That night, the outer scouts didn't return.
By dawn—only one did.
Barely.
"They're coming," the scout rasped.
Riven stepped forward. "Who?"
The man's eyes were wide.
"Not soldiers," he whispered.
"Something worse."
Kael felt it before the words finished.
The flame stirred.
Recognizing.
Lira grabbed his arm. "Kael—"
"I know," he said.
The war wasn't approaching.
It was expanding.
- End of Chapter 44-