The next day, Valkyrie made the suggestion that they go shopping so she could get some new cloths. It had been a while since she had refreshed her available outfits, and despite the fact that clothes here would not be armor reinforced, she was in need of some new tunics and pants. A dress of her own would likely allow her to blend in better, even if she despised the garments.
Reilynn was thrilled at the very idea of shopping and readily agreed. Both men groaned at the idea, so the General agreed to let them go alone only under the condition that two of his guardsmen accompany them.
Val’s true intention would be to stop into a spice shop so she could get some of the pepper powder but that might take some work to elude the guards assigned to keep an eye on them.
Reilynn insisted on taking them to her favorite dress shop in town. When the stern mistress who ran the shop saw Valkyrie and Reilynn enter she frowned at Valkyrie’s choice in attire.
&l
Valkyrie smirked at her long time friend and partner. The girl was just a bit older than she, and her fierce green eyes could pierce the soul of anyone but her.“I had to wait for you to get here before I started the real work.”“Oh? And what fresh hell do you plan to rain down on Caradon? I am not sure the city can survive you.” Alexa shot back.They both grinned at each other, breaking the tension and Valkyrie rushed to her friend, wrapping her in a tight embrace.“It may have only been a few weeks or months, but I missed you, Lex.”Alexa pushed her back to look into her eyes, “you have a lot of explaining to do. The rumors are, well, bloody.”“Its been an adventurous few weeks. How was your trip?” Val asked.Alexa flinched, “Morgessa was furious with me and Cade for leaving you in the field. I think she was about ready to flay our hides. That sigil you sent back with me quelled her anger some but she still ordered us to find you.”“Just to find?” Val asked, a bit of worry in her vo
Val smirked, “I might still find a use for them, scared as they are, but you have 24 hours to let them know that if you do not report in and take new orders, I will send that one to hunt them down, and she will take pleasure in freeing their souls from the darkness they have embraced.”Val pointed at Alexa who grinned wolfishly. Val knew that while Alexa had claimed to not be a killer, the depravity she had seen on this street was enough for her to make an exception and that she would gladly hunt this kind of man down.“Now, as for the girls,” Val said turning to the doxies who all cringed in fear. “I want a list of everyone of your names. You have three options. One, you sign a release of work and leave tonight to seek your own way in the world free from the razor’s edges. I can offer you a months pay as severance.”Val glanced around and saw what she expected. While many would love to be free, starting over in this world was not an easy task even for those with the support of family
It was another half hour before they arrived at the Black estate. As they crossed roof tops Val saw the estate wall come into view.When they made it to the roof top across from the estate, Valkyrie pulled up short. While she had vague memories of the layout of the grounds, never had she imagined the number of scath moving across the grounds.“Are those-“ Alexa’s breath caught as she looked over Val’s shoulder. “Val, that is a lot of Scath. Are they patrolling?”Val watched as both human guards and scath moved around the estate. The scath did indeed seem to move in patterns but not the same as those the human guards were taking.“What the fuck is Gregor into?” Val asked the night.“I don’t know but if we are going to fight that horde… Val I don’t like the odds.”“Do you see any spectre or Thrashers?” Val asked as she scanned over the lurkers below.“No, but with that many wraiths there is bound to be some hiding in the shadows.”Val fished in her waist pouch and found five crystals th
“Val, is that really you?” Valkyrie paused and glanced over her shoulder, instantly regretting it and averting her eyes. “Put some damn clothes on. No one wants to see that.” She heard Gregor quickly grabbed for a robe as he said, “Valkyrie, it’s you, isn’t it?” Val sighed and said to the room, “That girl died twelve years ago while cold, dirty, and without a home or a father.” “Celeana?” Gregor asked, a glimmer of hope in his voice. “Killed that same night, abandoned by the man she thought would love, cherish, and protect her and their daughter. But clearly, we both know that was not the case.” Val walked out into the hall with Gregor close behind her. As he stepped out into the hall to follow, Alexa stepped out of the shadows and placed one of her blades back at his neck. He froze as the cold runed blade bit into his skin. In a deadly tone, Val said, “I wouldn’t test her. Go back to your play thing in there and pray we never meet again, or I might be inclined to unman you. Wh
Val’s world went black as she fought the bear hug and struggled to draw in air. Vaguely she remembered Lilith telling her to be careful when fighting the pirates and large men. Men die easily enough when they come at you one at a time.However, now there were twelve against two. Well, maybe less. She had taken out three and Alexa hopefully had gotten a few.The hulk in front of her drew back for another punch when his eyes went wide with surprise. He fell forward, face smashing the wood floor at her feet, a blade embedded in the back of his head, just below the skull. Alexa shot her a look of scorn as she flew back into her own battle.Val slammed her head back into the man holding her and connected with his chin. He loosened his grip just enough for her to concentrate her weight and drop out of his grip. As she landed in a crouch she immediately shot back to her feet with her elbow behind her, scoring a power shot to his crotch.As he doubled over,
When the girls were set and Val returned to Alexa, her friend was just waking up.“Morning sleepyhead.”“Fuck off,” Alexa said groggily as she sat up and pushed wild strands of black hair from her face.“You are in a good mood,” Val joked.Alexa turned an icy glare on her. “Twice in one night you almost got me killed. This second time erased any scath I had collected to fix the damage caused by your so called ‘men’.”“But we won…”“This is what you consider winning? Val your winning sets us back in scath, cost us any level of surprise with Gregor, and now set you back half a guild's worth of personnel if that was really your goal. What did you actually gain out of this besides blood? Barclay is still out there, you own me even more scath…”Val looked at her friend sheepishly, “Its an investment towards future profits?”“An investment? Val, this is not really what they mean when they say ‘pour your blood, sweat, and tears into a business.’ It’s supposed to be metaphorical blood, not fu
Reilynn just hummed in agreement as she stood and looked at her braided hair in the mirror. “Thank you! Now… about your face. Are you planning to come down to breakfast or do you want me to have cook send something up?”“Could you have something sent up?”“Sure. I suppose we could just tell everyone its your time of the month. You are due soon right? Guess it might not be too far of a stretch.”“Time of the month?” Valkyrie had heard the phrase but had never really understood it.”“Yea, you know, your flow?”“I-” Val honestly had no idea how to respond.“Well, the boys know how bad my cramps get so they know to stay the hell away and just chuck chocolates at me from across the room. It’s a good way to get sweets and to keep people at bay for a few days. I will see what Cook has for breakfast and have a tray brought up. We really should still touch you up with some makeup. If you do come out, those bruises are rather startling.”“Thanks,” was all Val could manage.“I don’t suppose you
Late that afternoon, Reilynn accompanied Valkyrie into town. Val had thought about trying to go on her own, but realized the General and his wife would protest and raise an issue. She was stuck between two worlds. One where she was an underworld queen of the sea, Durres, and now Caradon guilds and another world entirely where she was thought to be a helpless young woman whose outings could damage her chances of a marriage proposal.The notion made her sick to think about. Most of the men she had met thus far had died at the end of her blade or deserved to die in the near future.She thought of Alexa and considered sending for her to join them, but thought her friend likely wanted time away from her for now. The thought stunk in ways she had not expected.Morgessa had trained them both to be ruthless and to kill efficiently. Most of her training had been focused on Scath, but from time to time she had an especially nasty brute who had been sentenced to death by the Surian council of El