“You’re making me nervous.” Morgana’s forehead creased in annoyance as she strapped armored plates to my wings. Thin and lightweight, the metal would still weigh me down, but I didn’t dare go without the protection.
“I’m about to go into a real battle for the first time. I’m petrified. And I haven’t flown in full battle gear since Aunt Astrid’s training classes ages ago. I forgot how heavy armor is.”
“You’d better get used to it quickly, Thea. You’re going to be a target the instant Neela’s soldiers realize who you are and what you’re doing.”
“I know. Sameerah will fly with me. She’ll give Druan her eyes and ears in the air, while he’s on the ground. He’ll see everything in the air and on the ground so he can give your commanders accurate information.”
“And don’t forget Amara. Not many princesses can say they’ve gone to war with a dragon on their side.”
“Thank the Mother for her.” I sighed in relief. Every time I remembered Amara would be at my side in her terrifying dragon form, I breathed a little easier.
“Remember what our scouts said. Most of Neela’s mercenaries are from the Southern Kingdoms. They’re going to soil themselves when they see a dragon in the flesh.”
“I can’t imagine Neela pays them enough to willingly face a dragon, much less a legion of Druid soldiers and magic wielders.”
“Some will try to run.”
“I know. We can’t let them.” I didn’t like the idea of killing anyone who wanted to flee, but at the same time I couldn’t risk soldiers returning to Neela with news of the battle. She’d find out soon enough. The best I could offer them was a chance to shift their loyalty to me.
“You really think you can free your people?” Morgana donned her own armor of golden chainmail that matched the shimmering lines of paint adorning her face.
I nodded. “I think I know what to do now that I’ve seen them from a distance. But I won’t know for sure until I try to break the bonds. I need to get a closer look.”
Druan and Vendela had taken me on a scouting mission last night. I hadn’t known what to expect of Neela’s army, but I was pleased to discover I could clearly see the bonds tying my people to Neela with her Warder magic. If I could see it, I could destroy it—I just had to figure out how to do that in the middle of a battle.
“Let’s do this, already.” Ben ducked his head into the tent.
“Morgan, can you give us a minute?” I asked.
“I am leaving to join my troops. See you on the other side, sister.” Morgana swept toward the door, giving Ben a once over in his battle gear. “You know it’s too dangerous for him to be here, right?”
“Of course.” I waited until Morgana left before I spoke.
“She knows about me?” Ben asked.
“She’s a Druid princess with the gift of sight. The magic is strong within her and there isn’t much she doesn’t see.” I turned toward my friend. I loved Ben like family and I couldn’t risk losing him. “I’m afraid you’re going to have to stay here.”
“No way. You know I can fight, Thea. I’ve been fighting my whole life, this is nothing new for me.”
“Yes, it is. It’s not the battle I’m worried about. I know you can hold your own. But this is war. There will be other Valkyries in the air besides myself and you’re going to want to join me. And after the battle there will be blood. The fields will be littered with men and women dying violent deaths. You will not be able to hold your Valkyrie in. He will do what he was made to do, and you won’t be able to stop him.”
“You think I’ve never had to do that? I control my Valkyrie, no matter what. End of story. I’ve had no choice but to keep my secret from the world. I can handle it.”
“Have you ever walked a battlefield? I haven’t. And I have control of my Valkyrie too, but I know there are times when she will come no matter how hard I try to hold her. You cannot risk it.”
“You let me worry about that.”
“No. Like it or not, in this world I am your Queen Heir and I am ordering you to stay. It’s for your own good.”
I left him scowling at my back.
“Dawn is an hour away, the enemy camp will begin to stir soon,” Vendela said the moment I left the tent. “We’ve taken their sentries and the troops are in place. We must move while we still have the element of surprise.”
A huge white wolf paced at her side, while a soft gray fox sat patiently on her haunches at Vendela’s feet. Vendela’s eyes shone with a feral glint. She’d merged with both her kindred and was ready for battle.
“Let’s do this.” I nodded.
Everyone knew their roles. Neela’s army was camped in a valley several miles to the east. The mammoth mountains that surrounded Vahland Reach hemmed in the valley on one side, protecting the camp from the wind. But those same mountains would become their prison. I took my place beside Vendela, leading the remaining troops toward the valley where Morgana waited for the first strike.
