Dark Passions at Death's Door

1.2 - The Choice

The Valkyries were setting up another camp when she returned.

It was another night as usual, and they had their lookouts on alert for any possible assassins. With the Horde bolstering their numbers, the coming of the newest Accession was already making waves within the Lore.

It would be the first time the Valkyries would take to the field as a force all their own. Phenїx had already worked out an alliance with the furies, and their female brethren had been quick to accept.

Phenїx made her way past Hypolita with a nod. One of the original Hundred that had been raised by Wóden and Freya directly, Hypolita was as fierce as a hurricane. She rarely ever discussed why she had joined them here away from heaven.

Now, Phenїx knew. Hypolita was lonely. Just as she was.

It wasn't difficult to find her other sisters. The flaming wings on their backs were easy enough to discern. While they could choose to keep them folded and expunged, Furie and Cara enjoyed showing them off when around the camp.

Few could gaze upon the wings of a fury without knowing doom was coming to them. Carafina noticed Phenїx and gave her sister a nudge, pointing.

Furie turned to her. "Nїx?"

"Furie, come. There is a matter I must discuss with you in private."

Her younger sister didn't bother arguing. As Queen of the Valkyries, Phenїx's summons were never challenged.

But when they reached the outskirts of the camp, Phenїx's next phrase left Furie dumbfounded.

"What!?" she shouted.

"I am hereby ceding my authority as Queen to you, Furie Fair Wings."

Her sister blinked and then seemed to shake herself, as if she were dreaming. "Sister, are you ill!? Why would you do this?"

Phenїx shook her tresses gently. "No, sister. I will be going on a vacation."

Furie quirked her head, "What is this?"

"Tis a mortal matter. However, it will become a rather regular pastime for us, too," she smiled. "You may liken it to a sabbatical, of a sort."

"Sabbatical?" Furie asked.

She considered what Phenïx had told her of this word, and its meaning. Of all her many sisters, Phenїx shared perhaps the most with Furie. Where Nїx kept her focus in the guidance and soothsaying in plans of love and war in immortals, Furie was always curious of the mortals and their plans, their futures.

Furie lacked the gift of foresight, but with Nїx's knowledge, she could employ her wisdom and intelligence to enact plans of combat and contingencies. In that way, Furie could help organize the Valkyries against evil Loreans attempting to subjugate too many of the mortals.

There was that, and Furie also admired the mortals, somewhat. Even if she found them primitive, their constant striving spurred admiration within her.

Furie mentioned, "Sister, you spoke of these before, they are to come in the future. They are tied to mortals who follow a prophet of some sort? One named Yeshua. A messiah sacrificed on a cross?"

Nїx's gaze caught a fated path tied to these mortals named Christians. Her heart stuttered. Villages were burning, mortal females and children were screaming, crying.

Men fighting with banners pronouncing new gods, deities she herself knew nothing about. Worse still, Wóden's followers were dying. Swords and strange armor clashed. Entire cities filled with wonders were crashing apart.