“I – I don’t know…” Freya began. She was interrupted by a disturbance above the trees. There were agitated shouts from what appeared to be another flock of soldiers heading back in the direction of the Adaryn colony.
Suddenly perturbed, Aurik stiffened and shifted his wings to take off while looking in the direction of the soldiers. Their shadows flitted through the forest canopy and even from this distance it was apparent they were in a hurried frenzy as their wings moved frantically through the sky.
“Freya, I have to go. Something doesn’t seem right. I promise you though, if you meet me here again, I’ll help you. If you want me to, that is.” He held her by the shoulder again, not afraid of reaching out if the thought to do so overcame him. All she could manage was a feeble nod up at Aurik as he peered into her eyes with a near frightening fervor.
With her silent agreement, Aurik’s massive golden wings spread wide and with a swift motion he was propelled up towards the treetops and disappeared through the leaves. Freya watched in awe as his form gradually faded away in the direction of the castle.
There was a feeling of elation rising in Freya’s gut as she thought of herself befriending the prince. No thought of what help from Aurik might have been bothered her thoughts as she focused solely on the joy that one day might follow.
It wasn’t too long before feelings of trepidation snuck their way into Freya’s heart. Although she would be glad to finally have a new friend, she wasn’t used to the attentions of royalty. Out of the blue it was her future king offering to be her friend. It seemed like an unbelievable dream or a fantasy that was coming true. She was amazed that the pure coincidence that brought Aurik to her could potentially change the course of her life.
Freya made her way home, not upset at the loss of the nighthog. The sun was setting, and the light was dancing through the swaying leaves above her. As she got closer to home Freya wondered if she should tell her family what had transpired or if she should keep it to herself. It was nice to imagine the friendship would work and she could imagine the joy alight on their faces the day she told them of Aurik’s friendship.
As she got closer to the edge of the colony Freya could hear various agitated voices and saw soldiers shouting as they flew through the trees. But unlike any other time where they were returning, there seemed to be a great disturbance in their tones and actions. Something felt wrong and Freya felt her heart leap as if it was trying to escape her chest.
In a whirl Freya rushed towards home remembering Aurik in his rush to leave. He was right that something seemed off this night. Once at the base of her home tree she could hear disquiet coming from above.
Freya rushed upwards to learn what was going on. A sense of foreboding crept up her spine and sent a shiver through her feathers. There was a new voice she began to hear coming from the sitting room behind the front door. Freya made the rest of the way up silently to catch as much of the conversation as she could in case her presence was an interruption.
“- in the ensuing battle. She saved my life, but I’m sorry it was her and not myself.” Lamented an unfamiliar woman inside, followed by a thud. “I’m so sorry. There was nothing we could do.”
Freya felt stiff and cold as goosebumps raced up her arms. She somehow found the will to reach for the door. Standing in the sitting room was Freya’s father holding her mother in his arms. Mother was beginning to weep as she covered her face with her hands, and her father’s face was turning red as his lower lip trembled and his eyes narrowed.
A Valkyrie soldier was on her knees before them with her hands clasped together as if pleading with the now distraught couple. This soldier had striking yellow hair braided into a mohawk and bright yellow wings. Freya recognized this must have been the commander, Alvyna, that Raga had so recently spoke highly of. On the wooden floorboards near her hunched figure was a pile of Valkyrie armor stained crimson with dried blood.
“What’s going on?” The words tumbled from Freya’s lips, but deep down she understood what had happened. Her mother collapsed to the ground with an excruciating wail while holding onto one of Lonan’s pants legs to keep herself upright. Lonan looked at his daughter in the doorway, eyes glistening with unshed tears. His mouth opened as if to speak and no words would come to him.
In a moment that seemed to last an eternity the Valkyrie soldier began to stand and turn to face Freya. Alvyna’s green eyes were striking and made even more so by the tears glistening in them. Even in sadness, this woman looked like a fierce warrior and Freya couldn’t blame Raga for falling for her.
