“This is so stupid,” I sighed quietly before remembering where I was. It’ll be stupid and useless if I get caught. I stayed as still as I could listening to see if anyone had heard me. Since there was little to no change in the monotony surrounding me, I assumed they didn’t. It was turning out to be a pleasant night. The heat of the day hanging around just enough to keep the night from being too cold, but not still hanging in the air suffocating me. I decided to enjoy it as much as I could, given my circumstances, the past few winters had proven it wouldn’t be long before the snows started to fall. My armor still carried the heat it had absorbed from the evening sun. The soft leathers stained black tended to heat up quickly in the sun, which could be nice in the winter, but were a necessity today. They fit well and allowed me more movement than the chain and plates I’d seen others wear, not to mention how much lighter they were. And as long as I didn’t get hit, that was all that mattered. Feeling my legs start to tingle again I strained my legs to try and force blood back into them, as the small confines around me pretty much forced my knees into my face. The crate i was stuffed into probably wasn’t designed for comfort or people, and yet here I am. I feel like I was tricked into this.

* * * * *

“Look Will, I’m not some kind of child anymore,” I said in what I hoped sounded to him more like a calm and collected argument, instead of the over rehearsed statement I had been practicing for hours. It probably didn’t help that nerves and emotion had added a slightly higher pitch to my voice. “I get that you guys took me in when I was twelve and all but it’s been, what, eight years. I’m plenty capable of taking care of myself now. I don’t need one of you guys just trailing around after me so I don’t get hurt. You’ve seen me fight before, you know how good I am. I’m better than all the fighters you normally send out. Why don’t they get escorts? The two of you trained me well, I don’t need to be coddled. And, I don’t know, it’s not like I’m young, not even that much younger than you two…” Add rambling to that super convincing argument. Good, this is going great. I certainly don’t remember what I practiced saying, but it had to be better than this. He’s literally just watching me fall apart, maybe he thinks this is amusing. Okay, time to end it with something convincing. “And yeah, so, let me do this?” Trying to make it sound more like a command than request, somehow turned it into a question. Yeah? That was it, huh? Perfect. 

“Hmmm, ok,” His deep voice startled me out of my thoughts. Realizing my gaze was on my feet, I looked up into his eyes.

Did I hear him wrong, ok sounds a lot like no, right? “Wait, what”

His brilliant red eyes had stopped unnerving me years ago, mostly, and through the strangeness of them I could see he was just barely holding back his laughter. “We have an op, coming up in a few days. Need someone to lead it and also to get in and open the gate for a few squads. It’s yours.”

This feels like a trick, the twins hadn’t left my side in battle since they had taken me in. He’s just going to give up that easily, he didn’t even argue.

“I mean, that is, if you want it. Since you’re such an adult now you can handle it of course.” I could hear the challenge in his voice, jokingly of course, but still a challenge.

I could feel the muscles all along my back tighten, spreading the tensing electric charge over my shoulders and down to my clenched fists. My lips pressed into a thin line to prevent my teeth from being bared, but I couldn’t prevent my brow from drawing low to turn my face into a scowl. I knew what he was thinking, that he could just make a joke out of this, that I wasn’t good enough for this.

“No intervention from either of us of course” He gestured over his shoulder to Tera, who I hadn’t even seen was in the room when I barged in. I could hear the laughter in his voice now, and she wasn’t even hiding her amusement.

“Deal, I’ll do it” I’ll show them, they’ll see I’m an adult.

* * * * *

Yep, definitely tricked. I had thought I would be like Odysseus, seen as a great tactician. Being delivered to the inside of the enemy’s wall by their own hands. It didn’t end up feeling that way inside the small crate. For one thing, I wasn’t in a roomy horse interior. I was no longer sure if Odysseus was actually in the horse, the last time I heard that Tale was a few years ago. Another thing was the fact that my left axe was pressing uncomfortably into my side, right above my hip. Since it was strapped to hip, the handle seemed to have found that the bottom edge was harder to push through than my side. The axe along with several of my other dozen or so weapons strapped to me had pressed uncomfortably from the beginning of my ride. Each jolt transferring through the box from the cart into my body. It would have been fine, if I hadn’t been in the box for three hours.

