A/N: This was a difficult chapter to write, lots of content to cover in a short time frame. I hope it is well done, took a lot out of me to get it to this. The important thing to remember when reading the next few chapters is that now the Gods are not looking back on memories, they are presently involved in the affairs of Midgard after Astridr's death. Their POV's are still written in italics. Enjoy!


Lost within her thought, Freya scarcely noticed the grandeur around or the manner in which she walked through luminous halls when she typically glided through them with ease. It was pure foolish to dwell upon the mortal, they – the Aesir had nothing to fear from a lowly human but Odin had long trusted her to give attention to details that most others overlooked. She'd NEVER deign to accuse him of oversight but underestimation, maybe. Underestimation came easily to them all…

It had been so in the case of the human Wylfred and look how far he'd gone. He had bested Lenneth! True that his victory had been a hollow one in the end but it was the very reason the Valkyries could not repeat Lenneth's mistake, could not possess their memories – the memoirs of their human lives and experiences.

Hrist would not likely aggrieve the loss of self to the 'Seal' – she considered mortality a taint, nothing short of background noise to her task as Valkyrie. Lenneth and Silmeria, on the other hand, were softer, more empathic No she, Freya, was sure that leaving the mortal around was inviting the possibility for him to get creative and ultimately prove to be more trouble, more harm than he was worth.

The magic of sealing their memory was new. Gods or not, it still held true that perfection of an art only came through practice over time, neither they had in any great abundance so she kept a healthy dose of skepticism when it came to possessing faith in the seal she'd finished placing on Silmeria. The Seal was NOT perfect – better safe than sorry, the human had to go.

Normally she'd give the orders to Hrist through the Water Mirror and would do so without running them through Odin. As Goddess of the Second Rank she was one of the few he trusted to implicitly but she felt she shouldn't push back Silmeria's awaking and order Hrist to take a detour on Midgard without his knowledge. She took a moment to stop walking, mortified that she had reverted to such a common mortal habit and restore gliding altitude before she entered the throne room. Freya had been about to prostrate herself before Odin or as much as she ever did when he asked her a question, a one-word question, "Silmeria?"

"She is ready, the Seal is in place."

"Hrist?"

"I can summon her back in an instant…"

"But you have not done so," Odin observed, he was entirely too keen, though sometimes she wasn't sure if it was for his own good or not.

"No, I am concerned about that mortal I left on Midgard; I do not believe I should've done so."

"You normally do not second-guess yourself, what threat could such a mortal be to us?"

"I don't fear his existence is of consequence to us but the Seal, it's not nearly as strong or infallible. I would be satisfied if he was removed from Midgard and I do not wish to bestow this task upon Silmeria."

"Hrist will remove him."

"Years ago he was a strong and valiant, I would have believed he'd be an Einherjar chosen upon his deathbed. He has been rendered bitter by the death of Silmeria's human host who had been his beloved. That makes for a powerful hatred; nevertheless he isn't strong enough to be any threat to us save within Hel's grasp."

"I see what you are deducing and only you think in such a fashion, Freya. Never has your judgment been in error. Do as you think you must. Speak to me when Hrist has returned and Silmeria is ready to awaken."

"I shall…"


Without Astridr his life was a mere shadow of its former self, a pale imitation devoid of happiness. He invested a great deal of time learning how to preserve her remains enough to bring her back home. Although he wasn't particular fond of his home he knew that nothing but grief lingered on that foreign soil, at home he'd have responsibilities, duties to attend to. The inherent responsibilities of his life would at least act in such a wait to distract him from his grief. In the time it took him to return home he barely ate or slept so when he returned home he looked like an utter stranger. His mother actually backed up, offering no words of greeting, she was frozen in mute shock. Though there had never been love between them there was once upon a time that he would have offered her words of comfort.

Vytis wasn't sure how often he ate or how long it had been since his last fitful sleep. It became necessary for Almedha to act in his best interest, she used her ability to cast a trance to force him to eat or sleep. The young lord was so unused to living without his young bride that she occasionally slept at his side to give him the unhealthy illusion that he was not alone and that she was his deceased beloved, those hours of blissful ignorance certainly yielded more sleep then if he was left alone. She had rather hoped that sooner or later he'd start to show signs of improvement but he showed no improvement in the slightest.

