“You seem to be in quite the predicament…”
The voice is obnoxiously annoying and all to familiar. However, that isn’t what catches Sweiza’s immediate attention. Instead it is the black void all around her. She can’t see. She can feel her arms brush along her body as she tries to move them. She feels her body’s weight switch; she feels slightly sick to her stomach from the effect. Her body rights itself just as easy.
“Demi, what do you want this time?!” Sweiza says it, with no gullibility in her voice this time. Her arms cross, her eyes close and her face frowns. Her eyebrows shoot up with distaste, “This had better be important, I’m very busy at the moment!”
“So you are.”
Sweiza feels herself falling, quite rapidly. It lasts only for a few seconds, but she feels her body suddenly come to a halt. The void underneath her comes towards her. She sees the distinct reflection of Lokul as it ripples through the water surface. She turns towards it, it is blocked slightly by clouds, but can be seen behind them.
Crash!
Lightning flashes in the distance. Her eyes narrow and her attention focuses on that one area. Lightning flashes again. This time it illuminates the water below her. Debris. Lots of it. What happened here?
It dawns on her and she remembers.
“I was on the Sterling Blue.” She says it quizzically to herself, ignoring Demi. “I was on a lifeboat and…”
Lightning crashes in the distance. Thunder.
“We were attacked by pirates…” Sweiza looks helplessly at the black water underneath her. She feels desperation kick in. More lightning. This time it flashes overhead and streaks the sky. Sweiza sees her opportunity and scans the water. She sees white hair. A body struggling. It’s Brynhilde. She’s struggling with something. She’s yelling. It’s Sweiza. Brynhilde tries harder. She shouts to no avail. Her body appears to tire. Brynhilde’s movements suddenly become livid. Then they start to slow and she sinks beneath the water surface.
“BRYNHILDE!”
—
Blackness. She feels it tugging on her. Pulling her down. Slow, then fast. Faster and faster. She feels the jolt. Something preventing her from breathing. Her eyes flutter open and she sees Brynhilde’s body floating near her. Instinctively she grabs her. She drives her free hand and legs against the water. Not much around her. Just light from above. It flashes. Her head jolts up. Lightning. Slowly reaching the surface. That is the only thought on her mind, reach the surface. Her free hand and leg break the water, repeatedly. She struggles against the void calling her. She finally breaches the surface. Her lungs burn. She coughs out water. Floating. Finally. Her head jerks in several directions and her eyes dart around. It’s hard to see. She can barely see anything. Lightning flashes. She attempts to pull Brynhilde up. Brynhilde’s white hair and face breach the surface. Again Sweiza coughs out water until reprieve and atmosphere hit her lungs. The coughing continues. The only thought on her mind is Demi’s voice, “What do you desire?”
“Something to prop myself on. Relief. Anything…” Sweiza’s eyes narrow and lock onto debris illuminated by lightning.
There!
She swims over to it, pulling Brynhilde. It is slow going. She makes it. She pulls Brynhilde’s body over. She repeatedly tries to pull her (Brynhilde’s) arm out of the water. She fails, several times. She feels her body burn. She summons she summons all of her might to pull Brynhilde’s arm out of the water and prop the floating wood under her (Brynhilde) and herself. She grabs the floating wood and pushes it between Brynhilde and herself. It takes several more attempts for her to pull Brynhilde’s other arm out of the water and prop the debris under it. Sweiza let out a sigh; half way through it she forces the air out. She isn’t going to die here; not like this. Almost falling completely back into the water, Sweiza makes one last attempt with her burning muscles and throws her arms over the wood. It isn’t perfect, but it will do. The immediate danger out of the way, Sweiza has a new problem, which direction to go in. Lightning illuminates the distance. She sees what looks like something in the far distance. She starts to kick water with her feet, albeit slowly. She heads for whatever it is in the distance.
She feels something nag at her. It takes her a minute. Demi’s words in her mind. What does she desire? Did Brynhilde drown? It is Brynhilde. How long has it been?
“Brynhilde?! Brynhilde!”
Sweiza’s voice shouts at her. No response. The thought of splashing water at her or slapping her hand across Brynhilde’s face might be an option. No, it won’t work. Sweiza curses her luck.
