CHAPTER 82

Every Crochan who could fly and wield a
sword had come.
For days, they had raced northward,
keeping deep to the mountains, then cutting
low over Oakwald before making a wide
circuit to avoid Morath’s detection.
Indeed, as Manon and the Thirteen perched
on the city walls, the Crochans streaming
overhead while they made their way to
whatever landing place they might find on the
castle battlements, it was still hard to believe
they had made it.
And without an hour to spare.