Vraen sat still. He and Utgar were in a small room, dark save for the thin line of daylight which came through the unblocked doorway. Neither moved. Neither spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, Utgar stirred. \u201cI never thought I would say this,\u201d he said, \u201cbut my daughter\u2026 is a Valkyrie. Only a Wellspring could heal her so quickly. Your own elder has agreed that she must have its power.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMeren,\u201d Vraen said. \u201cThe spy. He said she didn\u2019t have it. I\u2019m sure Ahnvad would never have let her go if she did.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt doesn\u2019t make any sense to me, either,\u201d Utgar said. \u201cMaybe Ahnvad was mistaken. She has it now though; even I can\u2019t deny that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vraen was silent. The unspoken question between the two grew palpable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, Utgar leaned forward. \u201cYou said yourself that if I found you a Wellspring, you would gladly destroy the Empire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was an old joke. You know that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut you meant it, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have the Wellspring,\u201d Vraen finally said. \u201cYour daughter admits she doesn\u2019t know where it is. Without it, her power will fade. The elder has said as much.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe elder said it could be weeks before that happens. Until then, we might as well have the Wellspring itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More silence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, Vraen looked up at Utgar. \u201cNo,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Utgar ignored the word. \u201cThink what you could do in a few short weeks,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd when Runa\u2019s power wanes?\u201d Vraen shot back. \u201cWhat then? I lose it all, and more besides.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Utgar took a moment to choose the right words. \u201cI won\u2019t deny there\u2019s risk,\u201d he said. \u201cBut there\u2019s also a chance for victory. For freedom. For gaining more than you can possibly imagine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vraen was silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe old tales,\u201d Utgar pressed on, \u201csay that there is a Wellspring in Kinsland, just to the west of us. The Empire sealed it years ago, with a spell that only a Valkyrie can break. We have a Valkyrie, Vraen. We could unseal it. We wouldn\u2019t need to find the Wellspring here; we could take that one. With Runa, all Volcarrens could be free.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd if we can\u2019t reach it before Runa\u2019s powers vanish?\u201d Vraen asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen there\u2019s always the Wellspring here, in the Volcarren,\u201d Utgar said. \u201cBut do you really think it will take us that long to reach the Wellspring in Kinsland? We would have a Valkyrie on our side. No one could stand against her. No one would want to. The Imperial army would probably join us, for that matter. All we\u2019d need to do is just walk through the gates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a long pause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou seem awfully eager to send Runa into battle, Utgar,\u201d Vraen said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot battle, no,\u201d Utgar said. \u201cAs a Valkyrie, she wouldn\u2019t need to fight. The mere sight of her would be enough.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vraen was silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat you said is true,\u201d Utgar pressed. \u201cShe will always be hunted, Valkyrie or not. Right now, she is a Valkyrie. She has power the Empire cannot match. Now that she has that power, I choose to fight, not run. With her, we \u2013 Volcarrens everywhere \u2013 have a real chance. But we can\u2019t do it alone. Runa has the power. But you have the army. We need both to succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vraen continued to frown at the floor. \u201cYou\u2019re asking me,\u201d he said slowly, \u201cto risk everything I\u2019ve built, on a hope, Utgar.\u201d He looked up. \u201cIf Runa\u2019s power wanes before we can secure another Wellspring, the Empire will destroy us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m asking you to weigh the odds,\u201d Utgar said. \u201cYou\u2019ve built all you can by playing it safe and not challenging the Empire. If you are ever to have more than a garrison of soldiers surrounded by a wall of crude stones, then you\u2019ll have to take a risk. That\u2019s how it works. Yes, you could lose what you have here, but you could also gain more than you can imagine. Think of it, Vraen,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we succeed, you could end up ruling all of the lands beyond the Volcarren. The Empire would bow to you. You could rule<\/em> the Empire, for all we know,\u201d he added, realizing it himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEnough,\u201d Vraen said, standing. \u201cThis is my decision to make. Let me make it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utgar stood as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGo to your daughter, Utgar. See if she is willing to use her powers for us. If she is, then\u2026\u201d He paused. \u201cJust see if she is willing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utgar found Runa outside, sitting on the steps leading up to Vraen\u2019s home. He noticed that many of the kyrie who passed were stealing glances at her, most curious, some frightened. It seemed word spread quickly in Nearv.