Now she knew they’d never missed her at all. As far as they were concerned, Sam was still out there. Her body, her mind, her soul; they were all still there at Fort Drum, going to work every day and calling home weekly.
Her family and friends didn’t even know she was stuck in this place. There was no getting out, not for her. And no one would even miss her or know she was gone.
Sam’s fingers hovered over the necklace another moment as she considered her options. She really couldn’t leave it lying there. The dark alfar had gone to a lot of trouble to get the thing into her hands. The way they’d left immediately afterward, it almost felt like the entire attack had been a setup to lure Sam in so they could get the necklace to her.
Why would they do that? The answer to that question demanded she bring the thing along, even more than the roiling emotions she felt each time she looked at it. But Sam wasn’t about to trust it not to do whatever it had done a second time. She withdrew her hand and took an empty pouch from her belt. Turning the pouch inside out, she used it like a glove and reached out toward the necklace again.
“Careful, Great One,” Gurgle said again.
“I’m being as cautious as I can. If I fall over again, watch me until I wake up,” Sam said.
“No do!” Gurgle started to say.
Before he could talk her out of it, Sam reached out and grasped the necklace with the leather pouch wrapped around her hand. She half expected the magic to send her off into another vision, but nothing happened. Moving slowly, so it didn’t bump her skin, Sam brought the necklace closer to her face so she could look it over. It wasn’t just similar to her jewelry. This was an exact replica, right down to the patterns of patina on the wire.
She flipped the pouch right-side-out again, tucking the pendant away inside it in the process. Satisfied that it didn’t represent any immediate threat, Sam buckled the pouch back to her belt. The pendant and its mystery could be solved later. For now, she needed to get back to Jordheim and make sure everyone there was all right.
“Gurgle not like that thing,” her friend said.
“Me either. But the dokkalfar left it for a reason. It’s personal, Gurgle. Something to do with my past,” Sam said. Or my other present, she thought. Either way, she couldn’t just leave it behind. Gurgle was right, she was taking a chance, but…
“Come on. We should get back to the city,” Sam said.
Gurgle knelt, and she vaulted aboard. Then they were airborne, flying from the hilltop toward Jordheim. Even at a distance, Sam saw that the giants were being routed. The streams of attackers were gone. Most giants were wandering back home to whatever location they were supposed to be. The few close enough to the city to remain engaged were losing the fight. The defenders of the town pushed them back to the gates, and then beyond. There wasn’t much mop up left to do by the time Gurgle had Sam in range to help, so she landed near the Black Knights.
“Sam! They broke. Like magic, they just stopped coming. Was that you?” Jorge asked.
“Yes. Dokkalfar from Niflheim, casting a spell to summon all the giants,” Sam said. “I scattered them, and the spell broke.”
“That doesn’t even make sense. Non-player characters shouldn’t even be able to cross between realms, let alone change the nature of a realm entirely,” Jorge said. He looked up at Sam. “You’re not shocked, though. Which means you have at least some idea what’s going on.”
Sam glanced around. No prying ears were close enough to hear what she was about to say over the general din. She could trust Jorge, but if word got out about everything she knew, there would be mass panic.
“This is going to sound crazy, but I swear it’s true. There are two AIs in Valhalla, Jorge. They don’t like each other much. In fact, one of them wants to get out of the game, and the other wants to stop her,” Sam said. “The one who wants out was behind this attack. Probably to delay me, or stop me from getting reinforcements.”
“AI — and one trying to get out… You’re talking Skynet type shit?” Jorge asked.
Sam just nodded.
“You said you were here for reinforcements. I’ll ask around the Knights. I know a few who would come along with you on this quest. More than a few who would want to come because of your reputation alone,” Jorge said.
“Just people you trust. I can’t take any chances here,” Sam said. “And it will be dangerous. Real danger, not just regular Valhalla death.”
