Swordwoman’s Tale by Inkroost
Swordwoman’s Tale
The Road North · Ch.3
Left to right
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Mara waves beside the armored Warden Voss, while Tam waves in a round inset and Voss points toward the reader in the lower scene.
Mara walks along a winding road across open grassland, crossing a stream by stepping stones, while a small campfire burns beside a tree and she glances back over her scarf.
A dark-haired woman with a red scarf holds a sword by a rocky stream as a tall armored figure stands beneath a tree across the open countryside.
Mara splashes across a stream with a sword, then points it at the armored Warden Voss, who raises an open gauntlet toward her.
A dark-haired traveler with a red scarf walks behind a tall armored figure at sunset, and later they sit across a campfire as the armored figure feeds it a stick.
Mara sits by a campfire facing an armored figure, and later speaks with a gray-haired man in armor while the armored figure stands behind him.
Mara sleeps wrapped in her red scarf beside Warden Voss at a campfire, then stands with her glowing sword as Voss rises beside her.
Mara and the armored Warden Voss walk through a forest gully toward a fallen pine, while Kesh sits on the log with a curved knife and hooded armed figures hide among the rocks and trees.
Kesh stands on a fallen tree facing Mara and the armored Warden Voss as hooded crossbowmen aim from the rocky, wooded slopes; after Kesh gestures toward Voss and Voss grips his sword, bolts fly toward Kesh.
Mara and the armored Warden Voss fight back-to-back in a forest as hooded attackers fall and a red-haired man flees up a rocky slope.
Mara stands beside the armored Warden Voss in a wooded gully, pulls a bolt from his shoulder, and then crouches with him by a fallen tree trunk.
Mara and an armored figure stand at the end of a wooden jetty beside a moored boat at dusk; the bell rings, and Mara grips a sword as she speaks.
Mara looks wide-eyed toward a keep across the water while she and an armored figure stand on a dock, and Kesh watches from reeds nearby.
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Mara waves beside the armored Warden Voss, while Tam waves in a round inset and Voss points toward the reader in the lower scene.
Mara walks along a winding road across open grassland, crossing a stream by stepping stones, while a small campfire burns beside a tree and she glances back over her scarf.
A dark-haired woman with a red scarf holds a sword by a rocky stream as a tall armored figure stands beneath a tree across the open countryside.
Mara splashes across a stream with a sword, then points it at the armored Warden Voss, who raises an open gauntlet toward her.
A dark-haired traveler with a red scarf walks behind a tall armored figure at sunset, and later they sit across a campfire as the armored figure feeds it a stick.
Mara sits by a campfire facing an armored figure, and later speaks with a gray-haired man in armor while the armored figure stands behind him.
Mara sleeps wrapped in her red scarf beside Warden Voss at a campfire, then stands with her glowing sword as Voss rises beside her.
Mara and the armored Warden Voss walk through a forest gully toward a fallen pine, while Kesh sits on the log with a curved knife and hooded armed figures hide among the rocks and trees.
Kesh stands on a fallen tree facing Mara and the armored Warden Voss as hooded crossbowmen aim from the rocky, wooded slopes; after Kesh gestures toward Voss and Voss grips his sword, bolts fly toward Kesh.
Mara and the armored Warden Voss fight back-to-back in a forest as hooded attackers fall and a red-haired man flees up a rocky slope.
Mara stands beside the armored Warden Voss in a wooded gully, pulls a bolt from his shoulder, and then crouches with him by a fallen tree trunk.
Mara and an armored figure stand at the end of a wooden jetty beside a moored boat at dusk; the bell rings, and Mara grips a sword as she speaks.
Mara looks wide-eyed toward a keep across the water while she and an armored figure stand on a dock, and Kesh watches from reeds nearby.

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← Hollowmere · Ch.2
Text Version A written companion to this chapter — for accessibility, screen readers, and search.

Mara leaves Hollowmere before first light and heads north toward the Greywater, where the Star Wardens are said to keep their hold. She carries Starfall and a power she still can't control, and Warden Voss follows close behind.

Page 1

Mara, wearing a red scarf and blue travel clothes, waves in the foreground with Warden Voss standing behind her in dark armor and a blue cloak. Tam smiles and waves in a round inset. Mara: “Thank you for walking the road with us!” In the lower scene, Warden Voss points toward the reader, with Mara beside him. Mara: “Leave a comment and tell us what you like most about the story so far.”

Page 2

A lone traveler walks along a dirt road through grassy plains, crossing a stream on stepping stones; a tree and a small smoking campfire stand nearby. Text box: “Three days north of Hollowmere.” Mara, thinking: “Quiet road. Too quiet.” Mara: “You walk loud for a ghost.”

