Ancient Hunter

Ljufu pulled into a park opposite the hospital.

“Get out!” Ljufu ordered abruptly.

I was so shocked by her change that I did so without thinking about it. Ljufu got out and took off her uniform. She had a white T-shirt underneath. She gestured for me to follow. We walked through the park I wondered what was going on.

“You want to fight,” Ljufu said. From the sound of her voice it wasn’t a question.

“No!” I replied unsure as to what she wanted from me.

“Liar, it’s in your stance and in your eyes.” Ljufu made a sharp gesture. “Follow.”

I hadn’t wanted to admit it but I felt angry. I tried hard to ignore it but Ljufu was right it was creeping up on me bit by bit. I hated myself for being unable to put Solstrid’s soul to rest.

We arrived in an open area at the centre of the park. Surrounded on three sides by colourful flowerbeds the forth side lined by a paved walkway. I didn’t want to fight Ljufu she was a friend albeit a Valkyrie one and I certainly didn’t want Ana’s wrath coming down on my head.

“Ljufu?” I started. I didn’t get the chance to say more.

Ljufu threw a punch I barely ducked in time. The rage in me burst to the surface all that pent-up frustration I attacked. I scissor kicked which Ljufu dodged. She countered and her return move had me tumbling back. We fought for several minutes but I just couldn’t land a blow on her. The logical part of my mind stated I was fighting out of anger and letting that rule me. I ignored the voice and carried on I was too far gone to realise I couldn’t win this way. Ljufu made a lightening quick dart in and grabbed my arm. She flipped me over and I felt her fist connect with my cheek. My vision wavered as my blood cooled. I found myself on the grass looking up at the sky Ljufu towering over me a frown on her face.

“Are you sure you are Gwen Hunter? ’Cause the one I know would have beaten me?” She didn’t sound happy.

I realised I should have beaten her. I’d lost it and was now regretting not listening to my inner voice. It had warned me of this. I sat up perhaps too quickly and my vision wavered again.

“Feeling better now?” Ljufu asked sounding concerned.

“Better,” I admitted smarting over my stupidity. Thirika, Runa and even Gudbjorga would have told me off for being so sloppy and punished me with hard work. I rubbed my jaw I could feel a bruise forming.

“Yes it hurts,” Ljufu said sounding as if I was her child. “Leave it as is. It’s a reminder of what’s that Terran phrase, oh yes, life sucks sometimes.”

I wasn’t going to correct her she had it nearly right the phrase was ‘life sucks and then you die.’ I hated it but she was right I had to put this behind me and move on.

Ljufu reached down and pulled me up. “Be more alert,” she warned me.

I knew she was right about this and right about the other it was a sobering thought. I should be paying more attention to my surroundings. “Thanks.”

“For what? Handing you your ass on a platter.”

“No, for taking me to see Vanessa.”

“You’re my Clan in exile,” Ljufu stated.

As much as she loved Ana and Juliet her heart yearned to be part of a Clan. It reminded me to ask her what she knew about my bracelet.

“I need to ask you something else about this?” I waved the bracelet in her face.

“I can’t tell you much about the Silver Guard I was only Hardgera’s personal guard.” Which explained much about her relationship to Mother Hardgera.

“What with the leathers and the big sword?” I must be feeling better with myself to be making such an inane comment.

“I was one of those.” Ljufu sounded tired but there was a wishful longing in her voice. She straightened up and took a more serious pose. “Why do you ask?”

“It’s that I have been told this is made of kovettunut?”

Ljufu stared at me her mouth half open. She snapped it shut. “You’re serious let me look?” Her fingers wrapped around my bracelet her brows furrowed. “That’s kovettunut alright.” She paused and looked me in the eyes. “Why give to you?”

“I’m the last of my Clan,” I admitted.

Ljufu was puzzled. “Didn’t you say you’re a Martin?”

“And that’s what I thought I was.” I was remembering Miranda’s words. I was the last of the Landottir. Being a Landottir was the possible reason I was refused entry into the Martin Clan. “I believed that for a long while but I’m more than that. I’m the last of the Landottir. They were a sub Clan of the Martins.” I explained what Miranda had told me without revealing her name or that she was classed as an Old One. Then I went on to explain Marcella and what she had told me aboard the Independence, the ship that took me from Paranova to Davenport.

