Roars and unearthly howls, it is all the guard remembers throughout the last week. That is how long they have had the berserker inside the makeshift cell. Not really a jail cell, but closer to a dungeon cell fortified with two foot brick walls and a ceiling the same to match. This style of cell is in fact a holding area for livestock, and unusually strong criminals; on the rare occasion it might infact harbor a supernatural fugitive. But really it doesn’t matter at this point. The ‘thing’ inside that cell hasn’t given him much time to be inattentive during his shift watch rotation over the last week. It has some animal characteristics, but unlike an animal, it didn’t just whine or cry for help of the herd. This thing lets out grunts, yells incoherent words, and otherwise howls at night when one of the moons is overhead. There are times he can swear the thing talks, but it all goes up in smoke when he hears that unearthly howl; enough to use the cliched ‘to make your blood run cold’.

The guard prefers it when the tigerfelk takes watch. It is more of a supernatural creature from the east with all of their odd ways. It would be more of a match for the berserkerkin being held only by two feet of brick. The guard can only be left to ponder about this twist of fate. Raiding villages is easy. But to have the strength of several tigerfelt in their entourage, they are already rare enough. A red aurora has followed them as they detoured to this small town. Everything was fine until the Valkyrie with the clipped ear appeared. She was easy enough to capture. She was tortured and interrogated for days. However, they did not expect her to be of berserkerkin. Berserkers are creatures of legend and an odd sight; their strength is unknown, but they soon learned when it took the entire entourage to take her down. It took down several tigerfelk before they could subdue it. A female, and a berserker! What a laughable thought!

And yet here the guard is, left to cringe and shiver everytime it lets out one of those howls that pierces the night. He doesn’t know what the leader is thinking, trying to break this things spirit and make it part of the entourage. Staying in one area as long as they have, is enough to draw bad vibes and bad attention from unneeded types.

The creature lets out another grunt as it smahes itself into the confinement and shakes the very walls. The guard quickly turns around and hears another howl. Doesn’t this thing ever tire?!

—

Strange things start to happen over the next few days. Food stores are suddenly unaccounted for. Arrows have been rumored and later confirmed to pass seemingly from random directions. Random snares and booby traps have been set and there are several injured and wounded. The bandits find they have a bandit of their own on their hands. They are put on high alert. Different guards working shift details around the clock around the village. None of them have been allowed to exit the village or face the wrath of their leader. There is word of dissent and possible execution for those that do. Rumors have been starting to spread.

There is concern that the food might dwindle entirely. They’ve been in one spot for too long. They need to head towards the next town over or find a new target. The leader insists on staying. Dissent continues. Food continues to disappear. There is concern for the creature in the makeshift cell.

A few of the guards swear they have seen her. It is a woman, possibly young. She is always just on the edge of the village. Sometimes she ventures closer. A few swear she is brave enough to actually step foot in the village, but she only does it under the cover of nightfall. One of the bandits says he has seen her. She had tried to steal a loaf of bread, knocked into him and hit him with something akin to a bat. His description is a younger girl, possible an adult, brown hair, brown eyes and tan skin. Here ears are reminiscent of elven ears. She was also wearing a white cloak and outfit. She had boots and a rucksack. There was some kind of blue wisp following her, possibly a will ‘o wisp. There are rumors of it being a witch. Distrust and paranoia starts to build. Could it be the witch Salmira?

There leader isn’t phased by it. Someone is deciding to take advantage of them, clearly a rogue bandit. They have traps of their own set, but she somehow manages to avoid them.

On the sixth day she slips up. She is found in the loft of one of the houses. She is chased. She runs right down mainstreet with her cover blown. Ducking back into an alley she sees no way to escape. As they try to corner her in the alley, she is gone. On a roof, more people see her. She sees the torches and runs. Her shape distinctly holding her cloak over her head can be seen. She is on the edge of the village now. There are less guards here for some reason. She sees a guard who is asleep. She hears footsteps and loud voices in the distance. The building looks strange, but she has no choice. She ducks inside of it.

She took the bait! They had been herding her here. The door slams behind her and she sees herself in perpetual darkness. She turns around and can see the guard’s eyes illuminated by the lights outside. The door has a small slider drawer at eye level. He makes a comment in a different language she is unfamiliar with. She tries to turn around and force the door open, nothing. She turns around and looks at any sign of escape. It is dark. She can hear some kind of creature in here.

Light footsteps!

