Bk 1, Ch 1: Lands Uncharted
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 just under one hundred soldiers with me—warriors, blooded thralls, and some three-dozen shield-maidens. We moved slowly and cautiously through this uncharted territory. Five days march into uncharted territory we started encountering scattered farms and homesteads. First one, then two, then three. Each location was scouted during the day then taken in the night when everyone was asleep. A barking dog spoiled our attack on one farm, but my men had the house surrounded and none escaped. We killed the elderly, diseased, and feeble, and …