Valkyrie Hunter
Chapter 33

I walked out of the bunker and down through the ravine with more than a little trepidation. Two of Korja’s Militia followed closely behind looking as fearful as I felt. It was easy to see why they’d be facing two armoured vehicles with nothing but thin body armour. As I closed in on the naked Valkyrie standing there in her skin her arms outstretched I saw her grimace. Korja’s Militia halted at the border I walked on like I had a choice in the matter. I was now in Bondedottir territory. I noticed the Valkyrie’s body was covered in scars, on her arms, legs and torso mostly. It was a message. Valkyrie like all Confeds were very attached to their cell stitchers. To show your scars either meant you were tough or that they never got you into one quick enough. I was betting that it was the former. Thirika had a few but she never boasted about them.

I decided I was close enough halting just out of arms reach. “What do you want?” I asked the Valkyrie.

“Typical of the motherless cowards, couldn’t be bothered. So they sent a Terran human instead.”

I winced at the bile in her words. There must have been a lot of bad blood between the Clans. And as her to her calling me a Terran that was down to my accent. “What makes you think I’m human.” I couldn’t very well say I was an Imperial as well.

“Ah, so you’re one their half-bloods. Your Clan is all the same can’t get enough proper males so they have to leave Alfheimir!”

Which explained Korja and a few others in her Militia. I was vaihdokas so I wasn’t about to condemn them for that. I supposed it was why the Elders had sent me here. “I’m not a Svertingdottir, I carry Martin blood.”

“Oh them,” the Valkyrie’s words softened. “I see they sent you as a sacrifice rather then getting their precious blood spilled.” Again an insult to the Svertingdottir Clan.

“Why did you come here if not to insult the Svertingdottir?” I raised my arm letting the sun glint off my bracelet.

Shocked filled the Valkyrie. “You are a Silver?”

“This is genuine the Elders sent me here.”

“I apologise Silver. I really do.” She peered at me carefully adding. “You are that Silver?”

I stared at her it didn’t sound insulting just surprised. “What?”

“That Silver. The one from the Hall when those human males attacked?”

“It wasn’t really an attack they were stopped before they could do anything.” I didn’t want to tell her I was the one that stopped them.

“Yes but you were the one that stuck the first blow and saved the Elders and Alfheimir. Or so the rumours have it?”

So much for my anonymity. “It wasn’t anything important I just reacted, over trained I suppose?” Although I heard some doubt in her voice.

“Training or not you saved Alfheimir from a war that could have destroyed us.” She gave me a severe look. “And you could be the one that saves us as well.”

I felt uncomfortable about that. She seemed to be saying I could make a difference. One human, well one formerly human I couldn’t do what she thought I could do. I wanted to run and hide at that moment. I knew I wouldn’t, I just couldn’t I had to see this out. “I’ll do what I can,” I said lamely. I hadn’t meant to say that and I couldn’t take back my words.

“Am I permitted to lower my arms Silver?”

“Of course.” It must be really uncomfortable to be stuck in that pose. “And please put on some clothes.” It was very distracting to be confronted by a naked Valkyrie her pokies standing proud and erect on her breasts. I think the morning chill had that effect.

“I will Silver.”

“Please call me Gwen.” I began to wonder if I’d made a big mistake.

The Valkyrie promptly turned and headed back to her vehicle. I heard her shout to the others I assumed were inside. “We’ve found ourselves a Silver we can go home!”

I turned to Korja’s Militia standing guard behind me. “Let Captain Korja know and someone will have to inform the TCA.”

“On it Silver,” one of my guards said.

I found myself grinding my teeth I wasn’t a Silver, yet they seemed to believe that. I was a person one that seemed to have a knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Valkyrie emerged from the MRECV in those grey jumpsuits the Confeds called skinnies. Without underwear it accentuated things that should have been hidden. I suddenly wished she had put something else on.

“Ok that’s better now,” I lied. “Now what do you want?”

“It’s not me,” the Valkyrie replied. “ I was sent by Mother Nidbjorga she needs help.”