She finally sees it illuminated by one of the moons through a window with bars. She is familiar with it. The eyes. Those yellow eyes staring at her as it slowly crosses over. It seems they glow with a hue of their own until the light dissipates from them. Sweiza starts backing up until she feels the cold of the brick wall behind her. Escape is useless at this point. She sees it just mere feet from her now. Now inches. She starts to tremble. Why did she come looking for Strife?

She slides down the wall to a sitting position as the beast towers over her. It leans over her. It’s mouth opens and drool comes down. It’s nose suddenly twitches and it freezes. It starts to back up from where it came. Sweiza is left paralyzed and with fear; she doesn’t have time to think about what is going on. She loses track of the time as the moon of Mardin shows through the barred windows. Why hasn’t the creature attacked her? Scared for her life more than ever, she can’t help but feel adrenaline through her body. Time continues to march on. The creature is nowhere to be seen. Perhaps it is safer in here than outside. She finally chances some sleep, hopefully she would bolt to the land of the living should something disrupt her slumber.

---

“What is it that you desire?”

Sweiza awakens. She is in the makeshift cell, but it is daylight. She sees no signs of the creature. She still hears the voice asking her the same thing. She looks up at the direction it comes from. The creature is standing upside down. Her looks turns peculiar. She simply asks, “Demi?”

She suddenly feels the weight in her body shift and she crashes to the ceiling. Turns out she is the one that was upside down.

“Demi, I did what you instructed. This isn’t working! I haven’t found Strife! I’m stuck in here with that…that thing!”

The creature turns into something reminiscent of Sweiza, but more adult in appearance. Demi simply crosses his arms.

“I’ve done everything you wanted.”

Sweiza smirks and one of her eyes half closes, “How so, oh terrible one?”

“You were the one that was bored reading books. You are the one that wanted her memory back.” Demi approaches her, now standing over the crouching girl, “You wanted the way to hatch Dewey. You are the one that wanted to find Strife. I’ve given you all of these.”

“Yeah, I guess. I’m not bored. Sprite is missing, and I still haven’t found Strife!”

Sweiza barks it at Demi, half fearful the being might turn malevolent - be it a being of her armor or not.

“She’s closer than you think and more familiar than ever. Put your head of rocks to use for once.”

Sweiza’s left eye pinches and her mouth purses. She is about to bark again when Demi walks into the distance of the cell. He disappears completely and the scenery fades to black. This is getting annoying to her. She’s going to impale him with an ice spear again if she gets the chance.

---

It starts as a muffled voice. A groggy Sweiza finally comes to with a murmur and a groan. She doesn’t feel rested. She feels the cold brick wall against her back. She immediately tries to push herself to her feet, but her legs faulter and she drops back to the ground.

“That’s not a very dignified position for a Valkyrie.”

The voice catches her attention. It is Strife.

Sweiza’s head turns to the voice. She looks up. The woman has been standing over her the entire time.

“How long have you been there?”

“Long enough dear.”

There is something different about Strife. Her eyes are still a slight yellow, and she is in an inbetween state of the berserkergang. Her body is still covered in slight patches of fur it normally wouldn’t be. Her voice is also deeper, but not much.

“I’m going to have to teach you the grace and grandeur of being a lady. Perhaps an all girls school for the noble and prestigious would be in order.”

Sweiza’s mouth drops to a frown and she looks up at this woman. Sweiza ignores it at hoists herself to her feet.

“Do you not like the idea?”

Sweiza dusts her shorts off. She starts looking around the cell. Strife’s arms cross as she observes the girl. Sweiza starts by feeling the two barred windows. The iron bars are stiff and built in strong. She starts moving her hands around the door. It is mostly smooth save for the groves around the frame. She starts feeling the walls of the cell. A few of the bricks are loose. She wiggles a few of them, but the mortar has them still in firm.

She turns around and walks up to Strife.

“Your nails should still be strong enough. Can you claw into that mortar?”

Strife’s eyebrows perk up once. She doesn’t object. Her fingernails, still part berserkergang, claws through the mortar after many, many failed attempts. At last one of the bricks comes loose. Sweiza grabs at it and shows the prize to Strife.

“Are we not going to dismantle the wall?” Strife says it curiously with her left hand to preen a lock of hair above her left ear.

Sweiza gawks for a split second and shakes her head. “We dig.”

Sweiza moves to the corner of the cell furthest from the door. She stoops over and drops to her hands and knees. She starts using the brick to score at the ground. Strife comes closer. Sweiza stops scoring at the ground and turns up to the woman. “Help me.”

