Chapter 1

The Blood Line of a Queen

Today I am certain that I will defeat him in combat. I have trained all my life for this one moment in time. If I can not rise up and meet this challenge. I will be forced to take my own life. Such is the life of the barbarian. it is the way of my people. My mother has lead us, Queen Ingveldur, she alone defeated his father and was allowed her title, thus ensuring the survival of her bloodline. As a reward for her bravery, and skill, the King allowed her to marry a man of her choosing. After ascending as barbarian Queen she married my father, Lord Brimir, he became leader of the ten tribes. Undefeated in all his battles against the warring tribes. We defend the King's northern borders against his enemies.

I am not the only sibling, in my family, there is my sister Runa, whom my father has trained as "the night crawler." She is the watcher of the woods, she warns of incoming dangers with her keen senses. I am called, Hvonn, somehow I think that this is my mother's cruel joke. I am not like the flower. Runa laughs at me when we are sparing, saying she will pluck my petals. There are times I would like to cut off her head. We are the hard people, we do not give the love. Speaking of which, I do not care for my mother's younger sister, Valka, she has come to live with this us since the death of my mother's parents. It is a known fact that she wanted to be chosen, instead of my mother. Her father , my grandfather, Galdur, told her she was weak, double minded, she was a born traitor. These might seem like harsh words, however, Valka was spoiled and the favorite of her mother, Queen Axelia. Then the news came with the rider on that fateful day which changed her life and the life of my mother forever.