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PROLOGUE

Death itself is better than a life of shame

Beowulf

MALDEBANN CASTLE

THE HIGHLANDS OF SCOTLAND

1499

THE SCREAMING HAD TO STOP

He couldn’t endure it another minute, yet he kneas helpless to save them His family, his clan, his best friend Arron, hom he’d ridden the heather fields only yesterday, and his mother—oh, but his ed this … this … barbaric …

He turned away, cursing himself for a coward If he couldn’t save them and he couldn’t die with the the events into his e their deaths

One at a time, if necessary

Vengeance doesn’t bring back the dead How many times had his father said that? Once Gavrael had believed him, believed in hihty, wise, and wonderful da crouched over hisdagger in his fist