“Somebody, help me…” Sweiza says it helplessly, then with more determination, “Somebody, HELP ME! I’m not going to die like this!”
It is then that the water near her puckers, ripples and forms into a half figure, torso and head above the water. Sweiza looks up. It’s Uma. She sees something form in Uma’s hand. It drives straight for Brynhilde’s mouth. It then pulls away. Uma suddenly disappears beneath the water.
“Brynhilde?! Brynhilde!”
Nothing.
Again Sweiza curses. She looks up, willing everything in the universe ‘to go okay’ and her plea. As if to answer, lightning over strikes down. It’s close. Sweiza swears she feels it jolt through her body, more of a tickle. However, Brynhilde’s body jolts and her head jolts up and she coughs out water. Sweiza praises whatever higher power heard her. She looks around looking for whatever it was in the distance…
Lightning crashes overhead again and illuminates it. To the right is the direction. She chooses it. Uma’s body appears, half torso above the water again. Uma points in the direction.
“Island. Hurry.” Uma swats the water and Sweiza suddenly feels power in her legs. She drives the water with every kick. This time, her body fighting the water with every kick. This will be a slow affair, but Sweiza’s only thoughts focus on getting to land safely. This will be a long night, but for now Sweiza felt safe. She thanks the universe for hearing her plea, but Demi for more importantly bringing her back to reality.
—-
It is sometime in early morning, with the rays of the dawn sun just stretching in the distance. A tired Sweiza with cramped legs slowly appears approaching the shoreline with cargo in tow. A beach, not particularly big, is dotted with trees here and there. Further back between the tree trunks are other trees, more dense, but slowly fading into night. Sweiza gives it only a brief attention as her feet, still underwater, touch the sandy bottom of the lake. Her attention focuses on Brynhilde; she braces the woman’s arm and attempts to pull her towards the shore. Out of the water, Brynhilde is heavier than Sweiza first thought. Regardless, Sweiza heaves with all of her might and pulls Brynhilde to the beach. The mission accomplished Sweiza’s hands brace her calves and she drops to her knees breathing. Sweiza lets out a groan as she attempts to stand up. She feels the life attempt to leave her. She fights it, but ultimately topples over and passes out.
---
“What is it you desire?”
“I just want to thank you for earlier.”
“So be it.”
—
“Wake up.”
Blackness turns to an unusual shade of dark red.
“Sweiza, wake up.”
She feels it, her neck pulls back, a low groan escapes her throat. Feeling returns to her body and she pulls up slightly and then falls slack.
“Starla Serif. Get up!”
Sweiza feels a hard tap to her shoulder.
Sweiza lets out an “Ghmph.” Her eyes finally shutter open. Awareness returns. Her hands are quick to the ground and she bolts up. Her first reaction is to dust the sand off of her thinking it is insects of some sort. Realizing she is on a beach, her head darts back and forth real quick like.
“Sera…”
Startled, Sweiza turns around towards the familiar voice. She lets out a sigh of relief to see Brynhilde standing there, hands on her hips. A stearn look adorns the woman’s face as she shakes her right finger at the girl.
“You took your time with your little nap.”
An alarm strikes in Sweiza’s mind. Her first instinct is to look up straight at the sun. “How long was I out?” crosses her mind. Her hand shields her eyes. She looks for the sun. It is in the distance, still covering trees, but most certainly not high in the sky. Sweiza looks over from the sun to the shore - an irritated Brynhilde with crossed arms - and then the direction of the ocean from their mishap earlier. She estimates it is about two o-clock, afternoon time. Her face drops into a deep frown. She turns back to Brynhilde; the woman now switching from irritated to agitation. Brynhilde’s foot taps on the ground.
“Miss Serif…”
Sweiza cringes.
“Sweiza, we need to…”
Sweiza interrupts her, “Brynhilde, are you alright? You were coughing up water last night and then…”
“I’m quite alright Miss Serif. Now if you please, we have work to get done.
Sweiza stammers. “But…”
“You look here. I will -not- die on this island; especially not because of someone that is lazy and can’t pull her weight. Is that clear?” Brynhilde points her finger from Sweiza to the ground and then away from both points of interest. Sweiza frowns again and nods nervously. Brynhilde speaks to her sharply-
“Good. Our first task is going to be to explore this island and get a bearing for where we are. Then…”
Sweiza interrupts again, “We’ll need to build a shelter.”
