The remaining bears retreated from the battlefield afterwards—Min later discovered that Ozan had not been their true leader. Their chieftain, Ustal, fell early in the battle when Erkin struck him down. Those among the children of Bhalot who didn't flee were mercilessly torn apart by the frenzied wolves.

Min's impulsive and daring plan had somehow worked—Asra and Arke may not have been strong enough to face a kar-empowered witch head-on, but they were capable of severing the spell that had ensnared the other bear-men warriors. Once they lost their invincibility, the bears suffered heavy losses in the fighting, and many more turned and ran when confronted by the combined might...