The First Valkyrie

by S. C. Coleman

  The Traveler’s Solace

  Commander Gelaus sat at the bedside of General Hamo. The young village woman was blending food in a small stone bowl. She used a small stone club to grind up meat and grain. She mixed the crushed food with warm milk. Then, she approached General Hamo’s bed and poured the gruel down his throat. The process was slow. Hamo coughed up most of the gruel and continued to cough after all the food was gone. He would periodically be taken by shivering. Blood had stopped seeping through his bandages but sweat flowed like a river. The young woman took care to change the general’s bandages at least twice a day. Commander Gelaus thanked her. She nodded and left the small hovel. Commander Gelaus sighed. General Hamo had been in a coma for at least a week now. An expedition was being led by the lord of Granuma into the forest. Commander Gelaus doubt much would come of this mission. The bandits were crafty and had lived in the woods for centuries.

  “You are well loved here. I have no idea why these people care so dearly for a lord. They seem to despise every other outsider. I asked them why, but not even that young woman was any help.” Commander Gelaus squeezed Hamo’s hand but there was no response. “These words are wasted on you, aren’t they? Give me a sign that you are alive. I doubt they will allow you to stay here much longer. Please, give me something. The lord of Granuma will surely kill you once he returns. Save yourself General. He will not admit that you are the General. I am starting to believe that you are not myself. Would that we could have escaped our fates.” Commander Gelaus pulled his hand away. The fingers on the Commander’s hands were weak and shaking. Heavy nerve damage in his wrists caused his hands to shake uncontrollably. “I curse our Black Queen. She who had promised to protect you, my friend. Where is she at this late hour? Hear me!” Commander Gelaus lifted his head towards the hovel ceiling and shouted. No answer came. The room fell silent and the commander shook his head. “I shall depart after the moon passes by the sun, General. I will find my house by the sea and remain there. Safe travels, General; in this life or the one that comes after.” Commander Gelaus arose and dusted off his long tunic. He paused to look at the bandaged face of the General. Then, the commander’s head hung low and he departed the hovel. If only the commander had peeled back the bandages. He would have found the face of Hamo. The skin had healed well and there were almost no signs of the previous trials. General Hamo and Commander Gelaus would not see each other alive after this moment.

  ***

  Eleesa, Diodo, and the four foreigners all sat around a small crackling camp fire. They had crested one of the mountain’s smaller peaks. Diodo and his friend happily bantered in the language of the land. Eleesa could tell that two of the women shared a deep hatred for Diodo. The two women didn’t even care to look at Eleesa. The third woman, much younger than the others, was Eleesa and Diodo’s caretaker on their arrival. The young woman did most of the chores around camp. The others, like her, had brightly colored locks of hair. Two of the women, the younger ones, had golden hair that seemed to dance in the fire light. The third woman was much older with silver hair and a permanent scowl. She mostly just rested and walked. The other two women worked together occasionally and chatted in the foreign tongue. Only Diodo talked to Eleesa. During the journey, Diodo had taught Eleesa a few words in the foreign tongue. However, Eleesa’s grasp of the language was still far from elementary. After Diodo and his friend concluded their business, the friend got up and walked over to Eleesa. He squatted in front of her. She looked up into his icy blue eyes. The look in them was wild and piercing. She shivered under the stare. His eyes seemed to transport her back into the frigid salty sea. He smiled down at her and grabbed the fur cloak over her shoulders. He ripped it away and she grasped back at it. The salty air was cold, and the wind chilled her bones. Diodo shouted something in the man’s language and he nodded. The man grabbed Eleesa’s shoulders and held her fast. He was so strong. Eleesa felt like her arms were pinned down by heavy stones. She wriggled, and he spoke, in her language.

  “Halt!” Eleesa looked at him inquisitively. He shook his head and tried again. “I, Herbjarg. I, son Byut.” Eleesa tried to pull away but the man would not let her escape. She struggled and felt her arms going numb. The man seemed to realize he was still holding her. His iron grip let go and she moved away from him. “Ok, is.” Eleesa looked up at the man’s worried expression.

  “I am Eleesa, of Numo.” She tapped her chest with a hand. “You are Herbjarg.” She pointed at the man and he nodded.

  “Eleesa, Numosdottir. Numo daughter.” Herbjarg furrowed his brow. He still could not grasp the grammar of the language.

  “No! Numo is a place. It is not my father.” Herbjarg looked confused. “Never mind.” Eleesa was cold and wanted her fur back. She reached for it, but the man roughly clapped her hand.