A surprised Brynhilde quickly regains her composure.
“Yes, Starla, we will need shelter. Then we will…”
“Svava, we…”
Brynhilde’s ears shoot back and she marches up to the girl. Her face now inches from Sweiza’s. Her eyes narrow into a look of disgust.
“Don’t you ever call me by that name, you poor excuse of a Valkyrie! Your poor attitude and drunken performance are part of the reason we are in this mess.”
Sweiza visibly shakes at the reprimand. This can’t be the same woman she had met on the Sterling Blue. Sweiza’s mind races. Her drunken performance. Perhaps she drank too much last night? She remembers being tipsy. Her eyes wince. Brynhilde sees it. The woman’s point has obviously been made. Her tone and posture change as she walks away from the girl.
“Now then. While I may want to be a Valkyrie…”
Sweiza’s head perks up at the word. Brynhilde’s head turns back and shoots Sweiza a nasty look, “You are the one with the training. Therefor you are the one that will be taking point.”
Sweiza cocks her quizzically at Brynhilde.
Brynhilde lets out a rapid breath, Sweiza knows what is coming, more reprimands.
“Summon your armor and weapon.”
“Oh.” Sweiza looks down at her clothing. Her clothing isn’t wet, but her shoes are. She does as she is told and summons her armor. It is strangely dry. Her sword appears a second later. Sweiza looks towards Brynhilde for direction.
Brynhilde shoots her a dismayed, but still irate look, “Sheath your weapon and lets go. You will be in front. We will go in that direction.” Brynhilde points straight into the dense foliage. “Let’s move.”
Brynhilde waves her arm. Brynhilde strangely enough takes point, despite having told Sweiza to the contrary. Brynhilde comes to an abrupt stop when she hears Sweiza’s voice.
“Brynhilde…” Compared to her normal demeanor, Sweiza says it quite soft and uncertain.
Sweiza jolts and cringes when Brynhilde snaps at her, “Yes, -Miss Serif-?”
“I remember I had my rucksack around your shoulder and…”
Brynhilde shoots her another look of disgust; her hand and finger shoot out in a diretion several feet from them. Sweiza’s eyesight follows it until she sees her rucksack.
“Brynhilde, would you be willing to…”
Brynhilde’s eyebrows shoot up as she grimaces at the girl. She walks over to the rucksack and slings it against her shoulder. It isn’t too heavy. Brynhilde starts walking hurriedly towards the trees.
“Don’t just stand there, we…”
Sweiza again interrupts. Brynhilde’s eyebrows shoot up again, this time into a scowl.
“Thank you Brynhilde, this armor is rather heavy.” Sweiza bows as she says it. When her body returns upright, Brynhilde eyes Sweiza once, then turns around and marches to the trees. Sweiza stands there dumbfounded. Brynhilde does not return. Sweiza suddenly remember’s Sprite’s cocoon shell. The realization sharps her to reality and she hurries after Brynhilde, the woman now no longer visible.
---
Most of the trees prove to be problematic and several times Brynhilde barks at Sweiza to use her sword for cutting trees. At one point Sweiza finally sheaths her sword and angrily approaches Brynhilde. Brynhilde just stands there, not knowing what to expect at Sweiza’s sudden confidence. The girl grabs the woman by the shoulder and turns her slightly to gain access to her rucksack. Brynhilde is more surprised than anything.
“Sera, what are you looking for?”
When she feels the rummaging stop, Brynhilde turns around. Sweiza is holding up what looks like a small sword, but it is bladed on one side and has saw teeth on another. It appears to have several different grooves and saw teeth in it that Brynhilde is also unfamiliar with.
“Miss Serif, what is that?” Brynhilde says it, lost in thought.
“It’s called a machete. Stand aside.” Sweiza walks towards and finally past Brynhilde, gently shoving her out of the way in the process. Brynhilde simply gives out a surprised “Hey!”. Sweiza gives it no attention and continues towards the jungle of underbrush and growth in front of them. Her machete makes quick work of the trees.
“C’mon!” Sweiza says it while turning around once and then continues in the direction they were moving in.
