Valkyrie Hunter
Chapter 48

I slowly came back to reality being half-dragged face first across a street. Two Valkyrie in armour held my arms while my feet dragged dangling uselessly behind. Scuffing Arva’s boots the least of my problems. Somehow they had pulled off my hood and my hair hung loosely around my face. One thing in my favour was that I’d only been knocked out and not beaten up. For the present I decided to offer no resistance but I was ready to move when I could. Up ahead was one of those open topped anti grav vehicles with at least half a dozen armed guards around it. Seated on the back seat was a Valkyrie in a pristine white robe. Her long hair piled on top of her in a elaborate hair do. Around her neck she wore a necklace of glittering stones. As to the woman’s face she looked rather plain with a high-cheeked angular face. More akin to a boxer than any Valkyrie I met.

“We found her!” one of my arm holders announced.

“This is her?” The Valkyrie in the vehicle sounded dubious.

One of my arm holders grabbed my hair and pulled my head up. Because of Anhild’s work I wasn’t a brown-eyed brunette. I looked more Valkyrie.

I felt something brush against my mind and withdraw in haste. Telepath I was certain of that. I found myself staring the Valkyrie in the vehicle she looked shocked. I had found the rebel’s telepath. She had tried to read my mind and failed. One thing I could thank the Keepers for.

“Prophetess?” The other arm holder asked.

It was my turn to be shocked but I recovered quicker. The two arm holders halted and waited for orders giving me time to gather my wits. Before the Prophetess could give an order a long wailing shriek filled the air. A naked blood covered Valkyrie armed only with long sword charged towards the Prophetess. Immediately my arm holders let go reaching for the coil assault guns strapped to their chests. I reacted instantly. Throwing one off me and grabbing her gun. Without hesitation I shot the other.

“Kill her!” the Prophetess roared.

Her guards stood there confused floored by the order. Torn between targeting Sophronia or me. I didn’t give them that chance I fired at the guards as the they scrabbled to get their weapons up. I rolled to the side using the body of the arm holder I’d shot as cover. Bullets flew through the space I’d occupied moments ago. I returned fire the guards were more exposed then I was. I dropped two before they could target me. It gave Sophronia time to charge into the rest her sword slashing and thrusting. In a blink of a eye she was onto the anti grav vehicle her sword raised for the fatal blow. The Prophetess made a gesture and Sophronia flew backwards. Her sword flying from her hands and she rag dolled head over heels. Somehow I knew she wouldn’t be coming back from that. I’d mourn her sacrifice later. Rage burned through me, I aimed and fired. I felt a bleak satisfaction on seeing my shots hit and blood spray from the wounds I’d inflicted on the Prophetess. She might be a telepath but it didn’t make her immune to bullets. I gathered scant satisfaction from that. The anti grav vehicle sped off before I could get another shot in. I leapt up instead of futilely chasing after the vehicle I rushed over to where Sophronia lay.

“Sophronia,” I cried out.

She was already dead. A tear leaked from my eye a reminder of Solstrid’s death.

“Rest well in the embrace of the Mother.” I said placing her sword on her chest and closing her eyes. I wished I’d more time but I knew I had to move.

Quickly and efficiently I looted the bodies of the dead guards taking spare clips for the coil assault gun. It was then that I noticed the blood on the floor where the Prophetess had been. I knew I’d hit her unfortunately none of my shots had been fatal unlike her handling of Sophronia. I owed a reckoning and the Prophetess must be made to pay. A idea formed something Walla had mentioned about DNA and how much she wanted a sample to prove this Prophetess wasn’t the Prophetess of old. I tore out a pocket from my coat and wiped it in the blood. The sound of approaching vehicles had me up and running. I darted down streets trying to keep the sound of engines distant. I was certain I’d caused a ruckus and they’d be out for my blood. It was vital I stay alive. I ran and ran no destination in mind. I halted finally heaving for breath my legs on fire. I looked around shocked. Somehow I don’t know how I’d found my way back to the abandoned hospital. Whether by luck or by some unknown guiding hand I knew safety was close at hand. Provided that Walla and Anhild accepted me back after I’d run out on them. I hurried to the basement and into the short corridor. The door was locked. I banged hard on the door unsure if I would be heard or even if the couple was in. I hoped they hadn’t gone out looking for me.

After a while of no answers to my frantic pounding I sat on the doorstep and contemplated my next move.

I heard the door behind me open and I whirled around gun in hand to find myself staring at Anhild.

“Gwen!” she uttered pulling me inside. “Where have you been I was worried sick.”

“Walla here?” I asked anxiously.

Not letting go of my hand Anhild pulled me into the living room. Walla was sitting on a couch looking worried. She rose on seeing me and hurried over seeming the scrutinise me carefully. I saw her take note of the bloodstains on my coat, her niece’s coat.

“I’m sorry,” I said lamely.

Walla hugged me close the stepped away her cheeks burning red. “I’m sorry I thought you’d never return, it was Arva all over again?”

I felt sad about that.

“Still you are here,” Walla said her voice lingering with sadness.

I came to the point. “I have something for you.” I quickly detailed my encounter with the Prophetess and the outcome. “You said you wanted a blood sample?” I pulled the bloodstained torn pocket from the other pocket and handed it to her. “I think this has the Prophetess’ blood on it.”

Walla took it. “It’s good you have this but at what cost.”

“I know Sophronia died and I did what I could in the time but I’m worried I didn’t do the right thing for her?”

“No what you did is right,” Anhild reassured me. Walla was too busy staring at the bloodstained pocket.

“You did the best you could for one not truly of the blood,” Walla said. “You did more than what was done for Arva. Your soul is true Valkyrie. The Elders saw that I see that, Anhild sees that.” She placed her hand to her chest. “To me you are Clan.”

“More that that,” Anhild added. “You are Clan, no matter what the Elders think you are Clan to us.”

“Blood and Clan,” Walla stated. “I’ll get this analysed. Clan Mother Sophronia Palkkasir’s death will not go in vain.” Walla shuddered. “To think the Palkkasir had no honour. We will honour her in our prayers. She has earned her place at the Mother of All’s side.”

I nodded grimly.

Anhild broke the sombre mood. “Come Gwen let’s get you cleaned up and Walla you have work to do.”

“Later Gwen Landottir.”

It was the first time anyone had called me that. Even Miranda had avoided calling me Martin then her priority was that I was a Martin first and foremost.

“Are you going to be safe with me here?” I had to be honest.

“We’ve never been safe since the Prophetess took control of the city. There’s not one moment when we have been.” Anhild snorted. “They’re not Clan and they just take what they want and kill those that resist. They are far worst than the Palkkasir could ever be. I keep asking myself why.” Anhild shook herself. “Walla will find out the truth.”

“I hope it will be worth it?” I said dwelling on Sophronia’s death. True she died the Valkyrie way but in the back of my mind I kept saying was it worth it. I know I had acted on impulse my training had taken over. Yet I couldn’t help and think of all the wasted lives. I wished I had someone I could talk this over with. Jervic, Kelli or Xenai they would understand. But they were far away and I couldn’t reach them.

“Come on Gwen take a shower. I’ll fix you something to eat. Walla will be a while.”

With that in mind I headed to the bathroom and a welcoming shower.

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