Kingdom of Ash

thing in her chest, as her heart, shattered.
As Asterin landed in the witch tower’s
open archway, swords swinging at the witches
who rushed to kill her. They might as well
have been blades of grass. Might as well have
been mist, for how easily Asterin cut them
down, one after another, driving forward,
toward the Matron who had branded the
letters on stark display across Asterin’s
abdomen.
UNCLEAN
Twirling, twisting, blades flying, Asterin
slaughtered her way toward Manon’s
grandmother.
The High Witch of the Blackbeak Clan
backed away, shaking her head. Her mouth
moved, as if she breathed, “Asterin, no—”
But Asterin was already there.
And it was not darkness, but light—light,
bright and pure as the sun on snow, that