Brynhilde is left to contemplate the moment, then looks down thoughtfully at the single rucksack strap holding it to her shoulder. She looks back at the direction of Sweiza’s travel and quickly follows her.
---
After some miles inward, with a clear path cut behind them, Sweiza finally stops dead center. Brynhilde almost knocks into her. This time Brynhilde says nothing. Sweiza shields her eyes as she looks up and beyond the treeline. The trees block out the sun, as they have for the last few hour or two. Brynhilde stares at her absentminded, but her attention draws to her fully when Sweiza’s armor disappears; the girl jumps onto a tree and starts climbing it. Brynhilde walks to the base of the tree and stares up at Sweiza from below. It takes a couple of minutes but Sweiza makes it to the top. She makes a mental note of her body’s light frame and muscular disposition; she thanks all the hardwork she always had to do in Maria Village. She misses it.
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
She shakes her head and refocuses back on the task at hand. She shields her eyes this time; this time determined with purpose. She sees the sun finally. It is lower in the sky than before and closer to the horizon. She starts jumping down the tree, and does so in a fashion that Brynhilde is not familiar with. Sweiza finally stops on the tree’s lowest branch and sits there while looking down at Brynhilde.
“Are you afraid of climbing?”
Brynhilde simply shakes her head. Sweiza finally jumps off the tree branch and hits the ground. Brynhilde notes Sweiza’s landing incidates someone that has done this before.
“What?” Sweiza inches closer to the woman. She contorts her mouth at her (Brynhilde). Seiza finally raises her hand and knocks on Brynhilde’s head.
“Helloooo!”
Brynhilde finally snaps out of it and yells at Sweiza several times. Sweiza is let to shrink into herself, but just barely.
Brynhilde walks forward to take point; she leaves the girl to stand there and mull what just happened. However, just as Brynhilde is a few feet in front, Sweiza asks in a shaky voice, “Brynhilde, it’ll be dinnertime soon…”
“So..?!” Brynhilde’s hands are on her hips. Her composure back, she takes charge of the situation.
“You do know how to hunt right?”
Brynhilde loses her composure again, her hands drop down to her side and her head slowly cocks sideways.
“Wha-at?” Brynhilde says it surprised.
“You cannot be serious.” Sweiza approaches her. Brynhilde is again left dumbfounded as Sweiza pulls the rucksack from Brynhilde’s arm and starts rummaging through it. The girl makes no fashion statement about her sitting crosslegged on the ground; she rummages through the rucksack, pulling a few things out at a time. She pulls out the portable bow and quiver. Brynhilde is left curious at this, as she is several of the items she has seen in the rucksack, as well as those sitting on the ground; especially the glowing blue orb. However, she thinks better of saying anything.
Items back in, rucksack on her back, Sweiza holds her bow in her right hand and pulls on Brynhilde’s hand with her left. “C’mon Brynhilde. It’ll be easy!”
Brynhilde simply nods again, not sure what to make of this.
---
It is towards evening and the two have set a location for a temporary basecamp. Brynhilde takes point (stands guard) with her back to Sweiza on the grounds that watching someone clean vermin (a rabbit in thise case) is beneath her. Sweiza has no idea what she means and continues with her task at hand. Within about an hour a fire is made, dinner is prepped and Sweiza’s rucksack tent has been put up. Sweiza of course, cannot understand Brinhilde’s grimmace when the girl hands her meat on a stick. To Sweiza it is a delight and one of the best parts about being in the woods.
“More for me then!” Sweiza says it holding up her empty stick and ready to stick more meat.
Hunger for most of the day, and just a few minutes of watching the girl stuff her face is enough to sway Brynhilde. The woman takes what dignity she has left and turns away from Sweiza, food in tow. She looks down at it, eyeing it carefully. She grimaces at it in disgust. She turns the stick a few times. She finally raises it and bites into it.
It doesn’t take her long to finish it. She turns around to grab another piece, however Sweiza is standing directly behind her.
“Have you been watching me the whole time?”
Sweiza holds her stick up with another piece of meat and holds it in front of Brynhilde.
“Hunger is the best spice in life!”
“Whatever. Give me that!”
Brynhilde ignores Sweiza and eats with her remaining dignity in check. Sweiza on the other hand has a very bubbly and giddy expression on her face as she watches Brynhilde.
