Kingdom of Ash

It rippled outward, that collapsing, the
stillness. Until all of Morath’s host lay
unmoving. Until the Ironteeth fighting above
realized what was happening and veered
southward, fleeing from the rukhin and
witches who now gave chase.
Until the dark shadow surrounding that
fallen army drifted away on the wind, too.
Aelin knew for certain then. Where Erawan
had gone.
Who had brought him down at last.
So Aelin wrenched her sword free of the
pile of ashes that had been Maeve. She lifted
it high to the night sky, to the stars, and let her
cry of victory fill the world. Let the name she
shouted ring out, the soldiers on the field, in
the city, taking up the call until all of Orynth
was singing with it. Until it reached the
shining stars of the Lord of the North
gleaming above them, no longer needed to