Valkyrie Hunter
Chapter 51

I really didn’t know what to make of Anhild’s ground car. It was a little too compact for a Valkyrie like Anhild and the way she had fitted the console from a later model showed her expertise to its highest ability. It must have been her pet project. Then my mind dwelled on what Walla had said about her niece. She had mentioned her niece was short for a Valkyrie. This ground car had been for her. It made it all the worse for my guilt in taking the car. Unfortunately the practical part of my mind informed me it was the only way to get out of the city. The nav system Anhild had built in was a lifesaver. I managed to avoid the city centre and areas where the rebels had camped. I followed its route aware of my surroundings. I passed a number of heavily damaged buildings and torn up streets. Mother Nidbjorga had not given up her capital lightly. Driving down an empty street only made me more aware of the emptiness. I felt as if I’d painted a huge target on my back and the rebels were just waiting to strike. I was the only vehicle on the roads in the predawn darkness. As early as it was I was alert to danger and glad for the nav. I would have never found myself a way through the city perhaps even found myself going around in circles.

Anhild’s car had the quietest engine I’d ever heard. Even so that lack of movement had me more than a little worried. Yesterday the streets had been teeming with patrols. Several times they’d come up into the apartments. For some of reason they checked their notes on their datapad satisfied three people lived here and that was it. The patrols had ceased about midnight but Walla and Anhild hadn’t moved until the early hours deeming it safe enough to get to the garage.

“Are they trying different tracking methods?” I asked myself. I guess my nerves were getting to me. I shut up quickly not liking the way my thoughts were going. I wasn’t going mad was I?” I shut down those thoughts as well, I had to remain alert. There was a good chance I’d run into a patrol but the lack of them was setting my nerves on a knife-edge. I started to worry about the rebels tracing this car back to Walla and Anhild. I entered a rougher looking area. I’d thought Walla and Anhild’s streets derelict but these were more run down than that only increasing the tension within me.

With that in mind I drove down the street still following the nav. Suddenly some instinct made me jerk to the side. A bullet blasted a hole in the windshield. Had I not jerked the bullet hole would have been where I was seated. I put the car into reverse and backed away, hastily turning off my headlights. My heart threatened to burst from my chest.

“Deep breath, Gwen, deep breaths.” I reassured myself.

I continued backing away and around a corner where I halted. I slipped out on the car shaking like a leaf and taking the coil assault gun with me. It was still too dark to see but I felt I was being watched.

“Drop the gun!” A voice in the darkness commanded.

“No!” I replied sharply reigning in my fear.

“A Terran?” the voice exclaimed.

I really had to get rid of my accent it kept marking me down as an Imperial. I saw in the darkness several darker Valkyrie sized shapes emerge.

I took a chance that these weren’t the Prophetess’ rebels. “I take it your not with the rebels?”

“Rebels?” a different voice asked me.

“Those that support the Prophetess.”

“Do you?” the first voice countered.

“I need to get a message to Mother Nidbjorga and the Elders,” I said taking a chance I’d reached the right people.

Another dark shape snorted. “The Elders, those bitches wanted nothing to do with us. They sat back and watched us die.”

“Enough!” the first voice cut through the other comments. “You come with us!” she added. “Remove the clip from your AR 32 and hand it to me.”

Reluctantly I gave her my magazine. I’d heard coil assault guns called that before.

It was beginning to get lighter I was starting to make out details. The Valkyrie leader had her hair cropped short and wore a hard expression on her face. “You’ll have to be hooded. We can’t let you reveal our location.”

“Is that really necessary. I can’t find my way around in daylight let alone at night?” I didn’t want to be hooded I didn’t trust them.

“You still have to put on the hood.”

“Alright,” I said. I wanted to get out of here but these Valkyrie might give me a better chance. Driving around wasn’t the best of solutions. I figured this was the best way and Walla would get her niece’s ground car back. The only problem was the hole in the window. “Just be quick. I’ve got to get this info to Mother Nidbjorga.”

