“There are times when reality is nothing but pain, and to escape that pain the mind must leave reality behind.”  ― Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind

Alexandra Drăgana

Scene 1

During the time before Europe fell into darkness and before the mother of Rome felt the birth pains of her children, Kinsmen of the Thracian tribes gathered in their great hall by the fire. Long faces looked down in weary silence. Their king lay in his bedchamber, his mortal wounds extinguishing his light.

One of the men broke the pall of silence, “It won’t be long now.”  The others nodded. “We should prepare for our vengeance on the enemy,” said another.

“We will wait until death has done his duty. Then we will strike like the wolves and feast on their souls according to our oath,” said the elder of the group. His gray-streaked beard was foul with…