I was woefully unprepared for this and everyone around me knew it.
A week ago my biggest concern was rationing out my tips to pay for food, gas, and the cheap motel Ben and I lived in. Now I was back in Valsgard, headed into a battle I wasn’t sure I’d survive.
“The soldiers can see your doubt, Princess.” Vendela spoke without meeting my gaze. “You would do well to school your features. They need you to be the warrior you were trained to be.”
“It’s been a long time since I was that girl.” I took a steadying breath and from somewhere deep inside myself, I pulled out the Queen Heir mask I’d worn all my life. I could and would doubt myself, but the soldiers fighting for Valsgard this day needed me to be better.
“That’ll do.” Vendela’s voice held a hint of amusement as we marched across the snow-covered trail, my wings trailing behind me like an armored cloak and her kindred prowling along behind us.
“It’ll have to. The humans have a saying: Fake it till you make it.”
“Wise words.” Vendela’s voice took on a throaty growl as she merged fully with her kindred.
We would box Neela’s army inside the valley before they even knew what hit them. By then, it would be too late. Even now, Druid warriors and magic wielders waited at strategic points around the camp, prepared to create an avalanche to stop any who might try to flee over the mountains.
I tried not to let my fear show when I caught my first look at Amara in her dragon form. It was hard to imagine how the small but fierce woman contained such a formidable creature inside her human form. Scarlet scales glinted against the snow in the torch light. She looked like the physical embodiment of fire itself. Ancient wisdom pulsed around her like an aura. The Druid soldiers kept their distance, but Amara would be my partner in the skies today. As I approached, I nodded with respect. If I were anyone else, I would bow before such a mighty creature, but I was a royal vessel and bowed to no one.
As big as a house, Amara towered over me, fire brewing deep in her chest. Her great talons put mine to shame. Burgundy-black spikes ran down the length of her back and down her great tail. She dipped her head at my approach, wrapping her tail around the area where I stood and lowering her head beside mine as if to say we were equals. Next to her, I felt insignificant and small.
“Don’t forget, we will be with you the whole way.” Druan came to stand beside me with Sameerah perched on his shoulder. “Anything you say to Sam, I will hear.”
The gyrfalcon ruffled her feathers, somehow making herself even more intimidating than the dragon.
“Sam,” Druan warned. “We’re all on the same team.”
I inclined my head in Sam’s direction. “I am grateful for your assistance.”
“Sorry, she’s a bit grumpy today.” Druan’s eyes danced with amusement. “You’re terrified, aren’t you?” He chuckled at the look on my face.
“Maybe a little. But I have a dragon on my side so…” I trailed off as Druan leaned forward.
“And a Druid-Berserker half-breed with a cranky falcon for a kindred. We can’t all be as flashy as the red dragon.” His smile calmed me and I was surprised how much his words set me at ease.
A moment later, Druan’s eyes shifted and grew dark like Sameerah’s. A rim of gold lined his eyelids, like the feathers around Sameerah’s eyes.
I didn’t give myself time to think. Without another word, I took to the skies. Amara quickly shot ahead of me, but Sameerah stayed close to my side. With Druan in control, I trusted the bird of prey much more and found her a welcome presence.
Flying low across the treetops, I marveled at the sheer span of Amara’s blood-red wings. Studded with dark red spikes and two enormous talons at her wing joint, her wings were remarkably similar to my primary wings in shape and function, but that was where any similarities ended.
“Here goes nothing.” I angled into a dive toward the unsuspecting, sleeping camp, circling low over the tents housing sleeping soldiers. Amara followed, giving a great roar and a blast of dragon fire. The battle had begun.
As soldiers scrambled out of their tents, I called on the power of my Valkyrie to give me strength and speed. Amara’s dragon fire illuminated the skies, and her mere presence sent Neela’s army into a panic.
Mercenaries took up their bows, firing arrows into the sky, but the element of surprise worked in our favor. I dipped low as I circled, taking in the snarl of magic only I could see. An arrow glanced off my armor and Amara dropped in front of me to shield me from further harm.
Weaves of Warder magic hung thick in the air like smoke. This was magic unlike any I’d ever seen. I couldn’t make sense of it now, but I was determined to free those caught in Neela’s web.
