Kingdom of Claw

If you wish to rest, I will shield you from harm. If you want to fight, I will draw my sword beside you. If you want a hundred chickens, I will build you a hen-fortress.

You cannot risk your life like that. It’s worth something!”Silla stepped closer. She was small, yet so fierce. He wanted to hold her, wanted to shake her, wanted to kiss her and strangle her all at once. When she spoke, her voice was low and dangerous. “You’d best not suggest your life is not worth the risk, Galtung. I would do it all over again.

She let him see everything she felt—how scared she was of being hurt. Of being used and discarded. “Perhaps,” she whispered, “we can be frightened together.”

Silently, Silla watched as light and dark swirled together, marveling at how his darkness made her light shine so much brighter. At how her light cast the deepest shadows from the darkness.

A hungry wolf is bound to wage a hard battle. And we, the Galdra, are starving.

Silla gasped. “Wha-what’s that?”“What’s that?” repeated the creature in an appalled voice. “I’m not a what. I’m a who.”“That’s Rykka,” said Harpa, waving a hand. “She is a smoke spirit.”Silla clasped her hands together, her mouth falling open. “Ashes, but you are darling!”Rykka erupted into flames that quickly burned out. “I’m no darling. I’ll burn you alive!

The man uttered something in Zagadkian, slipping a steadying arm around her waist. “No, Árlaug,” he replied, his words as immovable as stone. “I will not allow it. You are alone and needing someone to catch you.

Because all the good people have died, yet still I breathe. I must honor them and their deaths. Make them mean something. --Reynir Galtung

All of her sharp parts, the defenses she’d erected over years in this place, were slowly melting away. Her body was growing soft and supple, and Saga realized distantly she was letting go. Not fearing for her safety. Not searching for an exit. Was this what it felt to just live in the moment? To feel with no fear?

I suppose you liken me to the white mouse.” Saga chewed the inside of her cheek. “Does that make you the brown mouse, then?”Signe’s laugh was like tinkling glass. “No, darling. I am the cat. I devour curious little creatures.

A woman more beautiful than forest fairy showed it to me. I was so enchanted, I set fire to my own boat to stay longer by her side.

Am I to understand all your hearthfire thoughts involve blades?” He blinked slowly, his gaze meandering down to her lips. “Horse was included.” Rey leaned forward and whispered loudly, “The chicks as well.

When you're a child, you think adults know it all. But then you grow old, and you realize the truth. We're all bumbling fools.

Wrath and judgment scraped across her skin. They watched her, waiting for her to shatter. Didn’t they know she was already broken? They’d taken her family, her castle, her kingdom, and now they’d taken her blood. What was there left to take? Surely they’d find it and take that, too.  --Saga Volsik

You see blundering. I see progress. There is beauty to behold in the in between.

In that moment, Silla made herself a vow. She would never allow another to know her true name. She would hold it so tightly she strangled it from this world.

Lone wolf he might be, but now Silla needed a pack.

For those whose safe space has become their prison. You are brave. You are strong. You are warriors.

Long had Jonas yearned to feel something, but the fresh knife in his back was too painful to bear. It hurt to breathe. Hurt to think.He couldn’t feel this. Needed to forget.Jonas drew his fist back. Smashed it into the red-bearded warrior’s face.The mead hall erupted.And as the battle thrill coursed through him, at last, Jonas felt something tolerable.

Do not give power to things you cannot change.”

We are not in Zagadka, Rurik.” “Kass,” he said in a low growl she felt all the way to her toes. “We are not in Zagadka, Kass,” she said tartly.

Saga was scared, but sure. In a moment, she’d be free. She’d stretch her wings and fly from her cage. No one could hurt her where she was going. No one would ever hurt her again.

Anger is such a burden to carry. There is peace to be found in surrendering it.

Let me make this clear to you

Perhaps some women would be frightened by this man’s intensity, but Saga only leaned into him—this man who had become the only solid thing in her life. This man who had reminded her what it meant to be spontaneous—that to reap rewards, one must take risks.And this felt like the biggest risk of all.

Him, she thought. He’s my hearthfire thought.