This caught Lady Adalinde's unwelcome attention and his mother's immediate intervention consisted in the form of a visit from no other than the King himself, "It is not well for him to dwell so deeply upon his departed wife," Lady Adalinde commented to the King as they strolled through the gardens one day. Almedha herself was trailing behind them; she had actually been invited by Lady Adalinde as she was Vytis' closest confidante at the time.

"Indeed," his uncle said uncomfortably in his low bass rumble, "how long since he has last eaten?"

Auberon's question had been directed to Almedha, her niece instantly turned to her and Almedha instantly wished she had not come here at all. She wasn't going to mention that she was force feeding him through mental compulsion, "I had a tray brought up by the servants last night," she said levelly, "he appears to have eaten it. I don't stand over him and feed him as if he was a child," that was closer to being a blatant lie then she wanted to admit, she did everything short of feeding him by her own hand. Her reproachful words struck Lady Adalinde with enough reproach that she flushed. Unfortunately she regained her nerve, "I am concerned for the country as a whole, if Vytis is to succeed you someday he cannot do so like this. I think it's in his best interest to put this whole Astridr affair behind him."

"How dare you!" Almedha grit her teeth hard so she didn't show them fang in the moonlit garden but it was hard. It was bad enough that she was more concerned about the good of a country and her son's place within its hierarchy than his own feelings but she had the gall to dismiss his first love like an unfortunate scandal. Almedha seethed, the instant rage made her incisors lengthen, poking out of her gums with singular ease, "She was HIS WIFE, not some strumpet. Their marriage may not have lasted far beyond the first year but it wasn't without deep emotional connection, something like that doesn't end without deep emotional consequence," she may not be able to show fang but she allowed her eyes to convey enough malevolence to make Adalinde unconsciously ill at ease.

"I meant no offense to her memory, my words were poorly chosen," the woman said, the fact she said it so easily without stuttering or apologetic tone made her know it was no accident. Adalinde was speaking her mind, about how she felt about the relationship.

It was the King who broke the tension, "You need not concern yourself, Lady Adalinde, not with that. Before I came here I had come to the conclusion that the death of Lady Astridr likely boded ill for Vytis," he pulled Adalinde's summons from his pocket; "I met your courier while en route here. I was already going to call upon Vytis to inform him that I've arranged a match. A second marriage should allow him to move on while giving a sense of closure to the first."

"Who?" it was not Adalinde but Almedha who asked; truthfully she was in utter shock. If either of them knew Vytis he'd not welcome to prospect of another bride nor would she be able to make him forget Astridr.

"Lady Ingrid of Aurelien, she has been at court, she is quite distraught over her sister's death. They are well-matched; they will be able to help each other get over the mutual grief they share."

Almedha wanted to tell them how absurd the idea was, about how naïve they were but she was struck mute and dumb from the announcement. Would Vytis marry Ingrid? Not bloody likely…and not without a fight…


That night Almedha danced attendance upon Vytis, trying to get him to eat before his uncle could see the haggard shell of a man left in the wake of Astridr's death. He could eat and sleep all she wanted but he still appeared as a shadow of former self. Grief took some manner of vitality from him and nothing of the material world could give that back to him. Astridr had taken his heart with her to her grave. The moment she'd heard the absurd notion of his betrothal to Lady Ingrid she'd felt obligated to prepare him but she realized there was no easy way to tell him. She lost the chance when she heard a knock at the door, the servant bowing low before speaking, "His Majesty, King Auberon, to see you…"

Vytis finished off a healthy shot of brandy that likely wouldn't bode well for his common sense before he replied, "Yes, bring him in," it had been so long since she'd heard him speak that his voice sounded dry, raspy. As if his throat was already accustoming itself to its disuse.

