Rowan gripped her trembling hand and
squeezed.
But there was no truth or lie that might
soothe her.
No truth or lie to save the army on the
plain.
Elide found her companions and their allies
not in a council room, but gathered on the
battlements. As if bodies and gore didn’t lie
around them.
She cringed at each step through blood
both black and red, trying not to meet the
sightless eyes of fallen soldiers. She’d been
sent by Yrene to see how Chaol fared—a
panting, fearful question from a wife who had
not heard anything of his fate since the battle
began.
After hours helping the healers, Elide had
been desperate to escape the room that reeked