It was after dinner when Valkyrie arrived back at the general’s estate. Being she had left through the front gate and was still in her dress, she figured she would just announce herself to the gate guards.When she approached, she was alarmed to see the mass of guards at the gate. It seemed the security had been tripled. Guards noticed her a moment later and two rushed up to her.“Lady Black, the General has been most worried for you. Your father sent word of the attack at his estate and that you had been taken. The whole city is on alert. How ever did you get away?”He looked down at the torn sleeves of her dress and asked more softly, “Lady black, are you hurt? Should I send for the doctor?”Val’s mind raced. Gregor had sent word of an attack? She had been taken… What game was Gregor playing at?“No, I am fine, just some extra work for the tailor to mend. I would like to change though.”“Yes of course. I will send word to your father at once.”“NO! NO one is to know of my location!”
Valkyrie didn’t wait long before having her trunk sent to the waiting carriage. It fascinated her how there was such a mix of old and new technology available. While the high society preferred to be on the cutting edge of transportation, families such as the General’s still used the tried and true horse and carriage.Val wondered how long it would be before the new vehicles would become the common normal. Val watched as her trunk was loaded and then glanced around the grand estate one last time before climbing into the carriage.It was such a nice place, that Valkyrie hoped she could return under better circumstances. Reilynn and the boys Rowan and Marcum were good people. They may be naive but they were the kind of innocent that made Val want to put an end to all the world’s evils so people like them could live a happy life.As the carriage pulled out of the estate grounds, Valkyrie spotted Alexa crossing the rooftops one street away.“Driver, stop for a moment.”The carriage pulled
As the flight continued, Valkyrie And Alexa quickly learned that Samiel was not one you bet money against. His mind was quick and when it came to games of strategy, he thought in circles around them. Even working together, it was impossible to get anything past him.“How?” Valkyrie asked on their third night aboard the airship.“I was locked away for two millennia. Not all my guards were barbarians. Many were as bored as I was. I have played chess and fifty versions of strategy game from every known age in the mortal world, and several millennia of games in the Elysium before that. There is not a game of strategy that I have not seen play out on a battlefield or defeated grand masters from every dynasty.” Samiel replied as he captured Valkyrie’s queen in their latest game of chess.Val stared at the board in defeat. The idea was hard to fathom. She had only ever been in prison of any kind for a weekend at most. The thought of being locked away for two millennia was, well nothing shor
Val considered all she had been told and how it related to the world she knew today. “so you mean, the princes left are the remnant of those who attacked back then?” “From what I know, yes. You have to understand, You know as much as I about what exactly has happened in the past few millennia. But the understandings I have heard of my own time are a broken mess. Before I was captured I was aware of eight princes that had escaped the culling.” “We killed one, and I understand Lilith, one of your predecessors killed one. That leaves six. That is not to say they have not killed each other off in that time. It was known to happen when one gained to much power.” Samiel explained. “On the island of whispers, four ancients told me of the princes. They named them Kekun, Azazel, samyaza, Kasyade, Allocen, Balberith, and Xaphan.” “Ah, then only five still remain. Kasyade, that name is one I had not thought to hear again. Kasyade is more of a princess. She and I, well that was long ago. She i
Valkyrie circled three more streets, intentionally looking for Scath now that she had noticed the abnormality. Indeed, people were out this evening visiting shops by the light of oil lamps and none seemed worried for their safety or concerned about much of anything.Her orders had been to reduce crime against the common citizen and a greater focus on the willing pleasures and vices of the gambling halls and bars. She hadn’t had high hopes but was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere.The lack of scath however had her concerned. This with had been overrun with the demons and yet, now, they were notably just gone. Where ever they were at would likely be some den of debauchery and chaos.Val made her way to the guild house to find a dark home. No lights shone within, telling her that the guild had either abandoned the home all together, or they simply dared not venture there when she was not in residence.Now that she was back though, she intended to make it a proper home again. Living
Val barely managed to stifle a scream as a bullet tore through her side.{Are you fucking ready to help yet?} Val asked in her mind.Samiel’s baritone chuckled, [If you really want me to intervein I will. But I think you have this well in hand.]She got the impression that he was sitting in the room with her, just somehow invisible to her sight, and that of the assassins.She kicked off the window sill and kicked at Hespian’s head. He caught her foot and whipped her around, releasing her leg to let her crash into the wall. More shots splintered the wall behind her.As Darius reloaded, Val pushed to her feet. On a low set of drawers to her left, a rune sword materialized.[something to even the odds] Samiel said softly in her mind.So he was nearby. Fine, she would finish these assassins and then skin the male alive for leaving her to deal with them alone.Val grabbed the blade and whipped it in a powerful uppercut just as Dariaus finished his reload. Her sword sliced clean through his
Samiel frowned at her. “I thought this was your city, so the lack of scath made sense. You grew up here right?” “Yes, but even in the four years I was in the streets daily, I barely put a dent in the ones down by dockside. I never ventured up here. There is no way for that to account for the complete lack of scath now. I figured they were fleeing from you.” Val said, a bit of dread washing over her. Where had they gone? Samiel took a long drink. “That is going to be a task for another time. For now, enjoy this city with me. Where is our girl Alexa? Lets drink and be merry. Tomorrow, we can solve the mystery of the missing nightmares!” Valkyrie sighed heavily before downing her glass. “Fine, but if we delay, I am going to expect your help in this.” “Yes, yes! Now, Another round! Where is that barmaid? Ha! Miss, another round for the lady of the house!” Samiel called. The barmaid eyed Valkyrie with one eye raised but Valkyrie just shrugged at her and held up two fingers and placed a
Val looked around in shock as every member of the tavern staff and a good half of the men in the room boomed a response.“HAIL, The Reaper!”After which the whole room grew quiet.Samiel smiled as his predatory gaze fell on the two men who Valkyrie had been listening in on. “It seems that there are two here who do not belong.”“Eh?”There was a collective commotion and confusion as people looked around to see who had drawn the ire of Samiel. When they saw who Samiel had singled out several nearby men scooted away to distance themselves as all eyes turned to the men.“What? Us? What are you on about bard? Why are you singling us out?”“Did I not just hear that you wanted to rape several of this fine establishment's barmaids as well as a comment about doing the same to the Reaper of Durres? Was it not you that just moments ago said that Accardo, of the crime family of Surret was a fool for being afraid of a little ‘WENCH’?” Samiel punctuated the last word so the whole tavern understood