When his uncle came she remained, though she was sure the King would want this conversation with Vytis alone. She was sure that if she stayed that she could de-escalate the conversation if things got out of hand, she wasn't sure if she trusted Vytis to be sane enough not to do something foolish like drawing a blade on his uncle. The King noticed her, "You may…"

"Almedha will stay!"

The tone was impertinent, authoritative, and predictably his uncle acquiesced. He was such a weak little king, weak compared to Vytis who was merely his heir. She'd seen kings browbeat their heirs into obedience but Vytis was the one in charge between these two. The conversation didn't even start and she knew what would happen already based on the first few minutes. The King would tell him about Vytis' betrothal to Lady Ingrid and Vytis would throw it in the King's face and tell him to go to Hel. Almedha steeled herself as the King spoke, "I have come to ask you to return to court. I understand my first request months ago was ill timed, I asked you to leave your bride as her health…declined. I, of course, understand that your place was with Astridr."

King Auberon was trying to be slow in unveiling the betrothal; it would have been a smart tactic if he didn't act so submissive to Vytis'.

"I am not ready to return to court," he said flatly, "I have to prepare to lay Astridr to rest and I have the estate to manage before I can even think of leaving."

"I have already planned to have Astridr laid to rest amongst the royals in Crell Monferaigne with all the honors due to a Princess of Crell Monferaigne."

"What about the honors of a Queen?"

"Astridr was not a Queen, she was a Princess, when you ascend that title will go to your next bride."

"I am not going to remarry," he declared flatly, "Astridr is the only wife I will ever know. I lived up to the terms of our agreement, our marriage was fruitful; we have given Crell Monferaigne three heirs of the Blood. I believe she is due the respect of a Queen as my wife and mother to our heirs."

"Vytis, I am not yet in my grave. I may be willing to work something out about the honor of her last rites but your future has already been arranged. Your marriage to Astridr was a good marriage, you were a very devoted husband and it bodes well any future women in your life but you have shared her decline to such a degree that it is unhealthy. You would stand to benefit from moving on, in fact I've already chosen a match and your mother, she has given her blessing, she is even pleased with it," he spoke rapidly as if getting it out and over with would give him peace of mind yet his tone was slow, soft, as if coaxing a beast.

It wasn't far from the truth, Vytis looked deathly calm as he sat upright, the serenity of his posture was an outright lie next to the fury of his gaze. Almedha instantly put a hand upon his shoulder, allowing her mind to twine around his as the physical contact established the mental connection betwixt them. It prevented him from leaping out of the chair and doing bodily harm to his uncle who appeared not the wiser about his distaste for the 'arrangement' they'd come to behind his back. His rage that reached his eyes was heard in his voice, "That wasn't our deal, Uncle," he spat out in distaste, "Astridr gave you the heirs you wanted so badly, it lead her to her death less than six months later! I sacrificed my beloved wife to Hel's embrace for the continuation of your bloodline!"

Almedha's grip tightened on his shoulder as he tried to vault from the chair to slam his hands against his desk. The frightening snarl on his lips is what made the King back down…for now. At least for all his weakness she could say he was smart, "I understand this is a shock to you, I will leave now, I'll leave him in your care, Almedha, is it?"

Her lips formed into a frown of grim disapproval as she nodded her head in silent affirmation. The king rose and left, only after his footsteps retreated beyond even her hearing did she release her hold upon Vytis in silence.


What have I done?

He was angry, so angry. Angry at the gods for taking Astridr from him, angry for them denying her the paradise she'd so duly earned, but for the first time he realized that the rules, restrictions, and desires of his family and the upper class had a hand in Astridr's final fate. They had played out the power plays according to the rules, played the games that the upper classes thrived upon. There had been no choice, his father and mother never would've given the marriage blessing unless it resulted in children, to continue the family name. Even his uncle had pressured Astridr and himself into bearing the children, into bearing the fruit that would continue the bloodline of Crell Monferaigne's kings. Astridr had been used, sacrificed to continue the legacy of small insignificant things like family standing and name. The pregnancy hadn't killed her, not on its own but she never recovered the same strength of life she had before the taxing nine months. He wasn't even sure if he considered his own children a worthy trade for the loss of their mother. Even after she was gone, he regretted allowing her to fade away in his arms. Even now, he knew he'd pay any price to have her back, any price.

