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
“That is an interesting idea, I will have to think about that… but no. What you hold in your hand is more valuable than all the casino chips in all of Parcia combined.”Alexa gave her a dubious look. “All? Come now, Valkyrie. This thing is tiny. Your mark on it is cool and all but its still just a metal chuck. What can it possibly have? Maybe a fourth ounce of gold and silver? Maybe worth a hundred dret at most?”“Alexa, what you hold in your hand is the first Spark created in two thousand years,” Valkyrie said reverently.“Spark?” Alexa’s eye’s went wide as she hastily placed the little disk gently back in its box. “Where did you get a spark? Who did you kill for that?”“Alexa, listen to what I said.”Alexa played the words over in her mind again and then whispered, “Made? Val, you truly have the secret to making sparks? Samiel was right?”“It would seem so. I made this one for you.” Valkyrie said. “Its name is Adriel.”“Its name? Sparks have names?”“Yes, Alexa. Haven’t you heard me
~Several Weeks later~ Valkyrie grinned and she circled Alexa in the newly retrofitted training room on the lower level of the guild Estate. Alexa was armored as if she was going to war and her green eyes flashed with bottled rage as she charged at Valkyrie, a dull practice sword whipping over head in a powerful downward chop that could have cleaved a lesser opponent in half. As it was, Val was fast enough to slide to the side, catching the blade on her own sword and deflecting its deadly power just a fraction of an inch to her right. Valkyrie swept her leg and caught Alexa high on her calf, just behind the knee. Alexa lost her balance for only a second before the new strength of her spark was able to reinforce her stance and blunt the effects of the kick. Alexa grunted from the slight pain and slashed her sword back, trying to catch Valkyrie across her neck. Valkyrie loved sparring with Alexa. The woman had always been fast and never held back. It pushed Valkyrie to new limits tha
Valkyrie made her way over to the table, intentionally swaying a bit as she sipped from her rum. She had to actually pause before the chair and look at the glass, before turning back to the bartender and holding up her glass, “That is amazing!”The barkeep inclined his head with a slight smile as Valkyrie took her seat at the poker table.“Shall I deal you in, miss?” the dealer asked.“Whats the game? You might have to explain it to me.”“This is a 100 dret buy in. it might be a bit steep for a beginner. I can direct you to one of the one dret tables if you like,” The deal said apologetically.“No, No. whats a few dret. I am here for a good time and having some real skin in the game will make sure I learn my lessons quick. Just explain it to me and we will see where we end up,” Val said, her words slightly slurring.In truth, liquor of any kind rarely effected her for long. That, coupled with her spark, Val was confident she could beat her own house as well as any one else at the tabl
Valkyrie pointed at the table. “I won a round or two.” Alexa looked at the cards and burst out in laughter, “Don’t tell me you bluffed that guy out of half a million on a pair of twos. Damn woman, I knew you liked to live dangerous but serious? Twos?” “He was an arrogant ass. I was doing him a favor taking that money off him. He would have made other poor decisions with it tonight if I hadn’t removed those means.” Val replied in a mock defensive tone. “well I suppose smashing open the doors with his head was likely a better use of it than he was getting out of it. He did challenge the queen of the underworld after all.” Alexa replied. “So how did you do with your 100 dret? Play anything fun?” “Aside from playing heartstrings, I was a good girl. I only helped others place their bets,” Alexa said. “Helped them place bets?” Val asked curiously. “You know, this spark,” Alexa whispered, “its amazing. I can calculate things so fast now. So, when probability was good, I might have sugg