Trial of the Valkyrie

I See a Red Door

Trial of the Valkyrie

ACT I

I THEE WED

Chapter One - I See a Red Door

Song: Paint It Black - The Rolling Stones

"Life seems but a quick succession of busy nothings."

- Jane Austen in Mansfield Park

A    Z    R    I    E    L

"You're sloppy today, Shadowsinger," the priestess taunted, feinting left and ducking Azriel's swing. "Did she leave you flustered?"

Azriel threw another blow at Gwyneth Berdara, exhaling sharply. He couldn't tell if it was the heat of the midday sun in the training ring, or her words that had set his face aflame. She dodged his fist yet again, dipping out of the way as they continued to circle one another. In the past three months since she'd won the Blood Rite, the priestess had become quite the fighter. Quick and light and efficient, she gave Azriel a good workout three times a day. During Valkyrie training, their private midday practice, and in the dead of night for their midnight sessions.

"Look at that," Gwyn said breathlessly and she kicked out — her foot struck his calf. It hurt like a bee-sting and Azriel clenched his teeth against the pain. "The Spymaster, rendered pathetic by a break-up. You know, Sellyn Drake usually recommends a good crying session beneath a willow tree at this point in her books."

"For the last time," he growled, throwing a punch at her middle – she jumped aside deftly and Azriel squared back up to face her. "It wasn't a break up. We weren't in a relationship."

Gwyn's eyes glinted mischievously. "Right. You just had feelings for her and you almost kissed last Winter Solstice, and today you had to tell her that things couldn't progress. Oh, and she got you a gift that you kept on your nightstand and you got her jewelry. Totally not a break up between two people in a relationship."

"Again, I'm sorry about the necklace," sighed Azriel – and he was.

Gwyn smirked. "We've been over this. You know I don't give a damn about the necklace, Shadowsinger." Her expression turned fiendish. "And neither did Elain."

"Clearly," he drawled. Her sharp wit cut him, but it didn't hurt like it would've months ago. "If I didn't know any better, priestess , I'd say you were trying to goad me into foolish attacks in an effort to secure victory," Azriel countered, staring her down as she bounced lithely from foot to foot. "Either that or you were hoping to make me reconsider our friendship."

Gwyn pouted at that and Azriel chuckled. He lunged for her, throwing a punch towards her shoulder. The Valkyrie bent backwards, her spine parallel to the ground. When he drew back his fist, his shadows danced over the breath she had expelled before she snapped up straight once more. As was par for the course with Gwyneth Berdara, his shadows chittered excitedly at her success (although he couldn't understand the song they sang for her).

"You know that if you rescind our friendship," Gwyn said, rearing back her foot and swinging for his torso – Azriel spun to the side, avoiding her strike, "you have to give me back my bracelet."