For the first time since beginning this hunt, Imnek felt the icy grip of fear on his heart. Two of his fellows were dead, one had fallen and retreated, and they'd only managed to kill one pathetic horned soldier in return. When Paulus warned him about the witch, he had dismissed her because she was cowering behind an ice shield. Now, he realized that she wasn't cowering, she was a hunter herself, choosing her time to spring a trap.
Five years ago, he'd left the frozen islands of his homeland in search of a trophy worthy of a hunter who could bear the mantle of leadership. For too long, the Tuscans had cowered in the safety of their islands, protected by the treacherous frozen seas. But if he wanted to change any of that, he first had to prove that he was strong enough to lead.