Morgana’s troops surrounded the camp, making quick work of the chaos as they trapped the enemy soldiers inside the valley.
The ground shook with the first avalanche happening higher up in the mountains. The Druid Magic wielders would come down closer to the battle for the second one. I had until then to finish my one task.
Swords and shields clanged below and the scent of blood and gore soon filled my senses. As soldiers fought, I studied the spider’s web of magic I needed to destroy. It was why we were here. I could see the tightly woven threads forcing my people to take up arms against me. They moved like marionettes on strings, their actions stilted and unnatural.
My own magic welled up inside me and I trembled with the effort to take hold of the slick, oily shadows that were never there before. Something wasn’t right and I fought against a surge of panic. “What is wrong with me?”
I banked to the far side of the valley where a rocky cliffside gave me the perfect view of the battle. I needed a moment to collect myself. Landing in a crouch under the weight of my armor, I dragged a deep breath into my lungs. Sameerah squawked above me, circling, her eyes—Druan’s eyes—watching for possible threats.
As my fellow Valkyrie sisters took to the skies against me, I watched the bond of Neela’s Warder magic flowing behind them like silken threads. I could see it in their faces—they were haunted by the things their Warder made them do. If I succeeded at nothing else today, I had to sever those bonds.
Forcing my way through the taint my instincts told me I should fear, I embraced my magic, letting it fill me as it had when I was a young Queen Heir. But this time, I took in the darkness as well. I didn’t have a choice. I needed to figure out what was wrong with my Valkyrie magic, but right now I had to help my sisters.
I leapt from the boulder and took flight, following the Valkyrie closest to me. Reaching out, I grasped several threads of the bond trailing behind her. Heat surged from my fingertips and I gave a hesitant tug, pulling on the wispy strands I’d captured. I met with resistance, but refused to let go. The Valkyrie shrieked as if in pain and her wings beat against the air as she tried to escape my snare. But I had hold of her with my magic now.
I followed her closely as the heat of my magic intensified and the strands of the bond I held began to burn. I gained on her and she hesitated long enough for me to gather the remaining weaves of Warder magic that bound her. Like before, my magic heated and the bond began to burn.
Sameerah and Amara flanked us, shielding us from the volley of arrows from the ground while I tried to free the first of many.
The Valkyrie cried out in pain, but she no longer resisted me. I flew beside her now, murmuring words of encouragement as I burned weave after weave of Warder magic until only one solid cord remained. The core of the bond was made of shadows and vile things I couldn’t name. The thicker cord wouldn’t burn and as I hesitated the weaves of magic began to reform.
“No.” The Valkyrie’s harsh voice grated in her throat. “Please don't stop.” She slowed her flight, giving me time to think of another way to destroy the final element of Neela’s bond.
Gripping the cord tightly in my hand, I lashed out with my talons, raking through the shadows like warm flesh. The final cord fell into ribbons of dark smoke and disappeared with the wind. The bond was gone.
“Princess Alithea?” The Valkyrie stumbled on the wind, flinging out her wings to steady her flight. “You released me.” Several emotions flashed across her face, from betrayal and disappointment to joy. “It is my honor to fly with you, Princess.” She gave a respectful nod and took up her station at my left, protecting my back as I searched for our closest sister in flight.
“There, Majesty.” She gestured to a woman raining down bolts of magic on the Druids below.
As before, I followed her, gathering up the silken threads of the bond imprisoning the Valkyrie before me. Once again, I burned through the weaves of Warder magic to expose the shadowy bond, except this time I didn’t hesitate when I clawed my way through the core of shadows. Slick residue coated my talons like warm blood.
Sameerah flew with me, helping me free as many of my sisters as I could reach. She clawed with her talons wherever I pointed and sometimes her talons came away dripping with the black darkness like so much blood, until it too faded in the wind.
“It’s Princess Alithea.” Astonished cries reached my ears from the foot soldiers below. “She’s come to save us!” A contingent of shield maidens flew with me now and together we worked to free the soldiers on the ground, My sisters cleared the way for me to help those in the most dire need.
