Chapter 32
LIGHT THROUGH THE CLOUDS
Weeks later, thoughts of Midsommar still dance around in my mind. But not right now, as my arms tremble at the force necessary to block Tane’s strike.
Sweat drips down the side of his face and drops onto my outstretched arm.
“Gross,” I mutter.
A flash of humor lights across his eyes before his face cracks into a wide smile.
“Lena,” he shakes his head, “you need to stay focused, no distractions, or it will cost you.” His voice is light, but I heed the warning, anyway.
We break apart and walk together to the water table.
I sheath my axe on my back. The past few weeks have passed in a flurry of meetings, training, and introductions.
The only time I feel relaxed is when I’m on this training ground.
It seems like every day a new family arrives, and a tent is erected.
“Thank you for all your instructions—and the new houses look great,” I say after throwing back an entire glass of water.
Tane has been a tremendous help not only with keeping me on a rigid training schedule but also with housing logistics.
Several of the new timber homes were built by his very hands.
Thatched roofs and sturdy timber constructions, the perfect fit for some of the warriors with smaller children.
The rest of our population has had to make do with the tents.
“It’s what the rebellion needs. I’m more than happy to help.” He shrugs.
But something glimmered in his eyes with the word “rebellion.”
“Have you ever been a part of a rebellion before?” I ask hesitantly.
Tane turns to look at me, but his eyes are a million miles away. The breeze that floats between us does nothing to cool off the intensity of his gaze.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t pry,” I say apologetically.
But Tane just shakes his head before gruffly clearing his throat.
“I was a part of a rebellion once, and I died there protecting my people and our land.”
His words are heavy.
“Mathilda said she was the Valkyrie who brought you here.”
At my words, Tane’s face relaxes, and he tips his head to the sky, closing his eyes and embracing the sun.
He sighs deeply before continuing. “I thought there had been a mistake. My soul was supposed to journey to Hawaiki. But when she broke through the clouds, I held my last breath. It was like looking into the sun. Her face … it was light and warmth, and every good feeling I’d ever felt before.
I didn’t know pain in the end. I had died a warrior’s death, and she was my reward.
She took my hand, asking if I wanted to join her, and then brought me here.
She explained to me what my duty now was, but none of it mattered.
I would have gone anywhere or done anything she’d asked. ”
His revelation has me gasping for air; he loves her.
Tane shakes his head lightly. “But it doesn’t matter. I’ll never be worthy of her.”
My brow furrows, and disagreement is on the tip of my tongue when Lachlan walks through the archway.
“I thought I’d find ye guys here,” he calls out to us.
I wave but glance over my shoulder at Tane. “You’re wrong, you know? You are worthy.”
He smiles sadly at me.
“You guys finished already?” Lachlan asks us.
“Aye, I think she’s had enough of me,” Tane jokes.
But his words still weigh heavily on my thoughts. It’s not my place to tell Mathilda, but I desperately want to. I know she feels the same way about him, and in the chaos of our world, more love couldn’t hurt.
Lachlan stares quizzically at me, and my own feelings towards him bubble to the surface.
“I could do some more sparring if you’re game?” I ask him.
His grin is wicked. “I’ve just finished meeting the blacksmiths, and the new arrows have me itching to fire some. Want to do some target practice?”
I bite my lip, knowing I’ve outshot him every time we’ve practiced so far.
“Of course,” I reply. From checking on our weapons supply, population logistics, and even tents for the healers, Lachlan has been a godsend. I don’t know if I would have gotten anything done without him.
“How’re the councilors settling in? Do you have any new information?” Tane asks.
The information we’ve gathered from the new arrivals has been troubling. Odessa and Julius spin more lies, claiming that the ill omens are, in fact, signs that I will bring about the destruction of our realm.
Cynane, Boudicca, Leif, and Satiah have officially joined our ranks. Joan was one of the last to arrive, and with even worse news. The Idir tree in the middle of the old square is rapidly dropping leaves, and limbs have begun crashing down onto the surrounding garden.
If the tales are correct, that means the Fomorians have gathered a rather impressive army. Flocks of birds have also been spotted dropping dead mid-flight, freak storms pop up over the capital, and skirmishes between clans are occurring more frequently.
The civil unrest has been one of the angles we have worked in our favor to bring warriors here. Offering them an outlet for rising tensions and a variety of training grounds was exactly what they needed.
“No news, and everyone seems to be getting along well. It’s amazing what people can do when they’re united under a similar cause,” Lachlan replies.
His gaze is heavy on my fledgling wings. Initially, we had assumed the silvery hue was just because they were new, but they’re only getting darker.
They aren’t the iridescent white of the other Valkyries, but a unique silver.
The color resembles the sun reflecting off the North Sea we once crossed together. We walk towards the archery area at the far end of the training grounds, but our steps falter when two large shadows spear across our path.
Elowen and Mina dive from the sky, slamming into the ground just mere feet from us. The look of sheer anger blazing from their eyes sets my teeth on edge.
Before I can even ask, Elowen speaks first, “I have news from Odessa—”
Mina cuts her off, agitation bristling from her, and her wings flare. “Not news, a summons. She requests your presence at the Great Hall.”
Lachlan snorts while rolling his eyes. “She can summon all she wants, but Lena is the queen, so she can decide not to answer if she wants.”
He crosses his arms as if that solves the matter, and my lips twitch at his support.
Elowen sighs, impatience flickering across her eyes. “She found out I’m behind the mass exodus of citizens who fled from the capital. I can’t go back.”
Shit.
“Well, that was bound to happen. It’s fine.
Those who haven’t left probably made up their minds, anyway.
But I’m not going back, not yet. We’re not ready.
” Elowen’s face is filled with relief at my response.
“Actually, this is perfect. Now that you’re here, we can begin training as a unit,” I reply, looking from Elowen to Tane and Lachlan.
“That’s a great idea. Let me round up Mathilda and Evander,” Tane replies and jogs from the grounds back towards the castle.
***
The seven of us are standing as a group on the training grounds.
The sun filters through large fluffy clouds, and dirt kicks up in the wind.
A huge part of my job has centered around my ability to delegate to those who have the best ability for the task, and knowing next to nothing about battling as a group, I look at Lachlan.
“Captain, this is your area of expertise. Lead the way.”
Lachlan steps forward, clasping his hands behind his back as he walks back and forth in front of us. His broad tan shoulders gleam in the sunlight that shines through a gap in the clouds, and I stifle a sigh. Seeing him as he is now makes me question why I ever thought he was human.
This man is a warrior, a highly trained and skilled one at that.
“The first step is going to be placing ye next to someone ye already work well with. For instance, Evander and I ha’ years of training together under our belts, so we work well side by side.
We ken each other’s rhythms, strengths, and weaknesses.
Partner up with who ye think ye’d work the best next to,” Lachlan orders.
Tane and Mathilda take a step closer to each other, while Evander and Mina do the same.
“So we need to ken where to place Lena and Elowen,” Lachlan mutters, gazing at me before his eyes shift to Elowen.
Lachlan has her spar with Mina first.
Where Mina is sharp and fast, Elowen is intentional and severe. They both work like opposite sides of the same coin.
“Ye two naturally reflect one another,” Lachlan says as Elowen blocks one of Mina’s blows.
I smile next to Mathilda as I watch them spar.
“They’re so fast,” I whisper to her as their swords clash.
But Mathilda’s eyes are haunted. “They both have faced terrible things, different, but terrible. It makes sense that their fighting styles would reflect that.”
I swallow her words and begin seeing their styles for what they really are.
Mina survived torture and had to think on her toes to get through it. So now her fighting style is built on speed.
Whereas Elowen suffered alone and had time to think out each plan to survive. Each of her maneuvers is now intentional and thought out.
Lachlan calls them to a stop.
“I think ye two would be best together, coupled with Evander’s strength, which leaves Lena,” he says, turning to look at me.
His eyes rake up and down my body, and my blood heats before I can get a grip on myself. “Lena, spar with Mathilda, I want to check something out,” he orders.
Mathilda and I step forward and into the place that Elowen and Mina just vacated. My muscles are still loose from my training with Tane, but I retie my hair back into a pony while Mathilda stretches her arms and bends down to touch her toes.
“Ready?” she asks, after she finishes stretching.
“Ready,” I reply, pulling my axe from the sheath on my back and bracing my feet.
We’ve spent the last few weeks training together, so I know that she favors attacking first and then sinking into a defensive position so that I’ll eventually tire myself out before she comes in at the end, having rationed her strength to finish me off.
It doesn’t matter how many times we work together or if I see her moves before she does them, I always manage to fall into the habit of attacking and running out of steam.
We slowly circle each other before the sight of her slashing out at me blasts through my mind, but almost instantaneously, it’s happening, and I barely manage to bat her advance away.
Mathilda smiles fiendishly. “Come on, Lena, you know you want to play,” she teases.
I roll my eyes, sucking in a breath. “Not today.”
“Let’s go, ladies,” Lachlan barks as we continue circling each other.
The stern command in his voice has my body trembling. Mathilda attacks while I’m mid-tremble, the vision happening a split second before. The blade of her sword glances off the blade of my axe, and then I’m swinging it around back at her.
Mathilda is not only powerful but lightning quick, so I have to center my thoughts to use more of my power. Unfortunately, my capabilities are still not as powerful as I need them to be. She swings out while I’m still fully extended and off balance, knocking the axe from my hands.
If I had another weapon, I might have stayed balanced and been more of a challenge for her.
She grins wickedly at me but picks up my axe and hands it to me hilt-first. “You’re getting better.”
As I take my axe from her, I grin in return. “I have great teachers.”
“That you do!” Tane calls from his vigil by the fence.
Lachlan studies us as he crosses his arms. “I think you two would be great paired together. But Mathilda and Tane have history together.”
Mathilda’s cheeks heat, and I cough loudly while staring Lachlan down.
But he ignores me. “Alright, here’s how we should line up: Tane, Mathilda, Lena, me, Mina, Evander, and Elowen,” he calls.
We get into position. “Let’s take a few laps around the ring in this position.
I want ye to get comfortable with the person next to you. Their movements and breathing.”
At first, the sounds of our feet are a jumble of out-of-rhythm and trampling footfalls as we circle the ring. But soon our footsteps begin to thud in line, and we run together as a team. We make several passes before Lachlan calls for us to stop, and we pause to rest.
“Let me get a group of warriors together for us to practice against,” he calls over his shoulder before heading off to the other side of the grounds.