---
It is sometime at night, the moon Lokul is high in the sky. While she has slept outdoors and roughed it on occasion or two, Brynhilde prefers the luxury accoutrements of a more civilized society. However, she isn’t above dealing with the current situation. Unfortunately, along came Sweiza.
“Brynhilde, I was wondering, why are your eyes red?”
Brynhilde whom has been staring at the top of the underside of the tent, is forced to stop reflecting on the days events.
“If I answer you, will you be quiet and go to sleep?”
Sweiza doesn’t answer. Brynhilde is used to this kind of silence.
“If you really must know, I am an albino.”
“Oh.”
Not sure what to make of that, Sweiza turns her head up towards the tent. The conversation has apparently ended.
…or so she thinks.
“It means it affects my appearance…”
Sweiza’s eyes are back on the woman.
“…along with a multitude of health issues it also means I have a number of social issues.”
Sweiza blinks once, “…such as?”
“Such as young girls that don’t know when to mind there own business.”
Sweiza shudders, just enough. Brynhilde sees her foot is in the door.
“That being said Starla, if you don’t mind me asking, what does an uncouth girl like you get out of being a Valkyrie?”
“Hmm?”
“Why did you want to become a Valkyrie?”
This is not a question the girl is expecting. She stops to think about it for a second.
“Well?!”
“On the eve of Lokul, I cursed and rued my existence. I made a foolish wish when I met the village guardian. It was a mistake; I am still cursing and ruing my existence.”
Brynhilde says nothing.
“Brynhilde?”
“Yes, Miss Serif?”
“Why do you want to become a Valkyrie?”
Brynhilde’s eyes narrow at the girl, “Many reasons. One of them, the same reason you should be grateful you have the honor.”
“Hmm?”
“Your genetics will become less of a problem with time.”
Sweiza is left to contemplate this, but says nothing.
“Brynhilde, we can be friends, right?”
“Good night Miss Serif.”
Brynhilde turns her back to Sweiza. Somber, Sweiza is left to do the same.
---
“What is it that you desire?”
The voice echoes. This time Sweiza isn’t phased by it. Rather she wills herself to take form; she does the same for Demi. This time the trickster is taken aback. His appearance has been revealed.
“So you have…unhand me!”
Sweiza wastes no time in seemingly appearing next to him. Demi is stuck in a hug. Not sure what to do he disappears from her grasp and appears behind her. She already knows where he is. A big smile is on her face. She doesn’t give him time to speak.
“Thank you Demi, for both Brynhilde and my sake.”
Suspended in air, the trickster sits crosslegged with his arms cradled and his eyes closed.
“Demi, I have a question!” Sweiza says it with imperative earnest.
“State your business with this one, child.”
Sweiza winces at the ‘child’ comment, but ignores it having learned not to provoke this creature. More specifically, that is what her question is about. “Demi, I was wondering, what are you?”
“A fantastic and wonderful question!” Demi disappears.
Sweiza is left to look left and right at where he might go. She wills him to appear, but he doesn’t. Instead, a copy of Sweiza appears twenty feet in front of her, same crosslegged sitting stance as Demi had before.
“Demi?”
“Indeed, I am you, rather a subconscious copy of you. You may think of me as your inner spirit, your inner child, spirited and untamed. However, I am more than this. I am the spirit of your armor and the embodiment of the Valkyrie that you will become.”
“I don’t believe you!”
“I know more about you than you know about yourself. However, I can’t have you killing yourself or committing suicide. Is that clear?”
Sweiza knows exactly to what he is referring.
“More importantly, if you die, I cease to exist. I can’t have that. You will live, you have a strong desire to do so.”
Sweiza takes in an angry breath knowing this to be true; however, she stifles herself. Demi has information she needs; rather, he seems to be aware of what is going on around her at points.
“Demi, I had another question.”
“Ask.”
“You seem to be ware of what is going on around me. How is this so?”
“I know you, better than you know yourself. You see me as a demon, someone that has stolen from you…
“Your pointless imagination is why I -don’t- like you.”
Demi disappears and appears in front of her. This time as his true self again. His face is inches from hers. He is not happy.
“Silence!”
Sweiza forces a gulp, “Eep!”
