Valka empties her cup of ale and bangs the empty cup on the table visibly frustrated by the strange long conversation her father the chief is having with another man. What are they discussing that is taking so long? she groans.
She knows Grimolf is going to hold that discussion for the next half hour before she lets her father go. Her friend Oddi walks in and she continues to grumble about how long her fathers conversation is getting. Oddi quietly asks her who are we raiding this time?
The Rakni says Valka. They killed my cousin Hradi when they raided our town because we raided their cattle. Yes! Says Oddi, it’s about vengeance and it’s become a never ending circle. We raid them, they raid us blah blah blah. To be honest it’s getting really boring. He continues We are the greatest warriors in the world and I don’t mean just our clan, Novkki, but the whole clans put together. Have you forgotten how we fought together to the gates of Tartessos when we were united by Hagrim? So what’s your point? Asks Valka. My point is simple, our current raids are pointless. If we join forces and with the blessings of Auros, we could conquer the world. You’re dreaming, Valka replies, getting up from her seat. Looks like they’re done. Let’s get this over with so I can go kill some cousins and grab some cattle. Yeah yeah replies Oddi.
Valka’s father, Chief Skardi, walks elegantly over to her. Grimolf walks behind him, still trying to continue the conversation, but the chief ignores him. Valka, says her father. My Lord replies Valka. Her father lays a hand on her shoulder and blesses her go with the blessings of the gods. May the god guide your rudders and fill your sails with bounty. Bring ruin on our enemies and glory to our clan, and dedicate your victories to Auros!
The few people in the room cheer. They deeply revered the gods especially Auros, the god of war. Let me walk you to the boat, her father continues. Valka visibly surprised kept her cool and walked with him. Usually the chief would bless the raiding party from his seat and allow the non combatants escort them to their boats. So whatever he had to say to her was quite serious.
What is it, father? asks Valka. She clearly sees the worrying look in her fathers eyes now. It’s Grimolf, he’s been acting strange and suspicious, replies the chief. Ok, what does that mean?Grimolf has been part of their clan for a long time now after he left his home clan Isgerd and got married to Luta, Valka’s aunt. Luta died in a storm before they could have any children and legally Grimolf was allowed to stay in the clan. He was considered part of the chiefs top advisors and a noble. Valka does not trust him, and he has quarreled with her father’s leadership far too frequently—especially for an outsider.
Some of the young warriors have been paying him too much attention and you already know who I mean, says her father. Didrik snarls Valka. Yes, and that’s why I need you to do something for me. I’ll do anything for you father and you know that. I need you to have a successful raid. Do it in a spectacular fashion if possible. I need to show the clan that my leadership abilities are still strong and effective, the chief says to Valka. I was planning on doing that anyway, says Valka. I won’t let you down.
I trust you, says her father. Be well and may the gods go with you. You too, says Valka. Watch your back. Her father nods and Valka walks down to the ships. Her men are already waiting for her.
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They got to the Rakni home village at night with only the moon and stars as their source of light. They quietly ground their boats and leave a few men to guard them. It’s not the first time Valka would be raiding the Rakni village. She knows the terrain quite well. Her soldiers walk behind her quietly, they already know the plan. Valka and her her soldiers would not win a battle against the whole Rakni village. They planned to hold them long enough to steal their cattle and fall back to their village with the spoil. It is a raid not a battle.
As they got close to the village, Valka raised her hand and her soldiers stopped behind her. Something doesn’t feel right about this she whispered. Valka’s second in command marches up to her and asks her, what’s wrong? I can’t explain it, Valka says, but something about this raid doesn’t feel right, I can feel it in my gut. You want to call it off? asks the soldier. I trust your instincts. If it feels wrong, it’s wrong. Valka remembers her promise to her father and decided to go for it. No, she replies but be on guard, let’s keep our eyes open.
