A muscle twitched in the captain's face.
"You? A woman?"
He looked Brienne's outrageously large frame up and down, the contempt in his eyes turning to naked murderous intent.
He waved to his men behind him.
"Take her!"
"Dead or alive!"
At his command, seven guards raised their longswords at once.
They spread out in all directions, forming a ring as they closed in on Brienne, step by step.
Their blades reflected a cold gleam in the sunlight filtering through the trees.
Margaery hid behind Brienne, trembling all over. She squeezed her eyes shut, not daring to watch.
Brienne did not move.
She merely tightened her grip on her sword.
"You're asking for it!"
The nearest guard roared and charged first, driving his longsword straight at Brienne's heart!
Brienne shifted slightly to one side.
Clang!
A piercing clash of steel rang out.
Though her sword moved second, it struck first, knocking his attack aside at a tricky angle with perfect precision.
The guard felt a tremendous force surge through his sword. The skin between his thumb and forefinger split instantly, and his longsword nearly flew from his hand.
Before he could react, Brienne moved again.
She turned her wrist and swept her sword out.
Slash!
The blade cut mercilessly across his throat.
Blood gushed out.
The guard clutched his neck, eyes wide with disbelief as he collapsed.
It all happened too fast!
So fast that the remaining six guards had not even seen what happened!
"All together!"
The captain recovered his wits. This woman was far stronger than he had imagined!
The remaining six men hesitated no longer. Roaring, they attacked from different directions at once!
Six longswords cut off every avenue of escape!
Margaery's heart leaped into her throat!
Yet Brienne's face remained utterly expressionless.
Instead of retreating, she