It took no more than a week to unearth and neutralize the hidden spies within the Maner of House Nier. Tasha's relentless interrogation and Raven's transformation of the captives into Forsaken had swiftly built an army of considerable might.
An army that held enough power to challenge any Ninth Circle. Many of them were Ninth Circle themselves, which required more than a dozen Heartstones to raise them. She had been lucky to have the house Nier behind her.
Despite the vehement objections of Alyssa and Therion, who were replaced near their Master's room with two Forsaken in the Ninth Circle, Raven made the strategic decision to appoint each as a captain within her Valeguard before leading an army of a hundred to Arkim.