As the foot soldiers began to realize they were released from Neela’s yoke, they changed sides just as I had hoped they would. It touched something deep inside me that I didn’t even have to ask them to fight with me. They’d only needed me to show up.
Sameerah screeched and Amara roared as they circled the valley, watching as the battle changed from a sneak attack to an all-out slaughter. I would do right by the fallen men and women of the Nine Realms who chose to fight against me. After. When we escorted them to Andlang.
“Sameerah!” Druan’s voice caught my attention. I saw the bolt sailing through the air. My eyes locked with Sameerah’s and I only had an instant to wonder what might happen to Druan if he lost his kindred while they were merged in battle. I reached her just in time to pluck the bolt from the sky a moment before it would have killed her.
The gyrfalcon followed me back to the rocky cliffside where Druan and Vendela waited for us. Both looked battle-crazed in the way their kind was known for. Amara slammed into the cliff, perching just above us. Her great wings arched high overhead, shielding us from arrows that bounced off her thick, impenetrable scales. Her enormous tail wrapped around the rocky ledge, embracing us, daring those below to strike against her a second time.
“It never hurts to have a dragon on your side.” I reached out to pat Amara’s smooth scales but thought better of it. Instead, I waited as she lowered her head to my level. To show my undying gratitude and deepest respect for the noble dragon, I dipped my head, keeping eye contact with Amara. “Thank you, my friend. It has been an honor to share the skies with you.”
With a final roar and a blast of dragon fire, Amara chased the remaining mercenaries into the mountains where they would be greeted by the second avalanche of the morning.
Just as quickly as it began, the battle was over.
“Princess Alithea!” Hundreds of Valkyrie soldiers chanted my name. They were mostly men, but more than a dozen females flew around my perch above the valley, giving Amara a wide berth.
I wanted nothing more than to join my sisters in the sky, but I had betrayed them. I couldn’t be sure of their loyalty yet. I had to earn it back and that would take more than a single battle.
I walked down the mountainside with Vendela and Druan, their kindred following. Neither was ready to fully return to themselves yet. I could see it in their eyes; they were more beast than human after the frenzy of battle.
The Druid army stood with Princess Morgana. I felt a surge of relief as I saw my dear friend moving through their ranks unscathed.
The Valkyrie men stood quietly, their dripping swords and blood-smeared faces an eerie sight to behold in the silence.
Without a word, I sank to my knees, my wings dragging in the blood-stained snow behind me. “Forgive me. I did not know how my people suffered in my absence.” My back curved in penitence as I pressed my forehead to the ground, showing them how deeply I regretted my actions.
A whisper of sound met my ears and when I looked up, my people were also on their knees, their heads likewise bowed.
“Your Majesty.” A man I didn’t recognize approached me, reaching to help me up. “You’re here now and you’ve freed us from bondage. That’s all that matters to us.”
“What is your name, Sir?”
“Soren Ness, Princess. I was a captain in your mother’s army.”
“Do you trust these men and women, Soren?”
“With my life.”
I nodded. “I owed you your freedom.” My voice rose in the silence. “You owe me nothing in return. Please stand. I am not your queen. Your queen is a prisoner in her own palace.” I paced before them, searching for the words my mother would have given them.
“What you do next is your choice, my brothers and sisters. You may go home to your families. You may seek refuge among the Druids or any of our allied nations. Or you can stay with me and help me rid Valsgard of the usurper who dares to call herself your queen.”
Cheers rose around me as the men beat their fists against their shields and the women took to the skies, calling my name.
I raised my hand to quiet them. “I am young and stupid.”
Startled chuckles scattered across the crowd.
“It’s true.” I managed a wry grin. “Who isn’t foolish at nineteen? I’m no different from any of you. We are all the same. We are Valkyrie.” I lifted my chin. “I may make mistakes—I’ll probably make a lot. I will fight for you with everything I’ve got. I will fight for our queen. But I will need your help to free her as I have freed you.
“We march for Vahland Reach tomorrow. I will meet with Captain Ness, our shield maidens, and Princess Morgana to plan our strategies. But first we must see to our dead—all of them. These men and women are not our enemies. Many were career soldiers from the southern kingdoms caught up in a war far from their homes. At the end of the day we are all people of the Nine Realms, and we must escort these warriors to their afterlife.”