Legacy of the Valkyrie

by Archibald Bradford

  No, she did care!

  Her body gave up its convulsions and she was able to lean back against a tree, her forearm over her eyes as turmoil overwhelmed her.

  “You are blooded, young warrior.”

  Kar’s solemn words broke through the Katje’s trance.

  “Wh-what?”

  “You took a life to save another, and now you can’t figure out what to feel about it.”

  Erica swallowed the hints of bile in her mouth then turned to face the Amazon, her eyes burning as she lashed out.

  “Well then why don’t you tell me how I’m supposed to feel!?”

  “What is her name?”

  Erica’s head shifted back.

  “What?”

  Kar lunged forwards and seized her by the shoulders, hefting her off the ground so that their faces were inches apart.

  “Her name, warrior! What is the name of the child who even now sits by your cook-fire safe and whole?!”

  Kar’s voice was harsh and demanding, her blue eyes held Erica’s greens in place, demanding a response.

  “Mishka, you know her n-name is Mishka.”

  “Mishka, good. You must never forget that name. She is your talisman in this.”

  “And what the hell is that supposed to mean?!”

  The Katje’s ire returned and she struggled in the Amazon’s grip but was unable to break free.

  Kar gave her a little shake to still her.

  “Would you take back what you have done?”

  Erica worked her jaw, trying to find the words but was unable to, so Kar asked a different question.

  “Would you trade that one man’s life for Mishka’s?”

  The cat shook her head emphatically.

  “How about ten of him, or a hundred, or a thousand? How many evil lives is one innocent Dormaus worth?”

  “I-I don’t know.”

  The Amazon’s grip slackened and she set the Katje back on the ground, though she kept her hands on her shoulders.

  “The answer… is all of them. I cannot tell you what to feel right now, but I can tell you what not to: Guilt.”

  Erica had tears running down her cheeks as she stared up at the compassionate expression on Kar’s face.

  “If you feel it coming on you, feel the blood of that man, or see the dead look in his eyes. Crush it. Picture little Mishka’s smiling face instead, hold her in your thoughts. The girl who now has a chance at a far better life than she had, all because you did what needed to be done.”

  Erica was crying in earnest, and Kar pulled her tight to her breast, stroking her hair as she continued to guide her through her turbulent emotions.

  “You are different now, this is regrettable, but again you must think of the alternative. You won’t ever be the same, but you mustn’t push your friends and family away, instead hold them close, and reaffirm to yourself what you fight to protect. I hope you don’t need to kill again. But if you do, don’t hesitate to protect your loves out of a misplaced sense of guilt.”

  She wept the entire time that Kar spoke, clutching at the Amazon’s hide halter-top and nuzzling her face into her cleavage.

  The Amazon stroked her ears and hair, not hushing her or comforting her as she would a child, but speaking to her the entire time.

  Telling her exactly what it meant to take a life.

  It was what Erica needed to hear.

  __________

  The next day several of the Amazons stayed in Bramblewood with Mishka, Grace, and their new prisoners. Meanwhile Yana, Kar and a few of the others journeyed with them for a few miles until the smaller pines began to be supplanted by mighty red cedars, the ancient trees eventually replacing the younger growth altogether.

  The woods here had clearly not known the swing of man’s axe in centuries and were breathtakingly beautiful. The carpet of moss seemed to absorb sound so there was a calm hush over everything, broken only by the occasional deep creak of one of the behemoths around them.

  With the peace he found in those trees the sense of anxiety that Nameless had felt at the chaos of the previous day faded away.

  Yana drew her girls to a halt and turned to speak with them all.

  “At last we are in the wilds. And this is where we must leave you, duty calls us back to civilization, though it was good to be amongst real trees again.” She smiled wide, the warm expression almost strange on her face as she stepped forward and pulled Miranda and Kala into a hug; “I was overjoyed when Kala bonded to you, and now you head into the unknown on a quest worthy of song. Know that I will be thinking of you.”

