Ancient Hunter
Chapter 42

I didn’t recognise any of the newcomers. There was a grey haired man in a black Security uniform. A hard faced woman in a Confed dress uniform her hair cropped short. Lastly a couple in formal clothes sort of like office attire. I noticed that the newcomers were regarding me with thoughtful eyes. Joyce stepped forward.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is Gwen Landottir our gracious host for out conference,” Joyce announced.

I was a bit shocked by Joyce’s introduction but recovered quickly. “I’m honoured to meet you.” I held my hand over my heart and gave a half bow like I’d seen the Valkyrie do. Yet I still didn’t know the significance of the action.

Joyce spoke again before any of the attendees’ could speak. “Gwen I’ll make your guests here comfortable. Your other guests will be arriving soon.”

“Of course.” I repeated the gesture and hurried out.

Frialmold and Rodrifa joined me outside quickly slipping into their duty as my Guardians. Not that I wanted that. I did note there were a number of guards both Confed military and Security surrounding the building. Above me in the cloudless sky I could see the dim outline of a Confed spaceship. It was obvious that they were taking things seriously. A pity they hadn’t done that when the Landottir were decimated. I arrived at the shuttle pad to see a shuttle bearing the Confed logo on its hull landing. I waited to the side as the shuttle door opened. I instantly recognised Captain Kyrikia from the Elafi she was in dress uniform a Confed Silver Star on her chest next to the Moon and Star. The Moon and Star was the Empire’s second highest award for bravery. I knew Xenai had one. She smiled broadly on seeing me. She often put me in mind of Kelli. I hated to admit I missed her fussing over me, her and the rest of my team. My heart ached to make it up with Jervic I desperately wanted to be back with him. Too much had gone on that I longed to talk to him about. But the kernel of self-doubt was stopping me.

“Good to see you,” Kyrikia said.

I started with an apology. “I’m sorry,” I replied indicating Frialmold and Rodrifa. “Sergeant Hollen insisted that Frialmold and Rodrifa be my guards?”

Kyrikia waved her hand as if it wasn’t important. “I’m fully onboard with Sergeant Hollen’s idea.”

I breathed a sigh of relief I was sure I heard the other two do the same. “Good, I was worried about that.”

“This way ma’am?” a new voice said.

I turned to see Sergeant Hollen standing there in her combat armour. She nodded to me and saluted to Kyrikia. “Professor Neilson is waiting for you.”

Kyrikia glanced at me. “See you later Gwen.” She walked off as her shuttle lifted off.

I’d barely time to breathe as another shuttle landed. Almost like a busy airport. I briefly wondered who was handling traffic control. I realised that was what the Confed ship above us was doing. I stiffened suddenly going cold seeing the Alliance insignia on the shuttle. This could be awkward I thought. I waited for the door to open. When it did I gasped seeing a familiar figure there. Kelli looked smart in her blue dress uniform. Following her was Jervic in his dress uniform he cut a fine figure in it. I was in two minds about seeing him. Behind him was Denassi looking well, like every other Ezaran I’d met scruffy in what ever they wore.

“Who’s looking after Juliana!” Were the first words out of my mouth.

“That would be your Commander Weredale,” a voice said.

I knew that voice. If my lower jaw hadn’t been attached to my face it would have been on the floor. Standing in the door of the shuttle was Xenai with her strawberry blonde hair tied back in a simple bun. Her Confederacy and Imperial medals glinting in the sun.

“Xenai,” I stammered. The last time I’d seen her she was in the throes of a massive migraine. There was a little shadowing around her eyes that had me worried.

She smiled at me, easing my heart a bit. She was as was Kelli the closest things I had to sisters.

“Good to see you Gwen,” she said to me.

“And you,” I said with genuine relief. Although I was puzzled as to how fast she got here. Saros was a number of weeks away from Demeros by hyperspace.

Xenai glanced at my Guardians. “I’d like to talk to Gwen alone?” More to Frialmold and Rodrifa that to my former team.

“Before any of that happens.” Kelli said pulling on her medical gauntlet.

I knew what was coming next. “Let’s get this over with. You won’t be satisfied until you do.”

Kelli ran her gauntlet over my body. She made tut-tut noises as she did.

Exasperated I asked. “Must you do that every time we meet?”

“Yep,” she replied.

I noticed the smirk on Xenai’s face. I knew she couldn’t read my mind the Keepers had blocked that.

“I like your clothes,” Jervic said to head off any potential argument.

