Valkyrie Hunter

Finally we reached the edge of the forest overlooking the chalets. I grimly noted that the fighting had reached even here. The walls were pockmarked and tiles were missing from the roofs. We had left the forest in the area closest to the shuttle bay. Three shuttles had landed there. A number of armoured Valkyrie stood guard each with a black and silver sash around their waists. Hrutdottir, Runa’s Clan if I was not mistaken. The leader of the Hrutdottir Valkyrie strode forward on seeing us. She halted in front of Thirika after giving me a sideways glance. Obviously Runa’s had told her about me. Which made me wonder if Runa was close by. If that was the case I hoped my team was with her. I longed to be back with them, I’d be glad to forgive Jervic’s cold shoulder. I’d been without any bedroom action for too long.

“Silver, we’ve secured the mag-lev station and cleared the kyla.”

I understood that to mean they’d swept the chalets for rebels.

The Hrutdottir continued. “We encountered a few rebels but they surrendered as soon as they saw us.”

“Carry on,” Thirika told her. She stepped to the side her hand on her ear. “ The comms are back up,” she said to me. Then to the Hrutdottir. “Commander can you spare us a handful of your troops?” Thirika asked.

“Happy to Silver.” The Hrutdottir made a gesture and called over several of her team.

“Go with the Silver.”

The Hrutdottir clasped her hand to her chest and moved off.

Thirika turned to me, “We must return to the Halls.” Her next words were to the Hrutdottir. “Clear the path to the Hall.”

The trip back through the forest and the destruction was quicker with the Hrutdottir scouting the way ahead. Naked rebels were still hard at work cleaning the mess they caused. We halted at the entrance to the Hall.

“Your guards must wait here,” Thirika told me. “They aren’t permitted inside.”

Becky spoke before I could. “Ma’am?” she addressed Thirika. “I respectfully request that Lieutenant Hunter be accompanied by two of my squad.”

“Negative unless they have Valkyrie blood,” Thirika said bluntly.

Becky took a step back. “I have my orders!” she replied just as bluntly her hand resting lightly on the butt of her coil assault gun strapped to her chest.

“Stand down sergeant,” I said to Becky stepping between her and Thirika. The last thing I wanted was a blood bath on the steps of the Hall.

“LT?”

“We don’t want to cause a diplomatic incident. Admiral Komana will understand that?” I hoped she would but diplomacy was not one of her strong points.

“Yes ma’am,” Becky said with a Confed salute. “I’ll hold here for further orders.”

“Come along Initiate.” Thirika made a sharp gesture.

I followed her reluctantly.

We entered the Hall. It was full of the wounded, red suited medics flittered from patient to patient. I couldn’t see any of the black robed acolytes. We swept by the wounded and entered the Debating Hall as I heard it was called. The guards on the doors opened them instantly on Thirika’s approach. For a minute I thought she was going to walk through whether they were opened or closed. There was a lot to take in on the other side of the door. Although there were Elders lining the benches on three sides there were noticeable gaps. In front of the benches on the floor crouched a number of naked Valkyrie with large square boards attached to their necks like a collar. They all had their heads shaved but in some cases I could see they’d resisted. Their shaven heads were covered with blood. I could see a number even sported bruises on their bodies. There was a chain attached to the collars that hung down and were joined to shackles around their wrists and ankles. Solva stood at the lectern and smiled on seeing me.

“Good you are here.” She addressed Thirika. “And thank you for coming so quickly.” She pointed directly at the prisoners. “Look at her. This Initiate saved Saros, saved Alfheimir from ‘men’ that sort to destroy it. She had no reason to do so but she did. She showed us the truth when many would have closed their eyes. Again she had no reason to do so. Not for gain but it was the ‘just’ thing to do.” Solva paused her eyes narrowing. “Yet there are those that insist she isn’t one of us. She carries our blood but still that isn’t enough. I think different she is more Enari and yes I say the word Enari than you are!”

The prisoners said nothing. I wasn’t sure what else I could call them.

Solva continued her voice dripping with acid. “You now have been brought before us because you brought the ancient enemy to our doors. Is your hatred of Alfheimir and its people so great that you would give us over to the enslavers of the T’Arni?” She glared at the prisoners. “To which each of us gave a blood oath to fight against them?” She pointed at the prisoners. “You who gave up your Clans for the better of Alfheimir. Yet even after you learned the truth you still tried to destroy Alfheimir setting Clan against Clan.” Solva paused. I was sure it was more for a dramatic pause. She held it for a full minute. “Death is too easy an option for the likes of you. I and the Council of Elders sentence you to life in the Collar of Shame. Your names will be stricken from the lists. Your former Clans will not speak for you. You don’t exist!” She made a sharp gesture. “Get this contaminated trash out of here!”

I watched the Silver Guard drag off the prisoners they weren’t gentle. I wondered why the prisoners hadn’t said anything in their defence. I saw someone had taped up their mouths. I became aware of Solva watching me intently.

“Now that unpleasantness is over. Gwen Hunter please step forward.”

I stepped forward worried about what was going to happen next.

“Gwen Hunter,” Solva said. But she was interrupted.

A figure rose from one of the benches. I recognised her as Thurida the Palkkasir Elder.

“If it is permitted. I must have my say.”

“Is this the right time?” Solva asked her.

