CHAPTER 85

Manon and the Thirteen shot into the skies as
the Crochan army flowed below, a red tide
rushing toward the sea of black ahead.
Forcing the Ironteeth legion to choose:
their ancient enemies or their new ones.
It was a test, and one Manon had wanted to
make early. To see how many of the Ironteeth
would heed the command to plow forward,
and how many might break from their orders,
the temptation of battling the Thirteen too
much to bear. And a test, she supposed, for the
Matrons and the Heirs who led their legion—
would they fall for it? Split their forces to