healers raced up the battle for both ruks, and Nesryn allowed herself to slide her arainst his armored chest

"Nesryn" Her nahtly So close They had come so, so close to utter defeat

Yrene Yrene Yrene, the soldiers and people of the city shouted

Sartaq ran a hand down her matted hair "You knohat victoryBehind theic soothed over his eye "A good night’s rest, I hope," she said

Sartaq laughed, and pressed a kiss to her te ho home--with me"

And even with the battle freshly ended, even with the dead and wounded around theo home with him to the southern continent And to all that waited there

Aelin, Rowan, Lorcan, and Fenrys lingered on the plain outside the city gates until they were certain the fallen aran’s troops went between the ene And received no answer

But they did not behead Did not sever and finish the job

Not for those with the black rings, or black collars

Those whoht yet save

Tomorrow That would come tomorrow

The moon had reached its peak when they wordlessly decided that they had seen enough to deterain When the ruks, Crochans, and rebel Ironteeth had vanished, chasing the last of the aerial legion into the night

Then Aelin turned toward the southern gate to Orynth

As if in answer, it groaned open towide

Aelin looked to Rowan, their crowns of fla through every bone in her body, Aelin took a step toward the gate Toward Orynth Toward home

Lorcan and Fenrys fell into step behind them The latter’s wounds still leaked down his face, but he had refused Aelin and Rowan’s offers to heal him Had said he wanted a reminder They hadn’t dared to ask of what--not yet

Aelin lifted her chin high, shoulders squaring as they neared the archway

Soldiers already lined either side

Not the khagan’s soldiers, but st them, too--awe and joy in their faces

Aelin looked at the threshold of the gate At the ancient, faore

She sent a whisper of flas of her power

When the fire vanished, the stones were again clean New As this city would be reater splendors A beacon of learning and light once htened around hers, but she did not look at hiate

No, Aelin only looked at her people, san to cheer, welcoht until the enemy soldier before him had slu on his finger, was not dead at all

Only the dean to cheer, ord spread that a Torre Cesme healer had defeated Erawan, Aedion simply turned from the battlements

He found hiered, a path that Aedion followed through the wrecked streets and throngs of celebrating, weeping people

A lone candle had been lit in the empty barracks room where they’d set his body atop a worktable