  “Train, strong, fight!” The man Bahlled up his fists and shook them in front of Eleesa’s face.

  “I don’t understand.” Eleesa whimpered as she wrapped her arms around herself and shivered.

  “He is going to train you!” Diodo shouted over at Eleesa.

  “What! Women are not allowed to fight, or train.”

  “This is not Bahl young lady.” Diodo winked at her as he tore off a piece of pickled fish. Eleesa could offer no resistance as Herbjarg picked her up and placed her on her feet. “You might need this.” Diodo tossed the shield to Eleesa. At this, the old lady began to shout. Herbjarg harshly replied in their native tongue.

  “What are they saying Diodo?”

  “Oh, they’re just talked about me.” Diodo shook his head and lay back. “She thinks I dishonored the gods back in the town. She doesn’t understand why Herbjarg is traveling with us. He told her that she may return whenever she wished. That is his mother, Angtorga. His wife is now saying that she agrees with Angtorga. She says it is a disgrace to give her weapons to a foreigner. Herbjarg says that is why they brought more weapons. Now they are arguing about something else. My grasp on this language is not yet complete.”

  “Why does Herbjarg defend you so?” Eleesa attempted to lift the shield and found it required all her strength. A long axe had been buckled into the shields leather straps. She lifted the shield with both hands. Even then, she could barely keep the shield off the ground.

  “Oh, I just saved his life once.” Diodo seemed bored and lazily spoke to Eleesa.

  “Now, fight!” Herbjarg, after settling the dispute, picked up his own shield. Herbjarg pretended not to notice as the old lady stood. She looked over at her son and spat. Then she walked back towards the town. The weapons seemed to weigh no more than two feathers in Herbjarg’s hands. His movements were slow and deliberate, but they seemed like a blur to Eleesa. She would raise the shield to block and then it would go crashing back to the ground. With every strike, Eleesa’s legs buckled under the weight and she dropped to her knees. Herbjarg would wait for her to get up. Then he would strike the shield again. The process was slow and Eleesa was completely exhausted. Sweat flowed down her forehead and trickled under her shirt. He arms felt like led weights, but she desperately fended off blow after blow. Herbjarg was accepting no excuses. She either had to defend herself or die under a heavy axe blow. Eleesa could not tell but Herbjarg was acting like a father training a child. He would not intentionally hurt her, but his imposing presence filled Eleesa with terror.

  “Futyar!” A voice came from the distance and three men approached the camp fire. Two women also accompanied the three men. All carried fur packs on their backs. They wore interwoven leather vests and thick cloth shirts. All five carried axes and shields in their hands. On their backs they carried bows and quivers.

  “Ahhhhh, Herbjargssons, ech Segruide.” Herbjarg touched his forehead to one of the women. They have talked in their tongue. Then, Herbjarg motioned towards Eleesa. “Eleesa egh ech.” Eleesa could understand the meaning of the phrase but that was all.

  “Herbjarg,” Diodo patted his friend on the back as he walked up behind Herbjarg. “Eleesa, this
is Thurmod, Herbjarg’s eldest son.” Diodo motioned to the tallest of the three boys. “This is Segruide, Herbjarg’s youngest daughter.” He motioned to a young lady the same height as Eleesa. “This is Byulgrut, Flarok, and Hilde.” Diodo motioned to Herbjarg’s other children. Eleesa bowed to each of them in turn. Each time she did their expressions became confused.

  “What are their names? And who is she?” Eleesa asked of the two other women, still sitting at the fire.

  “Ah, Herbjarg’s wife Sighilde and the family slave, Gruilta.”

  “She is a slave?” Eleesa gasped in confusion.

  “Slaves here are as free as you or me, Eleesa. They do not wear collars or chains. They simply live with the household and do chores.”

  “This is a very strange place, Diodo. Are we slaves?” Diodo laughed at Eleesa’s words. Herbjarg looked to him for translation. After Diodo had passed the words to Herbjarg, he too broke into laughter. “Are we?” The men continued to laugh and Herbjarg explained it to his children. They all started laughing and sat around the fire. Perplexed, Eleesa laid the weapons on the ground and went to join them. Herbjarg’s eyes suddenly filled with fury and he leapt up. Eleesa became afraid. She remembered when Lord Hamago had been brought to anger for no apparent reason. Herbjarg did not strike or humiliate Eleesa, however. He rushed over to the shield, with the axe still in the leather straps. After picking up the shield and axe, he thrust it into Eleesa’s chest. She fell to the ground. Herbjarg ensured the shield was firmly in Eleesa’s grasp and it followed her onto the ground. He shouted a few words afterwards. The tone scolding and behind it Eleesa could detect a hint of worry.

