Kingdom of Ash

Rowan unsheathed his sword, a hatchet in
his other hand, his face like stone.
Unbreakable.
The horns blew a third and final time, the
rallying cry singing out across the bloody
plain.
The Lord of the North reared up, jutting
Goldryn higher into the sky, and Aelin
unleashed a flash of fire through the ruby—
the signal the army behind her had awaited.
For Terrasen. All of it, for Terrasen.
The Lord of the North landed, the immortal
flame within his antlers shining bright as he
began the charge. The army around and
behind her flowed down the hillside, gaining
with each step, barreling toward Morath’s
back ranks.
Barreling toward Orynth.
Toward home.