“Not really my choice, they’re Landottir colours.”

“I see,” he said gazing at me in a way that warmed my heart. “They look nice on you.”

“Thanks.” I started to feel better about myself. Although deep down the doubts crept in I should have told him the truth and felt guilty about that.

“All done,” Kelli said putting away her gauntlet.

“And?” I said sharply then apologised. “Sorry.”

“Still the same as you are Gwen.”

That was a relief in a way. With all that had been happening to me it was the reassurance that I needed. I realised that was Kelli’s purpose in the first place to assure me I was still who I was.

“We must get going don’t stay out here too long,” Xenai said then hugged me. “Good to see you. I’ll have to hold off our chat. We’ll talk again at a better time.”

“Like wise.” I said genuinely happy for the first time in a while. Just the good feeling I needed. I had Xenai, Kelli and to some extent Jervic at my back which went some way to assuage my doubts.

Denassi waved at me as usual he said little.

“Later Gwen, “ Jervic added with a glance at Xenai.

I felt happier than I had in a long time.

Kelli went and spoiled it by saying. “I can do a proper examination later.”

For a horrified second I thought she was being serious. Then I saw her laugh making things all right again. I watched them go my former team. I still wasn’t sure about my position with the Alliance escort Xenai away.

“It nice to have friends like that,” Frialmold commented sounding wishful.

I stared at her surprised that she was talking to me. “Yes they are my friends.”

The decent of another shuttle interrupted what I was going to say next. It landed with a bone shuddering thump. Both Frialmold and Rodrifa went on alert. There was no insignia on the hull just a string of numbers. The door slid open and a Valkyrie stepped out. Her hair in a bun on top of her head. They only wore it that way if they were going into battle. She was wearing Security armour over a vest top and grey jeans. On her hip was a holster. What really grabbed my attention was the yellow and green sash around her hip. Samdar, Solstrid’s old Clan whose Clan Mother had refused to take back her bangle. Which lead me to the sorry mess that I ended up in. I went and plastered a fake smile face.

“Greetings…” I only managed to get that far.

“Who are you to wear those colours?” she demanded harshly.

“If you had let me finish was I was going to say then you could have found out!” I snapped back ready to fight.

Her eyes bulged her face showing shock. “What!” she stammered.

I raised my arm my sleeve slipped enough to reveal my bangle. “And I have this!” It was a stupidly dramatic gesture. This was the Clan that refused the return of Solstrid’s soul. That was my justification for my attitude.

Frialmold and Rodrifa stepped either side of me their faces set their intention clear. They were taking their jobs as my Guardians seriously. This could easily escalate into something more deadly. That was the last thing we needed.

“Let us deal with this Mother!” Rodrifa said in a menacing tone.

I waved them back. “I’ll deal with this,” I said trying to sound like I was a Clan Mother. Frankly the thought of that was bordering on the ridiculous. I turned to the Samdar Captain I assumed she was a captain. “My name is Gwen Hunter, the blood of the Landottir runs through my veins. It was my Clan that died here!” I hadn’t meant it to come out that sharply. I couldn’t unsay those words. I shook my bracelet realising the hole I was digging myself into. “I’m also an Initiate with the Silver Guard.”

“You’re that Gwen Hunter I thought you’d be taller,” a voice behind the Samdar Captain said.

I saw a younger Valkyrie standing at the door to the shuttle. She was dressed more casually that her captain. Her pants and shirt more practical and in muted colours, a sash in maroon and yellow around her hip. Bondedottir if my guess was correct.

The Bondedottir continued. “What Captain Skerifa wants to do is apologise for her hasty words.”

Captain Skerifa nodded. “I apologise. I speak before I think I did not mean to cause offence.”

I could accept that. “None taken.”

“I’m Regingrior Bondedottir.” The younger Valkyrie said. She bowed slightly her hand on her chest. “My Clan owes you a debt for driving the false Prophetess from Elvby.”

“Is Mother Nidbjorga well. I never got the chance to speak to her after I left the city?” I didn’t correct her about the Prophet this didn’t seem the right time.

“She will be pleased that you’ve thought about her.”

“I must again apologise for my actions,” Skerifa said.

“I don’t take offence.” I waved Frialmold and Rodrifa back. “Please stand down, we don’t want to be fighting here. Our enemies will win if we do that.”

“Yes, Mother Gwen,” both women said and stepped back.

I made a note to myself to talk to them later. It seemed as if it was going to be one of those days.

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