Chapter Five: The Fourth Army at Frostbridge

Both armies saw them. “Fourth force!” Sif shouted. “Loose on the mine!” Frost bolts fell. Cassian’s true three thousand also turned. They might be willing to kill northerners, but no soldier forgave strangers for stealing his armor. Fire-spears split the false ranks. Rowan lunged at Lain, his blade blazing red. Lain had no sword. He raised the transparent imprint. The fire touched it and vanished as if swallowed by an invisible mouth. For the first time, the unknown scale revealed its nature: it created no flame. It made an emptiness into which other flames fell. 【Low-rank Red contract residue absorbed.】 【Ember Sight evolving.】 As Rowan stared, Lain drove the edge of Cassian’s token into his wrist. “Who gave the order?”