Chapter 192
"I'm really sorry again, officer," Valkyrie reiterated, getting her keys back from the Gardaí. "Thank you for letting me take her home tonight."
"It's fine, Miss Edgley, just keep yourselves out of trouble. Eh, Miss Robin, can you do that for us?" The officer questioned jokingly.
Nadia nodded, makeup streaked down her face, heels in her hand. "It won't happen again. I'm sorry."
They were waved out of the lobby and Valkyrie leaned down, picking Nadia up with one arm and jogging down the steps to the car that had been parked outside the police station by another officer when Nadia had been arrested and taken into custody, bringing Valkyrie along as a witness. It was five in the morning, the birds were starting to tweet, and it was bitingly cold.
"I'm sorry Val," Nadia whispered.
"It's okay, honey. Let's just get home," Valkyrie told her tiredly. She opened the passenger side door and swept Nadia's legs into the car, shut her in and drove them home. "What will I do with you?" She asked when they parked, looking at her sleeping fiancée. Valkyrie smiled. How couldn't she love that face?
.*****.
Valkyrie waited impatiently for the end of Nadia's first counselling session to end. She'd had to look far and wide to find someone she could trust to leave with Nadia, doubly so considering some of her issues included topics surrounding the Dead Men, the Sanctuary and all that business, but she'd settled eventually on a lady called Sermon. She had been understanding, straight to the point, matter of fact, and had been quick to tell Valkyrie before anything else that she would not be telling anyone what Nadia told her, including to Valkyrie herself. She'd been satisfied with that and booked a session. Some pushing on the necessity of the meeting, as well as paying more than average, helping get a session much, much sooner than was usual.
But that had been then and now she was bored.
Finally, after an hour and a half session, Nadia came out with a small smile, going straight to Valkyrie in the small waiting area of the apartment complex-like building.
"All done?" Valkyrie asked.
"Yep. Another session booked for next week too. On Thursday morning," Nadia nodded, taking the water bottle Valkyrie had brought gratefully. "I didn't realise I had so much to talk about."
"Is that a good or a bad thing?" Valkyrie asked with a smile.
"Good, I think. I only really spoke about my parents, honestly, and a bit about us. I didn't even mention Skulduggery," she told her. "I think I will next time. It was really good though, she made me feel like I wasn't being, you know, mean to my parents."
"I'm glad. She seemed nice when I spoke to her. Are you okay going to China's still?"
"Yeah, I want to get my apprenticeship sorted!" Nadia grinned.
They'd taken the motorbike, so it was an hour drive over to China's library, and they met China in her apartment. Valkyrie sat down in her usual spot and left China and Nadia to flush out the deals of their apprenticeship contract. It was going to start immediately, focusing on getting Nadia up to scratch in time for her Surge, and would continue even harder after that. Nadia looked excited, albeit a little nervous around China, and accepted a few books to read as well as promised to buy some supplies to work with. She went into the library to begin immediately, leaving Valkyrie with China.
"Well then," China said, sitting in her luxurious green armchair and crossing her legs before looking at Valkyrie for a long moment. "You're not happy."
"Just a bit stressed," Valkyrie said. "But I'll be fine."
China hummed. "You've said that before. So, tell me, how did it go with your hunt?"
Valkyrie was as honest as she could be, detailing everything that had happened up until the destroying of the three – two and a fake – of the weapons. But it was a lie she told everyone, so she didn't feel too guilty.
"I am concerned about the Sword in the hands of the Spiders," China admitted when she was finished.
"So am I, but there's only so much we can do. The Spider's haven't been as loud or as active as I thought they'd be. Considering their previous actions."
"Yes, I have been thinking of that also," China said with a small frown. "It looks to me that they're planning something. They have many assassins and other such people that can kill off important people of this side of the efforts, but they haven't done that."
"It seems unusual. It's been three months of practically nothing. I do understand some of it was put into finding the God-Weapons. But I would have expected them using the Wild Brothers, or Stolen, a lot more. It would make a lot of sense too. And I'd have thought Craven would want to come out and do something too."
China grimaced prettily. "Craven wouldn't dare. Assuming he's still alive. The Wild Brothers would be a better choice. Along with Springheeled Jack, if he's still with them."
"What do you think they'd be planning?"
China thought for a moment. "I expect they want to make Ireland look as unstable as possible. I've been hearing a lot of rumours – more like news – that the other Sanctuaries are talking of forming a new council, a supreme council. It would essentially be a cover to meet and talk about overthrowing our Sanctuary. If it weren't for Meritorious and the respect they have for him, we'd already be in the midst of war, I expect. If not overthrown entirely."
"They'll be here soon."
"I agree. It's a matter of weeks, I think."
"Weeks?" Valkyrie frowned. "I thought we'd have a few months."
"No, dear, I think it'll be much faster," China said seriously. "I suggest you put all your efforts into preparing yourself and finishing your home. You'll need it soon. I wouldn't be surprised if they attempted to take out the Dead Men while they were still in America."
Valkyrie tried to not look worried. "I'm not sure how I feel about that."
"Badly, I would imagine. Do not stress yourself too much, Valkyrie," China said softly. "The Sanctuary and our Elders are doing all they can. Elder Feie being brought in certainly helps us with the other Sanctuaries, probably giving us additional time. I wouldn't worry until the Spider's wake up and start causing problems. Then, I think, things will happen very quickly. You need to be prepared. More so, you must prepare Nadia."