  “Me too!” Juni enthused, throwing herself over Yana’s shoulder to join in the now-slightly-damp hug.

  Miranda patted her wet shoulders awkwardly while Kala returned her sister’s embrace, the two Amazons dwarfing the Aegis operative.

  While they held each other, the other Amazons took their own turns to say their goodbyes to Nameless and his girls, after nearly a month together he knew that he would miss the company of the steadfast women and was quite happy to return their often-intimate embraces.

  Most of the hugs and farewells ended soon enough and Yana turned to face Nameless.

  “After you rescue this mysterious Volka, my husband would very much like to see you at the Bastion. He and the council want to meet you, and I imagine the Lady Essig would be glad of your company again.” She stood tall and raised her spear in a salute which her Amazons mirrored; “Good fortune on your journey. May your quest meet with success and your adversaries meet with a grisly end!”

  “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.” Miranda smiled wryly.

  Yana directed a pointed look at Kala, and managed to make the powerful Amazon squirm.

  “Indeed, though it would be good experience for my sweet little sister.”

  Jan’s tongue lolled out in a grin.

  Yana raised her spear again.

  “Farewell Valkyrja and farewell friends!”

  With that she turned and stalked away. The blue-faced Juni popped her head out of her gourd again to wave at them enthusiastically as Yana and her warriors departed.

  The last to leave was Kar, who gave them all a wistful look, clearly wanting to go with them. After a moment she pulled Milly and Erica into her arms.

  Her hug with the duo was lingering, and all three of them had tears standing in their eyes when they broke apart.

  “Thank you Kar, for everything, thank you so much.” Erica nearly sobbed.

  Kar reached out one hand and wiped away a single tear from the cat’s cheek with her thumb, then placed a hand on her shoulder and the other on Milly’s.

  “Gentle Milly and fierce Erica, remember what my sisters and I have taught you. Practice with Kala when you can. Keep each other safe and we will meet again I’m sure. After all, I have not yet given up on bedding your husband. Or you for that matter!”

  Her hands slipped down from their shoulders and she gave each of their breasts a quick squeeze before breaking away.

  Milly blushed and Erica giggled at the Amazon’s wandering hands.

  She turned to Nameless and Ophelia and pulled them close.

  “Goodbye Kar. Thank you for everything and I promise you, we will consider your proposal.” Nameless heard Ophelia whisper on the other side of Kar’s head as she embraced them both.

  The Amazon’s grip tightened and her head shifted to give them each a kiss on the cheek.

  “I don’t know what you said to Erica last night, but thank you.” Nameless added, hugging her tighter.

  He had felt Kar soothe the turmoil in his kitty and was enormously grateful.

  “You are so very welcome Valkyrja, though in fairness I did not do it for you. All the same though, if you want to express your heartfelt gratitude by finally nutting in my mouth, I’m sure Yana wouldn’t mind me sticking around for an hour or so.”

  He vainly tried to push down his arousal; it was definitely a fantasy they shared.

  Fortunately she didn’t press the issue, ins
tead turning from his blushing face to stand before Nina; the pair of warriors didn’t share a hug but rather a steady look.

  “Keep them safe for me War-sister.” Kar said seriously, reaching down and clasping arms with the tiny girl.

  Nina gave a rare smile.

  “Sure.”

  Kar turned away and jogged to catch up with the others.

  The group watched her and the other Amazons wind their way through the giant trees back towards Bramblewood until finally Nina spoke up.

  “We still have hours of light left, no sense in wasting it staring at toned Amazon ass.”

  Miranda snorted and Jezebel looked scandalized.

  “Right, well, into the wilds we go.” Nameless declared with a hint of trepidation in his voice.

  The rest of the day’s journey was uneventful and they soon made camp at the bottom of a sheltered gulley. With their numbers greatly diminished, it was a somber night; the boisterous voices of Yana and her tac-team were dearly missed.

  But Nameless and the girls mostly missed Kar, she had been a constant companion throughout their journey, and her absence was sorely felt.

  “Has anyone given any thought as to how we get back after we save Volka? I’m completely lost.” Erica asked.

  Nina was gnawing on a slab of meat that she had roasted over the fire, blood on either side of her mouth; none of them were quite sure where she got it from, or even what it was. She jabbed one finger skywards, then drew a line down into the trees.

  “North.” She grunted around a mouthful.

  “How can you-” Nameless started to say.

  “Stars.” She grunted again, cutting him off before spitting out a piece of cartilage.

  Erica frowned; the stars were hardly visible through the trees overhead.

  “We’ll have to set our own watch tonight, no more Amazons to cover our asses.” Jan spoke through a toothy yawn.

  Miranda grunted her agreement as she checked the dressing on Kala’s neck.

  Jezebel was high above them in the trees, the Gripau easily scampering up the massive trunks.

  “I don’t see anything from up here!” She called down happily.

  The little froggy loved to climb.

  “All the same Jez, we need to take precautions.” Miranda said as she gave one last smoothing gesture over Kala’s bandage.

  “How can we help?” Ophelia asked.

  Miranda cheek twitched and she gave her a quick look.

  “No offense Ophelia but maybe you better let us take care of it.”

  The Flutterby’s head shifted back on her neck slightly in surprise.

  “Oh! Um, of course, Miranda. If that is what you think is best.”

  Soon enough the much diminished party was bedding down while Jan and Kala took it in turns to watch over their rest.

  Close to midnight on their first night a heavy rain picked up, pattering against their tents throughout the night until finally ending early in the morning, so even though the sun was shining bright through the branches of the mighty cedars the mossy ground was quite sodden for their second day of travel.

  As promised Miranda and her girls took over watch duties from the Amazons, despite Nameless and his girls protestations. The Aegis operative simply didn’t trust the inexperienced group with the important task, perhaps with the exception of Nina.

  But the Gigas didn’t see the need for a watch at all, simply saying that she would crush anything stupid enough to wake her up.

  On the third afternoon the party found themselves walking along a game trail, carefully skirting the edge of a steep slope alongside a rushing river.

  Something in Miranda’s words the other night was bothering the kindly Ophelia and so she gave a flutter of her wings to carry herself back to land beside the grey haired woman.

  “You need something?” The operative asked as she picked her way along the trail.

  “Yes actually.”

  After the Flutterby spoke there was a long pause until Miranda sighed and turned to face her, lifting her eyes from the treacherous path.

  “Well?” She prodded.

  “I can’t help but get the impression that you don’t approve of me.” Ophelia said carefully; “And I am just wondering why that might be. Because we’ve been traveling together for a month and you have barely said anything to me in all that time.”

  Miranda considered the woman for a long moment, before slowly shaking her head.

  “It’s not that I don’t approve of you, Ophelia. It’s just… well shit.” Miranda shifted her posture, belying her impatience; “Look, I’ve only really met one other Flutterby before you, and believe me when I say she was the most conniving, self-serving, manipulative cunt that I have ever had the misfortune of knowing.”

  Ophelia’s eyes widened at her bluntness.

  “May I ask, what did she do that angered you so much?”

  Miranda began to walk again as she threw over her shoulder.

  “She popped my cherry.”

  Once again the delicate Flutterby was taken aback by Miranda’s frankness. She gave another flutter of her wings to catch up with her as the Aegis operative kept walking.

  “I’m sorry that you had a bad experience with one of my kind, but you know that wasn’t me.”

  “Yeah, I know that. Don’t worry about it. It’s just a knee jerk thing.”

  “It’s just, I don’t want there to be any bad feelings between us, you are so very important to my master.”

  Miranda sighed and stopped to turn to the Flutterby again.

  “Look I don’t trust easy, been burned a lot. But it’s clear that you at least try to have the kid’s best interest at heart. So that’s good enough for me, I’ll get over it.”

  Ophelia decided not to press the issue.

  “Thank you. I think it is good that we cleared the air.”

  Miranda snorted out a laugh.

  “I’m not one for the touchy feely crap, but sure. Consider the air cleared.”

  Nameless had picked his way back up the treacherous trail while they spoke, curious as to why they were lagging behind so much, and so was right beside Ophelia when she stepped away from Miranda and stumbled, a gust catching her wings off guard and pulling her towards the downwards slope. Acting on instinct he leaned over to grab her but his weight was too much for the eroded bank of the trail.

  The ground suddenly washed out from under them in a deluge of mud and the pair slid downwards.

  Chapter 11:

  Getting Wet

  Nameless felt the mud slide out from under him and he tried to release Ophelia, realizing the terrible mistake that he had made in his attempt to help her. But she held him tight, unable to get her wings in play before the weight of the sodden earth pulled her down with him.

  Erica hissed and Milly bellowed in panic.

  The pair slid down the steep slope, mud completely enveloped them as they rapidly descended and the deafening roar of shifting earth and water quickly drowned out the panicked cries of their companions. The slide made short work of the river’s embankment and they were pulled under the rushing water.

  They struggled together and managed to break the surface coughing and sputtering. They fought hard to stay together and to swim to the steep embankment, but neither of them were strong swimmers and so they couldn’t overcome the current and reach the safety of the shore.

  The racing watercourse pulled them far downstream in a matter of moments while they fought to keep themselves above the surface.

  When they finally did manage to gain some headway against the current, Nameless actually touching the long grass along the bank for the briefest of moments, they heard an ominous roar and shared a panicked look as safety slipped between his fingers.

  A few seconds later the river carried them over a massive waterfall.

  Nameless’s stomach rose into his throat as they plummeted together, the whistling of the air joining the roar of the falls. Ophelia, far more comfortable in the air, unfurled he
r sodden wings and managed to slow their descent. And although she was nowhere near strong enough to support his weight as well as her own in flight, she was able to use her wings to angle them away from the deadly falls, her grip desperate as she grit her teeth.

  After a fall that lasted forever the pair hit the water of the small lake below with a crash and broke the surface a few moments later, gasping and sputtering.

  They were a sodden mess from the tumble and the ride downriver but fortunately neither of them was hurt worse than some minor bumps and scrapes. Though their limbs were shaky with exhaustion from the sudden rush of activity when they made it to shore, and it took them several minutes to recover.

  Ophelia regained her composure first, shaking out her sodden clothes on the rocky shore as she stood and looked at him.

  “Oh dear, how far did we fall?”

  “I-I don’t know, are you a-alright?” He coughed out as he joined her on his feet.

  “I’m fine dearheart, and so are you. Please calm down okay?”

  He did his best to swallow his fear. She was right about calming down: the others would sense his distress, and that might make them do something reckless. He could easily picture any of the others deliberately jumping into the rushing water to get to him. So he took several deep breaths, and closed his eyes to think thoughts of safety at his mates far away.

  When he opened them again Ophelia was looking at him with a smile on her muddy face.

  “Thank you dearheart, I feel better already.” She scanned the massive cliff face above them; “That waterfall must be nearly eight hundred yards! It is breathtaking.”

  Milly carried both of their bags as it was no burden at all for her, so they had no clean clothes to change into. Instead they stripped out of their muddy garments and waded into the water again to clean the grime off of themselves and their cloths.

  After several minutes of scrubbing they were as clean as they could get without soap, so Ophelia took the clothes and hung them from some branches high in the trees to dry in the sun. Absently, Nameless had handed her the bracer with the heartstones in it as well, not wanting the wet leather to chafe his arm.

  Despite their predicament, the sight of the naked butterfly flying up and down was quite arousing for him.