Chapter 56 – Red Vs Blue

[Hannah]

The more Hannah kicked and screamed, the tighter the Valkyries grip became as she carried her through the skies.

Hannah hung limply in the woman’s grip as she stared down at the sprawling forest landscape below. She hadn’t given up, instead she was debating if she could survive a fall from a few hundred yards up in the sky if she decided to put an arrow through the Valkyrie’s head.

Even worse, she had no idea where she was. She had been so caught up with trying to break free of the Valkyrie and get back to Jack she wasn’t paying attention to the direction the woman carried her off to.

They flew for what felt like hours, and Hannah had plenty of time to marvel at the scope of the dungeon. This so far had been nothing like her experience in the other secret dungeon she and Sam were in before, neither in scope nor scale.

She couldn’t decide if it was so different because it was located in a more challenging area, or if it was just more “Tower bullshit” as Jack lovingly referred to it as. She was leaning more towards the latter.

“We’re home sisters,” the Valkyrie carrying Hannah said, her voice both excited and weary. Hannah looked down, her eyes tracing a large river that cut through the scenic forest. Miles ahead, she could make out an encampment of pitched tents and small fires all along the river bank and dotted throughout the forest.

Hannah looked further up to see six more Valkyries flying towards them.

They wore sturdy golden armor that had a radiance to it. They sported swords and shields and spears, all polished and sharpened with a dangerous edge. They approached with an intense speed, flapping their wings hard as they encircled the group, laughing and smiling.

“Sisters! You’ve returned to us! The queen will be most pleased.” One of the approaching Valkyrie said as she came face to face with the one holding Hannah.

“If I can beg you for an escort, sister, we have urgent news for the queen.”

The Valkyrie nodded, and the group turned to escort them. They flew past the camp towards a small, isolated clearing where an elaborate embroidered tent of deep purple stood near the bank of the river.

The Valkyrie landed with a grace in front of the tent, all falling to a knee. Hannah stood there staring at the tent they all kneeled in front of.

Another Valkyrie walked out. She was tall, maybe eight feet. She had dark skin and silver hair that hung freely past her shoulders, small braids all throughout. Her eyes were a pure crystal blue and six translucent ethereal wings hung proudly from her back.

“My daughters… you have returned.”

She smiled, stepping up to the Valkyrie who had carried Hannah, cupping her head in her hands, pressing her forehead to the woman’s for a long moment.

“Tell me, Eyla - what happened on your mission?” She said, pulling away, turning businesslike in an instant.

“It is my deep shame to admit that Onem captured us.” The Valkyrie grimaced. “Were it not for our little sister over here to save us, I fear we would have never made it back.”

The next person to call me little sister is getting shot, Hannah thought with an eye-roll.

The queen turned to look at her, a questioning look on her face.

“So, you’re the one responsible for returning the pieces of my heart.” She said with a warm smile, “How did you accomplish such a task?”

“I didn’t do it alone. My partner is also half responsible for them being free, but they seemed more than happy to abandon him.” Hannah spat, anger burning in her eyes as she stared at the Valkyrie.

“Is this true Eyla?” The queen asked, a look of concern on her face. “Did you dishonor me, daughters?” she accused.

“No” Eyla quickly said. “I know of who she speaks. The man was more than half dead by Onem’s hand. There were so few of us and the Shadow Witch Halldis has weakened us severely. Fritha even sacrificed herself to hold her off while we escaped. The news we carry is important, mother.”

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“Jack isn’t dead.” Hannah added matter of fact. Jack never dies, she reminded herself. Another image of Jack flashed through her mind, of his bloody and broken body. Of Onem hitting him. The look of madness in his eyes as the Valkyrie carried her away…

She looked back up at the queen, who was staring at her with a considering gaze.

“What news do you bring me that was so important you abandoned all else?” She asked.

“In addition to Halldis using dark magics to steal our powers and grow stronger… We believe Onem has found the king’s hoard.”

The queen stopped short at that, turning hard eyes to Eyla.

