i. she watched them come, watched them fight. they'd tried time and again to make her leave, to shield her eyes and body from the bloodbath. she knew they didn't care, not about her. it was to keep up their reputations at home. after all, how would their wives and mothers and children react if they knew their fathers and sisters and brothers were mercilessly slaughtering the innocent, whose only crime was simply trying to live? all the others ran, they ran and were struck down with all sorts of magic. she'd taught herself all the spells and charms she'd seen, every way to kill. she closed her eyes, clearing her head. years later, the only thing she lived for was the crunch - crunch - crunching of their skulls under her boots.