Valkyrie Hunter
'chapter 20

A chill wind whistled past me as I stepped out of the chalet. I was glad of the top it kept me warm but that would soon change if it got colder. I momentarily thought about going back and putting on the thermal suit but I was amongst Valkyrie and they would expect me to tough it out. It was light enough for me to see the armoured guards patrolling the edge of the village and the shuttle circling slowly overhead. My eyes scanned my surroundings noticing two armoured guards outside one of the larger chalets. I tried and failed to get an upgrade to one of the larger chalets with the double bedrooms and the separate study. The chill grew and I shivered regretting my rash decision. I went back inside and found a coat in the utility room. I was certain it hadn’t been there when I explored the chalet last night. It had a pair of gloves stuffed into one pocket. What did surprise me was that it had an armoured lining. I decided to strap my pistol to my hip before buttoning it up. If the coat had been given to me then I’d need it. I guessed that was Thirika’s not so subtitle way of telling me to be cautious. Putting it on I stepped back outside glad of the warmth it provided. Who was I kidding I was no Valkyrie and I never would be I was stupid to think I could act like one. I headed over to the guarded chalet. Both guards stiffened on seeing me their hands went to the coil assault guns they had strapped to their chests.

“I’m here to see my friends,” I stated bluntly.

For a moment it looked as if the guards weren’t going to let me in. One gestured to the door.

“Go ahead.” she said to me.

Ella sat at a table of an enlarged living room twice the length and width of mine. The table was wood and had two chairs. A table and two chairs more than mine had. I should have been jealous about that but I was above such pettiness.

“Gwen,” Ella said looking happy to see me.

“Triple ‘M’?” I asked careful not to use Miranda’s proper name.

“Having a wash.” She nodded to a closed door, one of three on right side of the living room.

“You guys ok?” I asked forgetting that Ella was a Valkyrie.

“Guys?” she said looking at me half-amused.

“Sorry,” I apologised. “Wrong choice of words.”

“That alright then. We are ok but Triple ‘M’ is impatient to get going.”

I glanced around taking in the décor of the room. “They treating you ok?”

Ella looked confused.

I wondered if I’d said something she didn’t understand, it turned out I did.

“What do you mean by that?”

“You’re not prisoners?” I winced at that. I’d put my foot in it again.

Ella tapped the coil assault gun on the table next to her. “You thought we were? They let us keep our weapons and armour.”

She wasn’t wearing armour at the moment just one of those Confed jumpsuits in grey.

“Too true,” I answered.

I was facing the table with my back to the door out. The sound of it opening had me fumbling for my pistol. I had to undo my coat to free the holster.

“Too slow Gwen,” A familiar voice told me sounding disappointed.

I saw Thirika standing there. She was dressed in a black skintight jumpsuit, a silver sash around her waist. Her hair was piled on top of her head in that Valkyrie combat style they all wore in battle and she had an assault coil gun similar to Ella’s strapped to her chest.

“Be quicker,” was all that she said to me. Then to Ella “As soon as you are ready we’ll get you to the Elders.”

I had the feeling I wasn’t included in that. “And me?”

“Your time is not yet, go back to your rooms and wait.”

“Hang on!” I protested. “I came here with Ella and M… I mean Triple ‘M’. I’ll go with them.”

Thirika held up her hand. That simple gesture had more than one meaning to me. This one said do as you are told or face the consequences. “You don’t.” She spoke again her tone more moderate. “I know you have responsibilities but that has ended. For now we abide by the Elders’ ruling.”

I walked back to the chalet it would be foolish to try and defy Thirika. I’d even contemplated following them. But that would be a bad idea on so many levels. So I sat in my room like the good Valkyrie I wasn’t. I wasn’t sure how long I’d sat there but I had drunk coffee and waited.

The door slid open and I pulled my pistol from its holster without even thinking about it.

“That’s much better,” Thirika complemented me as she entered. Me holding a gun ready to shoot didn’t even phase her.

I put my gun back in its holster automatically. “Damn it I could have shot you!”

“But you didn’t. It’s time to go.”

I followed her out it was still cold. The first thing I noticed was the lack of guards.

“What no guarded escort?” I hadn’t meant to say that.

