by T. R. Hamby
But there was a knock, and he looked: It was Theresa, poking her head around the door.
“Hello,” she greeted cautiously.
“Hello, Theresa.”
“Do you want to be alone?”
For a moment he was about to say “yes.” But she was an intriguing person, and she was smiling hopefully. Her dark hair was still braided, spilling over her shoulder.
He shook his head awkwardly. “There’s room in here.”
She looked pleased, and sat beside him.
“Do they have pizza Up There?” he asked teasingly, and she beamed.
“Of course,” she said. “We have all foods, I think. From so many eras. We even have Christmas pudding.”
“Do you celebrate Christmas?”
She nodded thoughtfully. “Only the holiday. One can’t be Christian and live with a goddess.”
“It must have been a shock.”
Theresa took a moment to chew her pizza. “It was, rather,” she said quietly. “I grew up in an Anglican household. The Lord was very important to all of us.”
“I’m sorry.”
But she smiled at him. “It’s all right. Them is wonderful.”
They finished the rest of their pizza in contented silence. Roone enjoyed Theresa’s company, and he could tell that she, somehow, enjoyed his.
She set down her plate and looked at the bookshelf.
She got up and went to it. “Have you read all of these?”
“No,” Roone replied, getting up. “I asked Mel to order them for me. Most are part of the collection I left in London, but some I haven’t read yet.”
“I see Shakespeare,” Teresa said approvingly. “I don’t know the others, though. Are they great writers?”
Her fingers slid along the spines of Chaucer, Voltaire, and Dante’s texts.
Roone couldn’t help but smile. “Yes. I’d recommend Shakespeare for you, since you’re familiar.”
And he selected The Merry Wives of Windsor. “I think you might like this.”
Theresa looked surprised. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, of course,” he replied, chuckling. “It’s a comedy. Something tells me you like to laugh.”
She took the book from him, smiling wryly. “Only on occasion.”
Barry
The next day the rest of the Valkyries arrived, laden with packs, swords and shields. Soon the estate was filled with row upon row of little tents, with the Big Tent by the stables.
Three weeks later Valkyries were tramping into the house, talking loudly, trailing mud on the floor and leaving swords and knives perched haphazardly on the counter. Others were a little more courteous, and when they had nothing to do they helped with household chores. They rotated ten guarding the grounds during the day, ten at night. The fifty left over trained.
It was overwhelming. None of them were accustomed to playing host to an army of Valkyries. But slowly, somehow, they adjusted.
The eight kept to a tight schedule too, rotating patrol duties over four days. They decided to go by couple--easier to remember. Mel and Nora patrolled on the same day, and so on. The rest trained. They tried to plan, too, but there wasn’t much to discuss--although they knew that God would be sending more Angels to kill them, they didn’t know anything else.
Barry’s priority was to train in combat, saving the power stuff for free time. In that free time he levitated small objects, produced fire that danced on his skin, and also produced small shields. The Valkyries gave him some arrows, and he carefully mastered sending them zooming into a snowman. They would make a game of throwing snowballs at him, watching as they bounced off his shield.
He and Them spoke every day now. She coached him when he was training his small power, and--when they both had time--they sat and talked. Them told Barry about her many years as a goddess, about how she had learned how to use her power, about her Ascension into the next Realm, and all the wonderful things there.
Barry found himself talking about his childhood, about his time on the streets. He knew Them knew about these things already, having watched him before, having Ascended his mother. It made it easier to speak about.
He could feel his power growing. The more the two shared with each other, the stronger their connection became. Only Gabriel knew about all of this.
“Look,” Barry said, as they lay in bed late one night.
Gabriel watched, trailing his fingers down Barry’s side. Barry grabbed some stones he had collected off the nightstand and, one by one, sent them levitating into the air above them. They formed a circle and began to spin, gently, like some strange mobile.
It had been three weeks of training, and Barry didn’t even have to use his hands anymore. It was all in his mind.
He lay back down, and Gabriel watched the stones with a slight smile on his face.
“Beautiful, love,” he said gently.
“Thought you might like it.”
“’Course I do.”
And he sighed. “Andreas is having a harder time.”
Barry nodded, heaving a sigh. Andreas had been training hard, day in and day out, and was still having trouble controlling his power. Flames exploded from his hands in jets; stones shot into the air. He would become frustrated, and the volatility would grow worse with each hour. There had been many snowmen casualties.
“What does Them say?” Gabriel asked.
Barry hesitated. “You can’t tell a soul.”
“You know I won’t.”
“She’s talking about taking him Up,” he said slowly. “Where she can train him face to face.”
“Will that help?”
Barry shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Roone would lose it. You know how he is.”
“I know. That’s why she hasn’t said anything yet.”
Gabriel swore under his breath. “Poor guy can’t catch a fucking break.”
“I know.”
Barry turned, troubled, and focused on the stones turning above them. One by one they zoomed to the nightstand, stacking themselves in a neat pile.
“Has Them talked about coming down at all?” Gabriel asked as Barry settled in his arms.
“No,” he replied. “She’s still against it.”
“It would be better.”
“I know. She knows. She doesn’t want them to know who she is.”
“And this really includes me?” he asked incredulously.
Barry nodded. “Yeah….indirectly, sort of.”
“Whatever,” Gabriel replied mildly. “It’s her decision.”
They were quiet for a moment. Barry suddenly thought of his mother, holding him after he had died. How beautiful she had been, how happy. He missed her.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” Gabriel asked, brushing at Barry’s hair.
Barry thought. “We have the meeting in the morning.”
The eight Immortals had been meeting with the leaders of the army several days a week. There was Diana, who was General. Veronica and Perdita led thirty of the Valkyries each, splitting the sixty into two regiments. There were then four Valkyries--one of them Theresa--who each led a battalion of fifteen.
The eight, conversely, had created their own ranking. War had turned their little democracy into a military dictatorship. Michael and Mel led the pack. Barry, being so close to Them, came after. Then Nora was next. Gilla and Andreas came after her. Then there was Gabriel, and, finally, Roone.
“Right,” Gabriel said, rolling his eyes. “Seven sharp.”
“Then I’ll train with Theresa and her unit,” Barry continued. “Defense tactics. And I’ll be flying. Diana wants me to know every corner of this place before it happens.”
“It” meaning the war.
Gabriel nodded thoughtfully. “I’ll be training with Mel. Front lines.”
“Don’t remind me,” Barry murmured, his heart racing.
“I’ll be fine. It’s you I’m worried about, flying around up there. Anyone could kill you with an arrow.”
Bows and arrows had recently been introduced. Mel was good--he had experience--but no one else seemed to have gotten the hang of it except for Michael, who was a natural.
Barry didn’t know what to say. Neither of them could assuage the other’s worries.
Gabriel seemed to be thinking the same thing. “Let’s go to sleep,” he said, pulling Barry close and kissing him. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Barry said firmly. “It’ll be fine. We’ll be fine.”
Gabriel brushed at his cheek. He seemed far away. “If the time comes and we don’t see each other….just know how much I love you.”
Barry sighed. He wished Gabriel wouldn't do that. But he nodded, kissed him again, and settled down to sleep. Gabriel put his arms around him, but it was a long time before either of them drifted off.
In the morning they got ready. Seven a.m., bright and early. There was a heavy blanket of snow on the ground, and the eight trudged through it to the large tent set up in the heart of the little army.
Diana and her Valkyries were already there. Veronica and Perdita flanked her, and off to the side was Theresa. She beamed at Andreas and Roone, both of whom she had grown particularly close to in the past three weeks.
Barry could see why she liked Andreas, but Roone was a little surprising. But it was clear there was a connection--Roone was always giving Theresa books to borrow, and they would discuss them at length at dinner.
Barry found it fairly boring, and turned his attention to Diana.
She looked firm. “It’s time we discussed positioning.”
Barry felt his heart sink. Great. Now was the time when they all learned their fates.
“We haven’t finished discussing that,” Mel said, and Diana cut him a look.
“I know. You’ve been procrastinating,” she replied disapprovingly.
Mel looked embarrassed, and exchanged a tense look with Michael.
“Give us a little more time,” Michael said.
But Diana was shaking her head. “It’s not a good idea to put the two of you in charge of your family’s jobs anyway. I’ll do it.”
“But--”
“This is war,” she growled, her face stony. “There’s no room for sentiment. Fight or don’t fight. That’s your choice.”
Mel and Michael stared at her coldly, but she was unmoved.
“So,” she said briskly, “Mel, Gabriel, Gilla, Andreas: front lines. Michael, you’ll be in front as well, but handling the archers. You’ll be leading them, so don’t make me change my mind,” she hissed, as Michael opened his mouth to protest.
She shuffled some notes. “Roone--you’ll be fighting on the hillside, west side of the property. We’re planning on ambushing the enemy there. Barry, you’ll be defending the rear. You’ll also be watching over the battle and giving me reports. And Nora,” she finally finished, “will help guard the house.”
Nora looked bewildered. “The house?” she exclaimed. “What’s happening at the house?”
“We don’t know how many there will be,” Diana explained. “They may come from farther north than expected. The house would be right in their path.”
Nora looked a little mutinous, but nodded.
“This is all a controlled situation, though,” Mel said darkly. “They could attack at any time, and we’ll be scattered.”
“You know your positions,” Diana replied. “If they strike, and you can manage it, go to them. Otherwise, good luck.”
“Heartening,” Gabriel muttered, and Diana ignored him.
“If we kill them, it’s only postponing the inevitable,” Nora said quietly.
Barry felt a nasty chill, and knew he was feeling Them’s emotions.
She’s right, he thought before she could speak. What end is there except for the obvious?
This isn’t a little skirmish, Barry, Them replied anxiously. This is the killing of a divine Being….the divine Being.
He’s not very different from us, Barry said firmly. He had parents. A brother. He has a name. The only thing that sets him apart is that he’s an evil prick.
You have no idea what you’re asking.
But I do. You have to be brave too, he reminded her. This isn’t going to go away. We have to figure out how to stop him.
