Fight Like A Girl

by Juliet E. McKenna

  He watched her, silent, one side of his mouth twitching as though something were trying to burrow its way out. His eyes were raw, dry, full of hate.

  “It wasn’t just any ring, was it? It was magical. It was meant to protect your son. And that means you knew. You knew what was going to happen. They said it was a sign from the gods, that the enemy’s best troops were there, their leader was there, and then the fire came. But I don’t think the gods had a thing to do with it. I think someone found a way to make the fire. But it wouldn’t work unless the enemy were trapped in that valley, and so, well, someone decided to draw them in. Tell me, did he tell you he was going to join the Dancers?”

  “Hah.” An explosion of disgust. “No.”

  “But he did. Because we were the best.”

  “A line company! You worthless scum, you murdered my son!” He slammed his hands on the heavy table, his lips drawn back from yellowing teeth.

  “No, she didn’t, Harna. You did.”

  Riven hadn’t even seen the woman come in. Slight, straight, holding herself like a bow drawn almost to breaking. Even with that bright hair gone grey, her resemblance to Young Tenshin hit Riven in the gut, forcing out a grunt of pain. The woman barely glanced at her. All her attention was on her husband.

  “The ring was meant to protect him,” she said, “because Harna knew, whatever company Tenshin joined, he was likely to want the thick of the action. Want to prove himself. He never had to prove himself to me.”

  “He’d have lived if this bitch hadn’t been carrying the ring!”

  “Yes, perhaps. And then what? What if he had, Harna? What if he’d seen all those around him fall, do you think he wouldn’t have realised, do you think he wouldn’t have known that only his father’s wealth had saved him? Do you think he’d have accepted that? Do you think he’d have been happy?” She looked at Riven for the first time. “He mortgaged the estate, to buy that ring. And now he can sell it again. But there’s no-one to inherit, now, of course.” That brutally held control faltered. “You knew him.”

  “Yes Ma’am, I did. He was a good boy,” she said. “He’d have been a good officer.”

  “I never wanted that for him,” she said. “War and death, what life is that? But the family name was made in war and must be carried like a banner, isn’t that right, Harna? It was because you were the best, you know,” she said to Riven. “He might despise line regiments, but they all knew.”

  “Ma’am?”

  “The Dancers. Harna told me, after. They put the Dancers in there because they were the best and they knew it, and so did the Kashtin. Does that make you happy? Even the Kashtin had heard of you. They made sure the Kashtin leader knew where you were. Another boy with something to prove,” she said. “He’s dead. They all are. Girls, too. Go, now, please.”

  Lord Braish snarled. “Don’t you move, I’ll see you hanged.”

  “No, you won’t,” his wife said. “It’s over, Harna. It’s all over.” She looked at Riven. “Please go away.”

  “I’m sorry,” Riven said. And she was sorry. There was a terrible sorrow everywhere, all through her, and all over everything like ash.

  She shut the door behind her, and stood in the street. To the west, the hills. To the east, the town and the barracks. Nothing there for her, now.

  *

  The farmer opened the door with a look of mild surprise. “Thought you were headed out.”

  “I was. Wondered . . . if maybe you wanted some help around the place. I grew up on a farm. Haven’t forgotten everything.”

  He glanced down at her bundle. Armour. A sword. Looked back at her face. “I could use it,” he said, slowly. “But you’d best look at the place in daylight first. I haven’t kept it up as I’d like.”

  Fruit trees by the back door sent a scurry of petals through the air, like fleeing spirits on the breeze. Small green spikes pushed through the earth of two fields, neat rows of spears, an invading army of corn. Another field lay fallow, scattered with blood-bright poppies.

  “Those fruit trees need replacing,” the farmer said. “Too much work for my back.”

  “I can do that,” Riven said. There would be new trees, next year, scattering their petals on the wind. She would plant nine of them. Kathje, Ordel, Lod, Marthe, Brack, Tunning, Big Jashy, Dark Jashy, Young Tenshin.

