A Valkyrie's Apprentice: Book Two

The Hunt

I flicked a gold piece onto her stack of cabbages and she froze before it like a deer. Then it disappeared into her apron and more cautious looks were cast around. I tapped the inside of my blade waiting.

"Curious it was. I eard' from the local baker that there was a fire in the night. But horrible sound it made. He suspects the guilds bein' involved." She made to busy herself again as she spoke to us quietly. "Best to keep eyes down lately you know. There be talk of an alliance between the assassins n mercenaries all lookin' for someone. Too many good folk are endin' up cut for it." She muttered crossing her chest with the sign of a false god.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"Suppose one wanted to contact these assassins." Her eyes bulged like I had grown another head. But I had no patience for this sheep. "I will be on my way as soon as you give me something to find them." I clarified. 

"Not from around these parts are ye?" She squinted more closely at the pair of us.

I stared her down wordlessly. One more coin landed before her and was again swept away. Simple creatures. Much like birds.

She finally nodded to herself and checked our shoulders once more. The unsubtle action made me want to choke her. "The baker on the corner over there." She jutted her head to a modest shop boasting new loaves on racks outside and in. "He's the only lad does dealings with em' that's all I know honest to god."

"Let us hope you take your god seriously." I muttered.

She gave me another strange look before backing away to her cart and continuing. I cast my eyes over my shoulder to Revna and she gave me a low smirk and drew her grey hood over her eyes.

"Allow me to play with this one." She murmured darkly.

"Remember to ask the question before the threat." I deadpanned as I strode past her in the direction of the bakery.

She caught up to me easily. "Odin's words were plain. Whatever the cost. Ansel must meet her end."

This made me grab her forearm and stop our walk. Power pulsed in my veins urging my temper.

"Those were indeed Odin's words. Not to be taken without control. We do this quietly and reduce our impact on this realm and then we disappear. That is our way."

"That immortal has no way. Do you think she will give us such gracious allowances." Revna snorted in false humour.

My jaw clenched and I glared her down. She didn't realise what she was saying. To her any mortal would now be collateral. John. Kaden. Tayah's tormented eyes were suddenly before me and I had to shake the image away.

"What is the matter with you?" Revna stated, interrupting my thoughts. Her silver eyes churned in calculation as she watched me. "Before your last descent no mortal would stop you from achieving your task–" her face morphed into that of disbelief in an instant. My blood was now running cold. "Kára, you cannot let your feelings for her cloud your judg–"

My power glowed in my fist before she finished. "Intelligence is not a weakness. You forget who has dwelled among the mortals. Drawing attention is not in our interest. Lest the Valkyrie's need to be forgotten from history once more and not return for another century." I deflected knowing that she knew all too well when we had to disappear and become a myth once more. When we became a little too noticeable..

She shut her mouth and glanced down, then quickly around us. "Very well." She hissed, turning her back on me and crossing her arms. "I suppose you would have me leave the ground untouched and my weapons growing dust in their sheaths too."