Sun and Steel — Jon Sprunk

"Sun and Steel" was published in the anthology Blackguards: Tales of Assassins, Mercenaries, and Rogues.

About this story, author Jon Sprunk says, "'Sun and Steel' is set in same fictional world as my Book of the Black Earth epic fantasy series. It illuminates the origin of Jirom, one of the series' main characters. This story explores the brutal nature of this world as well as the honor and duty that bind its characters together."