“Clan is still Clan there are no sub Clans. How are you that last one?”

I recognised her tone, she had gone into Security mode. I explained what I knew about the destruction of the Clan and how my great grandfather was taken to Earth. And how the Elders hid his blood and DNA making it appear that he was Human born. A fact I had been ignorant of until I had ended up of Alfheimir for the second time.

“The Elders can do that make someone forget their heritage?” Ljufu was shocked to her core.

I didn’t blame her though, her thoughts were on Juliet. I could understand her fears.

“I’ll make them sure whose daughter she is!”

I brought the conversation back to my bracelet. “So do you know what this means?” I tapped my bracelet.

“It makes sense now you are a Clan Mother. As to being an Elder I’m not sure about that.”

“I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I’m now certain it’s the reason they refused Mother Ronja’s petition for me to join her Clan. The Landottir are dead but I’m not truly the last one. My mother has the same blood as I do.”

“But has she been through the rebirth ritual?”

I shivered at the thought after what Marcella revealed about the ritual and the origins of the blood it contained. I felt ill at the thought. “No.”

“Then she isn’t and nor will be she hasn’t connection both to the Martin’s or now to the Landottir.” Ljufu tapped my bracelet as I had done her expression thoughtful. “All Silver Guards forgo their Clans to serve the common good for all Valkyrie.”

“And me I definitely don’t look Valkyrie.” I might be tall but my height was nothing when I compared myself to the average Valkyrie.

“But you act like one. It’s in your blood sister.” Ljufu suddenly smiled. “In that case when Juliet gets to Alfheimir she’ll join your Clan.”

Except I didn’t have a Clan nor had I the intention of ever going back to Alfheimir. “I’m not going to Alfheimir not now not ever!” I declared.

Ljufu answering grin was unsettling. “I’ll drop you off assuming you have a place to stay, oh you did say it was a hotel?”

I was caught out by her sudden turnabout there was an unspoken invitation in her voice. I wasn’t about to go down that particular rabbit hole. “Um, I’m staying at the Excelsior for the moment. I’ve just learned my old apartment is available. I’ll be staying there for the rest of my time on Saros.”

We drove back to the hotel. I filled Ljufu in on what happened on Davenport and the situation on Paranova.

“I’ll put my people on alert we don’t want them back here.” Ljufu paused. “Ana expects you for dinner tonight.”

I stared at Ljufu that comment was completely out of the blue. “You’re sure?”

“Positive she’s the one that asked.”

I was unsure about that. Ana seemed to switch from aggressive to kind from one moment to next. I wondered if it was the hormones talking, Then she was very possessive about Ljufu I wisely held my counsel on that. “What time?”

“About eight local time.” She slowed and pulled up outside the hotel.

I got out. “Thanks.” I said.

Ljufu nodded and drove away. I walked up the steps to the hotel entrance. The two guards in their green uniforms eyed me but made no move to stop me from entering.

Inside there was a scattering of well dressed people. Their heads turned to regard me with disapproval clear on their faces. I did look dishevelled after my fight with Ljufu and I expect the bruise on my jaw was the clincher. I ignored their looks and mutterings and walked up to the reception desk. An unknown T’Arni male stood behind the desk his nametag indicated that he was called Bob. I doubted that was his real name I could feel his stare on me as I approached.

“Can I help you ma’am?” He sounded like that was the last thing he wanted to do.

I wasn’t about to argue with him, all I wanted was a shower and a change of clothes and possibly sleep.

“I’d just like the key to my room.” I told him.

“And you are?”

“Gwen Hunter,” I rattled off my room number.

The T’Arni started. “Apologies Miss Hunter. Are you ok do you need help we can call Security!”

An impish thought crossed my mind. “No, I fought the law and the law won.” I know I was quoting classical music and I doubted he’d get the reference. “It will be ok I just want a shower and a sleep.”

“You sure Miss Hunter. If there’s anything at all don’t hesitate to call?”

“I’ll be fine. My key please.”

“Sorry Miss Hunter. “He handed me my key.

I headed to my room wanting a shower and bed.