Chapter 1: Lands Uncharted
We were on a raid on the borders south of our clan’s newly conquered territory. Under King Hrothgar, the united Clan Armies had crossed the narrow sea and conquered the near coast, allowing the clans to raid further inland. Eager for more gold and slaves, I took...
Chapter 2: First Harvest
There were still a few hours before first light when we arrived in the woods outside the town. I had already sent Baldar and Inger ahead to neutralize the land-ward sentries. They appeared like ghosts out of the darkness. Inger grinned evilly, her hair slick with the...
Chapter 3: Destruction
It was time. As much as I would have liked to watch the ritual’s conclusion, we needed to attack while the townsfolk were distracted and their backs still turned. The shaman raised a steaming bowl of guts above his head and the crowd cheered in response. I raised my...
Chapter 4: The Beach
Alena couldn’t believe she’d drawn guard duty on Harvest Day. She’d turned seventeen a few weeks ago, so she was finally old enough to find a partner to celebrate with. Well, she got off shift at sundown. Maybe she’d be able to find a nice guy during...
I took a seat at the foot of the stage, exhausted. In front of me lay a middle-aged man wearing a cloak of embroidered gold. I figured he was probably the village lord. His spine was crooked and an arm and both legs were broken. No doubt he had been trampled to death in the opening moments of the...
Sigurd cleared his throat loudly a short distance away. Gently, I laid the girl’s head on the wooden planks and stood. Sigrid’s back was turned as he busied himself rifling through a basket of goods.
“What is it, Sigurd?”
“My Lord,” he responded, turning...
Chapter 8: Cleaning House
From the steps of the warrior hall, I watched a red-headed girl writhe until her body heaved and her struggle ceased. It was too bad really—from where I stood, the girl looked very pretty. Well, no sense crying over spilt milk.
Even with the help of the...
Chapter 9: The Final Tally
The next few hours passed by uneventfully. In addition to sorting through endless numbers of wounded, I spent some time wandering the town with my warriors. I even helped carry a few wounded Zavalans from houses to the square. I was a firm believer that a leader...
Hiding in the shadows he watched her. Her long, shiny, blue-black hair and pale skin illuminated by the silver light of the moon. It was late. Past midnight. He watched her make her way up the stairs, and fumble for her keys.
He took a swig from the bottle of vodka he held in his hands. His...
A young woman and her husband sat side by side with a peach-gold sunset shimmering in the distance. The girl was in her early 20's, the man 30, maybe a little less. She was tall, a platinum blonde with blue eyes like crystal-clear Caribbean water. She had a regal air. Most of all, Dana...
Comments: 
Comments: