Valkyria

by Ink Blood

  He ran over to the door, and closed it as fast as he could, and then moved the desk across the room to the door. The barricade would not hold for long against a pack of Creatures, but it would give him a few seconds to formulate a plan.

  Seran ran over to the window and saw a bunch of bushes below. They were thick, and appeared strong enough to support his landing. However, they were in the central garden, and he would still have to get through the manor to the main hall in order to escape. He needed a distraction of some kind.

  Across the garden, through the windows of another wing of the manor, he saw movement. There were Creatures moving through the corridors; dozens of them.

  Their once human flesh was peeling as they searched the manor, their rotting, mutated bodies moving faster than any human should be able to. He could even see the burns on their skin from the Fire that burnt the Old World.

  The Creatures were all that were left of the people who had not taken shelter during the Fire, or those that had encountered the Creatures and lived. There was a saying that everyone was taught in school when learning of these monstrosities; they kill you or they take you.

  Seran had always felt a sort of pitty for the Creatures. They were mutated by the actions of others in the Old World, and were now destined to live their extended lives hunting down flesh in packs.

  But they were not going to feast on Seran’s flesh. Above him, hanging on the wall, was a lantern. It was still full of fuel. He threw it on the floor, the oil spilling across the wooden floor. There were six other lanterns in the room, so he did the same with them. The floor, now soaked in oil, was ready. He drew a dagger in one hand, and held Firethorn in the other. The spark needs to be small. I do not want it to burn before I get out of here.

  He struck the two blades together, creating a spark that hit the oil on the floor, setting it alight. The flames spread through the oil, growing quickly. Seran then ran over to the shelves of books, using all of his strength to push them over. The flames were quick to swallow the books, the paper burning in seconds. The fire then spread across the shelves, reaching the wooden walls and the rugs on the floor, before finally reaching the desk.

  As the desk ignited, so did the door behind it, the flames spreading to the velvet carpet outside. Soon enough it would spread throughout the manor. The clicking stopped, seconds later being replaced with wailing and howling. Seran knew that meant the fire had spread well; the Creatures were agitated and spooked. They wanted their food.

  He span around and ran over to the window, smash it with the blade of Firethorn. He sheathed his dagger once again and launched himself through the window, falling down into the bushes. The branches cut through his hands and face, but other than that the landing was soft. From the bushes he could see the fire making its way around the different wings of the manor. It was working. The Creatures were running around in a frenzy.

  Seran rose to his feet, Firethorn in his hand. He started the motor so that the teeth around the blade began to spin. The noise of the chain-sword was loud, but that would not matter now. The Creatures were everywhere. He could see that from the windows.

  He dived through the window behind him and found himself in the dining hall. As he rose to his feet, he heard a scream from the left and saw a Creature charge toward him. Its speed was immense, flakes of its skin falling off as it ran toward him. Seran moved to the side at the last minute and span around, driving Firethorn through the Creature’s neck. Its body fell to the floor, whilst its head continued forward for a couple seconds first.

  Behind him, one of the two doors of the massive room burst open, and four more Creatures entered. One of them looked as though they had been an attractive young woman when they were changes into a monster. It was a pitty.

  Seran ran across the room toward the other door, the Creatures hurtling toward him. He knew he would not have time to try and unlock the door, and bashing into it might end up with him on the floor in front of them. Instead, he raised Firethorn above his head and drove it into the door, the teeth sawing through the wood until it fell apart, giving Seran an exit. However, he heard one of the Creature launch itself from the ground. He ducked and span around to face the monster, lifting Firethorn above his head once again.

  The Creature flew face first into the chain-sword’s blade and teeth, knocking Seran backwards with its weight. He rolled further backwards so that he found his feet again, and tore Firethorn from the monster’s head. As he rose and readied himself from the next pounce, he saw the support beams of the dining hall’s ceiling burn away.

  He dived through the doorway as the ceiling collapse, crushing the two Creatures that were running toward him. Shaking his head to get his bearings, he realized he was back in the main hall. He leapt to his feet and ran as fast as he could to the front door, howling echoing through the burning manor and right into his ears.

  Outside, the courtyard was clear. The Creatures had obviously been sleeping within the manor. Smoke rose from every wing of the house, filling the sky with a dark cloud. Seran looked around the courtyard and saw a steam-car.

  He ran over to it and started cranking the handle of the engine. The howling was getting closer, the fire doing little to stop the sheer hunger that drove the Creatures. Finally the steam-car’s engine sputtered into life. Seran jumped into the cabin and pushed down the accelerator. At that same moment, almost a hundred Creatures launched themselves through the windows and main entrance of the manor.

  The steam-car shot forward, Seran quickly turning the steering wheel and driving the car out of the courtyard. He wrenched the wheel to the right, turning off the dirt track and into the woods, heading south toward the city of Argent; the only port on the Esterland island.

  In the mirror he could see the Creatures pilling over each other as they ran after him like a tsunami. But he was making distance between himself and the monsters. He was going to get away safely.

  *~*~*

  23

  HAZE

  The sound of dripping water had been all Haze could hear for hours. Einar was still unconscious on the cold stone floor, is head resting on the steel bars of the prison cell.

  The smell of rotten food and rotten bodies filled the air, the small barred window offering now release from the odor.

  “Mother…”

  The image of her mother screaming had been repeating in her head since she had woken up. She was not crying anymore, but that was likely due to having no tears left to cry. Instead, she felt as if there was an emptiness in her chest that was slowly being filled with hatred for the Inquisition.

  “What do they want with me? Why would they kill everyone just to get to me?”

  There were a thousand questions spiraling around her as she stared at the dank stone walls of the cell.

  Einar stirred, his foot sliding closer to his body as he bent his knee. He moved a hand to his head, shaking it as he opened his eyes.

  “Einar! You’re awake!”

  Haze leapt up and rushed over to him; the man who had saved her life twice, the only person in the world that she had left. She threw her arms around him and kissed him on the cheek.

  “I thought I might lose you too. I could not bear to lose someone else today.”

  He was blinking fast, as if trying to get an idea of where he was. He glanced up at Haze and she could feel a weight lifted as he stared at her. But she could also see the pain in his eyes.

  “Haze. I’m so sorry.”

  She felt his arms wrap around her as he pulled her close.

  “I am so sorry, Haze.”

  She had been wrong; she still had tears to cry, and they began to pour out. They sat there, on the cold floor, crying into each other’s shoulders for what seemed like an eternity; a welcome one as far as Haze was concerned.

  Unfortunately, the moment was shattered when the sound of footsteps began to approach. Haze lifted herself up from Einar, who turned toward the gate of the cell. An Inquisition prison guard, his black and purple uniform neatly pres
sed, walked up to the cell.

  “Good, you are awake,” he said as he began to unlock the gate. “We have been waiting for you to open your pitiful eyes.”

  The guard stepped in, grabbing Einar by the collar and forcing him to his feet.

  “Leave him alone,” shouted Haze, but the prisoner just pushed her to the ground. She watched as Einar was dragged out of the cell, and the gate was locked again.

  “Where are you taking him?”

  “We just have some questions for him, that’s all.”

  The guard laughed, sounding like a hyena, before dragging Einar down the corridor. Haze could just hear the squeaking of an old door opening and closing before the corridor fell silent again, and she was alone in the cell.

  The silence cut through her, forcing open her loneliness, allowing her pain to consume her. But the silence did not last, although Haze soon wished it did.

  Screams began to echo through the corridor and prison cells; screams of agony. They were from Einar, and she instantly knew what they were doing to him. The hatred for the Inquisition began to build up inside of her again, but concern for Einar overshadowed it.

  *~*~*

  24

  NATE

  Three days had passed since Irving had shown the letter from the Peak Lords to Charles and Nate, and Charles still had not left their room. The Seadawn’s modifications were nearly complete, so Nate decided it was time to confront Charles.

  He walked down the corridors from the Valkyria’s hangar bay, dodging past the crew. Every now and then steam would escape from the pipes that ran along the walls near the ceiling, helping to keep the Valkyria warm inside. He still had not worked out whether the escaping steam was deliberate or not.

  As he walked along, he noticed there a quiet barking that echoed through the corridor. Someone has a dog onboard? The idea of having live animals on an airship seemed so out of place. Surely the dog just gets in the way.

  He reached the room that he and Charles had been given, and turned the valve handle to open the door. Inside was as messy at it had been during their argument, blueprints scattered around the room and various different items of clothing strewn across the floor. However, Charles was not there.

  “Now where in Rhythlan did you go?”

  Nate scratched his head before turning around, very nearly bumping straight into Anastasia, who was standing in the doorway. At her feet was a small white dog, its fur thick but well groomed, and its collar holding a piece of paper.

  “What are you doing,” asked Nate. “I nearly walked right into you!”

  Anastasia simply glared at him, her eyes appearing not to blink. She knelt down, pulling her white skirt over her legs as she took the piece of paper from the dog’s collar. Nate watched, unable to take his eyes away from her, her leather corset and white shirt enticing his gaze.

  “Ruby brought this from Irving. It says that I am to tell you to meet with both him and Charles on the bridge.”

  She handed him the paper, and turned to leave the room. After taking two steps forward, and the dog following her, she stopped and turned her head back towards Nate.

  “Are you coming?”

  Nate was about to reply, but his words seemed to disappear by they reached his mouth. Instead, he stumbled forward and followed her out of the room.

  Ruby constantly yapped, the sound grating on Nate’s ears as he walked a few steps behind Anastasia. Every crew member they passed stepped aside and gave her a salute. Nate had never seen such respect given to anyone but the Peak Lords before.

  “So why do you have a dog onboard?”

  Anastasia looked at him out of the corner of her eye, almost squinting.

  “Is it a problem for you?”

  “No, of course not,” he said, trying to hide how annoying the dog’s constant barking was becoming. “I was just wondering why? Doesn’t she get in the way?”

  “Ruby is a valuable member of this crew, unlike some other people on this ship!”

