Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, #7)

by Sarah J. Maas

Manon crossed the still battlefield. Didn’t stop until she reached the center of the blast radius. Until she stood in its heart. Not a trace of the tower. Or those who had been in it, around it. Even the stones had been melted into nothing. Not a trace of the Thirteen, or their brave, noble wyverns. Manon fell to her knees. Ashes rose, fluttering, soft as snow as they clung to the tears on her face. Abraxos lay beside her, his tail curling around her while she bowed over her knees and wept. Behind her, had she looked, she would have seen Glennis. And Bronwen. Petrah Blueblood. Aedion Ashryver and Lysandra and Ren Allsbrook. Prince Galan and Captain Rolfe and Ansel of Briarcliff, Ilias and the Fae royals beside them. Had she looked, she would have seen the small white flowers they bore. Would have wondered how and where they had gotten them in the dead heart of winter. Had she looked, she would have seen the people gathered behind them, so many they streamed all the way to the city gates. Would have seen the humans standing side by side with the Crochans and Ironteeth. All come to honor the Thirteen. But Manon did not look. Even when the leaders who had come with her, walked with her all this way, began to lay their flowers upon the blasted, bloodied earth. Even when their tears flowed, dropping into the ashes alongside their offerings of tribute. They didn’t speak. And neither did the streaming line of people who came after them. A few bore flowers, but many brought small ...