For the first time in days his eyes fell upon Almedha as she scrutinized him in concern. She been at his side like an ever constant presence, like the loving mother he'd never had and had always been denied. Now he saw her differently, Almedha was no more a monster than his own pious mother, he certainly trusted her more than his own mother. When she had admitted to being undead a part of him had been horrified by inbred prejudice but now he looked at her in calculation. She was one of the creatures of nightmares, of the dark demesne. Almedha belonged to Hel and so did Astridr, he licked his lips in an uncustomary sign of nerves, "What does it cost to get an audience with Hel?"

What was he thinking?

No preliminaries but instantly fear flew into her crimson eyes at his question, "Vytis, please, do not put yourself in her debt, do not deign to bargain with her! Please."

"You cannot divert me, Almedha. Even if there was no chance of restoring Astridr to life I would barter for the absolution of her soul from Nifleheim alone. If you cannot or will not tell me then I will find others who will speak."

Almedha responded but it was not her awareness behind the words that came from her mouth. Her crimson eyes narrowed, glittering in sweet anticipation, her words curled into a seductive purr that was utterly unlike her, "That is most unnecessary. I am here…," Hel paused, using Almedha's index finger to trace along the edge of Almedha's perfect cheekbones.

Vytis flashed a glance upward, to meet Almedha's eyes and saw pure terror coloring her already pale features. At seeing that uncharacteristic fear in her he felt outrage for Almedha, reduced to a helpless puppet in the mere turn of a moment. It made Vytis wonder if the Underworld's Queen had been waiting for this very moment, for it to cross his mind to bargain with her. A petulant frown curved at her lips but it was aimed at Almedha, as if Hel didn't have the slightest problem with using another's body to conveying her personal reactions to the person trapped within, "Naughty, naughty Almedha, working against her mistress' wishes," she tapped Almedha's cheek lightly as if she was hitting Almedha, not herself, "how disappointing, did you really think I would leave him be, leave him to you in such a delicate time as this? I will have to deal with you…," she ALMOST made it sound lamentable but there was no mistaking the eagerness in her voice to 'deal' with Almedha's disobedience.

"Could you get out of her?" he was more than a little irritated not to mention ill at ease.

Hel turned her attention upon him, glee flashing up into the depths of Almedha's eyes, quashing the terror shining there before, "You wished to talk, yes?"

"Yes I did but can't we do it face to face."

The smile deepened, as if she would love to have the opportunity, clearly she didn't have any problem undressing him with a gaze at first meeting. He hoped that Almedha didn't share the Hel's awareness, "If you wished to talk to me face to face you'd have to die though I am not sure if you'd done enough evil for the Valkyrie's judgment to yield you into my keeping," she placed a pale hand upon Almedha's bosom, as if gesturing to herself, "this is the closest you are going to get to speaking to me…but I will leave her alone…for now. Sleep," she murmured as if to herself and the light of awareness in Almedha's eyes died making it all too apparent that only Hel made her body stand and move, the goddess had just snuffed out the vampiress' consciousness with a single word, "There, better?"

"Yes, for now."

The goddess smiled, "Now, let's gets onto business. You wished to barter for your beloved, your," she paused, "Astridr."

Vytis didn't like the sincere smile at her face; it was like one who had memory of when they enjoyed a particularly sweet morsel, one they weren't likely to forget. It quashed any thoughts in his mind of heeding Almedha's brief advice about pulling out while he still could, "I want her back, intact, unharmed, alive."

"What are you willing to give me?" the Queen asked.

Vytis had been moments from asking what she wanted but instantly quashed the words before they came forth from his mouth. It was an open question, one that the Queen of Nifleheim would be sure to love since it would allow her to dictate the terms of price and payment. No, he'd not give her an open-ended easy time of this transaction, "My soul for hers, I will yield my place in paradise for hers in Nifleheim."