“You don’t need one,” Thirika stated simply. She gestured for me to follow.

We headed out of the village and into the forest behind it. Unlike Miranda’s forest I relaxed instead of tensed. A soon as we had stepped on the path that lead to the Halls of the Elders Thirika spoke her voice low as if she didn’t want anyone to hear our conversation. I quickly scanned our surroundings without seeing anyone else.

“I want to know what happened?” she asked me concern in her words.

“When?” I replied making a conscious effort not to repeat her.

“When…?” Thirika looked annoyed. “Now you’ve got me saying it. When you went to Saros.”

“Did you know your precious Elders, sent me there knowing I couldn’t have laid a finger on Vanessa.” I keenly felt my failure in that department. I’d never truly lay Solstrid’s soul to rest.

Thirika regarded me carefully. “I didn’t. But you found a way did you not. I want details?”

I knew she wasn’t prying or just asking for gossip she wanted facts. I told her of my job and my wait at the cantina then seeing Vanessa and my pursuit. I spoke of how I was kidnapped first by Xenai’s team and that by Vanessa’s goons. I told her of my near death and rescue by Miri and Al. “Did you know about Miri and Al?”

“No.”

I knew she was telling the truth obviously the Elders were keeping things from her and she didn’t like it.

“The suppressor nearly crushed me. I managed with Miri and Al’s help to get outside. Kelli was waiting for me. As soon as Miri told her I been caught in a suppressor field she put me in to a cell stitcher.”

“I was told that!” Thirika said bluntly.

I continued telling her of my clash with the Valkyrie on the ship and being thrown into the brig. Then I told her of Xenai’s proposal and my reluctant acceptance of her offer.

“Xenai made me part of her investigation team.” I frowned wondering what Xenai thought of me now. I expect her mother was telling her “I told you so.” I liked Xenai she was a friend as much as Kelli was. “My first investigation started off well until we ran into the Black Stripes.”

“Those we have heard of. The ones we captured trying to destroy the Hall were very co-operative after a while.”

I shuddered at the thought. I didn’t want to know the details the Valkyrie could be quite violent. “There was a fire fight and I got arrested. Ljufu the commander of Saros Security saw my bangle.” I waved it at Thirika. “This isn’t the one you gave me I lost that when I had my hand blown off.”

“That I was told of.”

“She thought I was there for her?” I gave Thirika a look. “Do you do that send people to hunt down other Valkyrie?”

“Not often but we would not do that to her. She was never a danger to Alfheimir. In fact she is an asset we surely need.”

Which didn’t make sense when the Elders had demanded Juliet, Ljufu’s daughter. “Did you know that the Elders wanted Juliet, Ljufu’s daughter?” I hadn’t meant to sound accusing but I did.

“They know the mother will come with her child any mother would. If she had any sense of honour.”

I winced at Thirika’s rebuff. “And her wife Ana, was Ljufu to just abandon her?”

“It is our way,” Thirika stated.

“Well it stinks. Anyway to let you know I told Ljufu to defy the Elders and not send Juliet until she was eighteen.”

Thirika changed subjects. “You haven’t told me what else happened on Saros.”

I was certain she wasn’t going to pursue the matter of Ljufu any further. I told her of the attempt to frame the Alliance and then about the attack at the gala and what happened afterwards. I hesitated then said. “Why did the Elders send three ships to get me?”

Thirika shrugged. “I cannot presume to understand the Elders thinking ours are to follow their orders.”

“I’m not one of you.” I realised I’d probably offended someone I trusted and I did trust her. “Xenai confined me to the ship. I couldn’t stay I had to get Vanessa before they came.” I had expected her to be annoyed when I classed myself as human and not Valkyrie. She showed not emotion to that which made me nervous. I told her of my escape from the ship, my disguise and my confrontation with Alan.

Thirika interrupted before I could finish. I hadn’t told her the worst of it yet.

“I’m very disappointed in you Gwen,” she said sadly.

“Why?” I asked her.

“You told me about your team. I heard the pride in your voice when you talked about them. But you didn’t use their expertise to aid you.”

“That’s not the worst of it,” I confessed.

“Well tell me it on the way. We need to get moving.”

She walked off I followed keeping step with her.

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