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa herself was looking at no one. She was sitting on the lowest step, frowning at the sand between her feet. A slight movement, and Utgar saw that the elder \u2013 the one who remembered the old tales about the Wellsprings \u2013 was nearby, standing half in shadow, against the wall of Vraen\u2019s home. He was watching Runa with a small smile, his silver hair and beard white against the shadows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utgar sat beside Runa. \u201cHow do you feel?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She didn\u2019t reply right away. Utgar waited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEveryone says I\u2019m a Valkyrie,\u201d she said at length. She held up her hands and looked at them. \u201cBut I feel no different.\u201d She looked at her arms, as though almost hoping to see burn marks there again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is normal,\u201d said the elder. He stepped from the shadows and approached them. \u201cIf you doubt that you are Valkyrie, there is a simple way to be sure.\u201d His voice was kind, and Utgar saw Runa relax some as she looked into his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The elder sat on her other side. \u201cAmong other effects,\u201d he said, \u201cthe waters of a Wellspring amplify a kyrie\u2019s inma<\/em>: your innate magic. Tell me, what is your link?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While every kyrie possessed an inma<\/em>, there were different varieties. All kyrie were said to be linked to different magical abilities from birth, and these links were given names. As one who could create heat and sparks, Utgar was linked to Lyr. Runa, however, was linked to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTyr,\u201d Runa said, her distaste at the word evident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAhh,\u201d said the elder slowly. \u201cWell, where before you could cause sickness, or perhaps poison small animals with a touch, as Valkyrie, you can do much more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa looked very much as though causing sickness was quite enough, but the elder pressed on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAs Valkyrie,\u201d he said, \u201cyou could summon a cloud which none could breathe, a poison which could kill an army in an instant.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa looked at him. \u201cI don\u2019t want to poison anyone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou are Valkyrie,\u201d the elder said gently. \u201cYou can choose how to use your power, but you must first recognize that you have it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa looked again at her hands. \u201cHow?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou remember what you would do to cause sickness?\u201d the elder said. \u201cSimply try to do more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa frowned. \u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe old tales say it is surprisingly easy,\u201d the elder said. \u201cKyrie who did not know they had drunk of a Wellspring never found out, simply because the concept of trying to do more with their inma<\/em> was so foreign. But you have that ability. Try, and it will come naturally. Focus on the ground at your feet now, and try to summon a cloud of poison. Nothing more.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa glanced at Utgar. He nodded. He knew she had always hated being Tyr. Causing pain or injury was always the last thing she wanted to do. But this was something they must know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa frowned for a moment at the ground between her feet, and then stooped, and lightly touched it with a single finger. A cloud of dark red smoke instantly billowed outwards from the point, quickly enveloping her arm. She yanked her arm back, startled, but as quickly as it had appeared, the smoke vanished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou are Valkyrie,\u201d the elder said simply. Runa looked at him, a trace of fear on her face. \u201cThat is but a small taste of your power,\u201d the elder continued. \u201cIf you tried to, you could easily create a cloud large enough to encompass this entire village.\u201d He gave her a small smile. \u201cI trust you will refrain from trying for now.\u201d He inclined his head to her, and then left them, walking between the huts and tents of Nearv.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa looked at Utgar. Without speaking, Utgar put his arm around her, and drew her close. But his eyes were drawn to the place where the cloud of smoke had appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe need you, Runa,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She looked up at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI would never put you in harm\u2019s way,\u201d he said, looking at her. \u201cYou know that. But we need you. You are a Valkyrie. I don\u2019t know how or why, but you have the ability to be free. You can have a better life. And you can bring better lives to all Volcarrens.