“I am a lesser version of you, a demi-version. I am aware of what goes on around you, as much as you are; and then some.”
“Then you should know my next two questions.”
“Indeed. I choose a male form because it helps make a distinction between us. Your thoughts are your own; my thoughts are my own. However, you are easily confused.”
Sweiza’s eyes narrow.
“Oh stop it.” Demi turns back into Sweiza. This time adorned with her Valkyrie armor. “The answer to your second question, you are on ‘Sentinel Island’.”
“What is Sentinel Island?” She tries to approach her doppleganger, but to no avail. She remains walking in place and stops at the futility of it.
“Ask your Valkyrie friend. Until then, when next we meet.”
Demi lets out a laugh as he fades. Sweiza stammers as she tries to let out another question. Just who is this Valkyrie friend that he spoke of? Strife presumably perished on the ship or made it away on a lifeboat; the only other person with her right now is Brynhidle and an even lesser likely Sprite due to his cocooning phase.
---
Sweiza’s eyes open. She can hear different song birds making their music. She lifts her head. Her eyes lock on the horizon, or presumably where it should be. It is still dark out, but she can make out the shapes of trees. It must be sometime between early morning and sunrise. She hurries out of the tent, careful so not as to disturb a sleeping Brynhilde.
Sweiza’s objective is an important one. The previous day they -should- have set up basecamp at the beach; instead they were in such a hurry, rather Brynhilde was in such a hurry, to explore there surroundings. They should also have not walked as far into the forest as they had. It was a passing through in Sweiza’s mind that they would need water. Uma had mentioned an island; assuming the Undine was correct, ocean water would not be acceptable for drinking. Thankfully Sweiza fancied herself a rugged girl and spent enough time outdoors and in the woods; she knows how to survive.
Rainwater, mist and dew can be collected over a dipped darp covering a hole in the ground. However, the easiest and preferred method is to find a freshwater (preferrably large) source and boild it to kill bacteria; sometimes using a cloth to filter out much and other impurities not withstanding. To a lesser extent it is possible to desalinate and distill ocean water using multiple methods to make it drinkable, but it is an inconvenience and can be complicated.
Brynhilde questioned Sweiza digging a hole last night, but otherwise dismissed it; she was rather insistent on getting to bed to recover from the event’s earlier that morning, as well as get an early start on the next day. Yet, Brynhilde is the one asleep and here Sweiza is collecting water from her homemade water collector - a tarp. Simple dew setting, but it is enough. More foresight in outdoor survival means carrying a small metal pot in her rucksack. The water boils. Sweiza thinks better of pulling out her ladle and smacking it on the pot to wake Brynhilde. Instead she approaches the girl and starts to whisper her name in ever increasingly raises her voice until Brynhilde stirs.
The woman’s eyes shutter open and her head lifts. A yawn escapes her mouth. Realizing her display and being watched, Brynhilde’s eyes widen and she bolts up, her head takes the small tent off of its support rope between two trees. There is a commotion from Brynhilde as she attempts to pull the tent off of herself. Her hair a mess from it, she finally pulls the tent off and throws it to the ground. Sweiza’s laughing interrupts her; Brynhilde is not impressed at the girl’s laughter. Sweiza quickly drops the comedy and tends to her task at hand.
“Very good Sweiza. I seem to have doubted how capable you are.” Brynhilde says it with her arms crossed. Sweiza feels she is finally in good standing with Brynhilde again; as they once were before.
Kneeling down with her ladle, Sweiza looks over to Brynhilde, “It’s really easy. I learned outdoor survival from all the times mama kicked me outside of the house. I really started to take a liking to the woods and outdoors…”
Brynhilde interrupts her to avoid any long windedness, “I get the idea Sweiza. Your skills will be most useful later on I’m sure.”
---
About half an hour later, Sweiza enquires about the importance of ‘Sentinel Island’. Brynhilde doesn’t answer. Instead, she rebukes Sweiza. Sweiza can earn her respect if she stays quite and learns to hold her tongue. Sweiza is left to summon her armor once more and take point.
—
Sometime after noon, the duo hit a beach and ocean. This side of the island has rocks on some outcroppings of the beach. Sweiza shields her eyes, noting it is noon.
“Before anything else. I want lunch.”
