Runa\u2019s demonstration of her powers at the fortress of Holn had been enough. Once they knew they were facing a Valkyrie, no one \u2013 soldier or Volcarren alike \u2013 wanted to be her enemy. People came flooding into Nearv to swear fealty to Vraen. In turn, Runa was kept at Nearv, both so that she would be out of harm\u2019s way, and so that Nearv was protected from attack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearv soon expanded far past its walls. It was now a sea of tents, crude stone huts, crowded narrow streets, rushing soldiers, and families seeking shelter. Vraen told Runa to stay near his hall. Many Imperial soldiers had deserted and joined Vraen, and he was taking no chances. She might be a Valkyrie, but she could still be injured or killed by a blade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That was why she was not entirely surprised when he called her to his hall, and presented her with a sword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a small sword, but even Runa, who knew nothing of such weapons, could tell that it was skillfully crafted. It was light in her arms, and runes and swirling designs were etched into the blade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the best we could find,\u201d Vraen said as she held it. \u201cAt least out of the ones your size. It came from a soldier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa studied the blade. \u201cIs he dead?\u201d she asked. \u201cThe soldier. Is he dead? Or did he join us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Vraen frowned. \u201cHe is dead.\u201d He put a hand on her shoulder. \u201cI have troops to lead,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019ll return in a few days. Stay here, stay close to my hall.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa nodded. \u201cWhat about my father?\u201d she asked. \u201cWhen will he return?\u201d Vraen had sent Utgar south, to convince the Vel clans to join them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019ll be back soon,\u201d he assured her. \u201cWe may both arrive on the same day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd then?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen \u2013 if the Empire is gone from all but Srung \u2013 we attack,\u201d Vraen said. \u201cBe sure you are ready.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa nodded. Vraen turned, and left her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa turned back to the blade in her hands. No common soldier had possessed this. The metal was polished until it reflected the dark ceiling above; the etched designs caught the dim light. It was too small to be of much use to an adult commander. Perhaps it had belonged to someone younger. Someone about Runa\u2019s age. Maybe the son of a general. Or a governor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She ran a finger down the flat of the blade. The edge was sharp; small though it was, it was still a deadly weapon. She lifted the sword in one hand, and held it at arm\u2019s length. The metal glimmered dully in the half-light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Had that sword struck flesh? Surely it had seen combat. How much pain had it caused? Runa lowered the blade and held it in both hands. Had it killed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She saw her face reflected in the blade. The metal seemed to distort her features, making her face harder, older somehow. Or had she changed that much?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A cry from outside interrupted Runa\u2019s thoughts. Sheathing the sword, she crossed the hall and stepped outside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nearby, just inside one of the narrow alleys between tents, Runa saw a small boy lying on the ground. He was young, almost a child, and he was crying. Runa didn\u2019t have to look far to see why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Three kyrie, all a few years older than Runa from what she guessed, were standing around him. Two were laughing. One was kneeling close to the boy, saying something to him. All three wore the armor of Volcarren raiders. Runa recognized the kneeling kyrie: he had joined Vraen just a few days before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The kneeling kyrie bent lower, whispering something to the boy. The boy cried harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa knew who these kyrie were. They were bullies. Emboldened by Vraen\u2019s success, many of the younger soldiers had taken to strutting about Nearv, bullying those younger or weaker than themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Glaring at the three, Runa moved towards them. She didn\u2019t know what she planned to do, but she knew no one would dare stand up to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But someone else got there before her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Practically flying from between two tents, a fourth kyrie tackled the kneeling bully. The pair rolled away from the crying boy, kicking up dust and loose sand. The two standing bullies, unsure what had happened, simply stood there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa ran forwards quickly, but she was still a good distance away. Meanwhile, the new arrival had disentangled himself and gotten his feet beneath him. The bully he had tackled tried to do the same, but the kyrie launched at him again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa saw the bully bring his arm back to strike the kyrie, but the kyrie blocked the blow, and landed one of his own, slamming his elbow into the bully\u2019s face, causing him to fall back in pain. The other two bullies, who had been closing in, paused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The kyrie stood, glaring at all three, daring them to come closer. The bullies looked at each other uncertainly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then Runa arrived. She was shorter than all four of the other kyrie, but the bullies saw the look on her face, and backed away quickly, running down a side alley. The small boy, who had remained on the ground the entire time, scrambled to his feet and also ran away before Runa could say a word. The only one left was the kyrie who had attacked the bullies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that she could see him properly, Runa recognized him. He was one of the prisoners who had been with her when Vraen rescued them. She had seen him bound and placed in the same tent before she was drugged. Up close, she realized he was nearly her own age, maybe a year or two older at most.