Kingdom of Ash

creature in the face that smiled grimly at him.
Nothing of her in that remarkable crown of
stars atop her brow.
A crown of stars.
For the last Crochan Queen.
Panting, rasping breaths neared, and
Aedion glanced away from Manon Blackbeak
to see Darrow hurry onto the city walls,
gaping at the witch and her wyvern, at Aedion
for not firing at her—her, whom Darrow
believed to be an enemy come to parley
before their slaughter.
“We will not surrender,” Darrow spat.
Asterin Blackbeak, her blue wyvern beside
Manon’s, let out a low laugh.
Indeed, Manon’s lips curved in cool
amusement as she said to Darrow, “We have
come to ensure that you don’t, mortal.”
Darrow hissed, “Then why has your master
sent you to speak with us?”