The Conduits: Frostwalker

Epilogue

The sun had set, retreating its warm rays from the world as the long shadows joined hands and covered the city under the night sky in darkness.

An eerie white halo surrounded the new moon amongst the stars and the cool afternoon breeze turned to a cold chill that permeated through every crack and opening it could find.

Valkyrie sat at the edge of her beg, her arms wrapped around her stomach. A foul taste remained in her mouth from when she had thrown up a few minutes ago and she struggled to fight the rising sicking feeling that rose from her stomach to her throat as bloody images flashed in her mind.

The scene of corpses, broken bodies and the blood of people she had known and come to love had been burned into her memory.

“Are you feeling any better?” Larkka asked, the concern clear in her voice.

“I little I suppose…” Valkyrie answered softly, her gaze cast downward from her eyes which were still pink from the tears they shed.

Valkyrie shivered as a cold gust swept into her room from the balcony. She didn’t close it when she returned to her room after parting with Vulpine, but ran straight for the bathroom. She had hugged the toilet for at least an hour before Jacque brought her dinner. He thankfully left it outside the door at her request. She couldn’t bear to let anyone see her in this state.

“You should close the doors Val, you will catch a cold.” Larkka said, hugging Valkryie’s arm gently.

“Yeah…” Valkyrie croaked and picked herself up and shuffled to close her balcony doors. She rested her head on the glass, letting the cool touch sink into her skin.

Valkyrie sighed, closing her eyes tight as a tear escaped and ran down each cheek as she sniffed.

“Valkyrie?” Larkka said her name sympathetically as she floated toward her.

“I could have died today Larkka...” Valkyrie said wincing as a pang intensified in her chest. “I don’t ever want to go through that again.”

“That is understandable. But if you had not intervened, many who had fallen would still be dead. You saved those people Valkyrie. You were a hero despite your fear.” Larkka said as she tenderly wiped Valkyrie’s cheek.

“But I don’t want to be a hero Larkka.” Valkrie snapped through quivering lips, pulling her face away from her touch. “I am but a child, I cannot do this.”

Valkyrie sank to her knees, placing an open hand on the glass as her breath obscured the glass with a coat of mist.

“On one hand I fear for my life, and for what I would have to endure again and again and again!” she continued, slapping the glass with her hand as she shouted the last word.

“but on the other hand, if I do nothing, everyone I love, all my friends, will all die and it will be all on me. Why me…” Valkyrie finished as her tears flowed freely down her cheek, dripping onto the floor as her chest burned.

“The strongest battles are given to the strongest warriors.” Larkka answered, and hugged Valkyrie’s chest.

“But I’m not strong…” Valkyrie croaked softly, wiping her eyes.

“Yes, you are.” Larkka responded. “You are your father’s daughter, any other girl would have cowered and fled for their life, but you chose to stay behind and defend the innocent.”

“But I did cower. I ran for my life; I almost abandoned my best friend. I’m not courageous like my father, I’m scared.” Valkyrie replied.

“Courage is not the absence of fear, it is being fearful but choosing to face your fears and take a step forward.” Larkka said, snuggling close to Valkyrie’s cheek.

Valkyrie brought her hand up and held Larkka close, leaning her cheek against her warm form.

“Look at the moon.” Larkka told Valkyrie.

Valkyrie looked up at the new moon, as it hung among the twinkling stars.

“Its beautiful.” she said.

“Though it waxes and wanes, it is ever present and rules the night with its watery light. Remember you have a fiery sun to rule the day, one who takes the first watch before your night shift, one who shares the burden of the day with you. You are not alone Val, you have Vulpine by your side and you have me too.” Larkka told Valkyrie gently.

“Wow, that was rather poetic. Thank you.” Valkyrie said with a faint smile.

“A pleasure, and do not forget that I will always be here for you till the very end, no matter what.” Larkka replied with a tight embrace.

Valkyrie pressed her Incarnate close.

Kaladin sat at the edge of his bed deep in thought as Vexx munched away at some morels of takeaway grilled hake.

The room was dimly illuminated by the ceiling light bulb, the only noise being the ambient sounds of the city, Kaladin’s breathing and Vexx’s noisy eating.

“So tell me.” Vexx said, hovering in a meditation pose before Kaladin. “What are thinking so hard about? Your forehead looks like melted butter.”

“It’s nothing.” Kaladin quickly replied.

“Come onnnnn. Tell me.”  Vexx pressed, his arms folded and pressing against his hips.

Kaladin sighed.

“It’s just… the more I think about it, the more Lyca looks like… Michaela.” Kaladin’s voice dropped at mentioning her name. “It’s stupid I know but, for a moment… it was like I was with her again.”

“I know you miss her, but thinking of your hake as salmon could spell disaster.” Vexx responded.

“Can I ask something?” Kaladin inquired, as Vexx took another bite of hake from the plate on the bed.

“Schmurr.” Vexx replied with a stuffed face.

“When she was transformed… Michaela, did she have a name?”

Vexx swallowed and looked at Kaladin with a straight face, his flames dying down to a small orange flicker.

“Only if you promise to never take it as your own.” He answered.

‘I promise, I would rather die than take her name.” Kaladin promised.

Vexx nodded, and spoke one word:

“Vultherion.”