The soft sound of voices floated in through my chosen prison. I couldn’t make out any of the words, just the tones. Friendly, not that’s not right, familiar is better. And tired, from both sides good. My transporters thankfully had followed common sense and traveled even though the sun had set about three hours ago, to make it inside their safe walls. Few people were crazy enough to spend the night on the road, even during these relatively peaceful times. It was late now, the guards tired from staring into the dark for hours and the merchants from having to fix their wagon and their long trip. I felt bad for them all, even if it was perfect for me. Tired guards and merchants mean no inspections and quickly making it through the gate.

My heart started beating faster in anticipation of what I knew was about to happen. I could feel the pressure of expectations on me, mine probably the heaviest. It would make me slow, and my nerves would cause errors in what I couldn’t fail to do. No backup, no second chances, no one to stop my mistakes from making me dead. I couldn’t calm myself, my heart rate driving a frantic pace into my head. Loud enough that I was sure anyone outside my box could hear me. My breath shallow and quick, I could feel myself heading toward being lightheaded. The twins are trusting me to get the gate open for the others, that’s the plan, then to lead them all once they’re in. Nothing can happen without me.

I forced a my body to take a deep breath in, then to slowly let it out without making a sound. Without even consciously realizing it my eyes closed and I began the prayer. Our prayer.

Creator above, Mother below. Protectors to the north, Travelers to the east, Dreamers to the south, Saviors to the west. Protect me, guide me, help me, save me. It is yours, as it is mine. Shall it be as it should be.

The anxiety retreated quickly, as my heart steadied itself into the familiar battle rhythm that had beat in my chest countless times before. The steady thump the bass notes to all my actions when I fought. I could feel it all throughout my body, driving life into my weary limbs, my muscles ready instead of tense. The pulse almost painful as it rattled into my head.

The Storied weren’t known to give to people who weren’t willing to put in their own effort and get what they wanted. Time to go get what I deserve.

 My head lowered so my shoulders could find purchase against the top of the crate. Pressure increased on them as my feet pressed down into the floor and the cart came to a jerked halt. Count to fifty. Of the twenty-fifth beat of my heart my world shifted violently around me. The ready pressure between the top and bottom of the crate kept me from shifting positions. As quickly as it began the world settled, although rotated onto my side. Sounds of moving boxes floated into my hiding spot as the men unloaded the rest of their cargo. The haze of focus never left me as I waited quietly for them to finish. It didn’t take them long and soon quited surrounded me for the first time in hours. Count to a hundred.

On the hundred and first beat I started to press harder. Trying to extend my legs downward as I pushed on what was the top of the box. Slowly and silently I increased my force until my shoulders finally forced the side of the crate to start its inevitable movement. I shifted slightly to allow one hand up toward the spreading opening near my head. When the nails finally gave I was ready to catch the wood before it could fall over and make noise.

I wiggled the rest of my body out and placed the lid next to the crate. On careful inspection I found myself in a low roofed storage shed I barely noticed any of the nonmoving surroundings. Intell placed it next to the wall, where non perishable goods could be stored before being sorted. I checked my gear to ensure it was all where it belonged while I had a quiet moment before moving out into the chaos that may await me. Two axes, one hung from either hip, the right more intricate than the left with a point extending above the handle as well as the blade extending both up and down. The right merely had a beard downward, but both were well balanced for throwing and small enough to be wielded one handed. Nine daggers, one in either boot, one strapped to my right thigh, four on a diagonal strap from my left hip to right shoulder alternating directions, one on the back of my left shoulder, and the last on the right side of my lower back. Each balanced perfectly for being thrown. One short sword sheath on my lower back holding the sword and dagger where the sword hilt was on my left side. One sword strapped on my back, attached to the other side of the diagonal strap that held my daggers. It was a replicated old world cavalry sabre and though I wasn’t exactly sure who cavalry were, they made decent swords. It had a slight curve along the length of the blade, a full hand guard, and most importantly wasn’t too long for me to use. My armor all in place and a few lengths of dyed rope wrapped around my torso completed my gear check.  A small door placed near the larger cargo doors allowed me outside quietly.

I could almost feel the wall looming behind me, I ignored it making sure the courtyard I had walked out into was empty. Seeing no movement I turned finding the building I had walked out of was placed directly against the wall, with stairs no more than a few hundred feet away. Those spooks can be creepy good sometimes.

I knew quick movement would catch the eye of anyone lucky enough to either look out of the building or back from the wall. My focus waned as I crept along in the shadow of the wall, which allowed me to inspect my surroundings.

The wall definitely didn’t live up to my expectations. At what looked to be about fifteen feet tall it seemed the cut and stacked stones would be hard to get past, but it certainly wasn’t one of the Great Ones constructions or even from before the Breaking. The building it surrounded, however, carried all the smooth lines and lacking of obvious joints of one of the old buildings. A half dozen floors I couldn’t see anything that came close to rivaling its height in the immediate area, but it was very dark. The shacks that leaned against it and filled the space between it and the wall really took away from any awe the building once inspired. Making it all look sad instead.

My foot scuffed the stair drawing me from my observations. Thump. The heavy beat returned instantly with what I’m sure was annoyance at being forgotten. I rolled my head in a half circle from my left shoulder to my right, and then rolled my shoulders back in anticipation. The fight that was about to happen hung heavy in the air, giving it a strange quality, eerily familiar to the wait before every other fight.

My slow ascent up the stairs accompanied by the steady thump of my heart beat, it as ready as I was to start. The stairs clung to the side of the wall, and as my view cleared the level of the wall I found it empty as far as I could see. The long empty wall was a good sign, with the gate now behind where I was and the guardpost directly over it, any guards where I was looking would mean they were split.

I reached the top and turned the corner still slightly crouched, ready now instead of hiding. I could see them now. Three guards. One looked out into the empty darkness, he wouldn’t see our fighters out there. The second  leaned on the inner raised portion of the wall, staring at the old building.  The third looked straight at me, confusion painted plainly on his face. The wall stayed wide at the guardhouse, instead of being a building on the wall it was more of just a covering. Which meant no door for either side to get caught on.

“Hey! Who are you?” The confused guard. His voice drew my gaze back to him as I continued walking steadily forward, in no rush. I would let the tension build. “If you’re new to the clan you can’t be up here, only guards.” He gestured to himself and the other two as his explanation. His voice lacked the force to command and seeped with his hesitation. It drew the gazes of the other two. I could feel their gazes as they swept over me, my armor, and what the first guard missed, my weapons.

“Enemy,” The whisper from the guard who had been looking out was almost a question and was answered by the sound of their swords beginning to be drawn.

Fifty feet would have to be close enough. The axe slung from my right hip sprung into my grasp, as I pushed hard off the ground. Immediately in a sprint toward the enemy. Elation being pushed through my body by the heavy and ever steady beat of my heart, tension broken at last. The distance was a bit far to try and beat a drawn sword, but the confused guard gave me extra time as his blade stuck on his draw. It only slowed him a fraction of a second, dooming him.

Middle first, then right. Predictable from tiredness but the fastest. Left is old and last.

Step

Step

Thump

Step

I pushed hard off my left foot arcing into the air and to my right. Easy step onto the edge of the wall and my right foot pushed me back toward the walkway and guards. This time my leap straight toward them. Both hands grasped the handle of my axe drawing it down at an angle toward the center guard. His patchwork plate armor didn’t protect his neck from my axe’s thirsty bite. A satisfying wet crunch and limpness to his body was immediate.