I wondered what was so desperate that the Clan Mother was asking for help from a Clan she had beef with. “Why travel here?” To a Clan they had issues with. “Surely she’d be better off appealing to the Elders?”

“She has tried,” the Valkyrie said. “It is hard to say without seeing.”

That sounded a bit confusing to me I brushed aside my confusion and asked. “Seeing what? The rebels we know how disruptive they have been?”

“Yes but you haven’t seen what they have done. We need fresh eyes not associated with our Clan to see.”

“And you came to a Clan you hate?”

The Valkyrie nodded sadly. “And to other Clans. We weren’t the only expedition she sent out. We have orders to seek out a Silver.” She grimaced. “To tell the truth without comms we do not know what we’ll be going back to. Elvby our capital city is under threat. We can’t fly out a shuttle the traitors have taken several anti-ship towers.”

Anti-ship towers an air defence system capable of hitting a ship in orbit. That was if they were the same as the Imperial ones that were dotted around every planet in the Empire. Not that they were much help when the Orsini invaded.

“We don’t dare fly a shuttle out as they get shot down.” She flicked her hand to the MRECV behind her. It looked imposing with a deadly looking missile launcher on the turret. “We started out with eight of these. We’ve got four the traitors destroyed the others with MARs.”

Another weapons system that should not have been here. The Mobile Anti-armour Rocket wasn’t the sort of thing to be sneezed at. From what I had heard it was more than capable of dealing with the MRECV and could used against flying targets as well.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Come and speak with our Clan Mother. See what is happening and relay everything you see to the Elders.”

I considered her words she seemed earnest. “I’ll have to speak to the Garrison Commander.” Which according to Korja was me. “Before I can give you an answer.”

“We can wait,” the Valkyrie stated. “But don’t be too long the traitors aren’t going to.”

“I’ll be back,” I promised.

I headed back to the bunker unsure what I was going to say to Korja. I wished I could speak to Xenai she always put my doubts to bed. I was surprised to see Thorda there waiting with Korja.

“Well?” Korja asked concerned.

“They came looking for a Silver to assess the situation and report back to the Elders.”

I was beginning to hate that word. “ I think the situation is worse than we can imagine.” I told them what the Valkyrie had told me.

“Why couldn’t they have just commed?” Thorda mused.

“The Elders have put a blanket band on all comms.”

“Not all comms,” Korja reminded me. “Local short range comms are allowed.”

“Fortunately we have full comms. Captain Xenai made sure.” Thorda said.

I came to a decision probably foolhardy but I had to see what was going on. I guess I was appealing to my investigative nature. Which was why Xenai hired me in the first place. We’d have to find out what was going on. “It looks like I’ll have to go with them. You can’t have them camping out on the bridge. They may end up getting impatient.

Korja looked at me thoughtfully. “I did consider that but it is up to you?”

“Lieutenant Thorda?” I put it to her.

“I dislike the feeling I’m getting. I’ll comm the captain.”

It appeared that Xenai had a lot to say I was glad she was on her ship and I on Alfheimir. She didn’t warn me against going but she did caution me to be careful. She also provided me with a suit of combat armour and a coil assault gun. It was a little tight in some areas and squashed my boobs. I’d rather have squashed boobs than be a bullet magnet.

“You haven’t been trained to use your armour effectively,” Thorda said. “But it will give you an edge.” She examined my armour carefully. “Good armour is custom fitted. It will have to do. I just wish I’d had the time to train you properly.”

I agreed with her on that point. Korja gazed at my armour enviously.

“I will definitely be speaking to Mother Rika we need stuff like this on the front line.”

I stared at Korja she had used an Imperial phrase. “Front line”

She shrugged. “Yes, I spent last night learning a few Terran phrases.”

“Good for you.” Was the best I could say.

The last thing Thorda gave me was a long tube.

“What’s this?” I asked her.

“A flare. Just aim at the sky and pull the pin at the bottom. We’ll be on station to see it.”

“Thanks,” I said simply. It felt good that she’d be watching over me. I had to go. “I’ll see you on the flip side.” And smiled at their confused faces. I held on to that feeling I wasn’t sure what I’d encounter. I exited the bunker in good order.

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