Valka notices the sky around them glowing from the lamps in the Rakni village. Just before they descend a hill, she notices what was wrong. About ten tents pitched around the vakni village, each large enough to house six warriors. And above the tenths Valka can see their banner, a black raven on a red field. Isgerd, breathes Valka. Grimolf’s home clan. Here, with the Rakni. Everyone get back to the boats now, this is a trap, they knew we are coming, commanded Valka. But it was too late. Before they could retreat to their boats, a horn blasts and then another one. Warriors rush out from their tents and charge at Valka and her men.
Fight your way back to the boats. Valka screams in command. They are surrounded by enemy soldiers and the battle heats up. Valka strikes her axe through a mans skull and blood spills all over her. Her second in command fights her way to Valka and says to her take a few warriors and breakthrough, the rest of us will hold them off
Not a chance Valka snarls back at her. You take some men and go, I’ll hold them back. She was never one to run from a fight. Your father needs you! says Svala. Grimolf could be behind this. Go! Valka struck another soldier with her axe and figured it could be true. She called on a few men and started to fight her way through. Gods go with you, says Valka. You too!
She fights her way out with her four soldiers and started running in the dark towards their boat. She was angry, she had never run from a fight before and it left a somewhat bitter taste in her mouth. The sky around them suddenly lit up in red flames just as they approached the boats. The boats are burning and she can see dead bodies on the ground and dark shadows around the fire. But then one of the dark figures shouts and points, and the shadows move toward them.
Go, one of the soldiers yelled to her. We’ll hold them, like the others did. You go. Go home, Valka. For the clan.
If she escapes, she’ll be the only survivor. Gods! Her father could exile her for this but someone had to take the message back. Someone has to tell her father the chief what Rakni and Isgerd have done. Fight hard, she says. Die well. I’ll make sure you’re remembered, and that you’re avenged. You and all the others. The four soldiers nod and face the enemy soldiers while Valka sneaks into the forest.
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Valka stands on the last ridge between her and her village. It’s been a whole long month in the wilderness. She was lean and tired but she still had strength for a fight in her. She looks up and sees a strange sight. Her father’s banner is gone from where it hung over the great hall. It’s been replaced with Didrik’s with Grimolf’s beside it in a place of honor.
She walks into the village with her clothes torn and her axe strapped behind her. People are calling her name but she completely ignores them and heads for the great hall. They all follow her and someone sprints ahead of her to inform those in the great hall of her arrival. Valka walks up the steps to the great hall and push the massive oaken doors open. Didrik stands from his seat and Grimolf stands besides him. Oddi is in the great hall too, he holds his lyre firmly.
Valka quickly scans the halls and sees envoys from different clans who have come to pay homage to the new chief. What in the gods name is happening here? Valka barks. Where’s my father? You’re alive! says Grimolf. P—praise the gods, we thought you were—
Silence! says Valka before he could complete his statement. You will honor my chief advisor and speak to him with respect! Didrik said to her. But he quickly looked around the hall, scanning to see where the people’s allegiance lie. My father, says Valka. Where? He died shouted Oddi. When the news of your defeat came, he couldn’t bear it. He fell ill afterwards and died of the ailment. Didrik was elected by the clan to be our leader.
A part of her had wished he had been tricked out of his position and sent on exile but she’d constantly fought the thought that he was dead, betrayed by his own advisor and warrior. He was heartbroken to lose you, says Grimolf. And no one can blame him for that. I wish he were here to see you now. I said shut your mouth, says Valka. She turns to the chief and say to him chief Didrik right? Are you going to speak up for yourself or what? I trust his counsel, says Didrik quietly, stepping between her and Grimolf. You should too.
Counsel? Really? Snarled Valka. I’m sure he counseled you about the ambush waiting for us at the Rakni village. Or didn’t he tell you about the Isgerd and Rakni warriors who knew we were coming and were waiting for us? Grimolf began to stammer. The… the Isgerd?” But, but, why would they— They knew we were coming, says Valka. And they were waiting for us both Isgerd and Rakni and because of that, good warriors are dead, our sons and cousins. I fled she said loud enough for all to hear. I fled because my warriors asked me to. To make sure that the betrayal and treachery that brought their death would be punished. I didn’t run from that battle. I ran towards this one! But how could they have found out? asks Oddi, loudly. Who would have told them?
