Utgar had expected Vraen to send Runa against Srung almost the moment she agreed to fight. However, Vraen had other plans. He knew that while he was invincible with Runa, he was vulnerable without her. She could only be in one place at once, so it was imperative that he remove the Imperial soldiers from around his territory before attacking Srung. Otherwise, by the time Runa got back, Nearv would be little more than ashes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was why, two days later, Runa, Utgar, and a large number of Vraen\u2019s warriors were to be found hiding out of sight in a canyon, under cover of the pre-dawn darkness, waiting for the signal to attack Holn, the Empire\u2019s strongest (and only) fortification within the Volcarren. Once they attacked, and once Runa was revealed, the Empire would know what they were trying to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The atmosphere within the canyon was somewhat less than relaxed. Until now, anyone who dared attack the Empire ended up dead. While Vraen\u2019s kyrie knew they had Runa on their side, a feeling of trepidation was inevitable. At least, it was for everyone except Utgar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Utgar watched the kyrie nearest him shifting his weight restlessly. He changed his sword to his left, and then back to his right hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWorried?\u201d Utgar asked him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The kyrie turned. \u201cSome,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we have a Valkyrie. There might not even be a fight. Right?\u201d he added, sounding a little too hopeful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Utgar smiled to himself in the darkness. \u201cThere might not be a fight,\u201d he agreed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The kyrie came closer. \u201cYou\u2019re her father,\u201d he said. \u201cYou\u2019re the one we rescued from the Empire\u2019s camp.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am,\u201d Utgar said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The kyrie watched him for a moment. \u201cThe scouts,\u201d he said, \u201cthey say that you killed five soldiers. By yourself.\u201d He was silent for a moment. \u201cIs it true?\u201d he asked, sounding as if he was afraid of the answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Utgar nodded slowly, but he was no longer smiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow?\u201d the kyrie whispered. Utgar didn\u2019t miss the hint of awe in the voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Utgar frowned. \u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKirav,\u201d said the kyrie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Utgar glanced at the sky. It was beginning to lighten. They would attack soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not proud of what I did,\u201d he said, turning back to Kirav.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh,\u201d Kirav said. \u201cNo, it\u2019s not that. It\u2019s just,\u201d \u2014 he paused \u2014 \u201cI can\u2019t fight. Not well, anyway,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Utgar frowned at him. \u201cWhy not?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI \u2013 I don\u2019t know,\u201d Kirav said. \u201cI hesitate in battle. I hang back. The other warriors \u2013 They say I\u2019m scared of my blade. But I\u2019m not,\u201d he added quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPerhaps of the enemy\u2019s blade?\u201d Utgar suggested quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026 Perhaps,\u201d Kirav agreed. \u201cBut I want to fight. I want to fight for freedom. I want to take on the Empire and defeat them. I want\u2026 I want to be able to do what you did.\u201d He paused. \u201cWe all do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Utgar looked away, over the assembled warriors. The dawn was coming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no secret to what I did,\u201d he finally said, turning back to Kirav. \u201cI grew up fighting. I simply had more experience than my enemies.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh,\u201d Kirav said. \u201cYes\u2026 Of course.\u201d He looked down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Utgar watched him for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI won\u2019t tell you how to fight,\u201d he finally said. Kirav looked up. \u201cI won\u2019t,\u201d Utgar repeated. \u201cI don\u2019t want to fight. All I want is safety for my daughter. But I will say this: uncertainty is a worse enemy than any Imperial soldier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat about caution, though?\u201d Kirav said. \u201cYou can\u2019t just go charging into battle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Utgar agreed, \u201cyou can\u2019t.\u201d He stood. The dawn was upon them. \u201cBut fighting for what you believe in is not a safe business. If you are too cautious, you\u2019ll gain nothing.\u201d Kirav stood as well. \u201cDo what you can to survive,\u201d Utgar said, \u201cbut if you don\u2019t cut down your enemy, eventually he will kill you. Make sure you kill him first.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRuna!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa turned. One of Vraen\u2019s kyrie ran up to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s time,\u201d he said. \u201cYou are the signal for the others to attack.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa felt her heart beat faster. \u201cI am?\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The kyrie nodded. \u201cThe fortification has two ways out. When you attack the back, we\u2019ll attack the front.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A sick feeling flooded Runa\u2019s stomach. \u201cYou want me to block their escape?\u201d she said. \u201cTo pen them in?