March to the Black Citidel

In the morning, I woke to find myself still tied with my hands together, but free of all other restraints. We were prodded to our feet and pushed out into the harsh cold air in the predawn darkness. A large group of soldiers and warriors, all terrifying women of the north, waited around us. Some wore cobbled armor, but all were wrapped in thick layers of furs and hides.

My captors led us along a trail through the heavy forest, until they came upon the edge of a cliff overlooking miles of the snowy wastes beyond. From this vantage point, I could see dozens of farms dotted across the landscape below, and… the city.

The city was a fortress unto itself, with black stone walls in locking rings, each higher than the last, so as to give archers a clear line of fire to rain **** upon any foolhardy enough to attack the blackened heart of the northern wastes. It glinted in the early morning light, a giant shining black stain against the pure white snow.

“Aye, that's Doth-Ral," the tall woman said with a smile as she gestured. “Your new home.”

Hours more of hiking and we entered through the massive stone gates. Inside, the streets were lined with armed women, all wearing leather armor and carrying bows and spears. I followed my captors as they marched up the broad stone steps to the impressive bronze clad doors.

As the doors opened a wave of heat blasted out, melting away the chill. The warmth was almost unbearable, my skin felt like it was burning from within. I was ushered inside.

Inside the great hall of Doth-Ral I saw hundreds of women gathered around huge tables, and at the far end a throne, made of the same black stone as the fortress walls, and sitting in that throne, was the largest, most beautiful and terrifying woman I had ever seen.

Her red hair was long and unbound. Her skin the color of cream. She sat upon the throne, but didn't look down. Instead she stared out over the gathering, meeting each gaze with her cold grey eyes.

"Welcome to Doth-Ral, the City of Strength," she spoke. "I am the Queen of the Black Iron, and I command here."

For a moment there was silence. The hall was lit with burning torches, leaving the air feeling thick.

I was pushed forward, until I stood before the throne. It was then I was stripped naked, and my hands were bound behind my back.

"This is your Queen of the Northlands. You will kneel before her and thank her for saving your lives. She shall select one of you to take as husband, and the rest shall be taken to serve her house. So sayeth the Het-ah.”

I watched the other captives out of the corner of my eye. They stared in open contempt or sullen surrender, but they stood unmoving. Angry thoughts flashed through my mind. Fools. They should be doing whatever it took to make the best of this situation. Well, I won’t make the same mistake.

Deliberately, I got to my knees.