He felt a flash of her impatience, and stopped there. He didn’t want to upset her, especially so early in the morning. She didn’t sleep, being a goddess, but still….manners.
“Barry?” Nora prompted, and he looked around.
Everyone was looking at him resignedly, now used to seeing him staring off into space while he communicated with Them.
He felt a little sheepish. “Not the time.”
“This is exactly the time,” Nora breathed, almost desperately.
“We’ll leave it there,” Diana said. “There’s a lot on her shoulders.”
“There’s no room for sentiment in war,” Mel said, echoing her words from earlier.
She rolled her eyes, annoyed, and Nora shot him a look.
Please don’t fight, Them moaned. God--I can’t do this.
And Barry felt a wave of panic wash over him.
Shit.
He left the tent and hurried to the stables.
Calm down, he said soothingly. It’s all right.
I can’t do it, she breathed, and he could hear in her voice that she was crying. I’m failing all of you….I’m afraid of him….afraid of you….
You’re not weak, Barry told her. You’re not failing us. You’ve done more for us than anyone. Don’t doubt yourself now.
I can’t have him know….I can’t let him see me….
Barry knew she wasn’t talking about God. He gave her a moment to cry, easing down on the bench. The horses ignored him, taking naps. It began to snow outside.
Finally she calmed, and whispered, I’m sorry.
Don’t be, Barry replied gently.
I never wanted this. I never thought that this would happen.
You’re doing good. Much more than you realize.
He felt tenderness, and knew Them was soothed.
You’d better start training, she said quietly.
Barry smiled. It was lovely hearing her sound reassured--especially after listening to her cry.
He got his sword, and made his way to the clearing. All the Valkyries were there, training. He hunted down Theresa’s regiment and began to work with them.
The Valkyries were vicious; Barry could see why Them had sent them down. Thousands of years of doing nothing but Ascending and training had made them formidable opponents. Barry, who had considered himself a good fighter, was sent to the ground so many times that his bruises weren’t healing fast enough to keep up. Theresa looked smug, and he made a face at her.
After a couple hours Theresa called for a break. She walked--or more like flitted--over to Roone, who was watching Andreas train.
Barry followed her over, wanting to watch Andreas too. He looked frustrated, as always, trying to aim a jet of fire into a snowman--instead of everywhere else. He tried again, and flames flashed out of his hands like water shooting out of a spout. He vanished them and swore.
Theresa sighed, and so did Roone. “I always thought he was more patient than this,” he said worriedly.
“He has a lot of power pent up in there, wanting to get out,” Theresa replied. “It must be overwhelming.”
“He hasn’t been sleeping,” Roone murmured.
“Hmm,” Theresa replied, frowning.
Barry frowned too. That was worse than he had originally thought. Andreas needed his sleep. They couldn’t have an already volatile demigod walking around half-awake.
Andreas tried again, with the same effect. Now he looked pissed, and he turned away, making a rude gesture at the snowman--
Another surge of fire, headed right their way.
“Down!” Roone cried, grabbing Theresa and yanking her to the snow.
Barry ducked too, but something else happened. He felt his shield erupt out of
the air, expanding not just over him, but now--for the first time--over others….
The fire engulfed the shield, and Barry could feel its searing heat. Roone and Theresa looked up, amazed.
Barry, however, felt dizzy….very dizzy….he held on as long as he could, until the fire vanished….
Then he was on the ground, and he was shaking. A cold sweat broke out on his skin, and his heart raced frantically in his chest. He was nauseous, and still so dizzy.
Roone and Theresa bent over him--and then Andreas, and Mel, and Gabriel, who was white as a sheet.
“Barry, can you hear me?” he breathed, grasping his face while Mel barked orders beside him.
“I don’t feel so good….”
“….hold his legs up….he’s going into shock….get my case….”
I’m coming, Barry, Them’s voice said hurriedly. Theresa, tell them to move….all of them….
Theresa went pale, but she nodded.
“Everyone stay back,” she said, jumping to her feet. “Them’s coming.”
“I’m not leaving him,” Gabriel and Mel said at the same time.
“Yes you are,” she shot back, fire in her eyes. “You can take it up with her later. Move. Now.”
But both of them stayed firmly on the ground, as Andreas reluctantly hurried off, tugging Roone with him.
Barry felt very close to getting sick in the snow, but he tried to rally. “Gabriel. Please….”
“Barry, I’m not--”
“Please. It hurts.”
And he clutched his chest, which ached with every beat of his heart.
Mel swore a string of obscenities as he got up and hauled Gabriel away from Barry. Barry lay there, still shaking, when he felt the temperature warm.
An immense power was approaching, gentle and soothing, and when he looked he found her beside him, just like that.
She was beautiful. He had imagined her as tall, powerful, but she was little--almost dainty. She wore a large hood over her head, and Barry knew it was so the others couldn’t see her face.
She looked focused. “Hold on,” she murmured, and she placed a hand over his heart, “I’ve never done this before.”
Fantastic, Barry thought, and her lips twitched, as she read his mind.
