shall the Silian.”
And so it went.
Until the leaders of all seven of the Great
Hearths stood gathered there.
Until Glennis said to Manon, “Long ago,
Rhiannon Crochan rode at King Brannon’s
side into battle. So has her likeness been
reborn, so shall the old alliances be forged
anew.” She gestured to the eternal flame.
“Light the Flame of War, Queen of Witches,
and rally your host.”
Manon’s heart raced, so wildly it pulsed in
her palms, but she picked up a birch branch
set amongst the kindling.
No one spoke as she plunged it into the
eternal flame.
Red and gold and blue leaped upon the
wood, devouring it. Manon withdrew the
branch only when it had caught, deep and true.
Even the wind did not jostle the flame as
lily
(lily)
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