Valkyrie

Chapter 8: Conquest

A great chatter echoed through the streets of Muspelheim's capital, Savart. A bright red demon with short horns, who stood at about five feet tall, ran towards a giant castle with blinding speed. He was a speed demon and one of Surtr's messengers, an expression filled with fear stained his face as he hurried towards Surtr's castle.

The castle walls were made of black molten rock with spikes arcing up the walls. The corpses of many different races hung on the walls, as if they were banners symbolizing the ferocity of Muspelheim's ruler. A long bridge that stretched over a great mote full of lava sat in front of the gate to the castle. Two flaming giants stood guard in front of the gate, giant blood stained axes with handles made from the bones of their prey rested in the giants hands.

The speed demon ran past the two and into the castle's throne room. The floor of the throne room was littered with blood splatters and bones, the walls were mounted with balconies that held a hand full of armored demons in each. A long red and black carpet stretched the middle of the throne room and ended at a throne made of molten rock and lava that held Surtr, the demon lord of Muspelheim.

Surtr was a large crimson skinned demon with sharp black talons and curved horns. A giant enchanted scimitar with a blade made of magma was stabbed into the ground beside his throne. At the foot of the throne were two flaming hellhounds, feasting and ravaging on the still living bodies of two light elves that had been captured. Surtr didn't bat an eye, even when the elves screamed and pleaded for mercy. He slouched in his throne, one hand balled into a fist that held his head up, the other hand grasped a large grail filled with a mixture of blood and lava that Surtr drank from.

Speed Demon: "Lord Surtr! Lord Surtr! I have urgent news my lord, intruders have entered the capital from some unknown portal! Tall, winged, pitch black beings that look similar to demons my lord! Some of them have claws as long as swords, others with black flames engulfing their hands or armed with black, flaming whips!"

Surtr: "Interesting."

Speed Demon: "Yes interesting indeed my lord what are they?!"

Surtr: "Oh I wasn't refereeing to the intruders. I find it interesting how I don't recall accepting an audience with one of my messengers, but here you stand before me. Barging into my throne room, yelling and shouting. Now how do you think that makes me feel?"

The speed demon stepped back and a look of terror covered his face. His eyes began to water and heart felt as if it would beat out of his chest. He could barely even speak from the sheer fear that coursed through his body.

Speed Demon: "I-I'm s-so-sorry my-my lord."

Surtr: "I know my child, you are sorry, you are very sorry indeed."

Surtr simply waved a finger and in an instant three hellhounds entered the throne room and pounced the speed demon. A sound that almost resembled laughter came from the beast as they tore and shredded the tiny demon apart with their teeth and claws. The hellhounds feast was soon interrupted by the doors of the throne room opening and Kavir with a group of his fellow devils behind him.The beast dispersed leaving behind only a pool of blood and the group of devils entered the throne room.

Surtr: "Who...and what the hell are you and how did you get past my guards?"

Kavir: "Excuse our intrusion oh great Lord Surtr and I assure you they are still alive, they may need a few new limbs, but still alive.

Surtr's eyes narrowed at Kavir, he scanned him and the rest of the devils up and down looking for any weakness.

Surtr: "You have two minutes to give me a reason not to kill you all where you stand."