Legends of Belariath
Kedira
Kedira never had an easy life. Born the only child and daughter of a low position warrior, she never was given any leeway. She was being raised to be shem'mon, much to the dissapointment of her father, who had wanted a son instead, a son to become a warrior. Kedira was a bit of a tomboy and did not care for the duties of a shem'mon, being a handful to both her mother who tried to keep her in check as well as her father who repeatedly told her she could never be a warrior, and always added how he wished she could have been a boy.
During the 10th winter of Kedira's life her father and her mother were killed by Garash, a warrior of high position, and longtime nemesis of Crang, her father. Kedira being the only direct relative left alive could not ask for reperation, as Garash would simply refuse, and she knew she could not take him yet. Instead the 10 year old girl was left to fend for herself in the cruel, harsh lands of the Moragan Hammer clan.
A few years later the girl had learned to take care of herself, she had carved herself some primitive knives and other tools from sharp rocks she found, cooking the animals she hunted for food. It was her 12th spring when she decided it was time to avenge her father, and kill the man who had killed her mother and father. One day she confronted him, and demanded his life in reperation. Garash simply laughed and refused to pay anything at all, and Kedira, glaring at him simply left... The next day she hid, waiting for him to pass. As he left the safety of his cot she jumped him and with her crude knife slit the surprised man's throat.
Custom stated Kedira was justified to kill Garash, therefore his family could not demand reperation from her. Bystanders saw her and her name quickly spread like wildfire. A 12 year old shem'sot who had struck down Garash single handedly. The warrior council got wind of this news and reluctantly agreed for Kedira to start training to become shem'fed, a female warrior of clan Hammer.
The training was hard on her, for years she was beaten down into the dirt during the day, at night she recovered to face more beatings, all because the men would not allow this girl to become a female warrior. They thought the beatings would drive her off and away from her goal to become shem'fed and rise above them all, but they failed. This went on for years and years, the beatings increasingly savage, but Kedira grew stronger by the day, and in her 17th year started beating men in spars. By the time of her 18th year she was so strong she could best most men she knew. The local strongest warriors decided it was time to teach her a lesson, lead by Kargor - son of Garash - five warriors spent 2 days and 2 nights tormenting the young woman, ravaging and beating her, seemingly unstopping.
Kedira finally after the torment was over crawled away, her life almost fading into nothingness, but refused to die. During the next week she drew her plans for revenge, she would kill them all, she swore to herself. She would kill them for trying to stop her. Her hatred for men, especially these 5 fueled her as she drew her plans. During the next few weeks one by one the three weakest fell, challenged, fought then killed in full view of everyone, during the middle of the day. Kedira stood tall, three tokens she already had, the heads of those that assaulted her.
The fourth, best friend of Kargor, she hurled off of a tall cliff during a hunt, knowing she could not best him in a normal challenge. Kargor was there and as he saw Kedira hurl his best friend over the edge of the cliff, crashing down towards his demise on the sharp rocks below, he boiled with rage and attacked the eerily calm Kedira. His rage clouded his view and actions, and Kedira bested him, again with others there to witness their deaths. That day Kedira took her trophies, the heads of the five that assaulted her, and hung them high from a pole, for all to see.
Of course, killing does not go without consequence. Kedira was confronted by the families of the five men, all demanding reperation. Six men, brothers of those she had killed, 8 women, their mates, and their various offspring. However, Kedira refused to pay any reperation. The debates heated up and her advisor, one of the warrior council saw this would go nowhere, this willful woman would not stop to crush anyone in her way. From his talks with her, he knew she would sooner kill every one of those demanding reperation than pay it. The warrior council conveined and decided on a course of action...
Kedira of clan Hammer was deemed of no worth and therefore exempt of reperation. However, the warrior council also took this chance to get rid of the splinter in their side, they ruled that Kedira would be outcast until the time she had sufficiently proved her worth to her clan, and threw her out, glad to be rid of her. Kedira travelled long, braving many dangers on her way south, but she knew she would have to be able to stand up to all of them, her head held proud with accomplishment and power, before they would ever allow her to return again. Thus she came across the inn, and to her surprise found two of her clan. She stayed, more because of the presence of Kaytoo, Moragan of her clan, to learn from her example than because she particularly liked the place.