Free Untouched Concubine by Lisa Rusczyk, Mikie Hazard

Mandia held her father’s hand as he condemned the Farna soldiers in front of them. Mandia’s father spoke softly for a king, saying, “ Farna destroys everything in its path, takes over countries, forces women and children in ways unspeakable. Your tactics are known, even here in the West. You are all condemned to die by hanging in the morning.”
                But there was a small boy among them, and Mandia couldn’t see how her father would even consider taking this one to his death. She tugged his hand. “Father, but the child…”
                He glanced down at her and squeezed her hand. “He will grow into a monster.”
                “But he could be my friend. He could be a neighbor.”
                “He dies. You’ll understand when you are older, Mandia .”
                Mandia let go of her father’s hand and walked to the boy. He had his head down, shaggy, dark hair covering his face. He didn’t shake or show fear. She sensed shame. Shame at what, she wondered.
                “I don’t want you to die,” she whispered to him.
                He lifted his green eyes to hers. He spoke in another language, then bowed his head again.
                Mandia turned and begged, “Please, Father, don’t kill him, please. For me.”
                “ Mandia , go back home. I brought you here to see what your enemies look like, their curly hair and green, glowing eyes. Like wild cats they are, and as viscous as wild beasts. I educate you. Now go.” He still spoke softly.
                Mandia left in tears.
     
    ~~~
     
                Eight years passed since the Farna soldiers had been hung. Her father had not let her watch that day, but she knew it happened.
    Mandia was now eighteen, with hips her mother said would pop out babies in a matter of minutes and a bust that balanced them well. It wasn’t fashionable to be so curvy, but being a princess was. Still, Mandia would have had her share of male companions had the war not been raging for two years. Her home city of Crona was at the edge of the sea, and the war between her homeland and the kingdom of Lenn to the south was encroaching on Crona . Lenn’s King Herean was deadly, bloodthirsty and terrifying the whole county, taking every society down in his vicious path. Any day, the city would be filled with sword fighting and pillaging. Her father had died on the battlefield a year ago, and Crona was falling apart without his wise leadership.
                Mandia was afraid. She twisted her straight, blond hair into knots and let the ends fray, not wanting to appear in any way attractive to the Lenn fighters who would most likely capture their city of Crona by the end of the week.
                It seemed like the city should be in madness. But it was quiet. Nobody left their houses. Most soldiers were dead; they had been protecting outlying posts of the kingdom. Lenn’s takeover was going to happen and there was nothing anyone could do, so they all stayed silent and prayed to the goddesses of the sky and light to make their deaths swift and to carry them into the clouds to rest for eternity.
                The men would be killed straight away.
                The women’s fates would be worse.
               
    ~~~
     
                The fires could be seen to the south. Lenn was coming for Crona . Mandia hid in her bed, scared, but assured something would happen, anything would happen to prevent the end so many were frightened of.
                A knock on her door.
                “ Mandia ,” whispered her mother. She opened the door and came in. She was carrying a blue cloth bag and wearing men's clothes. Her own blond hair was tucked into a baggy cap. In her other hand she carried clothes.
                “Mother, what are you