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| NORTHWATCH by Cheryl Peugh |
“Tell me, little man, why should I not freeze you where you stand and add you to my collection?”
Kien peered around the edge of her hood, her feet slipping a little on the ice-covered ramp to the barbican. She could see
nothing and her heart leaped into her mouth.
"Many creatures have dared the Northwatch only to be frozen to pillars of ice for their trouble," the voice's elusive owner said.
"Why should I spare you?"
"Only you can answer that," Kien said, swaying on her feet. Having won this far, a bone-tired feeling gripped her limbs so that
she could not have fled had she desired. The voice sounded powerful and as if it originated in the thin air above her. Male, she
decided. The voice sounded male.
Something huge and unseen sighed, frosting the ice in front of Kien, plastering her furs to her and causing her to grip her sword-
hilt so tightly her fingers ached.
"A woman. It has been long and long since a woman tried to best me. The last one's frozen corpse lies somewhere to the right
of where you stand."
Excerpt of "Northwatch" in Illuminated Manuscripts Volume 1, edited by Lazette Gifford.
Kien peered around the edge of her hood, her feet slipping a little on the ice-covered ramp to the barbican. She could see
nothing and her heart leaped into her mouth.
"Many creatures have dared the Northwatch only to be frozen to pillars of ice for their trouble," the voice's elusive owner said.
"Why should I spare you?"
"Only you can answer that," Kien said, swaying on her feet. Having won this far, a bone-tired feeling gripped her limbs so that
she could not have fled had she desired. The voice sounded powerful and as if it originated in the thin air above her. Male, she
decided. The voice sounded male.
Something huge and unseen sighed, frosting the ice in front of Kien, plastering her furs to her and causing her to grip her sword-
hilt so tightly her fingers ached.
"A woman. It has been long and long since a woman tried to best me. The last one's frozen corpse lies somewhere to the right
of where you stand."
Excerpt of "Northwatch" in Illuminated Manuscripts Volume 1, edited by Lazette Gifford.
