Nigkala Tales Pt. 34: Life as a Valkyrie

He looked cowed, but followed the others. Several followed me to be sure no one followed us. When we got back to camp, the looted items were placed in a common area for any who wanted them. I sent someone ahead to alert the captain I had taken a prisoner. He was waiting for us, and signaled me and several other leaders to my tent.

Once we were all inside, he said, "Ricci, tell me what happened."

I described the encounter, and noted that they had two mages, and I had taken this mage prisoner. I also described how I hid the battle dead, so that we could go back in a few days for a more suitable funeral pyre without worrying about being in a vulnerable position with the enemy close by.

"Anyone else have anything to add?"

One warrior, who normally would not be in such an after action report spoke up. "Captain, there were Valkyrie at the battle. I think I saw two, and another saw one. At least two of our people and one of theirs were taken."

"The battle was that intense?"

"Yes."

"Those shall be at the center of the pyre, with the others close by. We shall honor them. Now, what of this mage? Tell us your name."

He looked at me, so I said, "Speak truth, and fear nothing. I will know." Then I nodded to him.

"I am Gunnvaldr Mathieson, senior mage of Coblenz by the Rhine."

"Why were you sent?"

"Because of her." He nodded to me. "After she took down three of our best, it was feared that even ten might not be enough. That fear was justified. It was expected she could be taken down with magic, but it was not to be. She easily neutralized Gulli Thidriksson with blinding sand, allowing others to take him down. My own shield kept the sand out, but her sword smashed it down. With it at my neck, I dared not move. She chose to spare me, as a prisoner."

"What will your king do now?"

"I don't know."

I interrupted, saying, "You do know. Tell him."

He was startled, and I sensed his uncertainty about me. Then he said, "I cannot say with certainty, but I think my king will send assassins for both her and I. Others will watch, to see if they succeed. If they fail, they will wait for you to leave. They will attack then, if they think they can overcome your replacements."

Captain Thundershield said, "What they think and what they can do are two different things. My people are not easily defeated."

The questioning lasted for another hour, and then he asked me to secure the prisoner and meet them in his tent for making plans. As soon as they left, I called Smoke in.

"You have seen my companion. Do you know what he is?"

"He appears to be a wolf, but I think he is a dire wolf, with some ability to change size."

"He is not that." I silently asked him to briefly appear as a bear. Suddenly, he was a large bear, and he reared up to his full fourteen-foot height. Then he returned to the form as a wolf. "It is a spirit, a predator. The forms you have seen are just how it chooses to appear. It is unfettered by any bonds, and instead chooses to befriend me as I treat it well and offer opportunities to hunt. Other mages bound him, but each successive binding weakened him, so now he is far stronger than he was when I took the talisman from its previous master. I shall not bind you, but rather I leave Smoke here to watch you and deal with you if you attempt anything. Will you play nice?"

He looked at Smoke, then nodded and said, "You are far more than we knew. If you keep your word, and release me, it would be far better for me to learn all about you if I can. I have a feeling that the assassins will fail."

I left Smoke in charge of Gunnvaldr, and went to the captain's tent. There, we set up increased watches to spot assassins arriving singly or as a small group. Plans were made for a pyre in the camp, and people went out into the forest to chop down some trees to make it. All was ready on the second day, and I went with a group of men to fetch the dead. When dusk arrived, the rights were said. I brought Gunnvaldr, and surprised him with the opportunity to speak for his dead. When he finished, and returned to my side, I saw tears.

In the morning, I spoke to him saying, "The captain is satisfied you have told him all he needs to know. He will allow you to leave once the assassins have tried, or when we leave. I, however, have noted your magic is not something I know. I desire to learn it. Would you be interested in teaching me? I can pay." I then held out a small pouch of pearls for him to examine.

"You would trust me?"

"Yes. I have seen you are an honorable man, and the tears you shed for your friends tell me more of your character. However, while you are here, others will not trust you, and expect me to ensure your compliance."

"I see. I am still a prisoner."

"True, but I offer you something to do that is interesting, and will earn you treasure as you wait."