Strife’s eyebrows perk up. She stops preening her hair and drops to her ground. This is hardly dignified for a woman, but times call. She simply uses what last of the berserk is in her and starts clawing at the ground.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

There progress is slowed when they hear a commotion outside the door. Sweiza realizes she is stupid. One of them needs to stand watch over by that ‘peek plate’. There progress is further slowed, but over the hours they manage to dig underneath the wall. The brick and mortar holds firm.

Both of them get a good day’s sleep, if ever a situation could warrant it after a tired body. The only indication of their attempt against the bandits is a large pile of dirt in the corner, in the shadows and well out of view. However, one of them has opted to sleep lieing on the pile, the other as close to the hole as they can. Both blocked partially from view. It must have worked. The few times the plate slid open, the guard noted nothing out of the ordinary.

What they did note was that it has been unusually quiet. Perhaps the berserker ate the girl and did them all a favor. Regardless, their leader said to give it a few more days. Food would no longer be an issue and the booby traps (while present) would not increase in any number. It was when the leader decided to check in on the prisoners with several of the guards.

The prisoners are gone!

There is a loud commotion as they search the small building. Claw marks in the ground, a missing brick, a hole dug underneath the wall and leading to the ground outside. How could they have overlooked this?

The leader gives the order to find them. However, by this point they are long gone.

---

It is sometime in the night. The two have been walking for about fifteen miles straight, amped up on anxiety and in some cases adrenaline. By this point Strife’s berserkergang has receded and she looks human again. At one point Sweiza does note the woman has elven ears, more prominent than her (Sweiza’s) own, although her left ear is clipped. By this point in time, Sweiza knows the exact reason as to why. She has wanted to ask about some of the things in the diary, but she refrains from it. So many burning questions, and she is not sure how Strife will take it.

However, one in particular does escape Sweiza’s mouth.

“Can we stop for the night? My feet are sore.”

Strife stops and turns around at the girl. Her hands go to her hips.

“That is no way for a Valkyrie on assignment to speak, especially to her mentor.”

Sweiza lets out a snort at ‘mentor’.

Strife attempts to save face and maintain her composure, “Irregardless of what happened earlier, I am quite resourceful. I would have found a way out.”

Sweiza’s eyebrows (for once) perk and her eyes widen, her face smirks up and her tone changes to mockery and laughter. “You did a very good job of that!”

“Exactly. That’s what I had you for.” Strife turns around and continues through the footpath. Strife stops a few feet ahead and turns around. Sweiza is still standing in her former position.

“A few more hours and we can stop. We want to walk further than those ruffians can muster in one night.”

Sweiza nods and forces her tired body to continue.

—

Towards midnight they are forced to stop just at the beach of the ocean some twenty one miles away from the village. This is a good spot in Strife’s mind. Sweiza isn’t so sure, Hayduria and Mardin illuminate the beach, but it still isn’t too easy for either of them to see. Sweiza is worried about supernatural creatures, even if she doesn’t remember hearing about any in the area. Strife simply placates her and says they are Valkyrie, they will handle it.

Strife is checking out the beach. Pitching a tent in this area is not a wise idea, it is too open. Perhaps the trees would work better. However, in the meantime while they are awake, staying just on the outskirts of the beach with a fire is not a bad idea.

“Vera, the first thing we need is-”

“My name is Starla Serif.”

Strife stops. She turns around. Her mouth shows distinct nervousness, as does her voice.

“What?”

“I said, my name is Starla Serif. I read your diary.”

Strife’s hands flinch and she cradles her elbows while looking down and away; her body has stiffened as if she has heard terrible news. Sweiza sees it only briefly, but before she turned away, Strife’s face clearly has a mix of grief and anguish on it.

Sweiza walks to her side, but only looks in the distance. “I’m going to look for firewood and kindling.”

Strife says nothing as she tries to cradle and massage her arms. Sweiza sees it only briefly out of the corner of her eye, but Strife is visibly shaking.

—

Sweiza retreats some distance in the woods. Her real venture lies here. She looks up. She lets outs a whistle. Nothing responds. She then lets out a chirp. Still no response.

“If you don’t come out and show yourself, I’m not giving you -your- share when I go hunting.”

Sweiza doesn’t see what she is looking for. But she feels something tap her head. Her head reaches up and Sprite finally flies in front of her face.