“No time like the present.”

“I will stand aside and let Elder Thurida have her say. This after all is the Debating Hall.”

“The Palkkasir do not have a good reputation. Partly my fault if I’m honest. Even so Gwen Martin has shown us what we have long forgotten. Honour, she honoured Mother Sophronia Palkkasir’s death even though she owed her nothing.”

I wondered where Thurida was going with this. I stood and listened.

Thurida continued. “She even helped those of the Clan who sort to kill her. She honoured the dead even though she didn’t know our rights for the dead. That is what we have forgotten. ‘Honour’ what we as Valkyrie lack? We took the Human’s name for us with pride but look at us now we have forgotten honour. The right to call us by our old name died went we forgot honour. Gwen Martin may not look like us but her heart and soul are?”

She sat back down to muttering in the background. Solva turned to the benches an angry expression on her face. “What was that I can’t hear you?”

The muttering lapsed into silence.

“I’m surprised,” Solva said. “That I’m actually agreeing with a Palkkasir. I thought I’d ever to see eye to eye with the Palkkasir. Elder Thurida is correct.” She paused. “Oh the shock and horror of it. We have forgotten honour. Gwen Hunter, or Martin if you like has the honour we lost. Yes and again I hate to admit it Elder Thurida is correct Gwen is Valkyrie. More damn Valkyrie or Enari than I.” Solva glanced up with a frown. “What is it now?”

I turned to see that an Acolyte had entered dressed in her cowled robes.

“Elder?” she went down on one knee, one hand pressed to the floor and her head bowed. “Am I permitted to approach I have urgent news?”

“Approach child,” Solva said to her.

I saw the Acolyte give me a sideways glance as she passed me. I was ready for an attack that never came. She hurried over to Solva and whispered in her ear. Solva had to learn down to hear her word.

Solva gave a sigh. “That complicates matters. We have to comply we’re in no position to do anything.” Solva turned her attention back to me. “I’m afraid you must go Admiral Komana wants to see you.”

“See me about what?” I asked.

“That is between you and the Admiral. Now go. The sooner you talk to her the sooner we can get back to business.”

I wasn’t about to ask her what business I was getting a bad feeling about that. Just as I had about Komana wanting to see me. The Acolyte escorted me out.

Becky and the rest of her team were waiting by an Alliance shuttle for me. She saluted as I neared.

“What this about?” I asked her.

“Don’t know ma’am, sorry about that?”

“Don’t be,” I replied feeling sick to my stomach with worry.

Once the shuttle had touched down aboard the ship a lieutenant escorted me to Komana’s office.

“In here ma’am,” he said opening the door.

Komana office was the same as the last time I was here. A number of holos circled around her head.

“There you are Gwen please take a seat.”

I noted she called me Gwen and had not given me a rank. I nervously sat in the seat in front of her desk.

“Gwen,” she said and paused.

“Ma’am?” I kept my tone respectful despite the dark foreboding I was feeling.

“I’m sending you home.”

I stared at her shocked that had been so out of the blue. “Home?” I wasn’t sure where my home was anymore.

“Earth the place you were born. Home to your family.”

I continued to stare at her trying hard to gather my errant thoughts. “When?”

“As of now, the fast liner ‘Pride of Nithus’ is waiting for you.”

“What about the Prophet, the Black Stripes and Vanessa?” I demanded feeling my anger rise. “What I’ve done, that means nothing?” I half rose out of the chair.

“Sit down!” Komana roared.

I sat back down seething with anger. What I’d done, the pain I’d been through it all meant nothing? “Why?”

“Because I don’t want you dead.” Komana grimaced. “And before you ask the one you call the Prophet has escaped he blasted through my picket fleet and went into hyperspace before we could intercept him. I lost a lot of good people to him. Rest assured we will find him and bring him to justice.”

“Vanessa and the Black Stripes?” I demanded.

“All in hand. You go home.”

“What if I refuse?”

“Gwen you are going home. The choice is whether you go in luxury or in the brig. Either way I’m sending you home.”

“That isn’t fair!” I protested knowing she’d do it anyway. “There is too much work unfinished?”

“Unfinished or not you go home. The choice of how is up to you.” Komana sighed. “I know you too well Gwen. I’d send you home but as soon as you get there you’d head back. I’m telling you here and now. As soon as you do I’ll have you arrested. No don’t argue with me about ghosts you need to rest. I am telling you this you will go home, you will live the rest of your life. You are not military I’m not going to risk your life.”

“But…” I wasn’t going to win this.

“But nothing Gwen. Just go home.” She made a gesture. “Are you going or do I have to drag you to the shuttle?”

“I’m going!” I snarled at her. My heart was pounding I felt so frustrated I could cry. I rose from the seat, turned and walked out the door. I couldn’t trust myself to say anything that would anger her further. I walked to the shuttle without a plan. What ever I decided I would be back I had to find away. Komana was wrong Solstrid and Sophronia’s souls would never let me rest. I would find a way back even if I begged the Keepers to help. Another thing Komana was wrong I didn’t have family here. The Keepers my daughters, my Valkyrie family in Miranda and those friends I would be leaving behind. This wasn’t over I would be back. As in some ancient vid I’d once seen ‘Tomorrow is another day.’

Continues in Keeper Hunter