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes,\u201d the kyrie said matter-of-factly. He looked at her for a moment. \u201cWe mean to convince them that they must join us,\u201d he added at her look. \u201cIf they can escape, then they have another option. You\u2019re just\u2026 removing that option. All you need to do is block their escape. You don\u2019t need to actually harm anyone directly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd what if they don\u2019t want to join you?\u201d Runa asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The kyrie paused. \u201cWell,\u201d he said, \u201c\u2026 that\u2019s why we carry weapons. Don\u2019t worry,\u201d he added. \u201cMany will join us. But some never will. Those are our enemies. They\u2019re the ones who would stop us. If we\u2019re to succeed, they must die.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa didn\u2019t move. The sick feeling intensified.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the only way,\u201d the kyrie said. \u201cWe wait for your signal,\u201d he added, when Runa didn\u2019t reply. Then he turned, and ran back to where Vraen\u2019s force waited, hidden in the canyon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa looked down at her hands. She knew what she could do now. She could kill with a touch. She could cause fear with a thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She lowered her hands. This wasn\u2019t her. She sat on a nearby stone and buried her face in her hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Wellspring,<\/em> she thought. It all came back to the Wellspring. If she just didn\u2019t have its power\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n But I do. I <\/em>am a Valkyrie now. Maybe before, I could hide in the desert, I could stay home where it was safe. But father was right. Maybe everyone has good in them, but here, in this place\u2026.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMe or them,\u201d she whispered to herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She stood. The rim of the sun was just breaking across the horizon. She took a shaky breath, but faced it defiantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo that we can leave,\u201d she said to herself. \u201cSo that we can leave the Volcarren, and never return.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Slowly, she unfurled her wings. The Wellspring had given her the gift of flight, the ability to rise above the desolate surface of the Volcarren, into the clear air above it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She could hide no longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The deadly calm Utgar felt before a battle was growing within him again. He, Kirav, and the rest of Vraen\u2019s kyrie were lying on their bellies on the very lip of the canyon. Any moment now, Runa would appear in the air, and they would attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beside Utgar, Kirav was still. His eyes were fixed upwards, waiting for Runa. Glancing down, Utgar saw that his hand was clenched on his sword. The knuckles were white.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRelax your muscles,\u201d Utgar whispered to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kirav looked down, startled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRelax,\u201d Utgar repeated. \u201cDon\u2019t go into a battle tense. You\u2019ll be injured by your own movements, if not by another\u2019s blade.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kirav nodded, and let his breath out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow many battles have you been in?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToo many,\u201d Utgar replied. He looked forward. \u201cFar too many.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n From somewhere ahead of them, there was a sudden rushing sound, as if a great sandstorm had been unleashed from the silence of the dawn. A scream rent the air. A second scream followed it. Then shouts and cries of panic shattered the new day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Vraen\u2019s commander leapt to his feet and raised his sword above his head. \u201cWarriors!\u201d he bellowed. \u201cAttack!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor freedom?\u201d Kirav said, turning to Utgar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utgar pushed himself off of the ground and stood. \u201cFor freedom,\u201d he agreed. Then he charged forward with Kirav and the rest of the kyrie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Above them, Utgar could see a solitary figure, her wings spread wide, seeming to stay aloft by magic (which could very well be the case). From her palms poured a cloud of thick red smoke, striking the ground faster than a Volcarren Viper, and spreading outwards quicker than a kyrie could run. The smoke was centered just outside the rear gate; Utgar knew Runa had no desire to move it within the walls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main gate was only a short sprint away. The first soldiers to reach it demolished it quickly enough, using stone axes to break apart the weathered wood. By the time Utgar and Kirav arrived, the remains of the gate were but splinters, and they were able to rush into Holn without slowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few soldiers met them, but only a few had weapons, and almost none wore armor. Holn had never been attacked, and it was clear that many of them still didn\u2019t realize what was happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first few soldiers were slain quickly. Some, an inkling of the truth dawning in their terrified faces, threw down their weapons and flung themselves to the ground. Utgar saw that not one was slain. Vraen had trained his warriors well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Inspired by the ease of their first victories, the attackers