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Instead of shooting the man in the head, Val chose to be sadistic and stomped on his windpipe. He flinched, causing her heel to miss somewhat and fracture his jaw before impacting his throat.It wouldn’t kill him quickly, but Val could already see the red blood on his lips from his collapsed lung. With his damaged throat and swelling jaw, he was in for a painful, agonizing night. Without treatment, it was doubtful he would make it to morning, and Surret was a good two-hour ride away.Val stepped over to the monk and held out a hand to help him up. He gratefully took it, still clutching his right arm to his body.“I was lucky the idiot only shot me in the arm. I will heal. The others of my order are not far. We have a monetary just on the top of the hill.”“Good. Do you mind giving this worthless waste of air a ride back to Surret?” Val asked.“I will see what we can do. He may not make it back alive.”“What a shame,” Val replied coldly as she looked down at Byron. The man was already
“You BITCH!” Byron screamed as he tried to lunge at her. But even as he moved, his chest convulsed, and he writhed on the ground clutching at the freshly branded tattoo.“I told you to stay away from women. That includes me. Now, be a good little boy and run back to gramps and tell him to stay the FUCK out of my way!” Val yelled.{Deactivate Healing abilities for this man} Val sent the mental command and felt the temple respond. When she was sure it wouldn’t try to heal Byron again, she drew her pistol again.“Just so we are sure you get the message, I am going to make sure your daddy has to spend a good bit of money to put you right again. You will live, but you will wish you had never met me.”She placed the barrel on his chest and fired into his left lung.[Traumatic pneumothorax of left lung achieved]Then she fired another round into his knee.[Wound analysis: non fatal. Some internal ble
Val remembered the dark rider on the road and cursed herself. Her prey had likely ridden right past her and she had missed a prime chance to end this chase. “Tara, Gunner, Lets get some breakfast. It seems you two will need to leave as well. Tara, your family will be glad to have you back.” The three made their way down to breakfast, and val noted that while Gunner seemed pleased to be taking Tara out of harms way, the girl still seemed reluctant to be sent home. While they waited for food, Val proposed an opportunity, “Tara, I know you are disappointed to return to a mundane life. However, Perhaps I can be finished with my business within a month. After that, there is a good chance trade will pick up and your father’s inn will be very popular. I have ordered my men to start doing regular business with the inn, and that includes the black fleet. Perhaps you will get an influx of fresh sea food and the occasional visit from a certain Major.” Major Gunner coughed, attempting to cover
Valkyrie watched the city fly by as her carriage drivers rushed her through town and to the east where the airfield lay a short distance past the last homestead. The field consisted of a huge flat expanse of short cut grass with windsocks flapping at each corner. The wind was fairly mild today, just enough to occasionally move the large pendants.The airship was even more impressive up close. It was a monstrosity of modern engineering. Over 100 meters long, the top portion was an elongated balloon with metal ribbing. It was fully inflated and hovered above the ground. Below the main balloon was a long enclosed section that looked like a glass enclosed ship had been glued to the underside of the balloon.Near the center, there was a large glass dome that would allow passengers to look down at the ground below. Val could see two additional smaller balloons that attached to the side of the main section. She wondered what might keep such a craft aloft. Had someone discovered how to harne
Valkyrie drifted on a sea of dreams as the airship cruised through the night sky. Alone for the first time in months, Val had locked the door to the tiny room and gleefully fell into bed, exhausted. Now, memory and dream warred within her mind as violet eyes watched her from afar. Blood splattered a wall as Johnson’s head exploded. Val imagined a thousand ways she could have, no, SHOULD have killed Byron that night. A second faster and it would have been Byron’s head with the hole in it. In another iteration she sent her palm into his neck, activating the dagger there to slice open his neck. As the world reset, a throwing knife flew from her wrist the smack into the man’s temple, sending him to the ground in a crumpled heap. Then she was aboard Sea Banshee, Captain Talwater standing beside her. He saluted smartly, fist to heart. “Lady Reaper. What are your orders?” “The crew are away safely?” she asked. “Aye, My lady. All are present and accounted for. Major Gunner has ten men wit
Valkyrie worked under Andrea’s intense scrutiny for what felt like several hours. she memorized the mixes needed for several new poisons that ranged from paralytics to delayed certain death. Val was excited about the potential that several of them provided. Puking ones guts out for hours on end seemed a particularly cruel way to die but she could already think of at least three men she would gladly feed such too. These less lethal concoctions might also serve as punishments for those men in her employ who chose to disobey but had not earned a death sentence. “Your time is nearly up,” Andrea said from the other side of the workstation. “I will send you a list of ingredients to be on the lookout for.” “Time? Am I already in Caradon? I thought it was week-long trip.” “Dear, in your world, it has been three days. You have been working with me this entire time. Your body can survive for a long time on the spark’s energy but you will need physical food soon. Besides, I am certain your co
“What do you think causes the airship to lift?” Rowan’s question broke Valkyrie’s thoughts as she gazed out the window. “Hu?” “The airship. I heard the crew talking about the balloons. I have seen hot air balloons but those are not sustainable to lift as many people as we had aboard. There was simply too much weight.” Marcum joined in, “I heard that the scientists have created some new super light foam that allows them to insulate and contain hydrogen gas. The flammability is contained within the insulating bubbles.” Val wished she had taken the time to examine the structure more. Perhaps if she got the chance to ride on one back to Durres she would check to see if it was human ingenuity or if someone had utilized scath power. She would know within a few months for sure when her men reported back on the integration of the vessel into the Black Fleet. “what do you think?” Rowan asked, directing attention back to Valkyrie. She sighed, bored with a conversation that would lead nowhe
“And you, dear? What has brought you to Caradon?” Lady Lacilia asked. “Perhaps you seek your father?” Val was rocked from her mental wonderings by the question and thought furiously how to answer. “I have no intention of seeking my father out. I have other business in Caradon.” “I see. Well, I suppose it is for the best. I heard about your mother leaving with you many years ago. Your father was heartbroken that she left him. but I suppose time heals some wounds. He now has two sons and a young daughter. The oldest I believe is turning ten this year.” It was as if a knife was stabbing her heart. She had known that her father had likely moved on. That was the point of getting rid of her after all wasn’t it? She wasn’t good enough to be his heir, so toss her and her mother out and start over. All Val knew was that he was a cold bastard that had cost her mother her life and sentenced her to grow up on the streets. If it hadn’t been for Desmond, she would likely have ended up with the s