"You are right. It will make the time pass quicker. What of Smoke? Some of what I teach may look like an attack."

"It is very cunning, and will know if it is an attack or just a demonstration. I don't think you need to worry about Smoke as you teach me."

"I see. I practice rune magic..."

As he spoke, I focused on him, and the intensity was such that I could also sense some of his thoughts. I asked insightful questions, and surprised him with my comprehension. When it came time to teach me the runes, I surprised him again at being able to duplicate them perfectly right off the bat. I used the other mages stuff to practice with, while he kept his own materials.

It was two weeks later, when the assassins came. As I went to sleep that night, I felt a slight unease. It seemed to be familiar, yet I could not understand why. A few hours later, that unease sharpened so much, it woke me. I knew there was danger, so I tossed a thought to Smoke and rouse him. Soon, we realized someone was about to enter the tent. I cast a solid illusion over Gunnvaldr to make his place seem like a couch. Then I levitated myself to the top of the tent. Once there, I also caused a tiny amount of light to shine from behind where the assassin was. A firefly made more light, but it was enough to show me what he was doing.

As he neared the center of the tent, I caused the sand floor to suddenly have runes in a circle around him. Sending my magic into the runes to activate them, he was suddenly immobilized. I then said in a whisper, "Who are you, and why do you come?"

"Where are you?"

I caused another set of runes to appear in the sand and activated them. Suddenly, he felt very cold.

Another whisper, "Answer me."

"I am no one, but I am here to kill the warrior witch. Is that you?"

"That is not all that I am, but it is enough. Your life is forfeit." I whammied him to make him fall asleep. I then asked in thought for Smoke to ensure there were no others. He came back a few minutes later, saying there was someone in the captain's tent.

I knew there wasn't a moment to lose. I cast a portal into the captain's tent and stepped through it. As I entered, I saw the captain under the knife of an assassin. At the same time, he noticed my arrival.

"Stay back or I'll -"

While he was talking, I whammied him to force him to sleep also.

"What the..."

"Sorry I was late, captain. I'll take care of him." I then picked him up and carried him back through the portal, before closing it.

I laid him out next to the other, and released the cold runes. I activated the paralyzing runes again around the second assassin. I then released the illusion protecting Gunnvaldr, and woke him.

"Who are they?"

"These are the assassins who came. Will you help me interrogate them?"

"They will see me."

"Not if you sit behind them."

We prepared for the interrogation, and he was impressed at my use of the sand to make runes. Keeping them within the paralyzing circles, I added coercion and truth runes, so that they would answer, and with the truth. Then I woke them. They could not move from the sitting position I had placed them in, and I had Smoke sit directly in front of them. Gunnvaldr and I were behind, and we interrogated them further. Then we discussed what to do.

I began with, "Let's send them back to kill the one who sent them."

"We don't know who that is. And the one who sent them may not be the one who ordered it."

"If they do not know, they have the skill to learn. I don't care if the one ultimately responsible is killed. But the death of the one who hired them will be noticed."

"I see. How do you plan to make them do this?"

"The runes will do this. Watch what I draw, now that I have had little practice."

"Oh? Go ahead."

I then caused more runes to fill the sand, I whispered what each one did, and waited for his nod, then activated it. Several required me to implant commands, and I worded them carefully. It was dawn before they were fully prepared. Once more, I whammied them asleep. I then carried them, and left them about a mile away from the camp. From a distance, I woke them while high in a tree. They looked about, and saw no one else, and proceeded to head away. I monitored their position until they were two miles from the camp, before I returned.

After breakfast, the captain asked me in private what happened. I explained they were the assassins we had expected, and that I had turned them against the ones who sent them. Later that day, I gave Gunnvaldr the pouch of pearls I promised.

"You have taught me runic magic, and we survived the assassins. You now have your freedom. Will you return? If not, where shall you go?"

"From what they said, I cannot return. All I have is what I came with and what you have given me."

"Will you change your name and return to a different city in the land you know, or will you go to new lands?"

"Your people here, while wary of me, have shown welcome. If I may, I would like to go with you when you leave."

"I shall ask the captain, and I think he will agree."

Our tour ended, and we gave warning to our replacements about what we expected. When I got back to my home port, I found Gunnvaldr a place in town. I had just begun to relax at home when a runner came with a message. I was summoned to an important ship in port.

I quickly changed clothes into something more formal and fancy, before I went to the ship. When I got there, I was invited on board, where I was taken below decks where I met with a warrior from Asgard.

"Ricci, you have come to the attention of Odin. Thor has spoken of your might against other warriors, and some Valkyrie have also seen your ability against mages. I am to bring you to Asgard."

"Can I go pack my stuff?"

"No. The ship is already preparing to disembark. I will show you your room."

I followed him, but as soon as he left me alone, I closed the door, then repeatedly cast my summoning spells to gather my stuff. First, was my armor and weapons. Next, my backpack and valuables, then a selection from my wardrobe. As the people on the ship were mostly dressed for battle, I changed into my armor and strapped on my sword and a few knives. Except for my bow and arrows, I placed the rest of my stuff in the backpack. At this point, I summoned Smoke as a wolf, to be my companion for the trip. Informing him of the situation, I sat and meditated to learn what I could of my companions.

Sometime later, I was brought a meal. I inquired about the trip, and was told we would arrive mid-afternoon. A bit later, the same person collected my dishes. Finally, I heard the sounds of a ship entering a dock. I donned my pack, and also the bow and quiver. When the warrior came for me, he saw me standing in the middle of the room with Smoke staying by my side.

"What the...? You didn't have your armor when you came on board. And that wolf, where did it come from?"

"You were in a hurry, so I had to use magic to collect my stuff. Smoke, here, is my companion when it comes to fighting and hunting. When I came on board, it looked like you were ready for war, so I got ready, as well."

"We are not expecting it, but as military ship, we are prepared at all times. Is Smoke tamed or trained?"

"No. Nor will I ever so limit him. He is quite cunning, and has chosen to serve me."

He was silent for a bit, then said, "That might be a problem, but not my problem. Come, we are docked, and the escort is waiting."

We followed him out, and I met the escort of four armored women. With only a few words, they had me go with them, and they finally brought me into a training area, and to a woman who watched the other women here. The escort saluted, and left.

"I am Helga Adilsdottir, and this is my school. You are Ricci Olafdottir, and the word is that you might be one of us. We shall see."

"What do you mean, 'one of us'? I have never been here before, and was taken from my home without warning."

"You had some warning, as you were able to be fully armed."

"I had no warning. I had to gather my equipment with magic, while I was on the ship that brought me."

"Interesting. We shall test your magic, as well."

She then called another over, and told her to evaluate my combat ability. She first took me to an archery range, and asked me to show my skill.

"Can I see the arrows most use for practice?"

She brought one to me, and I examined it. I was most concerned at the head and length. It looked to be a standard practice head, but it was shorter than I normally used. Taking off my bow and quiver, I dug in my backpack for the jar of sand, and poured it out beside me. I then took the backpack off and strung my bow. Standing, I cast spells to create practice arrows suitable for my bow and poked them in the sand. It held them upright, despite how little sand was there. Then I said, "I am ready. Which target?"

"Magic arrows?"

"Magically created, but not magical in themselves."

"Then pick your target. Three arrows."

Looking them over, I noticed the smallest one was also the farthest. "That one, on the shelf of the far wall."

"Confident of yourself, aren't you."

I answered by shooting. I got three in the center, and then grinned at her. She went to examine it and saw how close they were. When she went to pull them out, they resisted. "I thought you said there was no magic. Why won't it come out?"

"Pull harder. It probably went into the wall a bit."

She looked doubtful, but then used both hands and pulled harder. Eventually, it came. When she placed its point against the wall, its feathers were clearly several inches further away than the rest.

"This is a practice arrow, and it went four inches into the wall! How powerful is that bow?"

"Only a few have been able to draw it fully, and only one other has been able to string it."

"Let me see."

