A Valkyrie's Apprentice: Book Two

Vargos

– K Á R A –

We were close. On a winding rocky path directly to the gates of Vargos. 

The winds had kept us all in peaceful silence for many slithers but I knew Tayah's eyes had not left my back since we had trained on the Black Fang cliffs. It was not a brooding silence but more a concerned one. I knew she wanted to say something about her actions. But I kept my eyes ahead and focused on leading us into the city.

"Hold here." I said over my shoulder, casting a hand up.

We crouched against the rock face in the snow drift. We looked up at the towering walls of the capital built into the mountain. It went up in different levels, none richer or poorer but more for defensive purpose if anyone was mad enough to try a siege.

Only an occasional few carts or groups of horsemen went in and out of the main gate. This entrance was watched by pikeman and overlooking watchtowers with siege grade crossbows along it. The men came to my other shoulder and rubbed their leather gloves together. Yanu's face was buried in Kaden's furs somewhere. Tayah kept a few feet apart silently and stared up at the main gates.

"I want this to be very simple." I told them loud enough over the winds. "I will shadow a group of hunters as they leave and take their horses and bows. We will enter as a hunting party and find the boy's compound soon after."

Kaden and John threw Tayah glances before shrugging. "Aye."

"I'll join you." She murmured quietly beside me. I caught her eye briefly and dropped her a nod before she deliberately looked back to the city walls.

"Stay out of sight. We will return with the gear." I rose to my feet and adjusted Thanatos and my spear. Tayah dropped into step behind me and we set off on a brisk jog at the edge of the perimeter in the snow. I was careful to keep us between high rocks and lower ground but it was not too important in the heavy snow fall–the watch towers would be lucky to see a few metres out.

We sank into a sheltered rocky outcrop that was perfect to watch traffic pass the snow packed path down. Now we waited for our moment. Tayah sighed lightly beside me. I kept my eyes fixed on the road and not on the drifting thoughts that surrounded her power.

"About earlier..."

I kept watching the blanket of white silently. She readjusted her crouch and it made the snow crack and crunch.

"I'm sorry I made you do that."

I flicked my gaze onto her and she was already watching me closely. I couldn't form anything on my features but I listened.

"I know you hate it. I know especially more so when it needs to be me." She murmured, shifting again and tightened her hands in front of her. I watched her a moment longer before dropping her a minute nod.

"Are you not going to say anything?" She asked.

"There is not much to discuss." I responded calmly.

She huffed out a breath and dumped herself back in the snow watching me with more impatience. "Just speak your mind. I cannot bare this feeling of distance between us. We have already been apart long enough."

"Tayah, we can discuss this later." I breathed, noticing the distant sound of something.

"We are not ambushing anyone now." She hissed low. "You can tell me what is really bothering you Valkyrie."

I rolled my eyes and let a breath go through my nose. "Stop giving in to your anger. I should have come alone." But the moment the words left me, I regretted them. For the look of hurt that flashed across her made me ache as painfully. "Wait–"