Thump

There was no longer any time for thought and my body acted nearly by itself, following only the rhythm beat by my heart. Right hand instantly released the handle of my axe and continued its path down toward my right hip. A reverse grip on the axe hanging there brought it above my head at just the right time. Right guard’s blade met the head of my axe, hanging below my hand and nearly on my head. Blood slicked hands slipping on the smooth wood of my axe, a growl slipped through the smile on my face. Both thought they had me, slowing the third guard enough for me.

Thump

My left hand freed the short sword strapped horizontally across my lower back and in a well practised maneuver flipped it into a normal grip. Driven forward with my arm as well as a step inward it slid into the soft leather this guard wore. Between a rib and toward his heart. His body beginning to fall assisted the draw of my blade and sweep of my axe.

Thump

My blade swept upward, axe sweeping in a wide half circle to end up low near my knees. Pushing my left foot out toward the last guard’s far side, I ended in a low crouch. My blade blocking the last guard’s downward cut, as I forced that to be his only option with lowering my body. My axe continuing its sweep as it flipped in my grip, now past his knee.

Thump

The beard of the axe bit deep into the back of his knee as I reversed the sweep. A continuation of the hard pull removed his balance and sent him sprawling backward. My blade slid from his lack of pressure and rushed faster than he fell. Pierced before he hit the ground, his blade no longer threatened me.

Thump

I straightened and stood among the quick chaos around me. “Sorry, kin, no hard feelings, just doing our jobs.” All of us were kin, especially after death. I went to each one of them closing eyes and ensuring that they had passed to the Chaos After, instead of lingering. I saved the confused guard for last and had replaced my short sword and left axe in their respective places. I frowned down at where my other axe was still stuck. On foot placed on his chest I grasped the handle of the axe and gave it a jerk to remove it from where it had struck him down. I kneeled next to him and wiped the head of my axe on the cleaner parts of shirt that stuck out from under his armor, returning his gore back to him. I leaned down to whisper into his ear, while suppressing a slight shudder at his head pushed too far to the side, “If it makes you feel any better you were first because you were slow not weak.” A small pat on his far shoulder as I straightened up sent his head lolling and another barely suppressed shudder through me. That’ll have to do, I doubt he cares much anyway since he’s dead.

A soft sigh escaped me as I stood up again. As my adrenaline started to recede I could feel my muscles all start to relax. A slight buzz in them still from the short burst of exertion, and my heart beat was no longer as insistent.

I walked over into the covered area of the wall where the guards would stand watch. It didn’t look like it would be the most comfortable post if there was any kind of weather. There were a few barrels stacked by the outer edge of the wall and that was it. No torches and no walls to hang them on. Well how am I supposed to signal anyone. It became apparent to me as I looked around that the wall didn’t have a single torch on it. Someone higher up probably had some idea that torches would ruin the guards night vision not allowing them to see out into the night and highlighting where they were on the wall for attackers. They wouldn’t be entirely wrong, on a bright night at least, when you could see without light.

I opened one of the barrels to inspect its contents, which turned out to be pitch. Now I just need something to coat in it and burn.

Loud footsteps behind me spun me around while I crouched into a more ready position. A large man was walking turning the corner from the stairs, torch in hand he didn’t seem to care much about being quiet and his sword was still sheathed. I must not’ve drawn him here. No time to hide though, bodies are out in the open.

He noticed them immediately, but still didn’t seem too concerned, and his sword still wasn’t out, which bothered me. It didn’t take long for his eyes to pass from the bodies up to find me, not hidden but just outside of the bright area of his torch. He was a large man but I hadn’t seen him move quickly yet, and therefore couldn’t tell if he was strong large or fat large, and whether that fat large used to be strong. It didn’t matter much since he towered over me by at least a foot.

Since he hasn’t drawn his sword he’s either an idiot or will rely on the fact that he’s so much larger than me and is an idiot.

“Hey, kid! What do you think you’re doing?” His voice boomed across the empty air between us. Easily ruining the quiet night. The only emotion in it amusment. “You did me a favor, I was trying to get rid of those worthless fools anyway, so I’ll let you go if you walk away now.”