She blinks several times at him. He lets out a smirk at her. She is not impressed and swats her hand at him. He dodges it and then flies back in front of her hovering. His arms are crossed. He waits for her to try it again. However, her attention is now to his longer tail.

He looks at her eyes. He looks down to the ground to follow her gaze. It dawns on him.

“Yes, I still want it docked. It’s too long.”

Sweiza tilts her head at him, “But the stinger!”

He flicks his tail with a notched hook at the end. “I don’t care. It’s too long and it makes flying more difficult.”

He flicks his tail again in agitation. Sweiza’s eyes widen and she wears a ‘hmm’ expression as she tilts her head in the other direction.

“I mean it, sooner than later!”

“Okay, okay!” She waves her hands at him to calm down, an excited smile on her face.

“Just how many more secrets do you intend to keep from this one?”

Her expression changes when she sees Sprite freeze. He takes one look over her shoulder and flicks his tails and wings and snaps in the other direction.

Sweiza turns over her shoulder. Strife is standing some distance from them.

“Just how many secrets will you keep from -me- Strife?”

Strife approaches them. “Let’s talk.”

Sweiza nods in agreement.

—

They talk about this and that. A chance to catch up, a chance to get to know each other. Perhaps a few secrets would make themselves known.

…Sweiza is from Maria Village 200 years in the future; Strife is very stern with her in that time…

…Sweiza is in fact friends with a Sprite; he recently when through a metamorphosis…

…Strife prefers time indoors living out her old lifestyle, she doesn’t mind going out and about as a vassal/vessel of Valhalla…

…Sweiza -prefers- the outdoors…

…both have knowledge to fit their lifestyle; Sweiza knows all about the outdoors and roughing it; Strife knows about trade, has become quite good at negotiating, and she likes to arrange contracts between people…

…both hate Odin…

…Sprite wants something sweet…

—-

He lets out a chirp and their conversation is interrupted. Sweiza looks over with -that- look, Strife looks over, trying to show some tolerance.

“I want honey.”

Sweiza’s eyebrows shoot up. “Go off and find some then, you pig!”

He lets out a giddy chirp and flies off. Strife is left to preen her hair above her left ear as she thinks in thought at the creature.

“We really should get some firewood.”

Strife is snapped back to reality. She simply nods.

—

It is towards evening and a fire and basecamp (if it can be called one) is created at the section where the trees become spars near the beach. Enough to be hidden, enough to see if anything might track them. Strife assures Sweiza that it is unlikely anyone from the bandit entourage would follow them.

“What are we going to do about them? I didn’t see anyone that didn’t have weapons in that village.”

Strife shakes her hair over her shoulders. She pulls something from her own satchel she has been carrying.

“Do you know what this is?”

Strife produces a small flip open mirror, Sweiza eyes it once.

“A gimmick to make men swoon.”

Strife’s eyes close as she looks away with a smirk on her face. She stifles it all the same.

“This is called a Scriving Mirror. It is used between holders to communicate over vast distances.”

“So what does that have to do with anything?” Sweiza’s attention shits towards the fire. She takes a small stick and pokes one of the logs so it is further in. Strife raises her voice once so she has Sweiza’s attention. Clearly the woman isn’t amused.

“This enchantment only needs me to will who I wish to speak to. In this case, it is going to be a Sentinel.”

“Your diary mentioned them.” Sweiza’s attention doesn’t falter, but she really wants to poke the fire again.

She hears an odd, but familiar voice come from the mirror. She remembers it from some time ago. One of the strange devices that could fly. They were the same thing?

“I have it confirmed with the other in my group. No survivors. Check the village, if they have weapons, raze everything.”

There is a voice that says affirmative over the mirror. Sweiza’s head cocks at the woman and her eyes blink.

“Are they going to do what I think you said?”

Strife nods.

“There were no survivors dear. That bandit group probably slaughtered them all. I didn’t see any. You confirmed it by only seeing bandits. The Sentinels will send a few of their group to confirm. If so then it is a dead village and is to be burned. This area may not be under the jurisdiction of Odin, but I am a sanctioned vassal thereof. As are you. We are the choosers of the slain, do I make myself clear?”

Sweiza’s eyes widen, better not to argue. She simply nods. Strife’s tone changes immediately.

“There was one other thing.”

Sweiza looks at her blankly.

“Would you say that Odin is crazy, perhaps not a capable leader?”

Sweiza shrugs while shaking her head. “I don’t know anything about it.”

