Kingdom of Ash

Manon lifted it, a torch in the new day.
The Crochan crowd parted, revealing a
straight path toward Bronwen’s hearth. The
witch was already waiting, her coven gathered
around her.
Each step was a drumbeat of war. An
answer to a question posed long ago.
Bronwen’s eyes were bright as Manon
stopped.
Manon only said, “Your queen summons
you to war.”
And touched her flame to that in
Bronwen’s hearth.
Light flared, bright and dancing.
Bronwen picked up a branch of her own, a
long log burning in the fire. “The Vanora will
fly.”
She withdrew the wood and stalked to the
next clan’s hearth, where she plunged that
kernel of the sacred fire into their pit. Again