Kingdom of Ash

helping his wife tend to a wounded Crochan,
and beckoned them to follow.
They did, not asking him questions, until
he found Manon atop the aerie. Saddling
Abraxos for his morning ride. Where she’d
been each day, falling into a routine that
Dorian knew was as much to keep the grief at
bay as it was to maintain order.
Manon stilled as she beheld them, brows
narrowing. She’d met Chaol and Yrene days
ago, their reunion quiet but not chilly, despite
how poorly Chaol’s first encounter with the
witch had gone. Yrene had only embraced the
witch, Manon holding her stiffly, and when
they’d pulled apart, Dorian could have sworn
some of the paleness, the gauntness, had
vanished from Manon’s face.
Dorian asked the Witch-Queen, “Where do
you go, when everyone leaves?”
Manon’s golden eyes didn’t leave his face.