Extract from "Oath By The Heron" Book 1 by Baha'a al-Fakih

                                                   Oath By The Heron
                                                            Book 1

 “His sword shone in the blizzard. His walk had a viperous allure. His shape seemed to blend in a crowd. His glare was death’s resonance in the bells of consciousness. His speed was of no match. With each twist of his hand, heads flew alongside limbs. While his surroundings boiled with anger and hatred, he did not seem to lose his frozen temper. When spotted, he gave no impression of a heartwarming greeting. Liar is he who denies envying that swordsmanship, that elegance in both fight and speech. No man of power has been able to count the number of men he was worth, actually no man at all. His moves were unpredictable, unstoppable and, sometimes, under no circumstances within human capabilities. In fact, he could blend so well in group of corpses, for nothing showed in him a sign of life. I often heard him being called a vampire, a monster, a freak. Sometimes I even participated in the naming, not out of jealousy, but because I wish to uncover whatever dark secret he may hide, the one he embedded, making him look like a corpse, and a fine one indeed. Before the battle we last had with the neighboring king, some soldiers tried to approach him. I admit, it was more a harassment than a friendly introduction, especially when they tried to reach for his third arm, that shining, sharp arm. But the fact that they were bullies is good enough to beat them up if you’re a man, to stay quiet and not report it if an idiot, but nowhere near being an excuse for butchering them. It is just absurd! At least, it was our commander’s opinion. He also added that if he doesn’t tear ten of the opposing team’s men for each limb he’s just chopped off, he will meet the heavens. A normal man, a rational one at least, would simply run away after the fight starts and still be considered a hero, while this madman did the exact opposite. He killed more than agreed and is till now chased for some sort of crime I bet my arse he knows nothing of. After the other army ran away afraid of meeting his blade, he did not participate in the loot, not considerably. All he took was a bloody spear’s head and a broken sword. Whence did he come, nobody really knows. I swear on my mother’s mercy the next time I meet the bastard, I’ll be the one to open his head and see what’s inside.”
                                            -witnessing of a court bard who’s seen the mysterious individual.