The Ashen Kingdoms

Tomas Grenn, a blacksmith from Greenhollow, enjoys a peaceful life with his wife Elsa and two children before receiving a conscription notice. Accompanied by Father Aldous's proclamation of a righteous war against Valorheim's blood mages, Tomas is drafted to fight.

The night before a major assault on the fortress of Valtherion, Aldric confides he knows he will die - he felt his daughter's death. The attack begins at dawn. In the brutal fighting, Aldric is killed by a Karthian officer, fulfilling his premonition.

The war's psychological toll becomes apparent. Petyr has stopped talking, hollow-eyed and empty. The squad has lost and gained members. Aldric receives devastating news - his daughter Lyssa is sick and may be dying. He attempts to desert, is caught, and receives twenty lashes instead of execution.

Sevrin announces another grand ritual requiring twelve volunteer sacrifices in exchange for six hours of invincibility. Twelve soldiers volunteer, including those with nothing left to lose. The ritual is horrifying - twelve throats cut, blood ignited, power distributed.

Weeks of skirmishes and patrols grind the squad down. They capture a Karthian prisoner named Edric, a seventeen-year-old conscript who reveals both sides believe the other worships demons. Cael has a private conversation with Edric realizing they're mirror images.

First major battle against Karthian forces. Sevrin performs an amplification ritual, boosting the blood magic blessing to superhuman levels. The battle is brutal but Valorheim holds through enhanced strength. Aldric is wounded by a Karthian officer but Mira saves him.

Fifty soldiers including Squad Two launch a night raid on a Karthian scout camp. The raid is brutal and successful—forty-two return, eight are killed, and approximately twenty Karthians are slain. Cael kills his first enemy: a young, terrified Karthian soldier.

Strategy meeting at safe house. Emma reveals The Turning ritual plan to create vampire-Hunter hybrids. Elianna introduces the concept of the Faithful—humans with supernatural powers called to fight darkness. All eyes turn to Abigail as proof of the hybrid concept.

Safe house reunion: Haatim brings Abigail's unconscious body to the warehouse. Frieda cares for Emma while Petrillo and Damien arrive. Elianna and Matthew set fire to The Crimson Veil and head toward the Hunters to propose alliance. Abigail wakes to Haatim beside her cot.