Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Colonial Clockwork Marine

Vol1: Chapter 11

In blazing golden light we appeared at Bonnie the druid's groove through the amazing transfer ability of my armored companion. I tried to pry out the name for this remarkable instantaneous mode of travel from Lieutenant Valkyrie, and it was called Sliding which was a power derived from Sleipnir. Yes, sir! The legendary horse of Odin himself. 

The location of the Druid's groove was nothing exceptional. As I see ordinary clumps of trees surrounding a large pond in the middle of a forest that borders our barony. Lieutenant Valkyrie took a few steps towards the edge of the pond as she surveyed the area with her gaze and remarked, "Truly, this is the appointed place Colonel, where we are to meet that druid."

"Stop calling me Colonel, I'm no longer in the army Lieutenant Valkyrie. Liam would just be fine." As I looked around as well and followed through; "Besides, this is a different life now. As I'm a totally different person from the Grimes you knew."

"Ho! I have lived through countless human generations and the character of the soul remains no matter where you transplant it. Since you insist then, Liam it shall be." Responded the Valkyrie.

"How about you?" I countered, "Shall I continue to call you Lieutenant Valkyrie?"

"True names can have a power over oneself, for now that designation is appropriate as of this time." said Lieutenant Valkyrie.

Recalling something from Father Remy's stories on one of his exorcisms, "True name, what are you a demon?" I jested lightly, while the response that I got was the usual straight up answer.

"Nay, I am none of those degenerates and never compare me again with them! As I take such a remark as a slight of my honor. But I absolve you given your ignorance in the matter. In my world true names are a currency that you would sell dearly before mortals. Giving it out so loosely can leave oneself prone to weaknesses. While all is known amongst my kind and betters." quibbled the Valkyrie.

"Alright, my apologies." I responded sincerely, since she is my ride home as antagonizing her might prove to be a bother later, once this meeting is over. "Say, where is that Bonnie, anyway?"

"I am here Liam." replied the druid in a cheerful voice as she just arrived through the woods.

Seeing her in human form took me aback as she approached us. Her clothing was not that exceptional for this era, but Bonnie's form was quite petite compared to her monstrous alter ego. Making the druid look like someone in her mid-teens as per my guesstimate. But in this mess I'm in, I would assume she is far older than she seems. The only thing standing out from her was the pair wolf like ears protruding over her long blue hair and matching light sapphire eyes.  "Ok, let's get to business what am I to get in the form of help from the Fae in all of this?"

"How straight to the point, what happened to small talk, little morsel? Is that not part of  the initial greetings among humans? huh?" said the druid as she further added with a malicious tone, "Or is spending too much time with your straight faced guardian Valkyrie, is now rubbing off on you?"

"Stay true to the agenda, druid." replied the now irritated Valkyrie.

"Fine, fine, fine." replied Bonnie as she proceeded to pout and dip herself in the pond water to the level above her knees. "Come here Liam, it would be best to explain as we go along since we need to do this swiftly before the sunsets. Do not worry none of the actions we are to do shall cause any harm."

Hesitating and a quick look again from Lieutenant Valkyrie to my surroundings before joining the Druid.  "What next? Also you could have explained to us on what we need to do by setting the meeting time earlier you know Bonnie?" I commented as I was now wet in the water with her.