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
The next morning, Valkyrie and Alexa met at the same tavern with representatives of the Reapers Guild from across the city. Farson and Jonah Hex were both present as the guild leaders for up town and Dockside respectively. There were several business men that Valkyrie was not familiar with but she assumed ran various aspects of the semi legitimate side of the guild’s businesses. Also present was Sierra. While she would be joining the Luna Marra soon along with many of the girls from Caradon, Captain Talwater had not yet arrived. She would have to meet with the Black fleet separately but needed to set several plans in motion as soon as possible. “Gentlemen, I know some of you, others I plan to get to know. I understand that you have recognized my right to rule by defeating your previous leaders in open challenge. I expect oaths of fealty by the end of the day from each of you,” Val began. There were some grumbles from those she had not met personally, but those that were already mar
Valkyrie took a long breath, staring that the floor. “It is finished. He died to quick for my liking, but he died badly none the less.” Maggie sat back and nodded. “Good.” Then she thought better of her statement and visibly cringed. “I should be encouraging you to do such actions.” Another thought seemed to cross her mind and she squeezed Valkyrie’s hand, “You will not get in trouble for that will you?” Val chuckled to herself. She highly doubted anyone would charge her for that death, and infact she had not been the one to kill him. However, there was quite the trail of broken bodied all the way around Parcia that were her doing. Between the 25 dead here in Durres, the numerous pirate deaths, the several dead assassins, and any others she had lost count of, if someone wanted they could get something to stick in a courtroom. But so far as she knew, she was free and clear so far. “No court is going to look into a deplorable like Barclay. As far as the world will ever know, he disap
Hank Silverton tensed as he stared at the two women with growing fear. “So the rumors of a Reaper are true.”Valkyrie looked dumbly at the man, “Did you think the twenty bodies that lined the bank of the river a few months ago were fake?”Hank swallowed hard, “Look, I didn’t know the businesses were yours. I just got word from Mr. Nyx of the change of ownership. He didn’t specify who, just that it was going from private control to guild control. I was just doing as we always do.”“So you will cease all such activity?” Val asked pointedly.“Well, I mean that is a lot of money… I am sure I can cut you in on a percentage of-”He was cut short when Val reached up, grabbed a full fist of his hair and slammed his face down into the table.“Wrong answer.”“Ow! Bitch, you didn’t have to do that. We were negotiating!” Hank cried out as he clutched his bleeding nose.“You are about to be negotiating with my blade in your neck.”“Ok, ok. Give me a list of your businesses and I will make sure to
“Not to worry, Lady Black. Maggie send along plenty to share,” Chef Brown said, quickly replacing the stolen pastry from the seemingly endless basket. Val stuck her tongue out at Alexa before enjoying her own breakfast. Afte the eggs and grits were served, Chef Brown bowed formally and asked, “Should I plan on preparing lunch or dinner today?” Alexa looked to Val who shrugged, “Don’t worry about lunch. I am sure we can find something out. But I think Dinner would be good.” “Just two, or should I prepare for more guests?” “Where is Samiel?” Alexa asked dubiously. “Likely skulking around but we should likely plan on him for dinner. Chef, go ahead and prepare forat least five. I have a few people to visit with this morning and I will send word depending on if Captain Talwater and his crew arrive today,” Val said. “Talwater? He wouldn’t be the captain of that big ship that was spotted off the port this morning would he? I think they called it the Sea Banshee? All the dockhands and m
Valkyrie said goodbye to Maggie and told Talwater and Jonah to meet at the estate for dinner before dismissing them.Alexa followed her back to the estate house, oddly silent as she kept her thoughts to herself.“What are you thinking?” Val finally asked as they entered the house.“That you seem to have decent plans for the betterment of everyone you have claimed. That while you have clearly killed your way to the top, you have improved the lives or are in the process of improving the lives of each one of your guild members, from the lowest street kid to the more seasoned pirates. Each is getting what they need to be loyal. Training for the young ones, new careers for many in the middle and gold for the seasoned criminals.”“And? If I am going to claim responsibility for them, is that not what I should be doing?” Val asked.“Not many in power would be so considerate.”“And those who believed that way are now dead. What of it?” Val asked, still confused.“You may be dark and jaded, but
Valkyrie placed the newly formed spark into a small box and left it in the trunk on her office. A new Spark was no simple matter and was not something you just hand to someone like a trophy. Val understood at a deep level that this was to be a scared thing, and likely one done in private.There was no need to rush it, and Val was not about to announce to everyone at her dinner party that sparks could once again be created and that she had the secret to their making.When she made her way down stairs, the smells from the kitchen made her mouth water. Chef Brown was clearly hard at work. In the formal dining room, Alexa was sitting across from Jonah and Farson, each of whom had a man to either side of them that Valkyrie didn’t recognize.When she entered behind Alexa, the men all stood.“Gentlemen, sit. No need to stand on formalities. Has Captain Talwater arrived?”There was a knock at the door then, and one of the kitchen staff scurried out at answer it. Captain Talwater stepped insid