Ancient Hunter

The sound of movement outside woke me from my sleep. It was finally dark in the side room. The light must have either run out of power or turned itself off. I tried unsuccessfully to turn it off and in the end left it on and went to bed. I heard the sound again someone or something was moving about outside trying to be stealthy. I wasn’t sure what the fauna inhabited this world and I couldn’t find out my comms weren’t working I kept getting a no connection message. The window in my room rattled as if someone not something was trying to pry it open. I was more aware now I knew it wasn’t Jennifer she wouldn’t have done that. Woken me up rudely yes but not creep about outside. Fully alert I rolled out of bed quietly and pulled my Seven Double ‘M’ from my pack. I heard another window rattle further down then silence as if the window rattler had realised that he or she was making too much noise. The silence continued for a while. I knew the rattler hadn’t gone away and was listening for noise from within. Slowly I edged to the door of my room using the edge of the doorway as cover being as silent as I’d been taught. None of the rooms had doors just the frames for them. I knelt down using the doorframe as cover and sighted down my gun. Aiming for the patch of dark in a dark room. That was the front door and my makeshift barrier. For a moment I’d thought my intruder had gone then I heard a scraping sound. The window rattler was moving the crates blocking the door. They whoever they were pried the crates apart and moved into the main room. I could make out a silhouette a darker shape again the darkness of the room. I aimed my finger on the fire ready to fire. Suddenly the light flared and instinctively I pulled the trigger and in that blinding moment my shot went wide. I blinked away the bright image from my eyes shocked that I had fired without issuing a warning. I recognised the figure it was the T’Arni I had confronted earlier. He was in a half-crouch an old fashioned projectile rifle at his feet. He remained in that position frozen in fear.

“What are you doing here?” I said harshly.

He turned and stared at me his eyes bulging seeing the Seven Double ‘M’ in my hand.

“Please, please,” he gasped visibly shaking. “I have a wife and children.”

“A pity you didn’t think about them when you crept around rifle in hand?” I sounded like a scolding parent. “And don’t tell me it is for protection from wild animals. I know you are lying!” Truth be told I was more angry with myself for not shouting a warning before I fired. The old me wouldn’t have done that. I was becoming too Valkyrie and wondered why I got so aggressive. I guess I was still smarting from my failure to put Solstrid’s soul to rest.

“I, I…” The T’Arni started then faltered to a halt.

“Well?” I demanded.

“I made a mistake please I don’t want to die?” the T’Arni pleaded.

“I see,” I said slowly. “So what were you going to do with that rifle. Threaten me, shoot me? Whatever you envisioned you never took the wrath of the Valkyrie into it. I don’t think you want to spend time in a Valkyrie prison?”

“I just wanted you gone, I wasn’t going to hurt you.” There was a definite tremor in his voice.

“Oh, This land belongs to the Landottir Clan.” I couldn’t suppress the sarcasm in my voice.

“That Clan is dead,” the T’Arni declared in a shaky voice.

I think he was afraid I was going to shoot him.

“Really you’ve already told me that. Did you get confirmation from the Elders on Alfheimir?” I gave the T’Arni a hard stare. “That’s strange,” I said when he didn’t answer. “The Elders are convinced that the Landottir Clan is alive and I getting tired of repeating myself.”

“I’ve called Security you shouldn’t be here!”

“Oh good.” I called his bluff adding. “You never did, did you?” I hated to admit it I felt a little ashamed in threatening this T’Arni. I waved my bracelet at him. “See this I’m with the Valkyrie Silver Guard.”

“You’re not an Enari!” the T’Arni said trying to be defiant and failing.

I smiled a thin smile I didn’t seem to getting through it meant I’d have to do this the hard way. “I’ve already told you this but you aren’t listening. Now leave or die.” It was an appropriate response for a Valkyrie. I shivered inwards the Valkyrie did had that reputation. As Thirika had said most of it was rumours they had put about themselves. Occasionally they acted like Hlanhildr had done on Davenport. Even thinking about now brought a sick feeling to my stomach. The only thing I was ok with was that a Cell Stitcher would grow them back. I pointed to the door. “Get out of here and don’t come back!”

“This isn’t finished!” the T’Arni snarled.

“It is now or do I have to bury you in a grave filled with purple crystals?”

The T’Arni blanched at that so part of his story was correct. “Alright I’m going.” He stooped down to pick up his rifle.

“Leave that!” I waved my Seven Double ‘M’ at him.

The T’Arni eased back. “You haven’t heard the last of this!”

“Please, is that best threat you can do?”

The T’Arni said nothing more. He edged away from me walking backwards to the door. All the time he had his eyes on me his expression fixed. I had the advantage and he knew it. As soon as he exited I heard him crashing through the bush in his haste to get away.

I carefully moved to the door keeping out of the light spilling through it. I’d only make myself a target silhouetted by the light from the lamp. Cautiously I re-erected the barrier and retreated to the centre of the main room. I picked up the rifle lying on the floor and automatically checked it. It was loaded and I was certain he’d have used it if he had, had the chance. What didn’t make sense was why go through all this effort. After his warning about the crystal I did wonder why he was so eager to be rid of me? I wasn’t going to accomplish much tonight or would that be early morning I had no idea of the time. My comms had been set to Saros time. I had no way of knowing the difference between local and Saros time. I glanced to the open doorway and the crates piled in front of it. I had no doubts he would return possibly this time with reinforcements and I had to be ready for that. I moved my bed to a different room. Since the rooms surrounding the main one were all the same size I picked one at random, I settled in I might get in some sleep. I estimated that it would take time to organise any retaliation. Slowly I drifted off to sleep.