[h1]Külake[/h1]

"By the dead."

Kadri was sometimes irritated by the favorite expression of her secret lover, but this was no time to point it out. Sitting on her horse at the top of a ridge, she was just as shocked as Paavo and the rest of the warriors were, stunned by the surprise before them. They had expected a raiding party. Bandits, or Pale-men, or even Seolhi. But this, this was different. This was-

"That's an army." Paavo said, like if he'd had the same thought as her.

"You don't say." she replied, finding a little bit of snarkiness somewhere beneath all the terror she was currently experiencing.

He continued as if he hadn't heard her, eyes wide open. "But they said there'd been a raid, not that a fucking invasion was in the making!"

"Another brilliant observation." she retorted. biting her lip and wearing a worried look in spite of the cynical tone in her voice.

Paavo turned to her, all furrowed brows, an angry expression on his face. "This is no time for witticisms, Kadri! This is serious! We're in terrible danger here, in the field against this many."

"I know." she said, still sounding calm in spite of her speeding heartbeat, but having dropped the cynicism for the time being, "I can see that."

"I'm glad you agree with me! You go ahead and order the retreat, and I'll organize a rearg-"

But Kadri didn't hear him. She was busy observing the devastation before her. On another hill, not too far away, a group of invaders had become separated from the rest of the hoard. There were two banners there which Kadri had never seen before, although she knew perfectly well what they meant. Standards, much like her own. Leaders. Scanning the hill, she could see a man dragging a girl by her hair up the slope. She could not determine wether he was smiling or not, but she imagined he was. And she knew why. [i]An attack on my people is an attack on me. If he takes that girl and I do nothing, he might as well have taken me instead.[/i]

"No." she barked, interrupting Paavo. "No, we're not going anywhere."

"What?"

"We cannot let them go unpunished. Send word down the column; riders are to remain with me, foot will return to Kinnisvara to warn the populace and prepare defenses. We are going to teach these mongrels about Maods and their honor." Her voice had started trembling by the end, terror having been replaced by fury.

"Kadri! Please!" Paavo begged, "You can't endanger yourself so, and what would be the point? Look, they have already spotted us! Soon they'll be forming ranks!"

She dared a peek towards the beach. He was right, they were already forming ranks. [i]Shit, shit, shit[/i]. An attack now would be risky. Perhaps too-

"You can't do this!"

It might've been the insolence of his claim, or the whining tone of his voice. It might've been the situation as a whole, but at those words Kadri snapped. She turned in her sadle, slapped Paavo across his face and grabbed hold of his collar, pulling him close.

"I can't?" she roared, spit flying, "I can't what? Avenge my people? Reclaim my honor? Defend my lands? You sniveling coward! You dare slander your betters in their absence, yet you yourself cover like a beat dog in the face of an adversary! Retreat, then, if you're so unwilling to fight for what is right! Take the foot and go prepare Kinnisvara for my return. I insist!"

She let him go and turned from him with such finality that further argument was impossible. Instead she was staring straight ahead at that little group on the hill, only just now beginning to scramble to attention. Baring her teeth, she ripped her sword from its scabbard.

"Riders, to me! Let's show these shitstains what real warriors look like! Charge!"

And with a thunderous roar, the Maod did just that.