“Odin meddles in people’s affairs and alters fate.”

Sweiza looks up, not liking where this is going.

“Shouldn’t people be free to choose their own fate?”

Sweiza is really not liking where this is going. Strife has a different look about her, one of almost giddiness, the kind not of a child, but of an adult that is about to get revenge. Strife is busy preening her hair at this point and becoming a bit more lively. She is also motioning with her opposite hand.

“It is one thing for us to be enforcers of Odin. It is another for him to decree how we are to live our lives. Order to the masses is one thing; we need laws to prevent chaos and people continually taking advantage of each other. But to continually meddle in the lives of others for one’s own gain…”

Strife has a bit of a crazy look about her at this point.

“Alice, just say it already.”

“Just hear me out.” Strife has stopped preening her hair at this point. “The texts say he traded his eye in order to hang from Yggdrasil. I don’t even know if Yggdrasil even exists anymore or if it ever has existed. But he’s lived long enough he’s gotten old and crazy. Supposedly he is a seeker of wisdom and is all wise as a result. People always speak of him being able to see the future or at least plan it. Anywah, there were rumors he knew the war was going to happen or planned it altogether, I don’t know. What I do know is that cargo was being seized, resources were being developed, and then he had those canals being built. We never needed them before. Then there is the matter of that tower being built. The ability to transport people all over Midgard? More like through the nine realms. He already has Huggin and Munnin and the Sentinels which can cover great distances in short time. Why does he need more control? For him it is always about control. Regardless, he always seems to have a motive behind something. He isn’t stupid. But he has grown paranoid over that witch…”

Sweiza interrupts, “You mean Salmira?”

“You have been paying attention. But yes. Those two have been at it for some time. What she can do in the blink of an eye, he needs decades, centuries and possibly millenia to do. But when he accomplishes something, it becomes permanent. Her matters tend to be more temporary and in the moment, possibly long term. I don’t know.”

Sweiza shrugs and scoots herself closer to the fire. She again pokes one of the logs with her makeshift poker stick.

“Odin is the reason Salmira has brought you back. She’s using you to meddle in his affairs.”

Sweiza looks up, a look of irritation on her face. “Alice, I just want to go home.”

“There is talk and dissent amongst Valkyrie about whether Odin should continue to rule or not. There are those such as myself that feel he really should only be a figure head to a system of government; it really is coming down to it like that these days. He…”

Again Sweiza interrupts her. “Strife, I have no interest in any of this.”

Strife steps to within a few feet of her, “No secrets between Valkyrie.”

Sweiza looks up again in irritation, “You didn’t tell me your history, and you didn’t tell me your politics.”

“You weren’t ready. But I really feel we are on the same page.”

Sweiza frowns. “You only feel that because you think I’m your daughter.”

“That too. But you came looking for me. That shows you can be trusted to some degree.”

Sweiza looks up one last time.

“I’m going to bed.”

“Hear me out.”

“If it will shut you up and get me some sleep.”

Strife’s eyes perk and drop, she says nothing about the girl’s rudeness.

“We’re planning a rebellion. We need active participants. But we need weapons. Powerful weapons. Others are going to do the same as us.”

Sweiza stands up and her arms go to her hips. “I’m being drafted?”

“What if there was a weapon that could take mortally wound Odin?”

Sweiza’s hands immediately cross and she looks down at the ground with her eyes closed. “You mean he can be crippled?”

Strife sees it has the girl’s attention. “You do want to see him punished, don’t you?”

Sweiza grimaces and looks up, her hands drop. “Maybe.”

“The materials for it cannot be found in Midgard.”

Sweiza sighs.

“Come with me Vorkera. Help our Valkyriekin usher into a new age; a Valhalla where we make our own decisions.”

Sweiza grimaces. She does not accept the open hand that Strife is showing her.

“I’m going to bed Strife. I suggest you do the same.”

There seems to be something akin to delight on Strife’s face. Be it an assumption or an omen, it looks like Sweiza does in fact agree with her. But how much she is willing to help has yet to be seen. For now, Sweiza doesn’t think of the journey ahead. Instead, the land of dreams calls her. She desires nothing more than for Demi to leave her alone, so he does not show. Instead, she has sweet dreams about her future with Lester as a housewife and the prosperity of her village. Somewhere in there she also feels Sprite changes and turns a new leaf for the better. Maybe Salmira can play fate with her, or Odin himself.

Time will tell for this young one.