It was another quite night. There’d been rumors of villages being attacked and whipped out in the night. Svala did not want hers to be among them but her mother, the matron, said they were just stories. She would smile politely at her mother but she knew her to be wrong. With the men away fighting and conquering other far off places it was up to them to defend their home.<br/><br/>The village was strong in places but they were lacking in many others. Their main objective had been fishing and hunting. There were only a handful of women who could fight, she among them. Her father had taught her when he had wanted sons but got her. It was two years after her birth did he finally get the offspring he really wanted. Twin boys, both of them were out with him on raiding missions. Their first and probably not the last. She had seen the way they had trained and felt pride in the knowledge they took to it well.<br/><br/>The cold winter chill seeped into her bones as she hugged her fur collar around her. She’d been gazing into the woods keeping watch. She’d placed a few others around the village but she felt her mother would have sent them off already. There was a hand on her shoulder, she didn’t have to turn around to know it was her mother’s.<br/><br/>“Sleep child, there will be no trouble tonight.”<br/><br/>She smiled at her ageing mother, the wrinkles on her face showing an age she should not be yet. “Alright mother.” She said though there was an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. Her mother turned away without saying another word as she went to her own home. It had been awhile since she was living in her mother’s house. There was a certain sense of freedom in it.<br/><br/>Her fur collar slipped from her shoulders as she readied herself for bed. The sword at her side was set near her bed ready for anything if she needed it. Lying in her clothing she turned out the light. Eyes closed for just an instant when she heard something. She was up and about sword in hand when someone burst into her house.<br/><br/>She was quick but so was her opponent. They fought for a short time before she ran the other threw. Her heart beat quickened as the blood lust inside of her rushed through her consciousness. Rushing out she fought against those who tried to take her home. There were many of her people who were already dead but she couldn’t think of that now. She had to protect as many as she could.<br/><br/>Bodies piled up around her, she was one of the lucky ones. Her father taught her well. Her movements were swift and accurate though these opponents were harder to beat. She could tell from the body art and the way they were dressed they were form Astrid’s village. It got her blood boiling more and she fought harder than she knew she could. There was a yell and she felt something smash in the back of her head. She fell to her knees and soon felt her head being pulled back by her hair neck exposed ready to be cut off.