Alaya

Alaya Roogain was raised to be gracious and lady-like. Now she and her bonded ice bear are fleeing the horde of barbaric invaders who have just killed her father before her eyes. First, she must survive and then find a way to reunite her shattered land. Her father had been first among equals as head of one of the five ruling houses. Will anybody follow an 18-year-old girl politically, much less into battle? To complicate matters, a deserter from the invading forces saves her life—twice. She may be developing feelings for him.