Chapter 23: ConvincingHearing about Zaen's destruction had in no way prepared me for the reality.
The granite walls, which I'd imagined to be impenetrable, had been smashed into so much rubble. From our position at the edge of the woods, the devastation was plainly visible and tugged at my heart.
Blackened and burnt-out cottages were visible behind the broken walls, desolate in the brilliant sunlight. Roofs had caved in and every building I could see had been heavily damaged. It reminded me of what I'd seen in historical photographs, when cities had been obliterated as bombs rained down on them.
Matt was lying on his stomach beside me, and he reached across to give my shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Using powerful binoculars, he'd been ascertaining the numbers guarding Zaen, and now he r
