Off in the distance a hammer could be heard. Kyei squirmed in place with the rest of the captives in the line as the first taps were heard. There was a long pause in the rhythm of the blows. Kyei and all the other women rubbed their legs together helplessly, not a single one of them was dry. Then the pounding started again, this time every blow was accompanied by the frantically pleasured screams of the woman who was being sacrificed a half mile down the road. After several blows the hamme

 Brindally took her time with dinner. She chewed slowly, and savored every bite, making sure that her lips caressed the fork she used and that her tongue played across every morsel. It wasn't because the food was that good. A standard legion soup with small bits of meat to keep their energy up. No, she ate this way because it drove Kahl wild to watch her lips at work. Kahl had finished in mere minutes, legion doctrine and training demanded that as little time as possible be spent idle when

 There was a pep in Thorik's step as he led his spear along their assigned patrol. News of his captives pregnancy had not worn off yet. Even now, as sixth spear passed by, a few legionnaires called out congratulations and more than a few punched him roughly on the shoulder with their spear hands. Thorik took the blows with a smile, it was a legion tradition, and his smile persisted even if his shoulder sported a wonderful bruise at this point.
 
 
 Kholar was a day away at t

 The long string of captives had been marching into Kholar for seven days now. Too long. Too many Valkan legionnaires marching with them. The Bischetti must have suffered a crushing defeat to have so many captives marching to their death on Valkan altars. Magrys made a disdainful face as she watched the Bischetti march in docile ranks.
 
 
 Magrys made very little attempt to conceal herself as she spied on the army. She had the setting sun at her back, but otherwise stood ta

 Kyei marched along the road to Valkam without complaint. The Valkans gave each captive their boots back so that the march would not be hindered, but all other clothing was given at the discretion of the victors. That meant that Kyei and many of her fellows marched in the buff. Since it was late spring, it was warm enough. The only complaint Kyei could name was that her hands were tied behind her back so that she could not shield her eyes or wipe her brow every now and again. The fact that

 Thrynne listened to the horns call and obediently lowered her weapons in surrender. The man who had been crossing swords with her brought his stroke short and backed off a pace. The odds of a tactical victory had been long. Thrynne had not entertained any fantasies of anything but a brutal day of fighting, followed by either the obligations of defeat or a hard won stalemate. It appeared that the ambush had failed to stop the enemy from reinforcing the front while she and her shield sisters

 A horse was coming hard up the road. Brindally couldn't see it in the dark but the rider drove the beast down the hard packed earth with haste. The sound preceded them for a mile in the stillness. It was too soon for a message, it was too soon but the message had come nonetheless. Bad news.
 
 
 There had been a lot of bad news in this war. Bischette's enemies, the Valkans, had sent their legions to attack the mountains to the East. The men of Bischette had gathered their a