Yeah, he’s definitely going to deserve this

“What’s with all the weapons anyway, one not enough? You trying to compensate for something?” He snarled at me as he grabbed at himself trying to show me what would need compensation.

The problem with throwing an axe is that people can see it coming, a jerk reaction could deflect it. This man hadn’t even drawn his sword so his chances weren’t good. In his defense he did see my axe and started to react, but he would have needed twice the distance to block it.

Also he didn’t see the knife I threw after the axe, or the one after that, or even the one after that. He did manage to block the fourth knife, as he was falling, when his still half drawn sword managed to get in the way. And the short sword missed, mostly because it wasn’t really a throwing weapon.

Five minutes later I had retrieved and replaced all my weapons in their sheaths, the two that hadn’t stuck in him taking longer, than I would have liked, to find. Fifteen minutes after that half the barrel of pitch was spread out on the ground with the empty barrel laying next to it. I had a half dozen fewer feet of the light rope I carried coiled around my waist. And I stood at the back of the guard house looking toward the outside. Leaning heavier on my right leg than the left, tongue slightly stuck out the left side of my mouth. Right eye shut tightly so I could only peer out my left, and hands fully outstretched from my body both forming an ‘L’ shape, right palm toward me while the left was flipped, perfectly framing the signal I stared at.

Bit macabre, I think, but at least he wasn’t as heavy as he looked. Otherwise, I never would have been able to haul him up by his foot covered in all that pitch. I blew air out my nose to show my disdain for that man. Those people who didn’t respect those they fought with and those they fought against deserved to have their Will scattered by the Chaos. Doesn’t matter much now, dead is as far as I can take him in that direction. Either way, time to go open the gates for those I just signaled to come in.

I looked back toward the old building and saw lights were coming alive and moving behind what clear walls the old ones had built. Knew I was running out of time and looked down toward the ground. The gate is right below me, only like ten feet if I hang.

It would have to be close enough, I needed time to get the gate open before more guards got here. I had no clue how many that would be but a wall this big must have more than four guards.

Trying not to think about how much farther that drop seemed when I looked over the wall, I grabbed the edge of the parapet, edged backward and slowly lowered my body down. My arms fully extended I took a single breath and released. Keeping my gaze up instead of down toward the ground to avoid tensing, I spent what seemed like just a little too long falling before finding myself crumpled in the dirt.

“Creator be damned for his laws that made the earth so damned hard.” I muttered. Trying to see if anything hurt too much as I stood and moved to the door.

It was pretty simple to get it open. The heavy wooden double doors were merely barred by a thick log of what looked to be nearly live wood. Someone’s clever, this bar would be hard to break, probably just bend. Good thing it’s now on the ground instead of stopping us from getting in. Never clever enough for everything.

The doors now open, the most important part of my job was done. There was still some hard work ahead of me though. I had to make sure the doors were still open when everyone got to them, for one thing. Which might be difficult considering the amount of noise I can hear coming from that building.

I picked up a loud call from outside the wall, not exactly as close as I would have liked at that moment. As the courtyard between me and the old building broke into the chaotic motion of several guards still half asleep started toward me from their post near the building.

I counted five guards as they walked slowly toward me. Five is a good number, I could hold out against them, probably if I wasn’t out in the open.

A loud noise filled the night as the building creaked open and spewed forth more guards into the courtyard. Several even tumbling in their excitement to get toward an enemy. Or there could be fifteen of them, sweet. That could also be a good number, it was how old I was when I kissed that girl by the lake. That has too be good luck, right? What was her name again? Sarah, no, maybe Emily.

Thump. The loud beat from my heart reminding me it wasn’t the best time to be getting distracted. One deep breath and my shortsword was in my left hand, the blade laying backward against my forearm, and my right hand was holding that axe. Certainly can’t beat them all straight one, time to do something unexpected.

So I ran at them. Most of them seemed startled and hesitated, while the more experienced gave a shout of command and answered my charge. It was only one person, why should they fear.

