Valkyrie Black

Chapter 12 : Rude Welcomes

Valkryie’s eyes fluttered open as she heard angry voices around her. Darkness greeted her as she tried to blink away the drowsy feeling numbing her body.

“How dare you drug a Silverblood! What right do you have to question the Spark bearers?” Desmond was shouting.

Three men stood around him, revolvers held at the ready. Brayden brashly declared, “In this fort, I am in charge of gate security. It is policy to question everyone who enters with the truth serum. Not only that , but a simple prick can tell us if she is Suria or not.”

“And? She passed your little test didn’t she?” Desmond roared. “Your prerogative ends when it comes to the Spark blessed. You have no rights when it comes to the gods damned Sparks!”

“We don’t know she is silverblood or that she bares a Spark. She didn’t flag when I initiated the reveal command. Even yours responded to that.”

“She had a gods damned Elite level! Of course, it wouldn’t respond to you! It will only respond to another spark, and a high level at that!” Desmond was shouting. His eyes flicked to her and locked onto her. he didn’t indicate that he knew she was awake but continued his argument.

Val was pissed. Desmond seemed to suggest with his tone and words that this Braydon was not worthy to know her.  He had not stated which spark she bore, only that it was Elite level.

Suddenly, the colored outlines she had become so used to seeing flared to life. The soldiers glowed yellow with hints of orange. Desmond had a distinct silver flame of color around him while Braydon was a sickly red and black.

Val hated this man at first sight and now that he had drugged her, her young emotions ran hot. Her gaze flicked to his neck, but this man was not one of the street kids.

While he was short, he was still over a foot taller than her four foot seven inches. A malicious grin came over her as she traced down his spine with her eyes as her black dagger came out.

She slipped up behind him, the dagger sliding between his legs and angling up.

Desmond smirked as he saw her blade appear, “Now you will see why it is a bad idea to challenge a Spark blessed. Val, it would likely be a bad idea to kill him outright on your first day.”

Val hated the idea of leaving a potential enemy behind. Her years on the streets had taught her that a predator left alive would come back to find you one day.

“Bitch! You dare attack the gatekeeper?” Brayden hollered, shifting uncomfortably as he felt her blade press against his manhood.

Val thought fast. She was outnumbered and outmatched. This Brayden could likely slap her silly if she had not gotten the drop on him. If there was one thing she had learned on the streets, it was that everyone looked down on her for her age and size but she could fake any persona and learn to blend in.

She didn’t understand half of what Desmond had told her so far about the spark blessed but perhaps she could use it to her advantage.

Spark blessed were superior to normal humans. Desmond had called her or her spark the dark angel. He had also called her a sliverblood. That seemed odd because she was sure her blood had run red when she had been attacked or injured.

She was very curious about that last part. As her mind processed the data, she began to speak, doing her best to incorporate the words Desmond had said.

“You dare to drug and ridicule a Spark? No matter what age I appear, no matter which vessel I chose to inhabit, you will obey, or you will meet your end on my blade.” Her young lilt made the promise flow like a song, penetrating hearts and minds.

The three soldier’s dropped their revolvers when Val turned her gaze on them. They dropped to the ground and bowed,  “Forgive us, Daughter of the Sparks. We did not know! we just followed the gatekeeper!”

Brayden snarled and spun to slap her. Val pressed her blade up and let his own spin slice his body across the blade. His fist connected with her head and she felt her neck snap to the side, a stream of silvery red blood splattering the wall.

“FUCK! A true silverblood and did I hear you say she bore a spark from beyond Suria? Truly a grand day for one to return to the fold!” Came the cry of a newcomer in dark brown robes.

“Prior Ferguson. As I tried to tell this moron Brayden, she is a silverblood, bonded to a lost spark. I confirmed the sigil myself.” Desmond kicked the screaming Brayden as the man clutched at his manhood, red blood staining his crotch.

“I see. Girl, will you live?” Prior Ferguson asked.

Val got back to her feet, still dazed from the blow, and wiped blood off her lip. “I will heal.”

Sadly this was one skill she had mastered after more than one encounter on the streets. She withdrew a crystal and tipped her head back and she felt the tendrils snake from the nape of her neck to her lip and jaw. The black smoke of the crystal slowly vanished.

Damn, what a waste of a good Shadow.

That one had taken her a full two weeks to hunt down. The gang kids she had used as bait were better off with this one off their trail. Not that they would ever know what all she did to keep them sane.

“Well, I am heartened to see the daughter of Celeana made it here safely.”

“You knew my mother?” Val asked.

“Of course, dear. Your silver hair is a dead giveaway. She lived and trained here for many years before heading off to Parcia. Despite her more common blood, She was well respected as one of our most promising junior priestess’. She may not have presented the genetic markers of a pure silverblood, but she was a daughter of Suria.” The Prior said.

“It is a shame her last mission ended so tragically. But I suppose if you have made it here then all was not lost. The training cohort will not be at Lorilis for another few years but you are welcome here nonetheless.”

 The Prior turned to Desmond, “I expect a briefing shortly. show the girl around and then come find me.”

Desmond watched the Prior stride off and the three soldiers follow after him. He motioned for Val to follow him and soon they came to a large own cavern with smooth walls and a towering roof some fifty feet above.

The area was illuminated by a large opening in the top ove the cave that light sunlight in as well as strange blue white glowing strips that circled the whole room.

“Sorry about your reception. I honestly expected more pomp from the Prior. I did send word ahead that I had found you.  Perhaps with Lorilis not playing host to the current cohort of Silverblood spark hopefuls, The prior didn’t see the point. The Prior has been keeping things organized and maintaining the mission rosters in the mean time.”

“Every four years, Surian families will send their heirs to the mountain fortresses. For twelve years, they cycle through various forts, normally a few years at each. The terms give the trainers at each fort a break and time to tend to other duties. It will be a while before you meet many other kids from the Surian heartland.”

“Ok. Well, this is the training arena. There are various stations and if you look up, there are landings. Each level houses those who have achieved that status. It takes unique skills to reach each of the five levels. The grandmaster  of fort Lorilis is on the sixth level.”

“Don’t expect to reach that any time soon. Even I who have been training for over fifteen years with my Spark have not achieved that,” Desmond explained.

“What level are you then?” Val asked.

“I am of the fourth tier. I take too many missions as a hunter to devote enough effort to advancing. You have youth on your side. Perhaps you will surpass us all. After all, most don’t receive the Spark until much later in life. Most have been in their mid-twenties and have trained with the Spark order since they were half your age. It is yet to be seen if your early integration of the Spark is a help or hindrance to your future potential.”

Desmond then pointed out several stations where a few soldiers trained at each. “There is the training ground. Knives, swords, bows, firearms over there, throwing daggers in that direction. Out on the main field, you can find the horse master, and on the outer slopes, there is a climbing master who trains in rock climbing, parkour, and advanced infiltration.”

 “We also have a stealth master but good luck finding him. Each of them will train members of the order as well as the garrison soldiers. They will be pleased to work with you so long as you have the coin to pay for their time.”