"Well that is certainly a better offer, the soul of a strong warrior in exchange for a faint damsel,"she said after a moment's consideration, "but you do not just want her soul, you want her back, alive and well. You cannot have both for so little a price. I demand equal payment: a soul for a soul, life for life, yours for hers. If you are to have it all you will give it all in turn. You will serve me, belong to me in life and death and she will be your bonds. Do you accept?"

"I will be killed; I will not be with her?"

"If you accept, you will be 'killed' in a matter of speaking, you will be turned but I will not restore her to you only to deprive you of her while she will yet live. As long as you live you will serve me in secret and once you have died you will be mine. Do you accept?"

Her eyes tightened, capturing his gaze as if unwilling to allow him to slip free of the pressure she was placing upon his shoulders. The pressure seemed to build, as if it would overwhelm him if he didn't speak and soon, "I do, I accept."

A smile of fulfillment reached her lips, successfully earning his capitulation made her glow with radiance, "Now…now I will tell you what you must do in order to get your inamorata back. Odin accuses me of stealing souls from him but he is guilty of the same. His agent, the thief, is Valkyrie – Lady Valkyrie. It is she who has Astridr currently but such a weak female was never meant for the halls of Valhalla, she was stolen out of spite and still belongs to me. You will confront this thief, you will confront the Valkyrie and through doing so you will obtain the soul you desire. Remember, Vytis, as you are now you would never be able to match a Valkyrie. You need me, you need my help, my strength to fell her so don't think about turning back or turning your back on me. Tomorrow night I will send an emissary to you, they will turn you and you shall serve me in exchange for your female. I suppose you might be more comfortable getting the intimacy of the 'kiss' from someone you know, shall I send Almedha to you?"

"Yes," he said quickly, sure that he'd not like any other vampire feeding off him. Almedha was probably the best he'd be able to get, "And she will not be harmed?"

His voice was stern and the Queen's eyes flashed before she frowned, like a child deprived time to play with a new toy, "I suppose you will consider that part of the deal. You drive such a hard bargain even to the last. Very well, you have my word. I shall not harm a hair upon her head."

Vytis couldn't believe his audacity, "That's not good enough, too vague."

Shock took over Hel's features before she laughed, it was a high and cold tone that sent shivers down his spine even though it was a laugh of pure mirth, delight, "oh you do know how to play our games. I will be careful in underestimating you! Very well, very well, you have my word! No harm shall come to Almedha from myself or others for withholding your confidence from me. While the body of your beloved awaits the return of her soul, death will stay its touch. The body will not decompose; she will appear as if only sleeping."

"What did you mean when you said she'd be my bond?"

"Once I cast the spell I cannot rescind it save through direct means but her fate is of enough interest to you that I know. You will follow through if it means having her back or not. You care more for her then you do yourself, if I control that which you hold dear then I control you. Take me to her; I will lay the spell upon her now before death takes any further course."

Vytis felt a slight stirring of reluctance to reveal Astridr's resting place to Hel, as if the knowledge could be useful though he couldn't explain why he felt that way. Practicality won out over reluctance, hunting the Valkyrie could take time and he couldn't let her body decay. Hel placed Almedha's delicate, pale fingers over the hollow of her throat. He was no mage, he felt no stirring of power flaring to life but as his eyes gazed upon Astridr he noticed things that his senses could detect. The smell of decay slipped away, her muscles began to regain what little substance they'd possessed in life, and her coloration was pale but it lacked the pale gray pallor of death. She looked like she could be asleep save for the fact she was not breathing, "It is done," the Queen of Nifleheim declared, "I will send Almedha to you tomorrow. Be prepared to live up to your side of the bargain."