I handed her the bow, and she tried to fully draw it, and failed. Returning the bow, she then activated a mechanism that had several moving targets, and she instructed me to shoot specific ones. They showed up at different times, and they were among the fastest. Each shot broke the target off its holder, but the arrow was in the small bullseye, and I only shot the ones specified. When I ran out of arrows, she stopped the device, and evaluated the carnage.

"It is too close to dinnertime, and I suspect you will be difficult to test. I will need to make some arrangements. In the meantime, you need a place to sleep. Follow me."

She led me through several hallways and rooms, until we entered a dorm. Pointing out a room, she told me to leave my backpack and large weapons here, and they would be safe. This would be where I would sleep while I was there.

"How long will I be here?"

"A day or two of more testing, then the evaluation. Perhaps a week total. Then your fate will be decided, and you might stay or go."

I left my backpack and arms, and she then took my to the dining hall. We both got food, and she looked around a bit before leading me to a particular table. "Hello, ladies. This is Ricci, a prospect. I've only evaluated her archery so far, but if she is accepted, there's going to be a new leader at some games. But for now, I'll leave you to wonder." She then introduced me to the ones at the table. She ate quickly, then left, telling me to report back in the morning.

I told of some of my battles, and they told me of some of theirs. It was here that I learned that these were Valkyrie. I asked them, "How could I be a prospect? I am not of Asgard."

They said, "Sometimes mortals are blessed in war by Odin, and may even be accepted into the order. That you are a prospect means you have been seen in battle by a Valkyrie."

"Oh. The last battle I was in, three were seen. Two for my men, and one for the enemy."

"It matters not which side you are on. If you die showing exceptional valor, you can become one of the einherjar in Valhalla. To see three, the battle must have been a great battle. Tell us about it."

I recounted the battle, and answered their questions for nearly an hour before all decided it was time to retire or head for the drinking halls. I went to my room, and found all safe, and went to bed. I woke when I sensed those around me waking. I followed them, and found myself getting a light breakfast. Then I reported as requested.

I learned that I was to be tested several ways, and with several weapons, and even without weapons. While I was occasionally caught out in skill, my speed made up for it. While I was offered rests from time to time, I declined. Because of this, I was able to get through all the tests in one day.

We all headed to the baths, where my breasts quickly drew interest. Quite a few wanted to touch them, so see their reality. All this touching soon lead to my arousal, and looking at those interested in me, I began to touch others who desired me. Soon, two women were having sex with me, with several others enjoying the show.

When I left the bath, someone said, "Hey, Ricci. What's that tattoo on your leg?"

Not having thought about it, since I could not remember a time without it, I said, "Oh, it's just a dragon."

"Wait up, I want to look at it."

So I turned back, and sat down on the edge of the bath, and extended my leg out so they could look at it.

"Wow. It looks so lifelike. Such subtle coloring and detail work. Hey, has anyone here seen a dragon? Check out the tattoo."

Another came forth, and examined it. "It is a dragon, but not like the ones our warriors fight. I think this is a dragon from the Far East. I am also something of a collector of tales of the east. I have seen other artwork that depicts their dragons, and this is far more lifelike."

Yet another asked, "Where did you get it?"

"I... I am not sure. It feels like I had a hand creating it, but I have no memory of getting it."

"How can you not know?"

"Something happened to me a few years ago. I have no memories before that, yet it is clear I have learned many things, and have become an expert in several fields. I have no idea who I was before, but I intend to be the best person I can be."

"Oh dear. You don't know who your family is. You poor woman. Well, if you become a Valkyrie, then we will be your family."

"Thank you for that. I truly appreciate it."

The next day, a number of older women interviewed me. In the afternoon, I was asked if I had any healing magic. When I said yes, they took me to see assorted injured and asked me to use my magic. As I did what I could, I felt that I should be able to do so much more, yet I could not access much power.

The next several days, I was told to relax. I was assigned a junior member to show me about the city. I saw many sights and met a lot of interesting people. The third evening, hearing some revelry at a drinking hall, we went in. while my escort Katla was recognized as a Valkyrie, I was not, and they asked about me. When they learned I was a prospect, several offered to test their strength against me. While I was debating acceptance, a loud voice from the side spoke out.