The change came during the spring thaw. A rival chieftain, Gurik the Boneless, sought to usurp Kaelen. He attacked at dawn, not with honor, but with treachery. He set fire to the horse lines and sent his berserkers into the yurts to slaughter women and children.
“Gold?” He snorted. “The southern kingdoms measure everything in gold. Land. Power. A daughter’s life.” He released the hair and stood. “We do not.” hime kishi wa banzoku no yome
Seraphina woke to the screams. She grabbed her sword—still there, still sharp—and did not hesitate. The change came during the spring thaw
They fought back-to-back—her disciplined, elegant thrusts; his wild, crushing swings. When Gurik lunged for Kaelen’s exposed back, Seraphina parried the blow and ran the traitor through. He set fire to the horse lines and
He turned to his horde—a thousand wolf-riding, axe-wielding clansmen who watched with hungry eyes. “The war is over,” he declared. “We have taken their iron, their grain, their fort. And now…” He pointed a gauntleted finger at Seraphina. “I will take their lioness as my bride.”
She fought not for her kingdom. Not for her freedom. She fought because a young barbarian girl had brought her warm bread that morning and smiled with missing teeth. She fought because an old woman had taught her to stitch leather without complaint. She fought because Kaelen had never once lied to her.