  About the Authors

  Anne Lyle

  Anne Lyle was born in what is popularly known as “Robin Hood Country”, and grew up fascinated by English history, folklore, and swashbuckling heroes. Unfortunately there was little demand in 1970s Nottinghamshire for diminutive swordswomen, so she studied sensible subjects like science and languages instead. It appears, however, that although you can take the girl out of Sherwood Forest, you can’t take Sherwood Forest out of the girl. She now spends practically every spare hour writing – or at least planning – fantasy fiction about dashing swordsmen and scheming spies, set in alternate pasts or imaginary worlds.

  She is the author of the Night’s Masque Elizabethan fantasy trilogy: The Alchemist of Souls, The Merchant of Dreams and The Prince of Lies, and is currently working on a new series set in the same world as her 2013 short story A Thief in the Night. She lives in Cambridge with her family, two neurotic cats and enough fountain pens to last several lifetimes.

  Juliet McKenna

  Juliet E McKenna is a British fantasy author who has loved history, myth and other worlds since she first learned to read. She has written fifteen epic fantasy novels, from The Thief’s Gamble, beginning The Tales of Einarinn to Defiant Peaks, concluding The Hadrumal Crisis. In between novels, she writes diverse shorter fiction, reviews for web and print magazines and promotes SF&Fantasy through blogging, attending conventions, teaching creative writing and commenting on book trade issues. She’s currently exploring opportunities in independent digital publishing, re-issuing her backlist and bringing out original fiction. Learn more about all of this at julietemckenna.com

  Nadine West

  Nadine West is a prose writer, poet, spoken word performer and English teacher. Her first novel is nearing completion, and she lives in Manchester with her husband, Adam, and her wayward cat, Cleopatra.

  Fran Terminiello

  Fran writes secondary and first world fantasy where fighting often plays a part, and has contributed stories to several anthologies, including: Tales from the Nun and Dragon, edited by Adele Wearing; the Fox Pockets series; and Tales of Eve, edited by Mhairi Simpson. She is currently finishing a coauthored novel written with David Murray.

  Now running two historical fencing clubs - School of the Sword and Waterloo Sparring Group - she has studied swordplay since 2010, with an emphasis on rapier and Renaissance sword arts. Fran is also a founding member of Esfinges, an international organisation for women in Historical European martial arts.

  Living in Surrey with her family, Fran is also parent to a growing collection of swords.

  Joanne Hall

  Joanne Hall lives in Bristol, England, with her partner. She has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pen, and gave up a sensible (boring) job in insurance to be a full time writer, to the despair of her mother. She dabbled in music journalism, and enjoys going to gigs and the cinema, and reading.

  Her first three novels, which made up the New Kingdom Trilogy, were published by Epress Online. Since then she has had to move house to make more room for books. Her short stories have been published in several anthologies, including “Dark Spires” and “Future Bristol”, as well as a number of magazines. A collection of short stories, “The Feline Queen” was published by Wolfsinger Publications in April 2011, and her latest novel, “The Art of Forgetting” was published by Kristell Ink in two volumes in 2013 /14, and the first volume has been longlisted for the 2014 Tiptree Award. With Roz Clarke, she has co-edited two anthologies, “Colinthology” and “Airship Shape and Bristol Fashion.”

  She is also one of the founders of Bristolcon. Her blog can be found at www.hierath.co.uk, and her twitter is
@hierath77. She’s always happy to hear from readers.

  Kim Lakin-Smith

  Kim Lakin-Smith is a Science Fiction and Dark Fantasy author. Kim’s short stories have appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Interzone, Black Static, Celebration: 50 Years of the BSFA, Behind the Sofa: Celebrity Memories of Doctor Who, The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women, Solaris Rising 2, Resurrection Engines, Best British Fantasy 2013, Sharkpunk, The Mammoth Book of Dieselpunk, and more. Her short story, ‘Johnny and Emmie-Lou Get Married’ (Interzone, Issue 222) was shortlisted for the 2011 British Science Fiction Association award and her novel, Cyber Circus, was shortlisted for both the British Science Fiction Association Best Novel and the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel 2012. The Guardian described Kim’s crossover novel, Autodrome, as ‘an off-beat mystery adventure like no other.’ She is also the author of Tourniquet, a gothic science fantasy, and the YA novella, Queen Rat. Kim lives in 2/5ths of a Victorian Gothic mansion house with her wolfgirl of a daughter and dark lord of a husband. Kim is represented by the Andlyn Literary Agency, London.