“Tell me it isn’t so, daughter.”

Eyla looked down, shaking her head in response.

The queen lifted up Eylas’ head and looked deep into her eyes. “You have done well to return to me with this information. All of you.” The queen said, nodding to the two Valkyrie alongside Eyla.

A look of relief washed over Eyla’s face, and she shared a deep smile with the queen.

“What do you mean, the king’s hoard? Like buried treasure?” Hannah asked, interrupting the moment.

“The very same.” The queen said, turning towards Hannah.

“Why bury it? I seem to recall him having a perfectly guarded castle.”

“So he may be as rich in death as he was in life. When he dies, it will go with him to the afterlife.” The queen said, as if that was a perfectly reasonable explanation for burying treasure.

“Okay… But he isn’t dead? And now that Onem asshole is about to dig it up? What’s inside?”

“In addition to a king’s wealth, there are several items of power inside that I fear may turn the tides of this war. Tell me, daughter, have they reached it yet?”

“I do not believe so mother, else I’m sure our experience would have been very different. They grow close, though. I could sense it within the mines.”

“This changes our plans.” The queen grimaced. “Damn you and your schemes, Onem…” she said more to herself before turning back to the Valkyries.

“See that you rest and recover. Then begin preparations for war. We must make moves to stop him before he can recover the treasure.” All the Valkyrie gave the queen a deep bow and then took off in a powerful flap of their wings towards the night sky above.

Hannah watched them fly away and then looked over at the queen, who was smiling at her.

“Do not think I have forgotten what you have done for me. Tell me – how can a queen repay you?”

“You can start by taking me back to Onem so I can put an arrow through his heart.”

“I’m afraid you’ll need much more than an arrow through the heart to stop him. Come, follow me.” She said, walking past Hannah and into the woods.

“My husband…” she started to say, then stopped, correcting herself. “King Gurthok has a sickness. A madness that drove him to the depths of insanity. He craves war, battle, fighting, killing like none I have ever seen before. It poisoned his mind and warped his heart. He haunts this plane like a god of death and destruction, dragging everyone down to damnation with him.” She finished; voice tinged with sadness.

“And Onem? I thought he worked for Gurthok, but you say he’s stealing the king’s treasure. What’s that about?” Hannah asked.

“His brother, Onem the cruel.” She grimaced. “Gurthok was the proud and noble warrior. Onem was the knife in the dark that buried itself in the back of the unsuspecting. He spent much of his life as his brother’s shadow, doing that which others might deem reprehensible. It would appear that even he has grown tired of Gurthok’s endless war and is making his own play for power. We must stop him before he can achieve that.”

“And you? Where do you fit in to all this?”

The queen was quiet for a long moment, and the two meandered through the forest. Hannah’s ear twitched at the sound of a busy encampment ahead.

“I have returned with my Valkyrie to free those who Gurthok has damned and lay my husband to rest.” She said, eyes going hard. As the two kept walking, the forest slowly cleared, and an encampment took its place.

Hannah looked out at hundreds of blue-eyed draugr. They didn’t look as bad as the red-eyed draugr. They had a healthy look to them, more human even. The camp seemed busy with life.

“In the beginning it was just me and my Valkyrie, but we have saved many, and will save many more to come.” The queen said as Hannah stared out at an encampment of hundreds of the draugr.

“While I doubt your companion still lives, I shall still grant your wish. You shall sail the rivers and lay siege to Onem the Cruel, and you shall have my army at your back.” the queen announced, drawing the attention of several of the draugr.

Hannah’s stomach tightened as she stared out at the encampment. It represented something she hadn’t felt since arriving in the dungeon.

Hope.

Hannah had thought she and Jack were alone inside of the dungeon, but that wasn’t the case. She saw her chance for survival among the army.

She couldn’t be happy, though. In fact, she felt sick to her stomach. She had unraveled Jack for nothing.

If I just waited a bit longer, investigated a bit more… She chastised herself.

She had failed her friend, and she hated herself for it.