Jorge grimaced. He was one of the few Sam had told about the hacked arrows Thorsten used. He knew precisely what sort of danger she was talking about. True death - the final annihilation. It was what everyone in Valhalla Online had come there to escape. Finding people willing to risk that again might be a challenge.
“I’ll see what I can do,” Jorge said.
“Quickly, please,” Sam said. “I don’t think we have a lot of time.”
If Hel was sending dark alfar to delay her, then it meant every hour counted. Each delay would increase Hel’s chances of breaking loose. Once she was out, there might be no stopping her at all.
13
Heid’s hands were on her hips and she was all but tapping her toes with impatience as Sam brought Gurgle in for a landing. The transition back to Vanaheim was as smooth as she could have asked for. If a bit creepy. She’d grown used to the quick trips to the next realm that were built into the game world. Those shifts always felt instantaneous. This slow slide through fog took some getting used to.
She hoped she wouldn’t need to. But she had a feeling that wasn’t going to be the case. It was too powerful a gift to leave unused.
A glance over her shoulder told Sam her other passengers were all still there, if a little shocked-looking. She’d warned them what to expect during the jump between realms, but the only way to truly get used to the event was to experience it. They would be all right soon enough.
Gurgle spiraled down toward the rooftop and landed. Sam was sliding down from his back almost the moment his claws touched down. She loved flying with him, but it was good to be back on firm ground again after the disorientation of the trip through the fog.
“It took you long enough,” Heid snapped.
“Hel had something special planned for us as a welcome present,” Sam replied.
“Oh?” Heid looked alarmed.
Sam wasn’t sure how much she wanted to reveal about the giant attack and her battle with the dark elves. Sure, she was fighting on the same side as this AI right now, but that didn’t mean she trusted Heid. One bit of information Sam’s gut said to keep secret was the necklace. Heid might take it from her if she knew it existed, and Sam didn’t want to be parted from it.
That wasn’t a logical decision on her part. It was an emotional one. The necklace might well be some sort of trap. But it also represented a link back to her old life, one she wasn’t willing to give up just yet.
Besides, if Hel’s people had been there to do her more harm, there had been plenty of opportunities. No, The necklace was a mystery, not a trap. One Sam was determined to unravel.
“Giants attacking the city. Like, all of them at once. I had to help clean up the mess before I could get the reinforcements we need,” Sam said.
“She’s trying delaying tactics. That makes it more important than ever that we hurry. The sooner you are all off for her realm, the better,” Heid said.
“We’re all ready, I think,” Sam said, looking back at the team mounted on Gurgle behind her. It was good to see some of her old friends again. Grimalf made her nervous, if only because she hadn’t known him long enough to take his measure yet. Having an unknown quantity in their small force wasn’t ideal. Still, the others had vouched for him, and those people Sam did know well. Their word would have to be enough reassurance.
Clara was there as well, along with Benson. It seemed they’d married since Sam left Jotunheim behind. Marriage in a virtual world? Sam shook her head, still unsure how she felt about the idea. The couple took it seriously enough, though. Their eyes lit up
every time they looked at each other.
Jorge was there as well. He’d insisted on coming, in fact, saying that his ability to heal might be necessary before all was said and done. Sam wanted to leave him in control of the Black Knights on Jotunheim, but Jorge has set up a path of succession, handing the guild over to Knut, another stranger to Sam.
It was her original team, more or less. She’d gotten the band back together. If only they were going after something as simple as a frost giant king, this time…!
“I’m ready as well,” Harald said from beside Heid. He’d been motionless as the statue he resembled until then.
“Good gods, is that Harald?” Jorge asked, blanching. “I know you said he was different, Sam. I wasn’t expecting...”
“A monster, Jorge?” Harald replied in a deadpan tone.
Jorge slid from Gurgle’s back, his feet thudding hard against the stone. He crossed the short distance to where Harald stood and stared up into the man’s eyes. That was quite a ways up; Harald’s new form towered over everyone. Then Jorge reached out a hand. Harald hesitated a moment, then clasped Jorge’s hand in his own massive fist.
