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each side. The idea was to attack from each side simultaneously, but she had seen this maneuver literally hundreds of times and was more than ready for it.
    She turned hard on Timith and unleashed an offensive flurry. Three hard slashes out of a lightning-quick seven found home across his chest and shoulder, staggering the stout man while driving him back a few steps. She whirled like a tornado to intercept the downward slash coming from behind, one she felt more than saw.
    Deflecting Hasur’s sword high into the air, she kicked backward like a mule, sending Timith completely out of the picture with a well-placed shot to his chest. With the one real chance he had now gone, she covered the poor man with lightning-fast pitter-patter shots that looked to have far more force than they actually did. With Timith out of the fight for even a couple of seconds, the rest was academic. She surely had no intent of hurting her friend as she pounded away at him.
    “I yield! I yield!” he cried out as he threw his wooden sword into the sand. He fell to the ground and covered his head in playful submission. All the men laughed as Athel continued to poke his ribs, tickling him every time he shifted position. Even though all were laughing, there was no shame in losing to Athel, for she had done this to many of them.
    Kisses being blown her direction and mock bows followed the quick sparring session as she made her way out of the arena. She turned one last time before exiting, blowing a series of playful kisses into the air, all of which were returned, followed by whistling and marriage proposals.
    The mighty daughter of Corzon Thenalra was well respected and admired by all the soldiers of Dronin, perhaps even more respected than Lord Thenalra himself.
     

Chapter 3
    The doorknob turned ever so slowly until a light clicking from the latch promised escape was within reach. The wooden door creaked open just a crack at first. A single eye peeked through the slight opening, searching back and forth while making absolutely sure the coast was clear. When enough confidence had finally filled the little girl, she sprang from the old stone cottage.
    She giggled as she skipped down the road paved with gray stone, looking around now and again just to be sure no one had seen her. Gazing up at the wooden shop signs hung on small, thin chains, she could see a handful of flags made of black squared cloth, each with an orange sunset rippling at its center, attached to a few of the larger buildings, rolling methodically in the lazy summer breeze. The girl had never felt so free as the warm stone under her bare feet urged her to gallop faster so as not to get burned.
    When she reached the end of the road, the little girl peeked down the alley separating the local bakery and butcher’s shop. Giggling with nearly uncontrollable joy, she quickly made her way through the alley while eyeing the grassy field that lay off in the distance. The angry meow from the orange stray cat startled her momentarily, and she froze in place before the feline retreated back into the safety of its wooden crate. Her bravery and sense of adventure came flooding back in an instant once the mean cat was out of sight.
    On she skipped into the seemingly endless field. The light summer breeze blew just enough to rustle her hair slightly. The warm sun felt good on her face as she marched through tall grass that tickled her feet and toes with every step. But when the sounds of other children could be heard off in the distance, her joyful skipping became cautious feet-dragging as a slight shyness began to seep into her. She began to nervously tug at her light blue dress as the laughter off in the distance got closer and closer. Then the source of it all came into view. The little girl ducked behind an old fallen tree just to watch for a while as she tried to build up her courage.
    She could see them all playing down by the river as they splashed one another, laughing and lightheartedly