“I am Commander Alvyna Leif of the Valkyrie. Unfortunately, this day brings grave news as I must report to the family of Raga Mourning that she has given her life in battle. Her sacrifice is met with great honor, and there will never be a warrior who could dream to replace her.” The lips trembled on the great Valkyrie commander as she forced the words out. Her heart was broken, along with those of the Mourning family who had just been presented with bloody armor in place of the living body that it once adorned.
The world around Freya began to crumble and fall apart. She felt frozen in place as tendrils of darkness began to creep around her heart. A weight seemed to fall over her and push at her chest as a burning heat crept up her neck to land behind her eyes where a dam was about to break. When her mother’s wails got louder all the air left the room. That’s when the dam broke and hot tears spilled from Freya’s eyes. A choked sob left her throat and she bit down hard on her tongue.
Without thinking, Freya reached for Alvyna who took a step back and gasped. “I’m so sorry. I have to go,” She sputtered, and a blur of yellow wings passed Freya as the Valkyrie took a running leap to get away. Whether she wanted to be alone or to keep the distraught family from seeing her cry, she left in a hurry.
Cries from a mother who lost a child filled the home that now seemed too large and empty. Gwylan collapsed fully to the ground in the throughs of her sobbing and her stiff faced husband knelt behind her with one hand rubbing the down between her shoulders. He held his hand out to Freya who hesitantly stepped forward. Her body seemed to move on its own as she fell into her father’s embrace.
Freya felt herself falling into a void as the noise of crying disappeared around her. In a way she felt nothing and everything at once. The darkness that surrounded her heart mere seconds ago had now left her with an empty place in her chest. A light had left the world, and without it everything seemed fractured.
Lonan managed to get his wife up and to bed with Freya’s help and sent her upstairs to do the same. When she made her way up the stairs her eyes landed on the bed that would now remain empty. The room felt cold and had never seemed so dark as it did now.
Freya landed on her own bed and let her sobs wrack her body until she could do nothing else but fall into the release of sleep.
Days began to blur together as Freya tried to come to terms with the loss of her sister. Their mother hadn’t left her bed since Alvyna had brought the news. Freya found herself doing much of the cooking and her mother’s sewing in the fortnight that followed. Her father was the only member of the family who went to the ceremonial fire to burn the bodies of the soldiers who fell. Gwylan refused to leave bed and Freya couldn’t fly to the location it was to be held near the palace.
Lonan had told Freya the full account of what had happened between the Vargar and Adaryn that lead to Raga’s death. As Alvyna had told him, the Vargar were seen near the border and Valkyrie were sent in to make them leave. There was an ambush as more of the beasts came out from their hiding places in the underbrush to wreak havoc on the Adaryn warriors. It was unexpected, and Raga gave her life swooping in front of Alvyna as a Vargar had tried to tear at her throat. The Vargar were finally chased away, and all the while Raga bled to death in the arms of her lover.
The bloody stained armor was left abandoned on Raga’s empty bed. Freya found herself unable to look upon it and had left a quilt covering the bundle. How was she supposed to move on when the one pe
rson in the world who never saw her as a broken thing was gone forever?
Gwylan wasn’t taking on new work as she seemed unable to recover from a severe case of heartsickness. Freya had never seen her mother like this and was unsure of what to do to help her. Lonan was away more and more to take on extra work to make up for what her mother couldn’t accomplish. No one, not even Gwylan’s friends from the market, could visit as she turned everyone away. Even Freya found herself unwelcome in her mother’s company, and barely managed to get her to eat. Nights were spent in silence as Freya and her father ate their supper and went to bed without speaking.