ran deeper into Holn, passing over any soldier who surrendered, and killing any who did not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa lifted her hands, stopping the flow of poison. The cloud below her spread slowly, blocking the rear exit. Some of the sick feeling had left her stomach. She had managed to keep the poison from entering the fortress. As long as they didn\u2019t try to run through it, no one would be harmed by her powers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She looked beyond the wall, inside the fortress. She could see soldiers running through the narrow dusty streets, disorganized and confused. An occasional woman was to be seen, but Holn was a military fortress. There were few civilians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every few seconds, a soldier would turn towards the rear exit, see the cloud of poison before it, see Runa above, and run the other way. But not all of them ran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Below her, close to the wall, Runa saw a door open and a large kyrie exit. He wore no armor and carried no weapons, but he dragged a woman after him, pulling her by her hair. She stumbled and beat at him with her fists, but he shrugged off her attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCowards!\u201d he shouted after the fleeing soldiers. \u201cStand and fight! You\u2019re soldiers of the Empire!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n They ignored him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The woman tried to pull free of his grip, but he turned to her, and struck her squarely across the face. She cried out, staggering back. She tried to pull away, but he kicked her to the ground. Finally relinquishing his hold on her hair, he planted a booted foot on her back, keeping her down. She cried out, trying to shove him off of her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He raised his foot, and stamped on her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Both the woman and Runa cried out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Somehow, over the cries of men and the clash of arms, the large kyrie must have heard Runa, for he turned sharply, looked up, and saw her. And in that moment, Runa saw his face, and recognized him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a second, all sound ceased, and Runa saw again darkness, lit only by the dying embers of a fire beyond the tent wall. A voice came to her from the shadows, a voice which caused her blood to run cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou know where the Wellspring is,\u201d the voice said. \u201cTell me, or the pain begins again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But Runa didn\u2019t know. She said so over and over, choking on her own tears, shaking with fright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou leave me with no choice,\u201d said the voice of Ahnvad. It held no sympathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A sudden light illuminated a face. It thrust itself close to Runa, lit by the glow of an iron.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa snapped back to the present. That was a face she would never forget as long as she lived. She looked again at the soldier below her. It was him. He had been the one who had pressed the irons against her when Ahnvad commanded it. She remembered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So did the soldier. His eyes widened as he recognized Runa. He kicked the woman away from him, and pulled from a shadowy doorway a crossbow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He aimed it at Runa, but she, feeling her blood pounding in her ears, glared at him, and pointed a single, shaking, finger at him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He was instantly consumed by a cloud of red smoke. It burst into existence, seeming to explode outwards from the kyrie himself. The woman, still on the ground, scrambled out of the way quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Raising her hand, Runa saw the smoke dissipate to reveal the soldier, writhing on his back on the ground. Blood was pouring from everywhere, from his eyes, nose, and ears. He clutched at his throat as it seemed to constrict tighter, and tighter, and tighter\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pounding in Runa\u2019s ears faded away as the man shuddered to a halt, pale and lifeless. She looked at the soldier, feeling only strangely empty. Below her, the woman, uninjured, cast a swift fearful glance upwards at Runa, before running away towards Vraen\u2019s men.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Runa watched her go. \u201cSo that we can leave,\u201d she said to herself. \u201cSo that we can leave.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the battle was not yet over. Within the fortress, Vraen\u2019s men were locked in combat with those soldiers who would not surrender. Many were captains or commanders, and only a few of Vraen\u2019s warriors were able to stand up to them in battle. Utgar was one of them. And to Utgar\u2019s surprise, so was Kirav.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If Kirav had once hesitated in battle, he did not do so now. Utgar saw him swing his blade at soldier after soldier, felling them one by one. He was not uninjured \u2013 both his left leg and arm were bleeding freely \u2013 but he seemed unaware of the wounds. He had killed nearly as many soldiers as Utgar had, and showed no sign of stopping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utgar had just managed to finally dispatch his opponent when he saw a soldier, wearing black armor and carrying a battleaxe, leap atop a nearby building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFools!\u201d the soldier shouted. \u201cFly! Your advantage is in the air!