Sir Henrik grabbed Bria as she turned to go back to the dark doorway. “Wash, NOW!” and pushed her towards the refectory.

Nia and Adelyn sprinted for the door. As they got through the doorway, they saw a lantern standing beside the doors to the side room with a dark crumpled shape near it.

‘No’ shrieked Adelyn. As they pelted across the floor, Rosa stood up from where she had been crouched over Camryn. She looked exhausted.

‘I have done what I can and she will live but she will need time and quiet to recover. She must have only brushed her hand over it. Did any other touch the waxed head?’ She looked at Nia who shook her head. ‘Bria just touched the handle but Ragni flaked some of the wax off and touched the steel. He’s dead!’

Rosa nodded. ‘The valkyrs were the last line of defence against marauders. They guarded inside the castle, not outside and they weren’t playing silly games of honour. They were here to protect any younglings sheltering here. Anything and anyone powerful enough to make it this far was taken down just as fast as maybe. The heads were coated with the most potent toxins that could be found. Over the years the venom has seeped through the wax. Where is the weapon now?’

‘Sir Henrik sent it to the forge to have the wax and poison burnt off’ said Adelyn. Rosa looked thoughtful. ‘Nia, best you run after them and tell them to use a fire away from the city. The poison is made to take down dragons and there will be much still under the wax. The fumes will kill too.’

Nia ran back to the door and bellowed ‘Don’t burn the axe’ which stopped Sir Lars in his tracks as he was about to walk through the refectory door. ‘With your leave, Preceptor. Can we talk in the garden?’

The Preceptor looked up. ‘Aye lass. I’m sure you have good reason but make haste.’ He looked strained but not as shocked as the young recruits. ‘Lars, put it on the floor and stand over it.’ He followed Nia out into the garden and sat down heavily on a bench. ‘Well lass, have we lost Camryn too?’

Nia shook her head. ‘No Preceptor. Rosa says she will recover, but she will need time. She also said that the fumes would be deadly if you burn the poison in the city so make a bonfire out in the countryside.’

The Preceptor rubbed his eyes. ‘Sage advice. Did you find anything else? Did she say why such a dire weapon was there in the first place?’

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Nia nodded. ‘Rosa said that the valkyrs were the last line of defence and played for keeps. Any marauders who faced them went down fast and stayed down. We did find some armour that looked darker than yours.’

The Preceptor smiled at that. ‘That is good to know. Check with Rosa that it's safe and suit up. you will go with Sir Lars and be a voice of caution.’ He sighed. ‘half a day’s training and we’re already putting you in armour.’ He stood up. ‘Let’s be about our tasks. I will see to horses and provisions.’

Nia trailed after him back into the refectory where Vann and Jemryn were standing in shock staring at the poleaxe.

‘Ah. There you both are. Jemryn. Tell the stable master we need two horses for a few days and then ask the kitchen for provisions for a four-day ride. Vann. Do you go and learn what you may about Ragni’s family? I will go to them.’

Vann raised his hand tentatively. ‘The older boys have been trying to bully Jem.’

The Preceptor scowled at the news but Sir Lars, still standing over the axe bellowed ‘Bern! Get in here and guard this infernal weapon. I will stop any bullying. Come boy. Point them out to me.’ He stomped off down the corridor toward the courtyard. To Jemryn’s consternation and delight, he had picked up Vann’s metal shod quarterstaff and was mashing one end into the ground with every pace, striking sparks as he went. As he disappeared from view, Jemryn realised that he was supposed to be going too and sprinted after him.

‘Go Nia, check the armour wi.. just check the armour and suit up and bring your bedroll back.’ The Preceptor gave her a small shove in the back.

As she passed through the Southern Hall, she saw that someone had straightened Ragni out and covered him with a blanket. She carried on through the double doors and saw that Bria and Adelyn had made a crude stretcher out of their bedrolls and what looked like a couple of the stronger pieces of the furniture in the bunk room. They were gently lifting Camryn onto it when she arrived.

‘The girls told me of your friend. I am truly sorry child. If I were not so addle-witted, I would have remembered the venom’ said Rosa as she approached.

‘Thankyou. The Preceptor told me to check the armour with you and, if it were safe, to put it on and go with Sir Lars to oversee the burning of the poleaxe’ replied Nia.

Rosa nodded. ‘The armour will be fine. In the long chest under my table are some of Gloria’s poleaxes. Take one. It will never have been treated with anything noxious and should serve as a tent prop at least, if it rains.’

Nia’s mouth dropped open. ‘I can use Gloria’s personal weapon?’

Rosa shrugged. ‘She wouldn’t stand for such nonsense as a personal weapon. Valkyrs do what they must, however they can. They were gifted to her by a suitor and were only ever carried as ceremonial weapons, which was not often but they were forged by the delvers in the far north and will be more than adequate. I doubt Gloria ever handled them except when she received them. Armour first girl. Your padding from practice will serve as a gambeson.’ She shooed Nia into the armoury before turning back to Camryn and the other girls. ‘Get her back to her parents and tell them sunlight, fresh air, boiled water, good food and rest. She will be back here before you know it, hale and impetuous as ever.’