Freya was beginning to feel restless. Even in this new darkness she didn’t want to stay idle and become a recluse. She heard rumors the Adaryn were unsettled and restless after the recent battle with the Vargar. There hadn’t been any instances like the one that took Raga since before her and Freya were born. In the few times Freya had to go to the market she heard the whispers and rumors that the Council was fighting between going to war or working towards some form of truce. Consensus of the population was that there was no way to make peace with a savage monster, and most found it unlikely.
Freya tried not to spend too much time at the market. Although easy to get to as it was built upon several wide wooden bridges in the trees nearest the palace, she could feel the eyes on her and the empty space of her back. Before her mother stopped getting out of bed Freya hadn’t been to market since she was a child.
The crowds going from stall to stall for fresh breads and herbs seemed bodily aware of Freya everywhere she went. The atmosphere felt as if touching her would cause them and any of their future generations to be a crippled disgrace, and they steered clear. Freya tried not to pay them any mind as it meant she could get to what she needed and leave quickly.
On one such trip to the market Freya noticed a small crowd of Adaryn nobles dressed in their shimmering and colorful finery. Two men in the group wore the golden six-winged pendant signifying members of the Council. She didn’t think it was likely, but Freya thought she saw one of them point to her and draw the other council member’s attention. It wasn’t unusual for others to point or make comments about her, so she attempted to brush the thought away.
Suddenly, there was a hand on her shoulder as if attempting to steer her in the opposite direction of the Councilmen. The grip was firm but gentle, and Freya recognized the scent of Raga’s berry-wine. She turned her head to see the stern face of Commander Alvyna Leif walking them out of the market. The warrior was wearing the full set of Valkyrie armor in the middle of the market, including the winged helm that made her appear so much taller. Freya walked along in silence, intimidated by the fierce presence at her side causing her to begin to tremble.
“I’m not sure why, but those men of the council were talking about you,” Alvyna whispered as they entered an empty space behind a closed stall and stopped walking. Hesitantly, Freya turned to look her in the eyes. She hadn’t seen Alvyna since the night she had brought the news of Raga’s death. Seeing her now brought those painful thoughts to the front of her mind, almost enough to ignore what she had just been told.
“I’m used to be pointed at by their like. I promise it’s nothing new,” Freya cleared her throat and bit her bottom lip while looking away.
“It didn’t sit right with me to leave you there like that.” Alvyna stated in a flat tone.
“Well, this is the life I have to live. I do the shopping for my mother now that…” However, Freya trailed off, unable to bring herself to continue that trail of thought.
“I know. I’ve heard of your mother’s condition,” Alvyna sighed turning away in irritation with her feathers ruffling. “I feel guilt at her condition. If only that beast had just torn my throat instead…” She choked out like the words were strangling her.
“It was her nature to protect.” Freya turned and wrapped Alvyna’s waist in a hug as the urge to comfort overcame her. Raga’s sacrifice had affected more than just her family and she wanted Alvyna to know it wasn’t her fault.
After a few moments in silence the Valkyrie stepped away from the embrace. She had tears already drying on her cheeks and she turned in the direction of the sunlight before closing her eyes taking a deep breath.
“I will always be sorry for what happened to your sister, Freya. She was better than what we deserved. Better than what I deserved.” Her voice broke and she immediately cleared her throat to hide it.
“Raga was always prepared to make that decision. Her life was always for her people, and we all need to come to terms with it,” Freya affirmed, although they were words she also needed to hear.
“You’re right. However, I fear your mother might not. Heartsickness is not easy to overcome. The fact I’ve met you here now, in her place, tells me what we all need to know,” Alvyna signed. “She isn’t recovering?” Freya only nodded in agreement to answer.
“If you need help with anything in the market, please let me know going forward. You meant so much to Raga, I must admit I’d hate myself if I didn’t help you in her absence.” Alvyna rose a brow as she looked down to glance over what Freya had been buying.
“Thank you, Alvyna. If you ever want to talk about her, or anything, you’re welcome to come visit.” Freya again gave the intimidating commander a hug before stepping back. In the light of the setting sun Freya had to admit her sister was right about Alvyna’s wings, they looked like the sunlight.
