Attacked on the road, Beitidh Dunaidh is wounded and heads upriver to evade her pursuers.

Placed #1 in Round 1 Cohort of ~50 stories in NYC Midnight’s
Short Story Challenge 2024.

From its strong opening fight scene to its surprising yet satisfying conclusion, Mickler’s historical fantasy carries the reader along with a compelling tone and a gradually building sense of suspense and uncertainty that pays off with an unexpected twist.
— Editor Commentary, Epic Echoes, Vol. 2, pg. 61.

Dark Fantasy. Swallowing Your Pride. Getting What You Wanted.