Nuada looked on in affronted astonishment as the Valkyrie sat down on the floor of the library and began to read Adventures in Russian Cooking with her face very close to the pages. He kept opening and closing his mouth as if trying desperately to say something to convey his extreme incredulity. In all his thousands of years of ruling over Bethmoora beside his father, no one had addressed him so abruptly before unexpectedly turning away to focus their attention on a book. The thought of it infuriated him – she had declared her knowledge of Nuala's scars as being royal, proving that she knew she was talking to noble beings, but he couldn't wrap his mind around how she could disregard their sovereignty in such an indifferent manner.
As he glared at the top of her head – her face being hidden by the book – he clenched his teeth and gripped his spear tighter. He had actually taken a menacing step toward her before his sister interfered.
"Nàht, hyldmség, " Nuala whispered uneasily, stepping in front of Nuada and placing her hand on his chest, "héo sy ne weorƿ ƿone cwealmdréor."
Nuada shook his head impatiently and lowered his eyes to Nuala's pleading ones, righteousness burning in his veins.
"Of course she is worth the bloodshed," he retorted under his breath. "Her insolence is enough to earn it." Nuala shook her head, her long flowing hair swishing around her petite shoulders. Nuada could never bear to see his sister disquieted for any reason, and with a heavy heart and glance at the Valkyrie, he returned his spear to its upright position. Nuala looked up at him with a small smile.
"Đu àgnian dryhtdóm," she said softly. Nuada accepted the formal compliment with rigid composure. His mind was more engaged with the winged being sitting behind his sister than Nuala herself. The Valkyrie was so far ignoring all conversation going on around her as she pored over the book in her lap. Every now and then her eyes would widen as she read something particularly interesting and she would emit a small sound similar to that of a kitten and rustle her wings excitedly. He noted with a twinge of uncomfortable pleasure that her face lost all of its condescension and coldness as she read. It was replaced instead with an open expression akin to a child's, full of innocent delight and inquisitiveness.
He looked over at the others. Hellboy and Liz were talking adamantly about the Valkyrie's apparent lack of needing to blink while Manning and Abe were discussing the various roles of her species and speculating on what it was that they ate, from wild mushrooms to live toads. He turned back to the strange figure on the floor.
"I will incite proper respect in that creature," he uttered poisonously. Nuala looked up at him anxiously, her eyes searching. Nuada couldn't meet them; his gaze was chained to the Valkyrie on the floor mere feet from them. He didn't blink when the strange being slowly looked up from her book and met his eyes.
xXxXxXx
For the better part of three hours I sat on the floor of the library and reading through dozens of books. The group of strange people had left me, leaving the tall elf warrior to stand guard in case I decided to do something destructive or dangerous – which was entirely possible. He was standing across the room, leaning on the glass of the large tank while I slowly acquired a pile of books beside me. I ignored him completely, and I could tell that he did not like it. He kept making strange chuffing noises like a scoffing animal, and surges of resentfulness and stubborn suspicion emanated from him in boiling waves. I could tell that he was obviously not used to dealing with creatures such as me, but royalty – I scoffed myself at the useless word – had always been unbearably obstinate.
I finished reading about nominative accusatives and past participles and set Shortcomings and Obstructions of the English Language on top of the pile of books by my side.
"I would like to go outside," I announced, looking at the fuming elf who stood across from me, "I wish to call Venir. He is worried about me."
"And who is Venir?" he replied, unmoving. I ruffled my wings indignantly as he spoke the sacred name. My companion was precious and dear to me, and to have him summarized in so blatant and sarcastic a manner severely provoked my temper.
"I would not speak that name aloud if I were you, young immortal," I uttered coolly, rising slowly to my feet. "Only those who ride the great hesten are permitted to use their names; if it is spoken by any other creature it is considered one of the greatest forms of disrespect and impertinence. To ensure your existence and well-being, I would keep that royal mouth of yours shut."
xXxXxXxXx
The little color in Nuada's face drained swiftly and he had his hand on his spear almost before she had finished the sentence. In a moment the edge of its blade was against her pale throat. She neither flinched nor defended herself, but regarded him steadily.
"You do not speak so to a prince," he snarled, his face half an inch away from hers. "Better creatures than you have lost their lives from uttering such things. Were it not for the pain it would cause my sister, you would be dead where you stand."
"I will speak as I find," the Valkyrie replied in a light voice. "Fear of a blade will not keep me from doing so. Tens of thousands of years have I spent observing human and creature alike, and not once have I seen an example of true royalty or leadership. Believe me, young æðeling, your threats of word and weapon do little to frighten me into obedience. Your temper and wrathful heart have proven that over your few thousand years of existence you have done little to better yourself, revealing a profound weakness of mind and character that I feel nothing but detestation for. Mark me, elf – you are no prince."
Nuada's blazing eyes widened and for a moment he felt completely at a loss. He struggled to regain his former confidence but every attempt failed him. As he agitatedly scoured the Valkyrie's calm countenance he felt more vulnerable than he ever had in his life, and realized that he had lost. After a moment of no further speech between them, he lowered his spear with a shaking hand and stepped back.
"I take my leave of you," he said through clenched teeth, and departed from the library.