“And what praytell in that rucksack of yours will accommodate ‘us’ this time?” Brynhilde’s face and lips are in an unimpressed frown. She shakes her head when the pieces of a fishing rod take shape.
It takes an hour or two, but lunch takes place. Dinner is delicious. Sweiza wants to note it in her diary. But is forlorn when she can’t find it. She takes one look at the sea, scowls and storms up to the water edge and kicks it with her foot.
“UMA!”
Brynhilde hides her amusement by turning her head away. She does let out a mild, if not quiet laugh.
“UMA!”
Sweiza wades out further into the water. Sweiza takes in a deep breath and pinches her nose. Brynhilde lets out a laugh when she figures out what Sweiza is going to do. Sweiza lets her whole body drop below the water surface. She lets out the biggest yell she can and screams, “UMA!”
She lets it out for as many times as she can muster before breaching the water’s surface. Her hair a watered mess and her clothing drooping on her, she slowly wades back to the beach. She gives out a puzzled look at Brynhilde. Brynhilde tries to control herself. She sees Sweiza’s face let out a look of indignation; it doesn’t stop her, Brynhilde finally bursts out laughing. Brynhilde simply motions for the seaweed sitting on Sweiza’s arm. Sweiza picks it up with one finger, smells it and makes a face. She holds it away from herself with her fingers and drops it into the water. Back on shore she makes her way to Brynhilde. Hands on her hips she narrows her eyes at her. Brynhilde is most certainly impressed and bursts out laughing again. Sweiza shakes her head.
Sweiza is about to say something, but Brynhilde (now regaining her composure) motions behind her. Sweiza turns around and Uma is at the water’s edge; she however, does not attempt to walk on land.
“Uma, get over here!”
Uma’s arms cradle and she shakes her head. “This island is forbidden.”
“Uma, do you have my diary?!”
Uma’s eyes shift downward.
“You can keep it… for now. Do not lose it.”
Uma looks up, a weak smile on her face.
Brynhilde is by Sweiza’s side this time, she asks the Undine, “Is this ‘Sentinel Island’?”
Uma looks from Sweiza to Brynhilde.
“She’s Brynhilde. Please excuse her manners.” Sweiza’s eyebrows cock up as she looks from the Undine to Brynhilde. Brynhilde’s jaw drops with her mouth closed.
“You two are friends?”
“Sweiza is an acquaintance of mine. Nothing more, nothing less.”
The Undine looks at her. Realization sets in. “You are the woman from a few nights ago.”
Brynhilde nods.
The Undine raises her hand and shrugs. “This island is forbidden. We are not allowed to traverse its surface. I think it has something to do with Odin. I don’t know much of anything else. I do feel some kind of powerful magic. It seems to be coming from the center of the island. That’s all I know. I’ve spread my essence along the coast if you need assistance. However, I shouldn’t be here. Those -things- are known to fly around. Farewell. Oh, one other thing. My gift.”
The Undine’s form loses shape and she dips into the water. However, several fish seemingly dead or stunned (Sweiza can’t tell which), breach the surface on their side. Sweiza wastes no time. It takes several trips, but she has them lying on her tarp. They would not need to hunt or fish for a day or two with this catch. Sweiza looks over to the sea and mouths, “Thank you Uma.”
---
Sweiza had a choice, either stay alone at the beach of follow Brynhilde. Brynhilde wasted no time making a beeline for what she felt was the center of the island. The choice was obvious and Sweiza was hot on her heels again.
This time Brynhilde walks at an extremely brisk pace, not waiting for Sweiza to catch up. After much pleading (and whining), the girl’s demands finaly reach Brynhilde.
“Yes, Starla?”
“What’s the big deal?”
Left hand to her hip, right finger out pointed at Sweiza, “Magic is forbidden in Valhalla. The only time it is used is for official purposes and even then, only in special circumstances. I’ve seen it used once. Do you know what Sentinel Island is?”
Sweiza shakes her head.
“Sentinel Island is where Valkyrie go to undergo their ‘Trial of Valkyrie’, before they are sworn in as a full fledged Valkyrie. It’s forbidden for anyone else to be here.”
Sweiza just stares at her.
“In addition to magic, it is also forbidden for enchanted creatures to step foot in Valhalla. Don’t you get it?”