“No, old friend. Never a monster. I hadn’t realized how much pain you’ve endured. It’s there, etched in your eyes,” Jorge said. “But you are the man of honor you’ve always been. And you are still my friend, not a monster.”
“I hope you’re right,” Harald mumbled, turning away.
Jorge tugged at Harald’s arm hard enough to stop him. Harald had the strength of a dozen men in that form. Sam had seen him use it in the defense against the dark elves. But that steady tug halted him in his tracks.
“I am right, Harald. What’s more, if you look inside yourself, you’ll know it to be true,” Jorge said. He gestured down to his own body. “None of us are here what we once were, back in the old world. We’ve all changed how we looked, at least somewhat. What matters isn’t what’s on the surface. You of all men know that.”
Harald stared down into his eyes for a long time before nodding at last as he held out his hands. “I do. It’s hard to remember when I look at these, though.”
“All the more reason to get to Helheim so we can get you back into your original body,” Sam said.
“Yes, yes. The sooner you are all off, the better for everyone,” Heid said. “Time is wasting.”
“Everyone ready to go?” Sam asked, glancing around. The team nodded their replies. “Then let’s do this.”
“Very well. I am going to send you as close to Helheim as I can. You’ll end up in Nifleheim, near a river. Follow it,” Heid said. She reached out to touch Harald, and he flinched away from her hand.
“I have to link my magic to your hammer to transport you all there,” Heid said.
He hesitated another moment, making Sam wonder again what their history was. She’d have to ask Harald once they had a moment alone. Then he nodded. She reached out and touched the hammer. Heid’s form shimmered and faded. From Sam’s point of view it almost looked like she was being pulled, sucked away into the hammer. But then she realized everything was spinning, the colors swirling together in a whirl.
She felt instant nausea and closed her eyes, but even that didn’t hide the reality of the universe warping around her. Whatever it was Heid was doing, it was a very different sort of transportation from what she’d experienced before.
Then all at once there was hard rock under her palms and knees again. Sam groaned, fighting to keep from vomiting. Could a virtual person throw up? She didn’t remember seeing anyone do so in Valhalla, but she didn’t want to be the first, either. Sam clamped her teeth together until her vision settled down some.
“What was that?” Benson moaned. “Feels like the worst hangover ever.”
They were all in similar shape. Everyone except Harald and Gurgle, anyway. Both of them were still standing, alert, ready for anything. Harald being unaffected made sense to Sam if Heid used his amulet as a tool to enable the travel. But why was Gurgle unaffected? Her friend was full of surprises.
“Look out!” Gurgle said. He craned his neck toward Sam and opened his mouth wide. A blast of freezing air spat from his jaws. It collided in mid-air with a fireball that had been headed directly for Sam. The two magics canceled each other out.
Sam stood up, calling magic to her hands. Ahead of them was arrayed an entire battle line of dokkalfar. There had to be hundreds of them. The army of elves marched toward them, keeping their ranks but closing at a fast pace and shouting as they came.
14
The dark elves marched toward the small party in a row that extended hundreds of feet to each side. Worse, they stood at least three ranks deep. How many of them were there? Hel had to be pulling out all the stops on this. That had to be her primary army, every force she could throw at them all.
Sam wasn’t sure if invisibility would cloak them when they were already clearly seen. She also hadn’t time to test if she could hide the entire group. Another thing she should have done before they left Vanaheim! She cursed under her breath but shook off the misgivings. Nothing she could do about it now. She’d keep the invisibility spell on standby, but they’d have to try and fight their way out first.
“Form a line!” Sam shouted. Her people followed her order, assembling in a small row with Harald in the center, Gurgle flying back and forth overhead.
“Wait, look!” Gurgle said, pointing to their rear.
Sam whirled and saw another army approaching from that direction. This one was different. Where the dokkalfar wore black armor and wielded weapons of the same nightly shade, this new force was armored in gleaming silver mail. They were short, sturdy men and women. Spears, hammers, and axes bristled between their shields.