It took me fifteen steps to reach the first person, he slowed for the exchange, I didn’t. Left arm raised to catch his swing along the blade pressed to my forearm. It hit as I planted my right foot at his side, spinning me around on that foot. My axe swung out in advance of my spin connected hard with his back, and stuck. I tried to continue my spin and hold the axe but it snapped out of my grip and ruined my motion. Unexpectedly trying to continue running in my previous direction while spun three quarters of the way around, my legs caught each other trying to make me more horizontal than vertical.

The whistle of a sharp blade separating the air instead of my flesh made me feel slightly better on the way down.

Thump. The loud beat coming from either my heart or my body as the ground drove the air out of me, didn’t matter much to me in the moment.

I slashed out with my shortsword as I continued the rolling motion to cover distance and avoid more strikes. It hit someone hard and I heard their scream of pain as the blade was ripped out of my hand. Knowing I needed to get up before I lost all momentum so I could draw another weapon, I forced my feet under me. Keeping myself off balance but leaning forward I was able to stay low and start moving on my feet again.

Thump.

I rammed my shoulder into another guard knocking him backward before he could bring his blade down. My second axe was out and gripped in both hands a step later. Still running I lashed out with it in two large swings just trying to make contact. Two hits with it, both of which almost pulling it as well from my grasp, and two cuts were also opened up on my arms where my leather didn’t cover.

Thump.

 Just as I reached the other side of the group of guards one stepped just to the side of my path and swung hard at just below head height. He obviously hadn’t been doing this for long, since he swung his sword like a pipe, even stepping into the swing. My axe came up in front of my face diverting some of the force up as I dropped and slid trying to go under the swing.

Thump.

I came up outside the group with my head, which was good, but missing my axe. Creator, that was my favorite one too.

The guards moved to surround me this time, several of them cursing new wounds, while not nearly enough laid on the ground unmoving or unable to fight. I reached for the sword at my shoulder to find it was no longer there and as my hands moved down to find find other weapons I found all of my daggers gone as well. Maybe fifteen wasn’t actually good luck, I think Emily actually slapped me.

Thump.

I still had the palm plates layered into the leather of my gloves, a gift from Tera. I’d never been all that good at hand to weapon combat, and they didn’t really protect fingers at all, but it seemed like desperate times.

As I dropped into a fighting stance, slowly trying to keep all the guards surrounding me in view, I heard the noise of the building opening again, only much louder this time. I had crossed nearly all of the courtyard in my mad rush. Just what I needed more guards.

Thump.

A loud yell, closer to a roar, came from the building and turned the heads of the guards on that side. The sounds of fighting on that side came out of the building as well and soon more guards were flowing around my group, they almost seemed to be fleeing. Too bad they ran straight into our fighters, who had chosen a great time to show up.

I leapt at a guard who had his back turned to me and tried to wrestle his sword from him. He easily shrugged me away and swung wildly at me, scoring my armor and cutting my right arm again. He stood tall over me, and I realized I was on the ground again.

Thump.

His sword raised high. Then it was gone, one arm twisted behind him in an unnatural way, then he was on the ground next to me his head now facing the wrong way. Stepping into the place of the guard who had been about to strike me down was, Tera. Of course.

“Hey, little one,” She said brightly as she picked me up easily and set me on my feet, brushing the dirt off me. She was almost cheerful looking down at me, and it was hard not to share that same feeling with her. Though, the looking down at me helped, even if I knew she couldn’t help it since I was almost a foot shorter than her. She always carried with her the same contagious cheerfulness even in battle, especially in battle. Her black leathers fit her perfectly, but unlike me she didn’t have a heavy undershirt covering her arms, instead leaving them bare. Her black leather gloves went to her elbows, carrying metal plates hidden in the palms, forearms, and elbows.  A white fur hung around her shoulders to mid chest and another around her waist to mid thigh, on top of her leather armor. I knew her boots carried more metal in them to reinforce the shins, knees, and feet, since she had tried to give a pair to me once but they were so heavy I couldn’t even run in them.

