Orinda looked down the slope at the approaching enemy. She counted ten of them, two were in a stand off with her archer comrades that left eight free to fight. Reynard, Duncan and herself were the only professional fighters. Ten men from the village had remained to defend their home. Orinda was disappointed; she had signed up for this fight more on principle than for money, yet most of the men who had hired her had fled. Those that had remained had forbidden the women to take up arms, yet it was they who stood to gain the most. Orinda saw the irony in the situation, her foe was from her ancestral home country, and her allies had commissioned her to rebel against the new ruler’s law that their daughters should face selection for sacrifice to a dragon. She, a woman, had agreed to the fight because she abhorred the evil practice. The village leaders had led the commission but then fled. She should have walked away, but all her principles forbade it. She wanted to make a stand against the Runedorians, yet she wondered if the sword she carried had brought her enemies to this little village. The few troops suggested not and surely, the Runedorians would realise the sword had long ago lost any magical powers. Now faced by an all male enemy she could not yield. Credits Classic Fantasy:Lady of the Moon by Blondie9999 Christine Hair by Neftis Many thanks for you comments on my previous posts. I would be gratful if you would also share you thoughts on Orinda.