The Shadow of the Gods (The Bloodsworn Saga, #1)

by John Gwynne

She knew well enough that the braggarts like Guðvarr were not the real warriors. It was the ones who never threatened violence…

“And Harek,” Breca said, his voice high and shrill. Orka felt a swell of pride for her son, having the stones to speak up for his friend in a gathering like this.

“Leave it, Breca. It is nature’s way. This is a red world of tooth and claw. The bird eats the mouse, the cat eats the bird, the wolf eats the cat, and so on. You cannot change this.”

Strange, how we revert to the behaviour of our childhood, when back in the presence of our family.