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eBook Category: Fantasy
eBook Description: King Gunthar's vast kingdom of Greynoble is under siege by the neighboring soldiers of Rhynning, whose king died a year earlier. In a land where each kingdom's sole male occupant is its King, Gunthar knows what is at stake for the two armies of women warriors. When he abdicates into the mountains to bring the fighting to an end, a corrupt outcast King arrives to take his place. Ythaina, Greynoble's brave army general, must then survive the new king's persecution and persuade her sisters in arms that a barren kingdom is better than one without honor.

eBook Publisher: Fictionwise.com, Published: Pulphouse: The Hardback Magazine Issue 3, ed. Kristine Kathryn Rusch, 1989
Fictionwise Release Date: May 2001

11 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: ePub (EPUB) [33 KB] , Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [24 KB] , Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [101 KB] , Palm Doc (PDB) [25 KB] , Microsoft Reader (LIT) [44 KB] , Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [96 KB] , hiebook (KML) [92 KB] , Sony Reader (LRF) [56 KB] , iSilo (PDB) [21 KB] , Mobipocket (PRC) [27 KB] , Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [54 KB] , OEBFF Format (IMP) [39 KB]
Words: 7303
Reading time: 20-29 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format:  Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED

King Gunthar took Ythaina's hand, and her heart beat in her breast like a sparrow's wings.

He held her hand companionably. "Why, in your opinion, do the landholders defect?"

"Because the Rhynnish say we're weak, we'll soon fall. That when they rule in Castle Greystone, the farmers will have equal coupling rights. But that's silly, of course. One King cannot serve so many--"

"Concubines?"

She looked away.

Gunthar sighed and toyed with the falcon's jesses. "And what would you do, given these promises?"

"I've laid out my recommendations. Our weaponry is adequate, but our supplies--"

"No, Ythaina. Not you, as General. What should I do?"

She hesitated, seeking the falcon's eyes rather than Gunthar's. "I don't know. I don't know."

"Think. The Rhynnish King died a year ago. The Rhynnish women desire nothing but a new King. They want me. Me. As long as I'm here, they'll fight. Either your women will kill them all, or they will kill us."

Ythaina finally looked truth in the eye.

Gunthar, with the quick, sure fingers of his unmaimed hand, undid the jesses. "I'm abdicating, Ythaina. Day after tomorrow, an hour before dawn, I'll ride out with Ravenel and twelve women. At noon, gather the women and tell them."

"No! Gunthar, your women love you. None of us will give up as long as you're here. And if you do leave--"

"Yes?"

"Women will kill themselves, all except those who prefer the embraces of other women."

"Ythaina, I chose you as General for your wisdom, not because of the muscles in your back. Give your women courage. Effect a good settlement with the Rhynnish."

Ythaina shivered, her heart like a fistful of clay from a grave. Gunthar faced her, gripping her shoulder with his good hand. "What other course is there, except universal death? I trust you. Do what I say. For your women."

Ythaina held his gaze. Despair congealed in her heart. She picked up a tailfeather that Faith had dropped in moult. "Yes, Majesty. Yes."