Today's shout out goes to Dino Medrano, Larry G, and Ray Nichol jr! You all are awesome. your commitment to my tale is admirable and I am thrilled you have found joy in this epic adventure. Valkyrie has many more adventures yet to come and I hope you love how her journey begins to come full circle.
Val drew closer to the guards and realized they were some of Captain Talwater’s marines! One smiled as she approached and waved her over. “Think I could slip past?” she asked hopeful that they might grant her this boon. “No, lady Reaper. But the lads did manage to work something out for ya,” he said softly, nodding to the edge of the bridge where a harness sat with two carabiner straps. “The riggers call ‘em lobster claws. The side of the bridge is rigged with cable. You can clip in with the harness and move along as you will. Hell you could clip to the bottom and not worry about a fall, or just rest of you needed to. Sorry, we couldn’t get ‘em to ya sooner. Too many eyes.” Val nearly wept with gratitude. It would still be an exhausting climb along the edge or bottom of Luna Marra, but at least now she was far less likely to die due to a slip or a misplaced hand. Valkyrie quickly pulled on the harness and flipped the two clawed straps over her shoulder. “Hurry, Miss Reaper. Not a
As he passed her, the rune blade came free from his arm and he fell into the spinning blades with a sickening scream that was cut short suddenly. Val cracked her head on the metal support and dangled from her one remaining safely strap a few feet above the spinning blades of death while her head swam in pain and dizziness. It took a long moment before Val could muster the strength to pull herself back up onto the catwalk. She sat on the metal walkway staring at the dark Scath that kept the Luna Marra in the air but finally gave up the notion. The cage seemed to have built-in defenses that would make it difficult for her to kill one and, for now, she had other things to do. She finally got to her feet and climbed the ladder to the main deck of the pier and quickly found the flag near the center. Val looked around and realized this was the main docking Pier, so there was next to nothing to hide behind. However, there was a cable that connected this pier to the dry dock pier two. Val l
These two drops were worth a small fortune from her scorpion collection back in the mountains of fort Lorilis. Their venom had the power to paralyze even a full grown man. It took time, the scorpions preferring to strike and then retreat to wait out the prey. Val wondered if she would be able to hold out long enough for it to take effect. She signaled for the elevator to go to the top floor and she heard the steam engines come to life as the counterweight began to move, sending her slowly skyward. She moved to one side so she would be hidden from sight when the doors first opened. As the doors slid open, two crossbow bolts slammed into the back wall. “So that is your work around for not having a gun, eh?” Val said to herself quietly. She wondered how to get out of this elevator and to somewhere she could fight from when she remembered the grenade. She may have had to give up her guns but the guard had not asked about explosives. She pulled the fist si
The fall to the streets of the Luna Marra would have been quick enough. What Val was not prepared for was the rush was she fell through a wide opening she had not been aware existed. It was a surreal feeling seeing the underside of the Luna Marra flying away from her as she fell through open nothingness. Her braids whipped across her face as the Luna Marra grew smaller.[13000 feet, impact in 50 seconds]Oh for fuck sake. Val thought darkly as she helplessly fell from the sky.[12,000 feet][11,000 feet][10,000 feet. Impact in 30 seconds]What a shit way to go.Val’s short life flashed before her and she thought over the decisions that had led to this point. Some things she might do differently, but the one thing she would change now was that she would have made sure Grakcus was good and dead. Never leave an enemy that could come back to kill you.She wondered what the Ancients would-Ancients…
The next day, Val awoke far more rested than she could have hoped for. She felt her hair and found it was neatly braided and her crystals had once again found their way deep into the braids.The girls at the spa had done wonders for her, and now she needed to ensure their future as well.Val met with the captains for most of the day, hashing out plans and laying down new laws. It was made clear that all doxies on the Luna Marra were to be given free passage to Durres or Surret. Their services were welcome, but no longer mandatory.A new system was worked out so that those doxies that wished to remain with the Luna Marra were now under Valkyrie’s protection and as such, were given new freedoms, set schedules, and more roles.These included the chance to become waitresses under Val’s proposed use of the Luna Marra as a luxury destination for rich and powerful people. They could of course still employ their talents as doxies, and earn a much more
Valkyrie waited until the staff sergeant was gone before locking herself into the treasure room. This would take more than just the elements so she sat cross-legged on the floor and sought the calm peace of mind needed to reach the starry meadow. She just hoped Lilith would still be able to help her.After a few minutes of meditation, Val slipped into the dream-like state and found herself on a dusty plain. She looked around and realized the meadow grass had died and the trees in the distance were bare as if it were deep winter.“Lilith?”“Yes, child?” Came Lilith’s tired voice from behind her.“I see I need to hurry.”“Indeed. I fear that it will cost more than you can know to maintain what is left. You must hurry.”“Lilith, I will be heading out tomorrow. Before I go, I have the ingredients for a follower spark. Well, six actually. Is there enough left of the spark matrix to activ
Val had tried to send a message to her sigil marked guild members in Durres, but so far, it seemed she was out of range. She reasoned with the new sigils, the power to send a message that far was reasonable, but it would still be better to have Davis sail to Durres and personally deliver word to Mr. Nyx and from there, word would reach her people of her desire to meet the leaders in Surret. It would take time for them to travel but perhaps before she had completed her business there, she would be able to meet with them in person. The next morning was bright and clear, not a cloud anywhere in sight. Val thought it was a good sign, and she was thrilled to be heading back to land. There was so much she missed, including Alexa and Cade. She wondered if Morgessa had skinned them alive for leaving her in the field. She doubted they would approve of her current activities but perhaps, just maybe, things would fade back to normal once she finished her bloody task of hunting Barclay. She had
Valkyrie Black stepped off the Sea Banshee and made her way down the pier, escorted by ten marines in front and twenty behind. Tarra seemed glued to her hip as they entered the city. “Tarra, this is where we part ways.” The girl turned to look at her, her face pale and bloodless. “Alone? You are just sending me on alone? What about bandits, or, or, more pirates?” The tremble in her voice nearly made Valkyrie drop what she was planning and escort the girl herself. “Tarra, I am not sending you alone, nor empty-handed. Marine Major Gunner will be escorting you with some of his best men. I think your father will also find the crate you return with to be sufficient dowry to see you comfortable for the rest of your days. And, who knows, perhaps I will see you again the next time I need to travel between Durres and Surret.” “When will that be?” Tarra asked, a bit of hope returning with the color to her face. Val thought about it, “Well, if everything goes according to plan, I will head b