Desperate Retreat

Astrid

We do not get far.

As soon as we are outside Iron Maw, we start to see the carts, the terrible cage carts where the Vulgari guards are imprisoning every able-bodied man they can find.

My guards become nervous, as do Alden and Winston.

“This isn’t good, Your Majesty,” Winston whispers, riding beside the cart. “We’ll never make it past these guards.”

“If we end up in a confrontation, Your Maj