Divine Rivals

Iris must sit uncomfortably on Roman’s lap for the journey to the front lines. They’re greeted at the reserve base and are assigned to shadow Lieutenant Lark’s Sycamore Platoon. He warns that although they are neutral reporters, Dacre’s army will likely shoot them on sight, regardless of their affiliation. Iris and Roman march with his platoon to the communication trenches, where they’re instructed to retreat to Avalon Bluff immediately if Dacre’s army attacks. As they settle down for the night, Iris secretly tries to read the letter from Carver, but she is continuously interrupted by Roman and eventually gives up.

Iris learns firsthand about the horrors and dangers of life in the trenches, including the “barrage” strategy, a high-casualties tactic in which one side attempts to cross the distance between their opposing trenches. They do so by firing heavy artillery “which causes smoke to rise and conceal the soldiers who crawl across the zone to take their opponent’s trenches” (224). For several days, Iris and Roman fill pages with stories from the front. One night, she has a nightmare about her mother, and Roman comforts her.