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa looked back at the ground. \u201cI don\u2019t want to hurt people,\u201d she said quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utgar was silent. She looked up at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll have to, won\u2019t I? Hurt people? If we\u2019re to be free?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes,\u201d Utgar said slowly. \u201cYou will. But\u2026 sometimes you have to do things you dislike if you are to do what is needed. Sometimes\u2026 Sometimes you have to scale a cliff if you are to climb out of a canyon. And sometimes you have to kill a creature if you are to avoid starvation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa looked down again. She was silent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI understand you don\u2019t want to hurt people,\u201d Utgar said, \u201cbut sometimes it\u2019s,\u201d \u2014 he paused a fraction of a second \u2014 \u201csometimes it\u2019s you or them. Sometimes\u2026 you have to make a hard choice for the right cause.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa looked at him. \u201cThat\u2019s not what mother used to say,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was Utgar\u2019s turn to be silent. He looked away, out over the village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe said,\u201d Runa pressed, \u201cthat everyone has some good inside them. No matter what they\u2019re like on the outside, they always have some good. Even if they don\u2019t know it. She didn\u2019t believe in \u2018you or them\u2019. She said there was always another way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utgar cleared his throat to rid it of the thickness which had settled there. \u201cYour mother,\u201d he said, without looking at Runa, \u201chad hope.\u201d He turned. Runa was looking at him, leaning close as if she were afraid of missing anything, and for a moment he saw her mother in her thin face. Utgar swallowed. He had to go on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour mother had hope,\u201d he repeated. \u201cHope is something we must all maintain, but in a place such as this, there is rarely room for it. You cannot let hope blind you. Your mother, \u2014 his voice caught \u2014 \u201cyour mother did.\u201d He took a breath. \u201cAnd she died as a result. She was too trusting, too willing to see past the cold and the evil about her. Eventually\u2026 she trusted the wrong person.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utgar looked at Runa, willing her to understand. \u201cI don\u2019t want that to happen to you, Runa. Hope as your mother did, but realize that there are those here beyond your aid. You have a chance to help thousands. Don\u2019t abandon it for the sake of Ahnvad and those like him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa looked away, tears glistening in her eyes. For a long time she was silent, staring at the ground. Then she spoke. Without lifting her head, she said: \u201cI\u2019ve always been able to see the good in anyone I met. It\u2019s what mother would have wanted. And I could always do it. Until\u2026 Until Ahnvad.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n She lifted her head and looked at Utgar, tears slowly falling down her cheeks. \u201cWhen I was there\u2026 with him\u2026 there was nothing. Nothing.\u201d She took a shaky breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utgar wordlessly pulled her closer, and she rested her head against him. They stayed that way for a long time, not speaking, just sitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A long while later, Vraen appeared in the doorway. \u201cUtgar,\u201d he said, \u201cI\u2019ve made my decision.\u201d He turned to Runa. \u201cIf you will lend me your power, I will do my best to free us from the Empire. Will you help me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa looked at Utgar, uncertainty on her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA few demonstrations would be enough,\u201d Utgar said quickly. \u201cOnce the soldiers know that you\u2019re a Valkyrie, they won\u2019t want to fight you. They\u2019ll surrender. There\u2019s every chance you\u2019ll never so much as lift a blade.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour father\u2019s right,\u201d Vraen told Runa. \u201cI will keep you away from combat as much as I can. And you will be safe here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They both looked at Runa. She looked down, at her hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll help,\u201d she said. She looked up at Vraen. \u201cSo that we can leave the Volcarren, I\u2019ll help.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Vraen sat still. He and Utgar were in a small room, dark save for the thin line of daylight which came through the unblocked doorway. Neither moved. Neither spoke. Finally, Utgar stirred. \u201cI never thought I would say this,\u201d he said, \u201cbut my daughter\u2026 is a Valkyrie. Only a Wellspring could heal her so quickly. … Continue reading Chapter Eight<\/span>