Of Gods & Valkyries: Book Three

End of the Road

"I've studied your history, know all the enemies you've faced. I am honored to be the last."

— Nathaniel Malick

– K Á R A –

I followed Tayah's horse like a shadow. My shield was ready in my hand while my other held the reins. I could even arm my spear and still direct this horse but that was not needed just yet... Ares had the truth to prove. But given the skies. Given Odin's stark fear and rapid disappearance. My instincts were arming themselves to be on the side of the flame-born. 

That scene had etched itself into my dreams. My mind. I could not be rid of it.

That battle upon the prism bridge with Ares original. Her words. I shook myself firmly and quickened my horse. Ares original was riding ahead of me now. In this reality. I wasn't interested in living in any other–but the burning questions. The answers... that, we would seek.

She slowed as the path wound along the tree line and opened out onto a hillside. The hill I had to assume filled Tayah's dreams and memory. The hill top with the fallen stone as promised.

We slipped from our saddles and tied the horses to the trees. Before she could take a step in its direction I stopped her with my words.

"Take the relic."

"I have my sword." She answered, simply.

I stayed silent, knowing she knew what I meant.

She held her back to me considering. That red cloak of elemental absorbing mystery moved with the winds and her brown plait. She turned half her face to me and dropped a simple nod in acceptance. Whatever doubts she had of her power she held now had to be stifled. The time for training was past. Only the those with true power would endure now. She took the helm of Athena from her saddle bag and attached it to her hip.

I glanced as the skies exploded in bright red hues as if in response.

There was always a reason Ares had been feared after all.

When Tayah stopped before large pieces of rock and boulder I paused with her.

"This is it. This is the place Ares wanted me to find." She murmured, as if any tone louder would call the Valkyries down upon us now. Or worse.

I scanned the face of collapse rock before the large hill. It was a stark marker in the landscape. Recognisable but nondescript for all that were not looking. "Perhaps the entrance is near?" I asked, scanning the peak. 

She shook her head and without hesitating, sent her fist hard into the centre of the largest boulder. It split under her knuckles with a deep crack. She repeated it twice more before the rock shattered under its own weight and split in two. The gap between the split was large enough to slip within, which is exactly what Tayah did. She lit her hand and illuminated the dark fissure we walked into. There was no point calling off our power now. The skies were alight with it. Energy was practically humming in this realm. 

When we emerged from the boulder there was a wider tunnel bored into the hill that headed downward. We eyed each other before I lit my own hand and drew Thanatos from my back taking the lead on this mad endeavour. 

So her dreams were real enough. This place existed. How much else was truth? Was Odin mad? Were they both mad? Demi-gods merely caught in the games of bored gods. I snorted to myself lightly.