  K R Green

  K. R. Green writes fantasy novels about winged creatures: falcons, corvidae and dragons alike. Her writing process involves a lot of herbal teas, list-making, video gaming, star-gazing and reading. When she isn’t painting pictures with words, she works in the mental health sector in Hampshire, tweets at @K_R_Green and writes blogs at www.krgreen.co.uk.

  K T Davies

  KT Davies writes about herself in the third person, sometimes practices historical European martial arts and sometimes plays MMORPGs. She also reads comics and books, lots of books.

  Interesting, but pointless fact (unless you’re madly interested in pointless facts in which case, fill yer boots): She once fell down the highest mountain in south east Asia and then had to walk back up the damn thing. It was quite tiring. She thinks she’s funny and a mistress of understatement.

  Sophie E Tallis

  S.E Tallis is a published author, freelance illustrator and a full member of The Society of Authors. She was born in Bristol but grew up in a sleepy village dreaming of dragons and wild adventures, and currently lives in the Cotswolds with her family and four white wolves. She was a full-time teacher for 16 years and now works in a library, a dream job surrounded by books all day! She is a writer, poet, painter, illustrator and confirmed nerd, with a BA (Hons) Degree in Fine Art and a Post-Grad in Education. She has illustrated 9 books to date. Her epic illustrated fantasy, White Mountain, was re-published in 2014 by Grimbold Books, and she is currently writing the sequel, Darkling Rise.

  S.E Tallis has also written short stories for the charity anthology, A World Of Their Own (published September 2015 by Kristell Inklings); dark fairy-tale anthology, Shadows of the Oak, (soon to be published by Tenebris Books); and is writing dark fantasy novel, Ravenwing, which she wrote 50,000 words of, for her first ever Nano in November 2015.

  Danie Ware

  Danie runs the social media profile of cult retailer Forbidden Planet, and has organised their signings and events calendar for more than a decade. When not at work, she remains geek and gamer, warrior Mum, outward-bound cyclist and fitness freak.

  She went to an all-boys’ school (yes really), studied English Literature at UEA in Norwich, then joined a Viking re-enactment group and spent her twenties fighting, writing, and rolling certain multi-sided dice. At thirty, she made an attempt to grow up and didn’t like it much; at forty, she spends her time with her son, in the gym, or making up for missing the battlefield by writing epic stories about it.

  Author of the Ecko series, published by Titan Books.

  Julia Knight

  Julia Knight is married with two children, and lives with the world’s daftest dog that is shamelessly ruled by the writer’s obligatory three cats. She lives in Sussex, UK and when not writing she likes motorbikes, watching wrestling or rugby, killing pixels in MMOs. She is incapable of being serious for more than five minutes in a row.

  Kelda Crich

  Kelda Crich is a new born entity. She’s been lurking in her creator’s mind for a few years. Now she’s out in the open. Find Kelda in London looking at strange things in London’s medical museums or on her blog. Kelda’s work has appeared in The Lovecraft eZine, Journal of Unlikely Acceptances, Dreams from the Witch House and in the Bram Stoker Award winning After Death anthology.

  Roz Clarke

  Roz Clarke is a specfic writer and editor. She’s a graduate of the Manchester Metropolitan Creative Writing MA and the Clarion West writer’s workshop. She’s had short stories published in various magazines and anthologies, including the story ‘Haunt-Type Experience’, which was first published in Black Static and was recently reprinted in the acclaimed anthology Stories for Chip: A Tribute to Samuel R. Delany.

  Roz moved from Manchester to Bristol in 2007, and has been a member of the BristolCon committee since its inception in 2009. She is delighted to have come to rest in that peculiar, inspiring city, and is a member of both the wonderful Bristol Science Fiction and Fantasy Society, and the North Bristol Writer’s Group, with whom she helped produce the North By Southwest anthology and is currently leading a collaborative novel project entitled The Sealed Room.

