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blood-feud

A long-standing, violent dispute between clans or domains over land, marked by cycles of retaliation and pride.

1 chapter across 1 book

The Left Hand of Darkness (1969)Ursula K. Le Guin

Chapter 10

This chapter recounts a traditional tale from Karhide about the feud between the Domains of Stok and Estre, focusing on the story of two young men, Estraven of Estre and Therem of Stok, who overcome enmity through mutual aid and a vow of kemmering (faithfulness). Despite their efforts to reconcile their houses, Estraven is branded a traitor for ending the feud and ceding land to Stok, illustrating the heavy cost of peace in a culture driven by pride and territorial disputes.