II.
After celebrating the defeat of Shenk the Overseer with the townspeople of the Barbarian hold, the two women retreated to their own abode. They were not drunk – the hosts understood that the next day was the one of a new battle, so did not insist on serving strong meads to the heroines of the day. Besides, one horn of ale presented – as tradition dictated it – to each of the victors of the battle could not have made a strong maiden of war inebriated enough to disregard her better judgment. No, it was something else that the two girls felt hopped on: the sensation of victory and justified pride, believing themselves able to overcome anything thrown at them from without... and from within.
The sounds of talking – sometimes merry, sometimes more serious – and occasional laughter echoed loudly from the habitation. The Valkyrie was not eavesdropping, but her supernatural senses made it impossible to miss the sounds from behind the door of the room the warrior maidens shared. Since the two mortal women knew the spirit soldier did not need – nor appreciated – sleep and food, after a customary (but futile) attempt to persuade her to join them they left her outside to stand guard, a charge she did not and would not dispute. The divine emissaries have their own ways of passing time: even appearing (and really being) fully aware of their surroundings, ready to defend their charge at the moment's notice, at the same time they meditate, returning part of their minds to the heaven they were sent down from – to recuperate for the new days of trials ahead.
There was a sharply outlined moment when it became obvious to her that the situation had taken a surprising turn (or an inevitable one, depending on the viewpoint). The chattering stopped abruptly, to be replaced by deep silence, then the faint sounds of kissing, finally the tinkling of armor clasps being undone and the thudding of leather vestments being discarded on the floor. For what seemed like eternity the noises were indistinct, until the voice only vaguely identifiable as Fiona's breathed out a long moan of unbridled ecstasy.
"Well, Jacqueline was considerate enough to give the first round to her friend. I didn't actually expect this of her".
This was a very human thought that alerted and even frightened the spirit woman, for it was the first such one since her transfiguration.
And the night was only just beginning then.