Valkyrie Hunter
Chapter 42

Slowly my eyes cleared. Where I was the light was dim. I wasn’t on Saros. The First Ones had sent me back to the cell I lay dying in.

“Bastards,” I muttered angrily. “Mouse!” I called out with my mind. She didn’t answer. The message from the First Ones was clear they didn’t want me to have any contact with the Keepers. I preferred that name to their original one. They had made a new start despite my annoyance that they had lied to me as to how they had recreated themselves. I was standing feeling a fit as I had before I got beaten almost to death. Suddenly I wasn’t alone here. Sitting opposite was the Valkyrie I’d asked Digger to help. The blackened bruises that had covered her body had faded to a dull yellow. Her eye looked alert under her straggly blonde hair that hung limply around her face.

She was staring at me; well she had good reason. I had vanished with some creature she’d never seen before and now I was back.

“You?” she stammered. “You are one of the Messengers.”

“Who?” I stared at her uncomprehending.

“Messengers of the Mother. I’d thought she sent one of them to bring me to her embrace.”

“Messengers?” I wasn’t sure if she was delirious or I’d misunderstood what she was saying.

“Do you know your own Daughter of the Messengers?” She wasn’t harsh she was just curious.

“I know them as the Keepers,” I told her honestly. Best if she didn’t know I was technically their mother well not in the way I would have imagined. I got the feeling the First Ones didn’t lie they had no need to. “They help me when they can,” I told her again I took the honest approach. Anyone left here to die wasn’t an enemy.

“Whatever they call themselves they bear your blood. I have seen the face of the one that restored me. I saw you in her.” She put her hand on her heart the odd gesture the Valkyrie made one they’d never explained to me. “I would never believed a human would be a Daughter of the Messengers.”

“I’m vaihdokas,” I said unsure how she’d react to that.

She placed her hand on her heart again. “I’m Sophronia.” She looked away. I saw the tear drop on her cheek.

I felt it odd she had the same name as the T’Arni Director on Davenport the one that imprisoned Monica and Alicia.

“Palkkasir,” I responded.

“That is true,” Sophronia said sadly.

“I’ve killed some of your Clan,” I told her I wasn’t sure why I did so. I had to be honest.

“No doubt they deserved it.”

Her reply caught me off guard. “But I killed them?”

“I cannot speak for the rest of my Clan. I’m not in a position to call you out on that. I owe you my life. I know many do not put any stock in my Clan’s words. You have mine.” She grimaced. “As the former Clan Mother!” She pat out those last words filled with venom. “Betrayed by my own for greed.”

I stared at her she looked young for a Clan Mother. I sensed she was speaking the truth.

“I’m Gwen Hunter,” I replied.

“I’m sorry I’m not familiar with Clan Hunter?”

“I’m a Martin.”

“Are those I’ve heard of.” She cracked a smile on her severe face. “We have no quarrel with Clan Martin.”

“Some of your Clan did,” I told her sharply aware of my guilt in shooting one of her Clan without a challenge and allowing another to die. “They wore Martin colours.”

Sophronia sucked in a deep breath. “Then they deserved it.” She shook her head. “I understand your reluctance to trust me. But I believe you are the Daughter of the Messengers and as such I am yours to death.”

I didn’t want that any of that. “You owe me nothing,” I countered.

“Please,” she begged. “I want to stand before the Mother of All and say I’ve done one good deed.”

I couldn’t refuse that. “Ok, ok,” I gave in. The logical part of my mind told me I needed all the help I could to get out of here. “Right we need to escape?”

“Can’t you call the Messengers to take you away. They removed you once I did wonder why they’d brought you back?”

I tried to tell her about the First Ones but my words stuck in my throat. They’d done a Mouse on me obviously they didn’t want word of them getting out. “Rules,” I managed to blurt out finally.

“Yes of course. I’m sorry I should have realised that.” She glanced at the door. “Then it is up to us to escape.” She grimaced. “Once I’m out I hunt down my betrayers and make them pay.”

There wasn’t anything to say about that. It was a Valkyrie thing and try as I might trying to persuade her to not throw away her life would be ultimately futile. Suddenly the door opened and three Valkyrie stepped through. I recognised the leader. The hard faced Clan Mother I’d said ‘no’ to.

“Hardgera,” I stated bluntly. I hadn’t expected her to be a rebel. She still wore black and yellow ribbons in her hair and her two companions sported black and yellow sashes. They both wore combat armour and had both long swords at their backs and coil assault guns cradled in their hand. They were helmetless their hair piled on top of their heads.

“Gwen Hunter. You are full of surprises. I’d expected you to lying on the floor?” I noted her eyes flicked to Sophronia. “I was expecting to have to carry you out.”

“Carry me?”

“We’re leaving. I’m here to bring you with me in one way or the other?”

I regarded her suspiciously. “Why, the last time we talked I told you ‘no’ to Ljufu.”

“This mess was why I wanted Ljufu. I needed the best and you denied me that. But that is the past. We must go!”

“Thidrikdor,” Sophronia called out to her.

“Palkkasir,” Hardgera said icily.

“We both know you’ll never get out without my help.”

“What would you know about that Palkkasir?”

Hardgera’s two guards slipped past her and faced Sophronia. They were armoured and Sophronia was as naked as I was. Even though I didn’t trust Hardgera I had to get out. “Please we need to work together.” I turned to Sophronia. “Come with me.”

“Sorry Gwen.” I noted she hadn’t called me Daughter of the Messengers. “You will not get far without a diversion. I will be that diversion.”

“Best we kill you now!” Hardgera said to her. “I don’t trust you!”

“No!” I shouted.

Hardgera eyed me. “The Palkkasir can’t be trusted.”

“Even their Clan Mother?” I told Hardgera.

Sophronia stood straighter. “That I am, my blood is for Gwen of Clan Hunter alone as is my fate.” I saw her look directly at Hardgera’s guards. “All that I ask for is a blade so I can face the Mother and tell her of my deeds.”

Hardgera stared hard at Sophronia for several minutes. “Very well.” She turned to her guards. “Give her your sword.”

Reluctantly on of the guards handed Sophronia her sword.

Sophronia turned to me. “Gwen of Clan Hunter. May many enemy fallen litter the ground at your feet.”

I knew the response. “May enemies quake at the mention of your name.” Was the correct reply for that.

All four Valkyrie nodded in my direction.

“We go,” Hardgera snapped her fingers.

One of her guards grabbed my arm. “We gotta go Clan Hunter.”

“Go Gwen,” Sophronia urged me.

I couldn’t stop Sophronia I’d leaned that to my cost a number of times. “Just don’t waste your life.”

“I won’t Gwen of Clan Hunter.” She gave Hardgera a look. “I trust you to guard Gwen of Clan Hunter with your life.”

Hardgera stiffened I felt the one holding my arm grip tighten. I had to act fast before they killed each other.

“We go now” I pulled myself towards the door.

With on last look at Sophronia we headed out. I wasn’t sure who I could trust. I gathered I’d find out soon. This could be a trap or it could be freedom only time would tell.

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