A kinsman might have told them, says Valka. An evil kinsman who wanted to usurp my father and replace him with someone he could easily manipulate. Stop it bellows Grimolf. That’s, that’s nonsense. I would never—Valka draws her axe totally ignoring Grimolf. She looks Didrik in the eye and says to him, Chief Didrik, I challenge— I yield says Didrik before she even completed her challenge. He draws out his axe and lays it on the floor.
What? says Valka. What? hisses Grimolf. Didrik removes the attire of the chief, a bear-skin cloak, and places it in the throne. I would not spill innocent blood because of the lies of a traitor, whether hers or mine. Didrik says. This is madness, Grimolf says. She brings, what? Her word? Listen to her! Her raid failed, her warriors died, and now she seeks to, to accuse me, and dethrone you with lies! Don’t you see?
Everyone in the hall falls quiet. I’d take Valka’s word over yours, says Oddi, and the hall murmurs in agreement. Thanks you, Oddi, mutters Valka. Grimolf’s lying, says Didrik. He turns to Valka. He told me now that you’re dead, your father wouldn’t live for long. I can claim ignorance and what he meant but I knew and I let him do it. Valka’s grip tightens on her axe and she glows bright red with anger. He yielded, Oddi reminds her, quietly.
Do whatever you want with me Didrik says. I knew what he was doing and I let him do it because I believed it was the best thing to do at the time. But if I had known about the ambush at Rakni or that you were alive, I would not have dared and that’s the truth. Didrik kneels for a moment with his head bowed expecting to be executed by Valka.
Go, says Valka. The truth has earned you an exile but if I ever set my eyes on you again, I’ll split your head in two. Didrik nods, takes up his axe, and walks out, leaving Grimolf all alone with Valka. The old man falls to his knees, stuttering and begging with snot and tears running down his face. Valka feels her axe heavy in her hand.
I’ll go into exile, he whispers. You’ll never see me again. I swear it, on, on Auros’ beard— No, Valka says. Don’t dare speak his name. Valka yells in rage and separates his head from his body with one swing of the axe. There are gasps in the crowd. Oddi looks away. Valka watches in grim satisfaction as Grimolf’s head bounces away and his body falls like a log, his neck gushing out blood. I spill this traitor’s blood in Auros’ name, she says. The blood on her axe head starts to glow. She has killed many men in battle but never an unarmed man. She turns to the people and the severity of her action dawned on her.
Your chief has yielded to me, she says. But that does not make me chief. The chief before him was my father, but that doesn’t make me chief either. And if I am not your chief, then what I just did is murder. I will accept the consequences. A Chief is made by a vote of the clan. Today is a dark day and you must all choose who will lead you to brighter days she says to the people.
I nominate Valka Skardistotter, says Oddi. Seconded! yells someone. Does anyone have any other warrior in mind? asks Oddi. The hall is silent, Oddi nods in accent and shouts. Then I choose Valka!
Valka! shout the others. Valka! Valka!
Valka holds up a hand. I am honored she says. You’re my people, and I would do anything for you. It is true that our losses make us weaker but the betrayal of Isgerd will not go unpunished. Oddi looks at her and frowns a bit. Valka continues to speak While we fight and kill ourselves for cattle’s and who sits on the biggest chair, our enemies across the sea grow stronger. While we kill ourselves over cattle’s and cousins, they sharpen their knives! But this ends today! Oddi smiles now. It has always been his idea to unite the clans and form a great army. You! shouts Valka, pointing around the room. You envoys who came to find favor with the new lord of Nokkvi, and ignored the obvious debauchery that gave him that title! I see you!
