Eadra thought she could run from her past and start a new life. To give the child she took a better life. But the past catches up with you. Now Eadra must fight to save her daughter from the very mercenaries she abandoned for Frey’s sake.
The screams of the dying echoed around her as soot, smoke, and ash permeated the air. It was stifling, choking her every breath, and brought tears to her eyes. Her armor was coated in blood, her face splattered in it like jester’s makeup. Some of the it had dried in her hair matting it; soaked …
The fire raged in the hearth heating the hall. Viktor scanned the chamber, vaguely listening to Gunnar drone on about mostly trivial matters. Bodvar should have sent word by now. There was too much at stake. In a month all the clans would be gathering. Bodvar was to visit the plantations and make sure things …
Wolf stepped into the lodge, the grand hall was just as he remembered. The hearth across the room was larger than life with great logs that Shuet had no doubt hauled in from around back. He looked at the banners hanging from the rafters and smiled. Two arrows intertwined with a longsword. It was their …
The warmth of the room was relaxing, better than the stove and fireplace upstairs. The heat was spread more evenly, taking up the whole room. Eadra soaked it in, keeping the shears steady as she took small clippings from the tea plants. The ‘Greenery’ as she called it, like the rest of the house, was …
Arald was getting twitchy, he always hated having to wait. He kept reaching for the dagger sheath on his belt. Bodvar took another look at the village. Occasionally they were given a curious glance, but no one seemed to care enough to approach. If traders come this far north, no doubt they are used to …
“That’s pretty far out of my way and it will cost more coin than trade.” Wolf sighed. “How much more?” The old trader smiled. “Fifty silver Shards.” “Fifty?! Are you mad?” He smiled wider, his rotten teeth showing. Wolf felt his stomach turn. “A man goes that far north has problems,” the old trader replied. …
Everything was ready. Eadra couldn’t help but let herself be overcome by pride as she checked Frey’s pack. Her little girl had done so well for one so young. The trip ahead would be long and the Sokoran wilds were unforgiving to the ill prepared. Ideally they could reach the trade town of Bherst in …
The cell was surprisingly warm. Eadra laughed quietly to herself. It was ironic. She had helped the village build the place. The village jail was sturdy, strong enough to hold up against the worst Sokoran winter. The stonework was just another bit of information she remembered from her books. There were four cells, capable of …
“Eijar…did…what?!” Bodvar gripped Grauner’s handle and Braudr stepped back nervously. Bodvar took a calming breath, then turned to look at Frey. “Watch her.” He turned back to Braudr. The look on his face was priceless. The man seemed horrified by the very idea of babysitting the brat. “You can’t be…” Grauner was already at the …
It was always the same when Bodvar was in one of his moods. Arald didn’t need to even think about it. He adjusted himself in the saddle, then looked back over his shoulder. Four rode on horseback, with the rest of the Blades trudging through the snow. Horses were expensive and Bodvar only allowed those …