Thump.

Here stood one of the twins, in all her battle glory. Barely a scratch on her, even if she fought with no weapons. And she’s looking at me like I’m crazy. I shook my head to clear it and looked around to find the battle dying down quickly.

“You seem a little distracted, you ok?” Her voice drew my gaze back to her, and the care I could clearly hear in her voice was sickening. I liked it, but still sickening.

“Fine,” I grumbled, making sure I hadn’t lost too much strength in my hands from the cuts. Where there was one twin there was bound to be another.

“Twenty-five,” A low voice came from behind me.

Found him.

“Five archers on the wall which could have shot you, as you exited the warehouse and climbed the wall. Once in the fight with the three guards, the third was faster the the second. Three patrolling guards while you strung up your message. Five more archers on the roof of the building, When you charged there were ten more chances, but I won’t go into them.” He thought he was so clever, I could already hear the smirk in his voice.

“That’s only twenty four,” My voice trying to find somewhere for my anger, but the rhythm of battle in my heart had already left me.

“Hmmm,” He seemed to actually be considering it. He stood there in the midst of battle chaos completely at easy. He obviously hadn’t fought today, he didn’t have a scratch and he always came back bleeding from dozens of cuts. Dressed in nearly the same outfit as his sister, it was almost impressive how his could seem so different. Where hers made her look lean his made him bulkier. Lacking any gloves his arms were completely bare, his white furs falling further down his body almost blocking all of his black leather beneath it. Strapped to his back was a long quarterstaff, nearly six feet in length with the ends seeming to be metal hilts and pommels. It was a beautiful weapon, intricately carved wood that I had never seen a blade cut into. He loomed over me even more than his sister, which was impressive considering she stood about six feet, he had a several inches on her. “You’re right.”

His voice shook me from my thoughts. I must have been tired to space out so much. “That’s it?”

“Yeah, miscounted is all.”

He didn’t seem to be getting it. He still had that stupid smirk on his face. “Why are you two here? It was supposed to be my mission, no intervention remember? I’m supposed to be in charge.”

He waved at the air in front of me, trying to dismiss my angry words. “Our captured people are on the ground floor we’ll send a few men in to help them out. Stolen supplies seem pretty much secure out here but we’ll double check. Also some captured girl is inside. Not ours. Third floor, end of the hall on the left. Figure she should see a friendly face first, and I guess yours will do. Though the anger may give her the wrong impression. She’s all yours to deal with, boss.” He turned and started walking away.

I was almost shaking in my anger, and I could hear Tera snicker behind me, making it worse. “Don’t just walk away, answer me!”

He looked over his shoulder, his face serious. “We protect ours.”

“Even when they may not want it.” Tera gave my shoulder a small squeeze as she walked by to join her twin.

“I’m not part of yours!”

“Only by blood.” His smile returned before he turned back away from me. Walking side by side with Tera. I could see where they had gained their nickname. They looked like two strange white bears, and they were immature.

The cubs. I hate them sometimes. “We’re talking about this later,” I said to their backs, though they took no notice of my words. I spun on my heel to head into the building. Maybe I could still turn my day around. Then immediately turned back around when I realized I didn’t have any weapons left.

My sabre, shortsword, and both axes lay in a pile with a girl standing over them. “Found these, only nice weapons out here. Tera said to give them back to you.” She wasn’t especially large, or I assumed she wasn’t it was hard to tell under all the metal she was wearing. I couldn’t believe I didn’t hear her coming up to me. Impressively quiet. Must be a coward, dressed in all that metal to feel safe and then being quiet on top of it.

“And you just decided to drop them on the ground?” I barely even cared that I was lashing out at her.

Her hazel eyes flashed with anger as her face pulled into a vicious smile. “And you didn’t?” She moved around the weapons, with at least some respect. She started to walk past me and stopped at my side turning her head to look at me. She was taller than me but it still didn’t seem like she was actually looking down at me.