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few spread their wings, but most of the soldiers were too focused on the battle, and did not hear him. Seeing that his words had little effect, the soldier leapt from the roof, and landed in front of a knot of Vraen\u2019s men. He swung his axe, and Utgar saw that it trailed sparks and smoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Magic, <\/em>he thought. The axe was enchanted. Enchanted weapons were rare indeed, and their power was legendary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A moment later, the men the soldier had attacked fell back, grasping at injuries which seemed burned through their armor. The soldier turned on the spot, saw another group of warriors, and leveled his axe at them. A jet of flame shot out of the tip of the haft, lancing through the warriors like a spear. They fell to the ground, crying out in pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAhnvad!\u201d one of Vraen\u2019s men shouted. The name was repeated on all sides. \u201cAhnvad! It\u2019s Ahnvad!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The tide immediately turned. Vraen\u2019s warriors ran, Ahnvad cutting down those who weren\u2019t fast enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utgar did not run. He stared at Ahnvad. This was the one who had taken Runa. The one who had tortured her. Utgar had done his best to stay in control during the battle, but he couldn\u2019t stay detached any longer. He couldn\u2019t tear his eyes away from Ahnvad. Everything else seemed to blur, and he found himself running towards the kyrie in black armor, raising his stone axe as he went.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ahnvad saw him coming. He turned, and swung his axe at Utgar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utgar got out of the way only just in time. The head of the axe flew past him, missing him by inches. Utgar thought he was safe, but he was wrong: Ahnvad took one step forwards, and swung the bottom of the haft up towards Utgar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The end of the haft slammed into Utgar\u2019s side, catching him below the shoulder. The force of the blow was so great that Utgar was lifted off of his feet momentarily. The haft continued upwards, and Utgar slipped off of it, landing on the hard ground. He landed on his own axe, which had slipped from his grasp, and felt it bite painfully into his right shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fortunately for Utgar, one of Vraen\u2019s men picked that moment to launch himself at Ahnvad, forcing him to turn around to face his new attacker. Utgar was able to scramble to his feet, and pick up his axe. His right arm was tingling, and the fingers didn\u2019t seem to want to grip anything. Utgar shifted his axe to his left hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, Ahnvad had dealt his attacker a blow to the head. The warrior staggered backwards, stumbling over the rough stone ground. Ahnvad advanced after him, walking slowly. His steps were measured, controlled. His stance was set and balanced. Utgar knew, just from watching him, that this was an opponent which could not be distracted, intimidated, or lured into making a mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gripping his axe tightly in his left hand, Utgar ran towards Ahnvad. His back was turned as he dueled the kyrie who had attacked him; now was his chance. But he was too late. Ahnvad whipped his axe up, and then back down, sending the blade slicing towards the kyrie\u2019s head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The axe hit. The kyrie crumpled. Ahnvad calmly moved forwards, wrapped both hands around the haft of his axe, and yanked it free. Then, finally, Utgar arrived, his weapon finding a chink in Ahnvad\u2019s armor, and biting deep into his shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ahnvad spun around so fast that Utgar\u2019s axe was wrenched from his hands. It remained embedded in Ahnvad, and Utgar staggered backwards, picking up a spear which was lying nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a moment, Ahnvad and Utgar stared at each other. Ahnvad did not smile. He did not laugh. Neither did he grimace in pain. He showed no emotion whatsoever. Only his eyes showed life. They were dark, deep-set, calculating. He looked at Utgar, and Utgar looked at him. Blood dripped from both of their arms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beyond them, a cheer went up from Vraen\u2019s men. The last of the Imperial soldiers had surrendered. The fortress was theirs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ahnvad straightened, but his eyes never left Utgar\u2019s. Slowly, he pulled the axe from his shoulder, and flung it from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI will remember you,\u201d he said to Utgar. His voice was low, measured, uncolored by emotion or pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then he unfurled his great wings, and swept them downward, vaulting himself into the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As Utgar watched him go, the tension of the battle drained from him. He fell to his knees, cradling his arm, his body cold and shaking. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Runa land nearby and run towards him, ready to heal him, but he kept his eyes fixed on the fading shadow which was Ahnvad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Utgar felt a cold knot of unease settle in his stomach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n They would meet again.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Utgar had expected Vraen to send Runa against Srung almost the moment she agreed to fight. However, Vraen had other plans. He knew that while he was invincible with Runa, he was vulnerable without her. She could only be in one place at once, so it was imperative that he remove the Imperial soldiers from … Continue reading Chapter Nine<\/span>
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