"I will," he said, trying not to be defensive, the Queen of the Dead merely smirked at him and then vanished. With Almedha asleep and no personality to command the body Almedha's body fell against his. He had outstretched his arms to catch her once he realized she was going to collapse. For a moment he was afraid that Hel would come back and he'd be holding her in his arms but Nifleheim's Queen did not. Vytis wasn't sure where to place the vampiress for her safety, Almedha had never handed herself to the mercy of others by sleeping where her secret could be discovered by the unwary. He finally decided to lay her to rest in Astridr's bedroom, it was hard to place another female where the memory of her was so strong in his memory but no one would expect another to be in those chambers. In fact he had forbidden anyone to disturb the chambers shortly after returning home. As quickly as he could, he placed Almedha's unconscious form upon the bed and retreated to the sanctuary of his own, except he wasn't alone…


She sensed the undead; it was a trait inherent to all the Gods, to be able to sense their taint upon the nine realms if only vague. However, spiritual concentration was a technique unique alone to herself and her two sisters: Lenneth and Silmeria. It allowed them not only to sense the presence of the undead but how heavy the concentration of their power, how entrenched their taint upon Midgard or how widespread their vile influence. Hrist Valkyrie was about to descend if it wasn't for feeling a sharp spike of pure undiluted ether flare to life at her back. Reluctantly she released her hold on the hilt of her blade, reining in her desire to quell the rising undead and submerse herself into yet another dance of blade and blood. Her dark amber eyes turned to behold Freya. Normally she'd have bowed low but in midair that would be difficult and the goddess didn't look like she was here for long, certainly this was no social call, she was here to dispense new orders.

By way of greeting Hrist mentioned why she was lingering here, poised to strike out, "The undead gather but for what I cannot say, they gather near en masse as if by invitation."

"It is why I am here, they gather around their lady, their Queen. She had made a conquest this evening, one she wishes to defend and protect. It goes without saying that we can't let her keep him."

"Him?" she was shocked, she had expected maybe a valuable artifact or at the very least a valuable piece of land or holding of strategic significance but an individual?

"These highlands are called Lorraine; its young lord is irrational with grief. He is a danger to all thus you will remove and take him."

Rarely did she ever question Freya – and by extension through her – Lord Odin, "He invites Nifleheim to his door yet we welcome him into the folds of Asgard?"

"Like any Einherjar, Lord Vytis of Lorraine is merely a mortal but he is enough of a prize that we cannot suffer Hel to have him."

Hrist blinked, inclining her head in blind obedience, "It will be done."

No more had been wasted from that moment, her path was clear. She had to confront the young lord this evening before things could get worse, much worse. She penetrated the estate easily, using her astral exoskeleton – her spectral visage to shift through physical obstacles. Sooner or later she'd have to materialize fully, to inflict harm upon a mortal she'd have to be physical to impose a mortal blow, a mortal death. Rarely were mortals killed at the behest of the gods and even more rarely were they accepted as the 'Chosen', the damned were dealt with accordingly and sent to Hel.

Hrist took her time exploring the house, the information could be useful, she had to make sure that she could silence this Vytis before he could escape or worse alert the household, and by extension – the undead, to her presence and purpose. At that moment presence skirted just as the edge of her awareness, a prickling irritation, she drew her astral blade soundlessly turning to meet the intruder. She was shocked to see not an enemy but a human, a human embracing the undead like it meant something. It almost made her want to retch, there was no mistaking it for what it was but he knew and he cherished her enough to hide it, safeguard it, for when the man reappeared he'd left her in the bedroom she'd just searched.

Her hand tightened on her invisible blade, part of her wanted to place her blade through the undead he'd just left another part of her wished to place her blade through his back, to strike him down while it was opportune. Hrist Valkyrie mastered the urge, allowing her blade to lower before she returned it to her sheath with reluctance. Business first which meant she had to finish the young Lord – a man of twenty, twenty-one years at most. From the sight she snatched of him grief had aged him beyond his years, he was such a fool for believing he could gain from an unholy alliance. Clearly the lord had less faith than his father and grandfather and now he'd pay the price, what a waste.

Or was it? She smiled, regardless of his unworthiness, she'd recruit him and by force if necessary. They had nothing to lose, she just had to subdue him, it would be for his family to mourn his loss with his death so rapidly approaching on his heels. Literally her steps ghosted his own, he entered his bedroom through the door and she followed like a shadow. The door closed before she got to it, her insubstantial form stepped through the solid wood before solidifying. She had to give him credit his physical senses were satisfactory, even extraordinary for him to sense her mere moments after her appearance in the 'flesh'. He'd be an excellent Einherjar, shame he'd not be willing, shame indeed.


