Steel flashed in the torchlight. The clash began the moment Sigmoid Bernnett raised his arm.
Swords slid from their sheaths with a sharp hiss. The night air filled with the metallic scrape of blades being drawn.
Sandra stood atop the inner wall of Kalkigan, the cold wind whipping strands of her dark hair across her face. Below her, torches flickered like restless fireflies as Sigmoid's men gathered outside the gates.
She lifted her arm.
"Draw!"
Her soldiers moved as one. Bowstrings tightened. Wood bent under tension.
The archers stood along the battlements, their arrows aimed into the darkness beyond the walls.
Sandra's voice cut through the night.
"Loose!"
Arrows streaked downward. The air filled with the sound of whistling shafts.
Men below cried out as the first wave struck. Some collapsed instantly, clutching their throats or shoulders. Others stumbled backward, dragging wounded companions out of the way.
The defenders held the height.
From inside the fortress, Sandra had the advantage. Her men reloaded quickly.
Another volley flew. More arrows rained down.
Sigmoid watched from below, his cloak snapping in the wind. He knew this castle. Every stone. Every weakness.
He had played in its halls as a child. Climbed its towers. Walked its hidden paths.
His eyes slid toward the eastern side of the wall. The weak point.
A section where the stone had cracked years ago during a winter storm.
Only a few knew about it. But Sigmoid did. He raised his hand.
A group of men peeled away from the main force and followed him into the shadows. They moved quickly along the outer wall, carrying thick logs between them.
Above them, Sandra's archers continued firing at the main body of Sigmoid's army. No one noticed the smaller group slipping away.
The men reached the damaged section of the wall. Sigmoid pointed.
"There."
The logs were lifted. Then slammed against the stone.
THUD.
The wall trembled.
They hit again.
THUD.
Cracks spread across the weakened masonry.
Then again.
THUD.
The sound echoed through the fortress courtyard.
Inside the castle, Sandra turned her head sharply. Something was wrong.
Another blow struck the wall.
The weakened stones groaned. Then they gave way. With a roar of collapsing rock, the section shattered inward.
Stone and dust exploded across the ground. Sigmoid Bennett stepped through the breach first. Behind him, his soldiers poured into the castle like a flood.
Steel clashed immediately. Sandra's guards rushed toward the breach, swords raised. The courtyard erupted into chaos.
A guard ran toward Sandra, breathless. "My lady!" He pointed toward the breach. "The Fortress has fallen!"
Sandra's grip tightened around her sword.
"We will hold them at the back gate," the guard continued quickly. "While you fight your way out from the front."
Sandra's jaw clenched. She looked once toward the burning courtyard.
Her fortress.
Her father's fortress.
Then she nodded. "Hold them as long as you can."
She turned. Her sword flashed as she moved down the stone steps.
Two of Sigmoid's men rushed toward her. Sandra swung. Her blade carved across the first man's chest.
The second lunged. She ducked under his strike and drove her sword into his side.
Steel rang all around her.
Her men formed a narrow line behind her as they pushed toward the front gate. They fought furiously. Every step forward costs blood.
Finally the gate appeared ahead. A narrow opening between the fighting men. "Now!" someone shouted.
Sandra sprinted through. Her horse stood tethered nearby, stamping nervously at the noise.
She leaped into the saddle. The animal reared once before she yanked the reins.
"Go!"
The horse surged forward into the darkness. Behind her, several riders burst through the gate in pursuit.
Their horses thundered across the frozen ground.
Sandra leaned low over the saddle. The wind cut across her face as the forest swallowed her path.
Branches whipped past. Her horse ran harder. The sound of pursuit slowly faded. But she did not slow.
For an hour she rode relentlessly. Snow sprayed behind the hooves of her horse. Her breath burned in her lungs.
Still she rode. Toward Snowland.
Finally the massive walls of the Warden's castle rose ahead. Torches burned along the battlements.
Sandra pulled the reins sharply. Her horse skidded to a stop before the gate.
"Halt!"
The shout came from above. A guard leaned over the wall, spear in hand. "Who are you and what is your mission here?"
Sandra reached into her cloak. She raised a metal sigil high. The emblem of House Bennett gleamed in the torchlight.
"I am Sandra Bennett," she called. "The Lady of Kalkigan." Her voice echoed off the stone walls. "And I am here to see the Warden."
Silence stretched above the gate.
The guard leaned farther over the wall. His eyes studied the sigil carefully. After a moment he nodded.
"Open the gate!"
Chains rattled. The iron gate groaned as it swung inward. Sandra rode through the entrance.
Inside the courtyard, soldiers gathered quickly around her. Word spread fast. The Lady of Kalkigan had arrived in the middle of the night.
Lord Martins stepped forward. The commander of Snowland's army stood tall in his heavy armor.
"Where is the Warden?" Sandra asked immediately.
Martins' expression tightened slightly. "The Warden has traveled to King's City."
He folded his arms behind his back. "For his daughter's engagement ceremony."
Sandra exhaled slowly. Then she nodded. "My uncle has stormed my fortress and taken it." Her voice was steady, though exhaustion weighed on her shoulders.
"I must see whoever is in charge."
Martins hesitated for a moment. Then he spoke. "Newton Ice is in charge."
Sandra froze mid-step. Her head snapped toward him. "The bastard?" she shouted.
Martins nodded once.
Silence settled between them.
"Who leaves a bastard in charge of a proud kingdom like the North?" Sandra muttered.
Martins did not answer. His face remained still.
Inside, he felt the same doubt. But there were rules in Snowland. The Warden's word stood above all others.
"Nobody questions the Warden," Martins said quietly. "Except the king of the Nine Kingdoms."
Sandra stared at him for another moment. Then she nodded. "I must see him at once."
Newton was still asleep when the knocking began.
BANG.
BANG.
The door rattled violently. Newton jerked awake. His heart pounded as he jumped from the bed.
He hurried across the room and pulled the door open. The first thing he saw was the crest of House Bennett.
Then he lifted his eyes. Sandra Bennett stood there. Her armor was still dusted with snow and dried blood.
Newton straightened quickly. "My lady." He bowed.
Sandra studied him briefly. "I hope I didn't wake you from your good dreams?"
She tried to sound calm. But her voice betrayed the strain of the long ride.
Newton shook his head. "Not at all." He stepped aside slightly. "When a bastard is left in charge of the North.." He met her eyes. "…he cannot have a good sleep."
Sandra wasted no time. "My uncle has forcefully taken my fortress."
Her words came quickly. "I have nowhere to go."
Newton stayed silent. He did not know what answer she expected. "When will your father return?" she asked.
"A week," Newton replied. "Or more."
Another silence filled the room.
Sandra finally nodded. "Then I must remain in your castle until he returns." Her eyes studied him carefully.
"I hope you do not mind." Newton shook his head. "No, my lady." He paused briefly. "But that will be a long time."
Sandra's brows tightened slightly. Newton continued. "Long enough for your uncle to rebuild the walls."
He stepped closer. "I suggest you let me reclaim the castle for you tomorrow."
Sandra froze.
Her eyebrows furrowed. "It is kind of you to propose that," she said slowly.
"But reclaiming a fortress requires a bloody battle." Her eyes moved over him. "And you are not old enough for that yet."
Newton did not look away. His gaze remained steady. "My father left me in charge of the North," he said. "Because he believes I can handle it."
He folded his arms quietly. "Give me a chance." His voice remained calm. "You have nothing to lose."
Sandra studied him for a long moment.
The young boy.
The bastard.
Standing there with the authority of Snowland behind him. Finally she nodded. "You are welcome to try."