Page 3

At a rocky stream in open countryside, a dark-haired woman in a blue tunic and red scarf holds a sword; an armored figure stands near a tree across the stream. A small inset shows a close-up of the sword. Woman: “Come out. I’ve known since the gate.” Text: “The sword knew first.” Armored figure: “Since the gate. Then you are better than I was told.” Woman: “Told by who?” Armored figure: “By a man who taught you to watch your back. Your father.”

Page 4

Mara splashes across stepping stones in a stream, holding a sword. She says, “Don’t you talk about him!” Warden Voss says, “I trained beside him. Long before you were born.” Mara says, “He never said a word about any of you.” Mara points her sword at Warden Voss. He says, “That was the point. He left us to keep you out of this.” Mara asks, “Then why are you following me?” Warden Voss raises an open gauntlet and says, “Because others are too. Walk with me, and you might reach the keep alive.”

Page 5

At sunset, a dark-haired traveler in a red scarf walks behind a tall armored figure in a dark cloak. Narration: “They walked until the light ran out. Neither spoke.” Beside a campfire, the traveler asks, “Do you sleep in that thing?” The armored figure replies, “When I sleep.” A close-up shows the armored figure’s gauntlet placing a stick into the fire.

Page 6

Mara: “Tell me about him. The man you knew.” Armored figure: “Aldric Venn was the best of us. He laughed too loud and kept his oaths.” Mara: “The laughing I remember.” Gray-haired man: “When the first star fell, he took the sword and ran. Some called him a traitor.” Mara: “And you?” Mara: “I called him my friend. I still do.”

Page 7

A sleeping Mara is wrapped in her red scarf beside Warden Voss, who sits by a campfire among rocks at night. Caption: “Past midnight.” Mara’s sword lies on the ground and flares with cyan light. Sound effect: “VMMMM.” A bright star glows in the dark sky. Mara stands holding the sword beside Warden Voss. Mara: “It’s never done that.” Warden Voss: “It’s warning you. Someone is ahead of us on the road.”

Page 8

A forest gully runs between rocky slopes and trees, with a fallen pine across the path. Mara and Warden Voss approach it. Caption: Pine Gully. The only road north. Warden Voss: Perfect place for an ambush. Mara: Yes. It is. Kesh sits on the fallen pine holding a curved knife, with hooded figures carrying weapons among the trees and rocks. Kesh: Morning, courier! You left Hollowmere without saying goodbye. I was hurt. Mara: Kesh. I was hoping you'd stayed in that ditch.

Page 9

Kesh: “Here’s my offer. The sword, and you both walk out of here with all your fingers.” Kesh: “And you brought a Warden? Big fellow. I’ll charge extra for him.” Warden Voss: “Leave. This is the only warning you get.” Kesh: “Pity.” Sound effect: “THWIP THWIP THWIP”

Page 10

The armored Warden Voss sweeps aside incoming bolts with his cloak. Voss: “Behind me!” Mara crouches as hooded attackers rush through the forest. She strikes a green-clad attacker with her sword. Sound effect: “WHAM” Mara and Voss stand back-to-back, each holding a sword. Mara: “Is this how you fought with my father?” Voss: “He talked less.” A red-haired man looks back while running uphill. Red-haired man: “…Right. Not today, then.” A hooded attacker calls: “This isn’t over, courier! That star’s worth a kingdom!”

Page 11

Mara: “He’ll be back.” Warden Voss: “His kind always are.” Warden Voss: “Hold still. You’ve got a souvenir.” Sound effect: “SHNK” Warden Voss: “Thank you, Mara.” Warden Voss: “First time you’ve used my name.” Mara: “One more day to the Greywater.”

Page 12

A caption reads: “The Greywater. The edge of everything she knew.” Mara and the armored figure stand at the shore facing the jetty and the water. They walk onto the jetty. Mara: “No ferryman.” Armored figure: “There never is. You have to be expected.” The armored figure pulls the bell rope, and the bell rings: “DONNG... DONNG...” Mara: “And if they don’t want me there?” Mara: “Then they will have to go through me.”

Page 13

Mara’s eyes are shown close up. Mara: “Oh.” Mara and an armored figure stand on a dock facing a keep across the water; a small boat is tied beside the dock. Speaker not clearly shown: “Welcome to the Wardens’ keep. Your father’s home.” Caption: “And somewhere across that water, the truth was waiting for her.” Kesh peers through reeds. Kesh: “A keep full of relics. Even better.” “End of Chapter 3.”