with his offer.
Yet the brightness in Evangeline’s eyes,
the way she’d run out of here ... Purpose.
Darrow had offered her purpose and guidance.
So she turned from the room, from the
precious trove, the ancient books worth more
than gold. Darrow’s silent, mournful
companions. “Thank you.”
Darrow waved her off, and went back to
studying whatever papers were on his desk—
though his eyes did not move along the pages.
The battlement walls of the city were lined
with soldiers. Each stone-faced at what
marched closer.
The witch tower was still down, thank the
gods. But even from the distance, Aedion
could spy soldiers toiling to repair its
damaged wheel. Yet without another wyvern
to replace the one felled yesterday, it would