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But Hafiza’s eyes softened Grew conte as we are needed--until the khagan’s soldiers can be transported ho wounded, but in a feeeks, ill go"

Yrene’s throat tightened "I know"

"And you," Hafiza went on, taking her hand, "will not return with us"

Her eyes burned, but Yrene whispered, "No, I won’t"

Hafiza squeezed Yrene’s fingers, her hand war as steel "I shall have to find myself a new heir apparent, then"

"I’m sorry," she whispered

"Whatever for?" Hafiza chuckled "You have found love, and happiness, Yrene There is nothing more that I could ever wish for you"

Yrene wiped away the tear that slipped out "I just--I don’t want you to think I wasted your tihter "Wasted my time? Yrene Towers--Yrene Westfall" The ancient wo, ancient hands "You have saved us all" Yrene closed her eyes as Hafiza pressed a kiss to her brow A blessing and a farewell

"You will stay in these lands," Hafiza said, her s us, ill reht over her heart "And no matter the years, you will forever have a place at the Torre Always"

Yrene put a shaking hand over her own heart and nodded

Hafiza squeezed her shoulder and made to walk back to her patients

But Yrene said, "What if--"

Hafiza turned, brows rising "Yes?"

Yrene sed "What if, once I have settled in Adarlan, and had this babe … When the tiht, what if I establishedto the cadence of the statement while it echoed into her heart "A Torre Cesme in the North"

Yrene went on, "In Adarlan In Rifthold A new Torre to replenish what Erawan destroyed To teach the children who ift, and those ill be born with it" Becausein froifted the Torre woo Perhaps they would wish to help again

Hafiza smiled anew "I like that idea very h walked back into the fray of healing and pain

But Yrene re in her belly

And she sly--at the future that opened before her, bright as the onco dawn

Sunrise was near, yet Manon could not sleep Had not bothered to find a place to rest, not while the Crochans and Ironteeth remained injured, and she had not yet finished her count of how many had survived the battle The war

There was an empty space inside her where twelve souls had once burned fiercely

Perhaps that hy she had not found her bed, not even when she knew Dorian had likely procured sleeping arrange beside her, and stared out at the silent battlefield

When the bodies were cleared, when the snowscaer on the plain before the city? Would it forever remain as such, a marker of where they fell?

"We have a final count," Bronwen said behind her, and Manon found the Crochan and Glennis e from the tower stairwell, Petrah at their heels

Manon braced herself for it as she waved a hand in silent request

Bad But not as bad as it could have been

When Manon opened her eyes, the three of theether in peace As allies

"We’ll collect the dead tomorrow," Manon said, her voice low "And burn them at moonrise" As both Crochans and Ironteeth did A full ood moon to be burned To be returned to the Three-Faced Goddess, and reborn within that womb

"And after that?" Petrah asked "What then?"

Manon looked from Petrah to Glennis and Bronwen "What should you like to do?"

Glennis said softly, "Go home"