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The kyrie gave her a quick glance. Runa could see that he recognized her, but he said nothing. He turned, and began walking away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa followed him. \u201cWhy did you do that?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The kyrie stopped and half-turned towards her. His eyebrows knitted. \u201cI don\u2019t like bullies,\u201d he said shortly. He turned away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As he did so, Runa saw a deep gash in his shoulder. It looked less than a day old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re hurt,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The kyrie shrugged and began to move away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStop,\u201d Runa said. She hadn\u2019t meant it as a command, but the kyrie halted, his back stiff. He slowly turned towards her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour shoulder,\u201d Runa said. \u201cI can heal it.\u201d One of the many effects of the Wellspring was the ability to heal almost any injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She took a tentative step towards the kyrie. He let her approach him, and she placed a hand on his shoulder, and felt the flesh beneath her palm begin to reknit. He stood still, not looking at her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy did you do that?\u201d she repeated. \u201cThere were three of them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe other two were cowards,\u201d the kyrie said shortly. He still wouldn\u2019t look at her. \u201cI attacked the leader. If I beat him, the other two would run.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa couldn\u2019t help but be curious. \u201cBut what if you hadn\u2019t beat him?\u201d she asked. She lowered her hand. The shoulder was good as new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The kyrie shrugged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa watched as he felt his shoulder. \u201cHow could you know they would run?\u201d she asked. \u201cWhat if you were wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t,\u201d the kyrie said. \u201cI\u2019ve seen plenty like them before\u2014\u201d He stopped, as if afraid he had said too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d Runa asked, more curious now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The kyrie finally glanced at her, briefly. Then he looked away again. \u201cTer,\u201d he said, growling out the name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ter was a Volcarren village right next to Srung. It was almost as hated as the fortress itself. It was full of Imperial sympathizers, and those who spied for the Empire, in return for easy lives and good food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou live there?\u201d Runa said, taking an involuntary step back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot if I can help it,\u201d the kyrie muttered. Again, he stopped, seeming to fear he had said something he shouldn\u2019t. He glanced at Runa. \u201cI used to live there,\u201d he said, his tone guarded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUsed to?\u201d Runa repeated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The kyrie said nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhere do you live now?\u201d Runa asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNowhere.\u201d The kyrie shrugged. \u201cHere, I guess.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t you have family there?\u201d Runa asked. \u201cAt Ter?\u201d She saw the kyrie\u2019s jaw clench.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI did,\u201d he said shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re not dead,\u201d the kyrie said. But his words confused Runa, for she could hear the anger in his voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThank you for healing me,\u201d the kyrie said. He turned to leave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa watched him go for a moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s your name?\u201d she called, just before he turned a corner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He glanced back at her. She saw his eyes narrow for a brief moment, but then the look was gone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTaelord,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And then he turned and was gone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa looked around. There were people everywhere, families, soldiers. They had all seen the bullies. But none of them had done anything. None of them, except for Taelord. They didn\u2019t care. None of them did.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Runa walked back to Vraen\u2019s hall, her eyes downcast.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Runa\u2019s demonstration of her powers at the fortress of Holn had been enough. Once they knew they were facing a Valkyrie, no one \u2013 soldier or Volcarren alike \u2013 wanted to be her enemy. People came flooding into Nearv to swear fealty to Vraen. In turn, Runa was kept at Nearv, both so that she … Continue reading Chapter Ten<\/span>