  “Never abandon your shield, Eleesa.” Diodo shook his head and began to munch of more pickled fish.

  “My shield…?” Eleesa sat up. She clung tight to the shield now. She was to afraid to let it go. “I thought these were Sighilde’s.”

  “They are yours now.” Diodo winked at her and rejoined his friends in conversation. Eleesa worked to catch her breath and she wiped sweat from her forehead. The salty excretions had begun to freeze, and she was even colder now than before. She stood up and she caught Herbjarg’s watchful eye. She grunted and hulled the shield over her shoulder. Herbjarg smiled and nodded. Eleesa walked over to her fur coat and picked it up. Herbjarg slapped her on the thigh as she passed. Eleesa gritted her teeth at the stinging pain. The slap seemed to have been meant with good intentions. Herbjarg raised a fist into the air and shouted something. He was smiling and pounding his chest. Eleesa was so confused and she sat down around the fire. She strapped the shield and axe to her back. Then, she pulled the fur cloak tighter around her shoulders. Hilde and Segruide sat down next to Eleesa and attempting to strike a conversation. Eleesa just looked at them blankly. Herbjarg said something to them and the two young women laughed. Segruide handed Eleesa a strip of cloth. It was handwoven and intricate designs had been carved into the cloth. The cloth was died a deep green with a light blue trim. The depictions had been decorated with jewels and gold. Herbjarg eyed the exchange curiously. Eleesa assumed the piece of cloth must have been special. Segruide traced her finger along the outline of the pictures. There was a giant snake coming out of a green pool. It looked as though the snake was about to attack a bear and wolf. The two animals were fighting and did not notice the snake. Farther down the cloth, a large eagle clutched a group of people in it’s talons. The final picture was an old tree with a goat sleeping underneath. The symbols meant nothing to Eleesa. Segruide reverently spoke the names of each of the beasts. Then, she took the cloth and fastened it around Eleesa’s neck. Then she leaned over and kissed the side of Eleesa’s cheek. Eleesa looked over at Segruide and bowed her head. She thanked Segruide and touched the strip of ornate cloth. Segruide nodded and clapped Eleesa on the back. Her touch was a little lighter than her father’s, but still rough.

  ***

  General Hamo had recovered, somewhat. The bandages still shrouded his figure, but he could sit up, walk, and drink by himself. He still had to walk with a cane, but he was not dead, yet. The young woman was now joined by the soldier that she had initially given a report to. Two more soldiers had stayed in the hovel with Hamo. Two more stood guard outside and took shifts with the others inside. The men had been stationed to protect General Hamo. They were under orders from Commander Gelaus. They would not budge when the lord of Granuma rode up to the hovel. He had ten skirmishers accompanying him. The two guards outside held the same long oval shields. The maintained held a long spear in each hand. At their waists, they carried both a long and short sword. The weapons were the design of the Bahl royal infantry. They were palace guards and held the crest of Queen Magiya; a black crescent over a red field. The Lord approached atop a horse.

  “I am Lord Milco of the house of Milco. I rule Granuma and I order you to let me pass. I must speak with the prisoner. The two men did not utter a word. They wore light leather armor and the usual helmet of iron and bronze. At the top of the helmets stood a spire with the point becoming a crescent. The two points on the crescent reached towards the sun. Their bodies did not move, nor did the chain vails that dripped from their helms. The lord growled and pushed his horse forward. In perfect unity, the two men dropped the center of their bodies. They were now in a crouch and the two spears pointed at the Lord’s face. “Out of my way!” The Lord’s orders fell on deaf ears. The commotion had brought the villagers out to see the spectacle. Also, the Lords retinue of a hundred men created a barrier to hold back the villagers. The Lord gripped the bronze handle of his long sword. The two guards did not move. The remained frozen in a crouch. Grimacing, Lord Milco freed the long iron blade from its scabbard. He rapped the blade on the spear shafts. Still, the guards remained motionless. Then, the Lord drew back and swung at the spear shafts. The guards moved the spears with blinding speed and struck Lord Milco’s horse in the chest. The horse reared up and screamed. Lord Milco was thrown from his cloth saddle. Then, the two soldiers drove their spear points home and brought the horse down. It whimpered as it toppled over. The soldiers retracted the spears and buried the bottom of their hide shields into the ground. Their spears the placed over top the shields. The both slowly moved forward and Lord Milco backed away. The two guards answered by returning to their posts. Lord Milco spat and shouted as he paced in front of his men. Just then, the two other guards from inside joined their two brothers outside. One of the guards raised his hand to Lord Milco. The guard opened the ox hide flap to the hovel. General Hamo, hobbled out from inside. He was still covered in bandages and could not yet wear any clothes or armor. The young village woman and her attending foot soldier helped Hamo outside.

