Series: The Rusted Blade
- Swordmaiden
- Paladin
- Rust, Blood, and Flame
- Light, Faith, and Sacrament
- Feeding the Flame
- The Fire Consuming
- An Embrace Eternal
- Dancing with Death
- A Chosen Tool
- Silence after the Storm
- A True Beginning
- Distant Whispers
- In Presence Exalted
- Servants of Fire
- Of the Dark, Of the Light
- A Warm Glow
- An Introduction and a Challenge
- Flames of the Fire
- Blazing Sparks
- Burning Coals
- Rebirth by Flame
- Aspects of Divinity
- Burden’s Release
- Cold Fire – and Hot Fury
- Resolve and Passion
- Grim Purpose
- That Which Is Given
- Grim Focus
- Weight and Depth
- Grim Satisfaction
- Slaughter and Sacrifice
- Grim Determination
- Duty and Death
- Grim Destruction
- Grim Fury
Malika stalked away, caring little if the Orthael followed. She had no care for her own life anymore. Everything she had ever known and cared about had been stripped from her in a single night. She cared only for her grim purpose now — retribution upon the monsters that had left her bereft.
Mistress, she heard Morduth say into her mind, are you certain this is a good idea?
She nodded once, curtly. She didn’t know if the sword could perceive the gesture, but it said nothing else, and she sensed a kind of calm resignation in its demeanor. A moment later, the holy man fell into step beside her, his own strange sword still faintly glowing with that odd orange flame.
“I care not,” she said by way of preamble, not bothering to look at him, “if you help me, though such aid as provide be most welcome. But be warned that you best not hinder me, else you face my wrath. Those who be not with me be against me, and I will cut down any who step into my path.
“I have but one purpose now — death to the Deathless.”