  Roz occasionally blogs at www.firefew.com, and you can twit her at @zora_db, where she likes to talk about books, dogs and bicycles.

  Lou Morgan

  Lou Morgan is an award-nominated adult and YA author. Her urban fantasy Blood and Feathers books are published by Solaris, while her first YA horror novel Sleepless is published by Stripes as part of their Red Eye series.

  Her short stories have appeared in anthologies from Solaris Books, Jurassic and NewCon Press, amongst others, and she is a long- and short-list reader for the Bath Novel Award.

  Dolly Garland

  Dolly Garland writes fantasy that is bit like her - muddled in cultures. Having lived in three countries, and several cities, she now calls London her home, though the roots of her fantasy have returned to India, where she grew up. You can chat to her @DollyGarland on Twitter, @DollyGarlandAuthor on Facebook, and www.dollygarland.com

  Gaie Sebold

  Gaie Sebold was born rather longer ago than seems reasonable. She has written several novels, a number of short stories, and has been known to perform poetry. Her debut novel introduced brothel-owning ex-avatar of sex and war, Babylon Steel (Solaris, 2012); the sequel, Dangerous Gifts, came out in 2013. Shanghai Sparrow, a steampunk fantasy, came out in 2014 and the sequel, Sparrow Falling, is due in 2016. Her jobs have ranged from till-extension to bottle-washer and theatre-tour-manager to charity administrator. She lives with writer David Gullen and a paranoid cat in leafy suburbia, runs writing workshops, grows vegetables, and cooks a pretty good borscht.

  Her website is www.gaiesebold.com and you can find her on twitter @GaieSebold.

  A Selection of Other Titles from Kristell Ink

  Cruelty by Ellen Croshain

  Once a year, in the caves deep below the house, the Family gathers to perform a ritual to appease their god. But Faroust only accepts payment in blood. Eliza MacTir, youngest daughter of a powerful Irish family, was born into fae gentry without the magical gifts that have coursed through the Family’s veins for millennia; she was an outcast from her first breath. Desperate for freedom, Eliza’s flight from rural Ireland is thwarted by the Family’s head of security. The only weapon she has to fight her captor is her own awakening sexuality. Drawn into the world of magic and gods, Eliza must find a way to break free, even if it means breaking the hearts of those she loves, and letting her own turn to stone. Cruelty, it runs in the Family.

  In Search of Gods and Heroes by Sammy H.K Smith

  Buried in the scriptures of Ibea lies a story of rivalry, betrayal, stolen love, and the bitter division of the gods into two factions. This rift forced the lesser deities to pledge their divine loyalty either to the shining Eternal Kingdom or the darkness of the Underworld.

  When a demon sneaks into the mor
tal world and murders an innocent girl to get to her sister Chaeli, all pretence of peace between the gods is shattered. For Chaeli is no ordinary mortal, she is a demi-goddess, in hiding for centuries, even from herself. But there are two divine brothers who may have fathered her, and the fate of Ibea rests on the source of her blood.

  Chaeli embarks on a journey that tests her heart, her courage, and her humanity. Her only guides are a man who died a thousand years ago in the Dragon Wars, a former assassin for the Underworld, and a changeling who prefers the form of a cat.

  The lives of many others – the hideously scarred Anya and her gaoler; the enigmatic and cruel Captain Kerne; the dissolute Prince Dal; and gentle seer Hana – all become entwined. The gods will once more walk the mortal plane spreading love, luck, disease, and despair as they prepare for the final, inevitable battle.

  In Search of Gods and Heroes, Book One of Children of Nalowyn, is a true epic of sweeping proportions which becomes progressively darker as the baser side of human nature is explored, the failings and ambitions of the gods is revealed, and lines between sensuality and sadism, love and lust are blurred.

  Fear the Reaper by Tom Lloyd

  All Shell has ever wanted was a home, a place to belong. But now an angel of the God has tracked her down, intent on using her to hunt the demon that once saved her. The journey will take her into the dead place beyond the borders of the world, there to face her past and witness the coming of a new age.

  A stand-alone novella from the author of The Twilight Reign series and Moon’s Artifice.