Reluctantly I let them hood me. It was some kind of sack that had drawstrings which the fastened around my neck but not tightly. The odd thing was they let me retain my weapon. A useless weapon without ammunition but still a weapon.

One of the Valkyrie took me by my arm I noted it was a gentle grip. Not all what I had expected these Valkyrie were full of surprises

I was led through the streets stumbling in several places but the Valkyrie guided me the best she could. I don’t know where they led me. Finally I walked down some steps a basement was my best guess. I felt one of the Valkyrie touch my neck and slowly pull off the hood. They were gentle more so than the normal Valkyrie I had become accustomed to. I blinked hard getting my bearings. I was in a large room the corners dark the only illumination was from a number of candles. Smoke lingered above the candles making it feel a little claustrophobic. In the centre was a large table and on it what looked like a paper map. I could see things from their point of view. It was the best option to confuse the scanners. Electronics would give off a signal scanners could pick up on. Clustered around the table were a number of Valkyrie dressed in a variety of clothes and all visibly armed. The eldest of the Valkyrie leaned over the table her eyes on the map. She had a military style hair cut. Her blonde hair cropped to the nape of her neck. I saw her glance up at me then to her map.

She spoke. “I hope you have a good explanation for this?” She directed this at the Valkyrie I’d labelled the leader of my captors. Although they hadn’t said that yet I felt as if I was.

“Ma’am,” the Valkyrie leader said. “This human?”

I interrupted. “I do have a name.”

“Your name human?” The elder Valkyrie asked her voice mild with rebuke.

“Gwen Hunter and I’m vaihdokas.” I matched her word for word.

I saw her smile faintly. “Not many care to admit that Svertingdottir.”

I couldn’t hear any malice in her voice.

“Martin,” I replied.

The elder Valkyrie straightened up and stared at me. “Martin?” She glanced to the cluster of Valkyrie with her. “What in the Mother’s name are you doing here Martin?”

“I have information for Mother Nidbjorga, the Elders and the TCA.”

“Elder’s, “ the elder Valkyrie grunted. “Where were they when we needed them. Not here stopping this mess I can tell you.”

I disagreed. “Would you want the Elders to dissolve your Clan?” I told the Valkyrie directly.

“What do you mean by that?” she demanded.

I was suddenly aware that I was the centre of attention. But I carried on regardless. “The Elders’ debates were on about dissolving any Clans that fermented war. Unfortunately the rebels come for a multitude of Clans so their hands are tied. Do you think it was easy for them to let this go. They hoped for the Clan Mothers to resolve this.” I frowned giving the Valkyrie a glare. “That’s beside the point. I have information for Mother Nidbjorga that is extremely important.”

“What is so important?” the Valkyrie asked moderating her tone. I think for more for her people than for me.

“The fact the so called Prophetess isn’t who he claims to be.”

The Valkyrie stared at me her eyes blinking rapidly. “You said ‘he’?”

“Yes and that why I need to get this information to Mother Nidbjorga.”

“I am Nidbjorga Bondedottir?” the elder Valkyrie declared.

I wasn’t sure, then Sylgard hadn’t told me anything about her. “Are you?” A dangerous move but I had no time to be timid. All around me the Valkyrie stiffened their hands reaching for their weapons. I’d faced down Hardgera and the Elders before. I half reasoned this was why Hardgera had deserted me when she did.

Nidbjorga bristled. “You doubt me Martin I think you are the one who is fake!”

I smiled despite the tension around me. I did note they were calling me Martin I’d have to live with that. “Oh really and you were the one Walla thought so highly of.” That wasn’t exactly true but I had to make an opening.

“Walla with a scar on her chin?” Nidbjorga countered.

I sensed a test in that. “No the one with her partner Anhild and Arva her niece who was killed in the fighting. If you are Mother Nidbjorga you know the task you set Walla when the war against the Rhosani started?”

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