The envoys has moved to the end of the hall but the Nokkvi didn’t let them leave. Isgerd and Rakni, you will pay in blood no matter what you do, she says. The rest of you, Your lords have a simple choice: fight with me, or die. Go and tell them.
The envoys hurry out, with grim faces. We will feast tonight, says Valka. To celebrate our restoration. She turns to the throne. Orders them to take off the bear skin and remove Grimolf’s body. Wait, she says. Give the body to the dogs. Send the head to his kinsmen in Isgerd, with my personal seal.
She bends down and looks at her reflection in the congealing pool of red. Leave the blood she says. I’ll rest my feet on it. All this was twelve years ago.
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And now Valka has expanded the kingdom much more than she took it over twelve years ago.
She had built a much bigger and elegant hall but she retained the spot where Grimolf’s blood stained for her feet. She looks around at the large hall, there are three huge tables to sit her people and envoys. The clans are not united, not yet, but they are closer than they have ever been. She looks around to where her son is sitting with his aunties paying attention to everything that’s being said. His name is Aram and he’s eight years old.
Valka fidgets and plays with her axe handle beneath her table. She knows how difficult it is on Aram and the other when she goes to battle. But she realizes now that if she falls in battle everything she’s worked for in the last twelve years, the unity of the clans, would all be lost. So she sits at the great hall most of the times, telling stories of pasts conquests, battles and glory.
Waiting for news is crazy, she would rather get into the battle field and fight than sit on her hands waiting for news. A sentry runs into the hall and at the sight of her Valka speaks loud enough for every one to hear news? She asks.
The sentry falls to her knees but Valka signals for her to stand up. Word from the fleet, says the sentry.
Victory.
Victory! repeats Valka, and the whole hall takes up the chant. She’s finally relieved. The fleet had gone out to engage the Isgerd, the only navy left that could rival hers. She exhales deeply like she’s been holding her breath under water for a whole day. The doors of the hall swing open of their own accord and a cold chill sweeps the entire hall. The wind ignited all the fires and lamp in the hall instead of extinguishing them, making the hall warm and lit.
*Valka,” says a voice
A figure walks into the hall, twelve feet tall and he had to bend to fit through, the kind you only hear about in myths. The figure swings his hands and all the tables with the people sitting on them are moved by an invisible force to the end of the hall. The blood beneath Valka’s feet begin to glow just like the day it was spilled. She looks carefully at the figure. A great beard of flame. A chain of crowns…She recognizes him immediately and drops to her knees.
Lord Auros! she proclaims, and all of her people kneel as well.
Rise, says Auros. Valka stands and looks her god straight in his fire lit eyes. You have won many victories in my name, says Auros. Exposed lies. Routed weakness. Made your people strong and your enemies fearful. You hold my blessing in your hand, and worship me with every swing. What can I say to that my lord? I have come to call on you. To make you my champion in the tournament of the gods. You will be the champion of war, strong, proud and deadly. Valka stretches her axe out and speaks. I pledged myself to you a long time ago.
But what about my people? Your people and those who will join you later I name them Valknir, the people of Valka. Says Auros. You will leave them but you will return and they will not forget you.
Valknir! shouts someone, and every voice in the hall takes up the cry. Valknir! Valknir!
Valka lifts her hand and signals for silence. My Lord she says let me put some things in order.
Auros nods at her. She calls her son Aram He jumps out of his aunts arm and run to his mother. She kneels down and hugs him tight. I’ll be going away for a little while. But you’ll be back right? the little boy asks. Yes I will she responds. Make sure you obey your aunties and learn new thing ok? He nods and steps back, and she addresses the hall.
My people, she says. Valknir.
Valknir! comes the cry, and now she can see that Oddi is leading it. I’ve left you before, she says. “You know who’s in charge while I’m gone. You know what to do. You will prevail! It is time Auros declares. Come my champion.
Valka looks at Aram one more time and nods. Immediately she vanishes with the god of war.
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