  Nate jumped a little as Anastasia raised her voice. Idiot! You are supposed to be warming her heart, not making her angry. He bowed his head and gave an apologetic smile.

  “I apologize for my words. They were misplaced. It is just that I have not seen an animal onboard an airship before.”

  “Well, now you have,” she said as they turned and walked up the red carpeted staircase to the bridge. “In there.”

  She opened the door and turned around, heading back down the stairs again.

  “Anastasia, wait. I did not mean anything bad, please forgive me.”

  She rolled her eyes and continued down the stairs, turning around the corner and was gone. Well done you idiot. You have made it even worse now.

  Nate shook his head and stepped onto the bridge, being greeted by Irving and Charles. As he looked to Charles, his jaw dropped.

  “There you are, my boy,” said Charles. “Does this uniform suit me?”

  He stood in front of Irving, wearing the same uniform as the Valkyria’s crew. A smile stretched across his face as he gave Nate a salute.

  “I gave it a lot of thought after seeing that letter, and I decided that joining the Valkyria is the best way to protect the Three Peaks.

  This way, we can use the Seadawn to protect our home against both the Empire and Inquisition.”

  *~*~*

  25

  SERAN

  A loud rumbling filled Seran’s ears as the western gate to Argent rolled open. Steam poured out of the machine’s exhausts as it pulled the two massive metal plates apart.

  He drove the steam-car through the gate and into the city, dodging pedestrians who seemed oblivious to the idea of vehicles driving on a road. The streets were littered with men in fine suits and women either wearing embroidery and dresses or short skirts and open vests.

  Steam-cars and velocycles trundled along the cobblestone streets as dogs and cats ran through the alleyways. Armed men wearing black uniforms and caps strolled around the city, their heads held high. Seran knew he had truly entered the realm of the Inquisition now and needed to keep a low profile.

  He slowed the velocycle to a normal speed, matching that of the other vehicles, and rode through the streets getting a feel for the city. Market places were busy with peddlers calling out their wares, whilst the outer walls were manned by more armed guards.

  It was definitely a secure city. It would have to be in order to hold as many citizens as it did. Apartment buildings rose into the sky, which would act as a beacon to both the Inquisition’s enemies and the Creatures. The sheer fact that a city such as that still stood was testament to how well protected it was.

  Eventually he found his way to the port, where he saw boats and airships docked. Above him was a large, ornately decorated black airship that he recognized instantly. The Tempest. It was the flagship of the Inquisition’s fleet. Well is that not just brilliant luck? There was an inn nearby, aptly named The Docks. Seran parked the velocycle outside of the white stone building and entered.

  Inside, the ceiling was low with oak beams stretching across. Small tables and chairs filled the main room, with a fireplace one the eastern wall. Men and woman of class sat at the tables drinking wine and whiskey. The walls were decorated with hanging flower pots and fine art.

  Seran made his way over to the counter and ring the brass bell. A young woman came out through a curtain with a smile on her face.

  “Welcome to the Docks. How many I help you today?”

  “I would like a room, if you have any available, ma’am,” said Seran.

  “Of course, we have three available. Would you prefer a single or double room, sir?”

  “A single would do just fine,” said Seran. “Do you have one with a view of the docks themselves?”

  “We do. It’s our finest single room. It costs thirty coins per night. How long would you like to stay?”

  “One night will be enough,” Seran said as he placed thirty coins on the counter. The lady gave him the key to the room and le
d him up the stairs on the left to his quarters for the night.

  The room was small. It had its own fireplace, smaller than the one in the main room, and a single bed with a white frame. A chair was placed near the window, and there was a door leading to a bathroom next to the bed.

  The bathroom itself held a toilet and wash basin, but nothing else. However, the room was enough for Seran, as he did not plan on staying for the entire night.

  After the moon has fully risen into the sky, and the docks had almost completely emptied, Seran took up his seat next to the window. In the light of the moon he scanned the docks for a vessel. He knew he would not be able to commandeer an airship or an air-taxi without bringing unwanted attention to himself. He needed something smaller.

  He was in luck. A fisherman had left his rowboat tied to the docks. It was swaying back and forth in the weak waves.

  “That will do just fine,” he said to himself and he rose from his seat. He collected his belongings and walked out of the room, locking the door behind him. If he left it unlocked it would be far too obvious that he had gone out that night and not returned.

  “It should not take too long to row to Midland,” he said to himself as he walked out of the inn and toward the rowboat. “Soon enough we will see what your little secret is, we will not?”

  *~*~*

  26

  EINAR

  Darkness had infiltrated the prison cell, a single beam of moonlight reaching through the window like a silver arrow. Einar lay on a rusted steel shelf that was supposedly a bed, whilst Haze leaned over him, her eyes still watery as they constantly scanned his body.

  “Really, I'm ok,” he said as their eyes met once again. It had been almost half a day since the torture session had ended, and the bleeding from the whips had finally stopped.

  “How can you be?”

  Haze's voice faltered as she spoke, her eyes once again surveying the damage that had been done to Einar's body.

  “It wasn't that bad,” he said, although he knew it was a lie. He had to look strong for her; she needed support more than he did.