"We're doing our best to train her to be ready. She'll never be able to fight like either of us could but–"
"Valkyrie, you misunderstand me," China interrupted. "You must prepare Nadia for the death that could happen. They will target her to get to you, and through you, the Dead Men. Her family, especially her parents, are some of the most at risk right now."
Valkyrie's stomach squirmed anxiously.
.*****.
Valkyrie opened the front door warily to see Solomon, and immediately flung it open and threw her arms around him. "I've missed you so much."
He grunted but wrapped her up tightly, leaning on his cane for support. "So have I, Valkyrie. Come on, it's not good to hand around on doorsteps."
She let go and let him in, locking the door closed. Aine came out of the kitchen.
"Oh, hello Solomon," she said nervously.
"Crystal," he said with a smile. "It's lovely to see you. How are you?"
"You too, I'm grand, and yourself?"
"She has a Taken name now," Valkyrie interjected, going through to the kitchen. The others followed.
"Oh?" Solomon asked.
"Aine O'Caoimh," she smiled.
"Hmm. I didn't expect that, but I like it," he nodded. "Congratulations. Now, how about some tea? I travelled here on short notice."
"Yeah, I wasn't expecting you," Valkyrie said. Nadia came in and there were some more greetings before they all sat around the kitchen table together. "Why did you come so suddenly?"
"We're worried," he said simply and seriously. "Corrival called the Dead Men last night. He's getting increasingly concerned about the prospect of war from the other Sanctuaries. China has advised that the others may be meeting in secret."
"She told me too," Valkyrie frowned.
"They've decided to act as if we're in a state of emergency. Anything we need to do before we go to war must be done now. We have two months maximum, according to Meritorious, unless they're able to achieve something so undeniably miraculous the rest of the world has no choice but to back off. Of course, that's unlikely, and this is all under the table business," he told them. "I've come to make arrangements for yourselves and to make a list of those that may be at risk."
"Aine, Nadia and her family," Valkyrie said immediately. "On my side, anyway."
"That's what I'm focusing on. After the fall of the Irish Necromancy Temple, I have no one to organise," Valkyrie felt terrible for him, "and almost of the Dead Men's friends, as well as Tanith's, are in the industry, so to speak. Aine, is there any way you could convince your parents to go into hiding?"
"Not without telling them everything. I doubt they'd even believe me," she said, going a nasty shade of pale. "Would someone try to hurt them?"
"I don't know," he said softly, but firmly. "With any hope, they will not be targeted, as they're mortals and most people believe Valkyrie was raised in the mage community due to Gordon. We need to get yourself and Nadia to safety."
"Where? Wouldn't Valkyrie go with us?" Nadia asked.
"Valkyrie will be spending the next month or two with me for her procedure," he said, avoiding saying 'Magic Keeping Ritual'. Valkyrie's heart leapt into her throat, realising what was happening now.
"Already?" She asked. "By the time we get back the country could be at war."
"I know. Which is why we must do it now. Because once that happens, the Spiders will waste no time trying to capitalise on the Sanctuaries distraction in order to take out every person of importance and then take the country before the other Sanctuaries can take them out, whilst also putting players into position in foreign countries also. Without the house completed, we cannot suggest Nadia and Aine stay there, plus it's too obvious of a location. I think a safehouse could be possible, or, and please don't hate me for this, you could both stay with Nadia's family in India."
There was a very long silence that Valkyrie didn't dare break.
Nadia laughed, short and almost hysterically. "There's no way in hell. I'd rather force myself on Aine's family and stay there! I have friends I could convince to hide me in their houses. There's no chance of me going to my family. And I just started counselling, I want to keep going."
Solomon smiled but it didn't really meet his eyes. Valkyrie realised how tired he looked. It reminded her starkly of when she first met him in that abandoned building, full of fake smiles, pale skin and purple bags under his eyes. He looked more like that now than she'd seen in years. "So long as you're sure and you're safe."
"You're sure we barely have two months?" Aine asked very quietly. There was a shake in her voice.
"As far as anyone can tell. But I expect attacks on the Dead Men and other travelling Irish individuals to begin much sooner. Hate crimes are already beginning to spread slowly but surely, and that'll only continue when their Sanctuaries don't punish the perpetrators. That's why it's going to be best to hide you now. We're also worried if we put you in a safehouse and the Spiders or another Sanctuary finds you, there would be no hope of help. In fact, I doubt we'd be able to check for months after you were already dead. I apologise for being blunt, but I must be honest."
"I understand," Nadia whispered, all heat gone from her voice. "Can I not go with Valkyrie for her… procedure?"
"No."
Nadia put her head in her hands rubbing her palms over her eyes.
"I don't want to leave my family," Aine said. "I can't leave them to die. Even if I can't do anything to help them. Nadia's more than welcome to stay, I bet I can convince my mum."
Solomon nodded. "I understand. Nadia, I can give you until tomorrow to decide, but after that, I am taking Valkyrie away to begin the procedure. We really must begin immediately."
Back with a gooden! I'm at the same point on all three platforms and my own copy, which is nice, and I've made a lot of grammar corrections. It will now be at least 75% harder for new readers to tell I'm dyslexic!
I get legally married on the 6th November, only a month from now. And I've started my Masters in Theology and Religious Studies. And I joined the SP reddit. They're all so horny over there.
Remus Crux: I know! Nadia in the last chapter did what we all wanted! So proud of her, smacking them bitches down. It felt good to write.