  “What is your name, soldier?” The young woman whispered to the foot soldier as they supported General Hamo together.

  “I am called Hicro, and your name my lady?”

  “Larsa, my friend.”

  “You have a kind heart. To help this man and nurse him back from the afterlife.”

  “This is no mere man. He has saved my village many times. I am only grateful for the opportunity to serve him on this moment.”

  “You, soldier, what do you do here?” Lord Milco, looking pleased, recognized the face of his man.

  “I simply take reports and investigate, my lord.” The young soldier kneeled and Larsa grunted under the full weight of Hamo.

  “You are the village master?”

  “I am lord.”

  “What has your report to tell of this man.”

  “Lord Gelaus of the House of Gelaus adamantly states that this man before you are the desert phoenix. He can travel now. I advise he be taken to Granuma.”

  “Do you trust Commander Gelaus’s word? Where is the Commander now?” Lord Milco sheathed his sword and rested a hand on its pommel.

  “Lord Gelaus is no longer a commander, my lord. He has departed for the north. I fear that he has departed forever. He stated that he did not believe General Hamo would recover.”

  “Whoever the
man here is, something is watching over him. He seems to have recovered from the afterlife. He is surely mighty.” Lord Milco stared in awe of the bandage covered survivor. General Hamo was still racked with fevers and spasms. The powers Queen Magiya imbued into his bones kept Hamo standing. “We must saddle up the horses with all haste. If this is indeed General Hamo, then the invasion is in great peril. Timujri has not sent word for many days.” Lord Milco gestured to his men and the crowd dispersed. The four crescent guards picked up General Hamo and hoisted him into a cart. Two of the guards took positions in the front seat of the cart. The other two sat down in the back. Larsa and Hicro stood and watched as the small force departed north.

  The Dark Capital

  Diodo had told her that these mighty mountains were called the Bjorg mountains. They were watched over by the mighty bear Bjorg. The coast was watched over by the great sea wolf Tithard the Grey. Meanwhile, the sea was governed over by Braguda the giant sea serpent. They named the sea after the serpent, calling it the Bragda sea. The three beasts were the servants of Uldon the mighty beast man. The people believed him the Danfear to be his first children. The Hinn believed they were simply cousins of the Danfear. Uldon was considered to reside in the clouds. He was a mighty god with power over all the earth. Eleesa asked Diodo why the coast was not named after Tithard. Diodo laughed and shrugged. Somehow, in the manner of Diodo’s words, she believed that he worshipped these seafaring people’s gods. Diodo told Eleesa that there was a story told at many campfires. It just so happened that he told her last night around the fire. Diodo was telling some story of how he met Braguda during his voyages. It was at this moment that Diodo had to stop and explain the story to Eleesa. He added that the great story was the battle between the three powers. Bjorg would come down from the mountain and hunt Tithard. They would fight and role into the sea. Braguda would wrap the two up in his coils. Uldon would then grasp the sun and moon. The mighty god of the Danfear and Hinn would bring down all the sky onto the fighting beasts. The mountain would erupt with Bjorg’s fury and fire would rain down upon the earth. Braguda would hurl the sea at the mountain to stop the fire. Tithard would bite the necks of his two brothers. Uldon, attempting to wrench the beasts free, would be dragged into the ocean by Braguda. After this tale, Diodo returned to recount that Eleesa was under the watch of Braguda. When she was pulled from the sea, she had a black snake for a companion. Herbjarg’s entire family listened in amazement. They then each touched Eleesa’s face. She had grown used to the strange customs and remained where she sat. As Eleesa slept the night before, she wondered if maybe there was truth to what the stories. Perhaps it had been Braguda, and not the One, that watched over her. The only thing that kept her from believing the story was Diodo’s trick. The snake had been of the desert and not the sea. Yet, it seemed the One had been silent her entire life. It was the gods of the Hinn that seemed real to her now.