A short story about Aslan Ihateai (second sons who will not inherit) and outcasts basically waiting around in a camp on Kteiroa for a warlord to rise up and give them somewhere to go. In the meantime they drink, trade stories, and squabble amongst themselves.
Tikhnal is the protoganist. He fights a duel with Brukhah, a braggart and bully who has already killed other Ihateai in duels in order to take their assets and wives. About half of the story is the aftermath of the duel and what it means for Tikhnal.
The story gives a nice little portrait of Ihateai camps and the sort of things that might go on in them. It is fairly well-written, but there isn't much length to develop its characters or situation very fully. It is also something of a "gimmick" story, in that once Tikhnal's secret is revealed there is not much more to the story.
The download comes in .pdf, .mobi, and .epub formats. It's 36 pages in .pdf, about 8,200 words.
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