Not liking the thought that influential members of the colony might be talking about her after it was pointed out, she left without getting everything she had gone to market for that day.
Everyday life was becoming monotonous and unbearable for Freya. Some days she noticed her father was beginning to come home later and more tired from the extra exertion of working the fields, and her mother was withering away despite her best efforts to keep her fed.
Freya needed to feel free again, even if things would never be the same for her or her family. Spring would soon be over, and Freya knew Raga wouldn’t want her to stop enjoying the things that made her feel whole, like running the forest and hunting.
Feeling determined one night, Freya decided she was going to go out in the morning.
Chapter 3
Above the tops of the trees Freya could feel the warmth of the sun as it began to rise for the day. She’d made her way into the depth of the forest while it was still dark and cool. The heat of summer was getting steadily stronger with each passing day and Freya didn’t want to miss any time she could get to herself.
In the silence she could think of her sister and remember the happy moments they’d shared growing up. Freya tried not to think of her mother now withering away in bed. The sunlight kissing warmth on her face brought back the childhood joy she needed to hold onto.
A flash of gold alerted Freya to Aurik over head in the sky. For the past few days they had begun to meet almost daily. Nearly every morning for half the day she spent time with him before he had to go back to the palace and Freya had to be home to check on her mother.
In the beginning it had been very strange for her meeting with the prince in secret to just get to know each other. Hours of entertaining companionship was a fantastic distraction to the misery Freya would have otherwise felt back home. Aurik’s perseverance that he could help her still gave Freya some semblance of hope. Although she noticed he didn’t mention what the help would entail.
In the two full moons since they’d first met Freya was now feeling at ease with the crown prince, she was spending time with. After she began to feel comfortable with him it was easier to say yes to the unfamiliar contact with nobility.
Aurik leaned back against the base of a tree after he landed. “We might not be able to see each other tomorrow. The Council wants to meet early to discuss the Vargar. I think they mean to send an envoy to talk with the beasts.”
Freya gasped in surprise. She’d heard rumors while at the market that the battle that took Raga away had been bad enough to make
the Adaryn consider some form of peace.
“Are you even allowed to tell me about this?” She inquired gently not wanting to overstep herself.
“No, but I trust you.” Aurik chuckled at Freya as he did more frequently these days. “Besides I know you won’t tell anyone. Even if you do, I’m sure it will be wide known when any decision is made. I’ve been skipping Council meetings to see you, but if this is the decision they decide to go with I’ll have to be there.”
“Will you need to be a part of the envoy they send to the Vargar?” Freya asked with a tinge of concern. It hadn’t been long, but she was starting to think of Aurik as a friend. She hated to think of the monsters taking her only friend after she only recently lost her sister.
Aurik’s golden hawk-eyes locked with Freya’s and he could see the unspoken concern in them. He gave a short solemn nod in response.
“There is always a chance. Everyone has been so riled up since that day, some want war, and some want peace. A decision will be made tomorrow, and as a member of the royal family it would likely fall on me to lead the envoy. The Vargar would need a leader present to be reasoned with,” he shrugged.
“This is all if the Council decides on peace?”
“Yes, they could still decide war. Although our Valkyrie numbers were reduced on that day, we could still might have the upper hand if it comes to bloodshed. We have many warriors and new Valkyrie in training. There was no absence of younger sisters stepping up to take the place of their loved ones that fell.”
Freya’s shoulders stiffened with a huff. Knowing she couldn’t help the soldiers fight in her condition, she would never be able to take Raga’s place. If the Adaryn and Vargar went to war she might as well be offered to the beasts as a treat for all the use she had for her people.
Part of Freya hoped for war. Even if she was useless in a fight against a monster, she still wanted them to suffer and to feel the dark despair that she had to fight against every waking moment.
The Bird and The Wolf Page 3