Sweiza again stares, this time with undesire.
Brynhilde’s voice shows a hint of excitement. “Don’t you know about Saint Elmo’s Fire?”
Sweiza lifts her hands and shakes her head.
Brynhilde lets out a grumble and stamps her foot “Didn’t you see it the night of the attack?”
Sweiza’s shoulders slacken. “Bry…”
“Sweiza, don’t interrupt!” A sly smirk appears on the corner of Brynhilde’s lips when Sweiza lets out a bored sigh, “I wouldn’t be like that. Think about it. Surely Strife told you about the Valkyrie Rebellion; her involvement with Salmira?”
Sweiza says it uninterested, “She told me a little here and there.”
Brynhilde’s voice pitches up, her speaking quickens and she to full on excited, “Well let me tell you something little girl; fate is surely on our side.” Sweiza attempts to speak and Brynhilde cuts her off. “It’s hard to get information out of Valkyrie, their sense of pride and all. Paying them off doesn’t normally work; getting them drunk and a little loose is far more effective. They sometimes spill details.”
Brynhilde awaits Sweiza’s response. The girl attempts to walk past Brynhilde. Brynhilde stops her by putting her hand on the girl’s shoulder, “I need to be around Valkyrie, they have information I need, ways I need to act, etc, etc. Don’t you get it Sera?”
“Brynhilde, if you’re going to say it just spill it. I just want to be on my way. I don’t want to be a Valkyrie. I’d rather not talk about this. I don’t wa…”
Brynhilde lets out a grumble and cuts her off, “Odin is -not- impressed by nobility and denied me as a Valkyrie several times. I’ve been following Strife for the last five years hoping she’ll take me as an apprentice. She’s been giving me those slips in good faith. I collect enough of them and I’ll be put under consideration ‘in good faith’. You appear as her apprentice, pirates and situation seemingly mad under Saint Elmo’s Fire. Salmira’s Aurora doesn’t normally appear over Valhalla, but there have been sightings over the sea. Suddenly this spirit dream guide or whatever of your armor, Valkyrie in nature mind you, says we are on Sentinel Island and refers to a Valkyrie in your presence…”
Sweiza stares blankly.
“…I had heard rumors that Valkyrie knight other Valkyrie through death…”
Sweiza shrugs.
Brynhilde closes her eyes; there is something she has always wanted to try. She holds out her right hand. She concentrates. Nothing at first. Her eyes twitch. Sweiza remains unimpressed. Sweiza’s attention finally draws to the rapier and then the blade that extends in Brynhilde’s hand.
“…I knew it…”
The rapier disappears. “Starla, we’re going to undergo my trial as Valkyrie… I won’t take no for an answer.”
Sweiza assumes this means she just got volunteered to help this woman do the very thing she (Sweiza) didn’t want to do.
Sweiza is about to speak and make a point, but she hears a female voice behind her. Brynhilde is the first to snap to.
“Lady Salmira, you honor us.”
“Demi, if this is some form of…” Sweiza bolts around. It isn’t Demi, but rather a woman with red hair, red glasses, and a variant of a red, white and pink outfit. The clothing looks alien to Sweiza, but it appears to be some kind of uniform.
The woman speaks. “I am Salmar, the Salmare. Just as she will be undergoing a trial, so shall you.” Salmira’s voice indicates Brynhilde and then Sweiza.
“Lady Salmira, what is the fir…” Brynhilde lets out a noticeable wince in body and voice as she feels a sharp pain in her gut. Sweiza sees her fade into wide and what is left is something that could be akin to the sparkle of a gem, but it also falls towards the ground, albeit slowly. It too disappears into thin air.
Sweiza stands there frozen, staring at the woman. This ‘witch’ is responsible for trifling with Odin and living to tell about it.
“Starla Serif, I’ve been watching you. I have a purpose for you. Your trial and destiny are about to begin. Please bear with it.”
Salmira turns around and walks away; fading into nothing. Sweiza is left to stand there dumbfounded. She starts to see the scenery shift with a white light. She attempts to speak, but nothing comes out of her mouth. She suddenly feels as if she is falling and lets out a scream. It comes out as nothing as she too fades to white. The last thing she remembers is Strife’s words, “A fate far worse than death awaits you.”
End Book One.