Valkyrie Hunter
Chapter 43

We exited the room into a dingy corridor. It felt disused except for the cleared floor and the new locks on the doors. The corridor’s walls were tiled or had been at some time. There were missing and broken tiles and there had once been some sort of plastic on the floor. It kind of reminded me of hospital but a hospital that had been neglected. I still wasn’t sure I was walking into a trap. I halted Hardgera stood there looking at me her two guards waited with her. She handed me a robe. Similar to the robes the acolytes wore.

“Put this on,” she said sharply. “And for the Mother’s sake keep silent.”

I dressed quickly mourning the lack of footwear. The robe covered me and there was a hood hanging down the back.

“Pull that hood over your head,” Hardgera demanded.

I did as I was told. Sophronia slipped by us her body naked the sword she was given in a death grip in her hands. Hardgera and her guards gave her a dirty look. Sophronia ignored them and turned to me.

“Good luck daughter and may the Mother guide and protect you.”

I regarded her unconcern about her nakedness. “Got anything to wear?”

“Don’t need it,” Sophronia replied in a typical Valkyrie manner.

There wasn’t anything I could say to that.

Hardgera stared at her disdain clear on her face. “Do what you have to do Palkkasir we don’t want to see you again,” Hardgera said coldly. “Do not betray us!”

Sophronia stared back her face expressionless. “Don’t worry I will have my vengeance against my betrayers. My Clan must pay for what they did to me.”

Hardgera frowned and gripped my arm. “This way Gwen Hunter.”

Led by Hardgera we walked quickly down the corridor and up a set of stairs. Glumly I noted blood trails leading to rooms either side of the corridor I kept my mouth shut about them. It was lighter up the stairs the derelict state of the building carried on here. I took careful steps wary of the debris on the floor underneath my bare feet. It was coming more apparent I was in a disused hospital more and more signs pointed that way. With Hardgera’s grip on my arms we burst through the exit and into weak sunshine. It was either early morning or late afternoon by the sun’s angle. All around me tall buildings rose more akin to a modern city than what I’d expected for a Valkyrie town or city. I wasn’t sure which. What I did see was a number of the building had been damaged. Wherever I was there had been fighting. I was in no position to tell when. A high wall surrounded the abandoned hospital, which I noted had been abandoned and had not been targeted by whatever damaged the surrounding buildings. More of Hardgera’s Clan guarded the broken gates out.

Gingerly I trailed Hardgera over broken ground towards the gates where her guards waited.

“Mother,” the gate guard said respectfully. “There is a patrol inbound.”

“How long?” Hardgera asked anxiously.

“Seven minutes.”

“Not enough time.” Hardgera regarded me carefully. “You’ll have to find your own way. I can’t take the chance I’d be seen with you. Sorry Gwen Hunter I have my Clan to consider. I’ve got faith you’d make it out of the city.” She gestured to her Clan. “We move out. We’re leaving this place. Call a withdrawal we are going home.”

“What happens to me? Can’t you get me somewhere safe?”

“I can’t take that the chance. I made a mistake joining the Prophetess. I only did because my advisors told me to.” She scowled. “This is your fault had I Ljufu back all this could be avoided.” She grimaced in distaste. “I hate what she is but she was always the voice of reason.” With that she made a gesture to her Clan and then ran at a pace that would be impossible to follow in my current state.

Helplessly I watched her go frustrated at her abandonment of me. Why rescue me to just dump me and run it didn’t make sense? Her behaviour was so erratic perhaps it was what had saved her from the Prophetess’ telepaths. Then I was only speculating that the Prophetess had telepaths. I straightened up I’d have to hide it would give me time to decide what to do. I needed to gather me thoughts find some proper clothes and footwear. The rumble of an engine put me on alert. I was alone on a deserted street. I darted across the road as fast as I could in bare feet wincing with every step. The whole area had an abandoned look to it. To my guess this started long before the war with the rebels. Yet it still didn’t give me any clue to where I was.

Across the street I searched for a place to hide the sound of engines were closer. Lucky was with me I saw a set of steps leading to a broken door in a basement. Carefully with much trepidation I descended the stairs watching the jagged glass that littered the floor. The interior of the basement was piled with trash and broken furniture. Suddenly I jerked I stepped on something. I raised my foot a shard of glass had penetrated my foot. It wasn’t much but it hurt like hell. I gritted my teeth and eased it out of my foot. Blood trickled from my cut. Using the sliver of glass I cut a strip of cloth of my robe and bandaged my foot. The sound of engines was louder almost on top of me. Hurriedly I dived behind a pile of garbage my heart beating a hundred to the dozen. I was alone helpless well not quite I had my Valkyrie training. Hand to hand combat was one thing but hand against bullets was an instant loser. I heard the engines halt above me. I frozen trying to get my heartbeat at an acceptable level.

“Right!” a voice, shouted out. “You two check on the dying.”

“Hey?” a second voice called out. “Where are the guards?”

I felt a chill run down my back.

“Who was on guard duty?” the first voice asked it sounded loud almost on the other side of the pile of garbage.

“Unsure I don’t know.”

“Mother!” the first one growled. “I expect they’re lounging around and drinking instead of being at their posts.” The voice snorted. “What a waste.” The voice paused. “Find them and send them to the front they’ll absorb bullets instead of true patriots.

I stiffened of hearing the voice speak about ‘patriots’ the Curator had spoken about ‘patriots’. “Black Stripes,” I hissed under my breath. I had only speculated before but this made it real the eye symbol was a Black Stripe symbol. I tried to prove that to Thirika and the Elders and it looked it I’d been right all along. If the Black Stripes were here then the Rhosani could not be far behind. I had to escape I had to tell the Elder what I’d discovered but first I’d have to stay alive. I glanced around desperately looking for another way out.

In the dimness of the back of the basement room I spotted another door. Quietly as I could and limping all the way I edged my way to the door. Hoping beyond hope I would be able to open it and get out. Anywhere would be preferable to what would happen if I was discovered. The chances of that would be high once they discovered I wasn’t where I was supposed to be. Damn Hardgera leaving me and running off. My hand reached up and turned the door handle. It turned under my grip and the door opened. Breathing a sigh of relief I slipped through. I found myself in a short corridor free of debris that was beyond the door. It was narrow and a set of steps led up to another door. It was surprisingly clean and well lit I suspected that there were people living here. What I wasn’t sure of was whether they were rebels or someone against them or even just those trying to survive between the two. I had to take a chance a quick glanced to the floor had my blood draining from my face. I’d left a trail of blood behind me there was no way of cleaning it off. I was doomed I had not choice but to carry on forward. I crept up to the other door and reached up to the handle. It turned but the door remained closed. It was locked I was stuck. I sat down and contemplated my fate I was stuck here. I’d fight but my chances of coming out of it in one piece were slim to none. I couldn’t even contact Mouse. Something I hadn’t even considered until I’d sat down here.

“Mouse?” I called out with my mind. Nothing happened it seemed the First Ones had cut all ties I had to the Keepers. A ‘bad influence’ they’d told me. So deep in my thoughts and despair I never heard the door behind me open.

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