Maybe she’s not so bad. A few strands of golden blonde hair had escaped from the protective hood she wore for her helmet, sticking to her face from sweat. A mace swung from her hip, which I definitely didn’t notice, with a round shield strapped to her left arm. A small smile crept onto her face as she sized me up.

“You weren’t half bad, almost impressive if half of what you did wasn’t just luck. Should probably be thanking Ares, someone came and saved you though. If you ever want to learn how to fight I could teach you.” She said quietly watching my rage grow, before giving out a sweet genuine laugh.

Nope, I hate her, and I definitely hate that laugh, and never want to hear it again. She continued past me toward the old building while I tried to calm myself and gather up my weapons.

It wasn’t exactly an easy feat when I found one of my axe’s shaft shattered and realized all of my daggers were gone as well.

“At least it wasn’t my favorite axe.” Axe and both swords back where they belonged I felt uneven without the comfortable weight on my right hip. I doubted my weapons would be useful dealing with the damsel in distress, but the day had already deviated from my plans at nearly every turn.

Just inside the door hazel-eyes was leading a small group around freeing men and women in chains. I glared at her before finding the stairs that would lead me up. I caught sight of myself as I passed a polished silver wall ornament. I was covered in the blood of the recent fighting, already starting to dry, I enjoyed my terrifying visage. But still tried to wipe some of it from my face before realizing my hands were making it even worse. A small shrug before I continued up the stairs.

Third floor. Last door on the left. I didn’t have any problems finding it, the place was eerily empty for how brightly lit it was. I kicked the door in.

It slammed open, the small latch holding it closed clattering to the ground, covering the sound of a bow string being released. I didn’t even flinch as the arrow passed harmlessly over my head, close enough that I could feel its passing, before thudding into the wall behind me. It would have hit a taller person.

A small squeak came from inside the darkness of the room, just before a pale streak rushed at me and latched on. “Please don’t hurt me, I didn’t mean to, I don’t even know what you want from me. You guys could just let me go, I won’t try to get revenge or whatever it is you all do.” The rush of words poured out of the woman I now found clinging desperately to me.

This is a different kind of attack than I was expecting after that arrow. I could feel how sadly soft she was, definitely not a warrior.

“Look I’m not here to hurt you, clans who steal from us don’t last long. We’re just taking back what’s ours. Found you figured we could free you.” Her grip loosened enough that I could pull her slight away from me, enough to see her face looking up at me, though she didn’t let go entirely. There was just enough light from behind me to see her pale face surrounded by pitch black hair, and the light green dress she was wearing.

Lady of light, she’s beautiful. And is she crying?

“Valkyrie,” She gasped quietly when she saw my face. I only remembered that they were Norse but not who or what they had been. Whatever you want to call me lady.

She looked shocked as she continued to look at me and continued, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” She leaned back away from me more and seemed to compose herself, just as I realized she was on her knees, which was why she was looking up at me. Great. I was beginning to think the whole day had been planned to make me feel short. “So you’re my savior? You’re saving me?”

“I’m tired so I’m going to ignore how much that sounded like an insult, but consider yourself saved.”

“Thank you,” She said quietly, almost a whisper. “I’m Mary.”

“Well Miss Mack, if you want to follow me downstairs.”

“Why would you think that’s my last name.”

“It was a joke, an old story, I get it’s not your taken name.” I had no doubt she could hear the sarcasm in my voice.

“Umm, taken name?”

“Where are you from? First name is given, last is taken.” Everyone knew that.

“Nowhere like this.” She rushed upward and enveloped me in another hug, holding me close as she could. Seeming to draw strength from me.

This makes the whole chaos damned day worth it. Then my arm felt the empty spot of my axe. Well, almost.

She let me go and stood expectantly, waiting for me to lead her away. I turned and started to walk away before looking back over my shoulder. “Oh by the way my name is Lizzie, Lizzie Frost.” I could feel the dry blood covering my hair as I turned my head. Ok, not even close to worth it.