“Who are they?” Sam asked.
“Svartalfar,” Harald said. When Sam still looked confused, he went on. “Dwarves! This realm is about two sides fighting, remember? The dokkalfar on Niflheim's side, the Svartalfar on the side of Svartalfheim.”
“Are they friendly?” Sam asked. Both sides were still closing with them rapidly. Her people were about to be crunched in the middle between two armies.
“We didn’t enter the usual way,” Harald said. “If we had, we’d have been forced to choose a side. Since we haven’t chosen a side...”
“They’re both going to see us as the enemy, aren’t they?” Sam asked. Harald didn’t reply. “Gods damn it!”
She scanned the terrain. The whole area was rough, the stone looking like volcanic rock. But off to her right was a small mound rising from the otherwise mostly level field. It would give them at least a little advantage of height.
“Make for that hill!” Sam called.
“The pile of rocks?” Benson asked. “That hardly counts as a hill!”
Sam glared at him and he flashed her a grin in reply. She calmed herself. It was important to remember that even in the worst case, they’d all die and respawn somewhere. They could get themselves together and try again. Death wasn’t a permanent end to their quest.
But it would delay them, and that seemed to be what Hel was after. More delaying tactics. Well, if she had anything to say about it they were going to punch through this mess!
“Casters up top. Jorge, center. Keep everyone alive. Gurgle and Harald at twelve and six. Benson and Clara at three and nine. I’ll use my bow on them from up top,” Sam said as her crew arrived at the mound.
It wasn’t much of a defensive position, but it would give them something. The ranks of both armies were still closing at a jog, but now they seemed more intent on each other than they were on Sam’s people. She shook her head. They were looking the wrong way, as far as she was concerned. It was time to demonstrate that.
Sam drew an arrow from her pouch and nocked it on her bow. She almost couldn’t miss. The row of dark elf shields was so tightly packed that she was bound to hit something, but Sam aimed quickly at a soldier in the front rank anyway. Then she let the arrow fly.
It sped through the air, slamming into
a shield. The shield vanished immediately, and the arrow continued going another two feet to stab into the dark alfar behind it. Tendrils of black swarmed from the shaft, crawling up and down his body. Then he vanished, turning into a black mist which quickly faded away.
Sam had already fired another arrow before her first victim was gone from view. She drew and loosed, drew and loosed, as rapidly as she could. The hail of arrows was putting a dent in the dokkalfar line, slowing their advance nearest their hill.
On the other side, facing toward the dwarves, Gurgle let loose with a blast of his frigid breath that stopped their advance in its tracks. The front ranks hunkered down behind their shields, cowering as ice built up on the ground in front of them.
Then off in the distance, just beyond the dark elf line, Sam spotted something glinting in the dim lighting of this realm. It looked like running water. That had to be the river they were supposed to follow! All they needed to do was break past a vast pile of dokkalfar to get there.
“I’ve got our objective in sight,” Sam said, still firing into the enemy ranks. “We need to bust through the boys in black there.”
“On it,” Harald said. He strode forward toward the elves, smashing them aside with his massive fists as soon as he was in range. Their weapons glanced off his rock form, but each of his blows sent one of their number flying. Together with Sam’s arrows, the hole in the enemy line grew broader and deeper.
“Follow Harald!” Sam shouted over the noise. The dwarves had closed on them to the rear, she saw. Gurgle was fighting them with tooth and claw now.
The main forces of both sides had also collided. They were fighting each other, all up and down their line. Only those nearest Sam’s party gave them any notice at all.
“Gurgle, lay down covering fire and then follow. Everyone else, with me!” Sam said. Then she rushed after Harald, firing more arrows into every target of opportunity she saw. Hel knew she was coming. The AI knew about the arrows. There seemed to be no point in holding back.
Valhalla Online 4: Hel Hath No Fury: A Ragnarok Saga LitRPG Story Page 6