It was a shadow at the edge of his peripheral vision, a slight stirring change in the air, a strange feeling of unease had been eating at his gut that alerted him. He had thought it was his dealings with Hel. In a way it was just that, the Valkyrie here to claim his life and judge his soul mere minutes after the deed was done, the Covenant made. He was fast enough to change his alignment; he was not fool enough to present his back as a target to the Valkyrie. There was no mistaking her for anything less then what she was.

Her hair was as pitch black as the feathers that ornamented her helm, her armor a purple so pure that in darkness it could be mistaken for obsidian, her eyes were cold amber, so cold and calculating. It was the last which upset him, she looked like she was looking to purchase, looking to buy and he wasn't selling himself. He'd go to Hel before he'd be a slave to the Gods after what they did to Astridr, to him, to them both.

It was a shame he didn't have his blade, he would have love to sink it through her at that very moment, to obtain Astridr. He had not thought she'd seek him out, he always imagined he'd have to hunt her. He wished this confrontation had happened in the study, his blades were there. Astridr had been uncomfortable around his weapons, he'd had made his room a place of peace and love for her, showing none of the remnants from his past profession as a warrior. Past for the fact that he'd never returned to the armed forces, once he'd settled with Astridr he'd never left her side for long. In death he had not even changed this; he changed nothing as if bringing a tool of death would have disturbed the memory of her.

Vytis regretted it now, only slightly, but blades were not the only weapon he had. The body was always a weapon – a weapon of last resort and brute strength. There was no words to be said, he attacked her. The Dark Valkyrie moved so fast, his fist missed her entirely and she vanished from his sight. He felt like a foolish bully taking a swing at a smaller kid that was too fast to hit, it took him a moment to recover from blinking, a moment too late. A gauntleted hand crushed around his throat and threw him against a wall, a chuckle, followed by the first words, "You can't expect to compete against me…if you had any chance you starved yourself of physical strength, and grief took the rest of you!"

At the best of circumstances Vytis knew he couldn't compete against the Valkyrie, Hel had been right he would be no match, none at all. The Queen of Nifleheim clearly had not thought he'd be targeted between tonight and tomorrow, neither had he and they had both been wrong. Again he stole to offer challenge and again the Valkyrie just tossed him away, this time into the headboard. Beneath the weight of his back he felt the wood crack, this time he knew he'd suffered damage enough to cripple his speed. The Valkyrie leapt upon him in an instant and before he knew it her blade sunk into a sheath of thick flesh and warm blood. He would have screamed but her wound had been purposeful – he would not speak ever again. She crushed his throat; slit his vocal chords with a single thrust, now he had only to die in silence.

A tendril of awareness swept against him, at first he thought the Valkyrie had moved, physically brushing against him when another tendril of thought slipped against him, between them, around them, binding them he realized with mute horror. The Valkyrie was touching his mind, the bitch was trying to take him, trying to take him for her own. Even dying, he rebelled, trying to pull his mind out of the mire of hers. The Valkyrie tightened her mental grip on him, like pulling the reins of a horse, casting another attachment around his, as though trying to leash him to her will. His mind bucked, slamming into hers with brute force, determined to die free of her entanglement. At the same time his attack hit her mind, she'd cast another, throwing it over him. The thought was heavy, imposing, stronger than any of her other attempts to bind him to her. It was different though, he blinked suddenly aware of her – it was not a comforting thought to know Hrist Valkyrie. He even knew her god damn name! A smile, cold and cruel, curled at her lips as if letting him know he failed moments before her blade sank deeper into his flesh, casting him into nothingness.


A/N: I wanted to involve Beliza in this chapter but it would have been too much a bother and it would have distracted from the real events going on.

Michelle, to answer your question about the construction of the house. I figured that there would be plenty of work labor eager to be hired if enough money was offered. The more hands involved in the task the quicker it would be completed.