Vhadrah- Evolution of HiSkale Read online

  Vengenace From Valhalla Trilogy

  By Ambear Shellea

  Vhadrah: Evolution of HiSkale

  Evrah: The Alchemist's Secret

  Reevah: The Darkness of Light

  Copyright © 2020 AmBear Shellea

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  ISBN-13: 9781234567890

  ISBN-10: 1477123456

  Cover design by: Art Painter

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2018675309

  Printed in the United States of America

  Chapter Titles

  Chapter One: The Three Cod Pieces

  Chapter Two: Death's Right Hand

  Chapter Three: Unseen Ghost Haunting a Field

  Chapter Four: War Cries of Shield Maidens

  Chapter Five: Odin's Chosen

  Chapter Six: Man. Reptile. Abomination

  Chapter Seven: Protection and Danger

  Chapter Eight : Scales and Whispers

  Chapter Nine: A Place of Magic and Murder

  Chapter Ten: Disappearing Act

  Chapter Eleven: The Power of Three

  Chapter Twelve: Dellnar Forrest

  Chapter Thirteen: Blessing from Valhalla

  Chapter Fourteen: An Old Friend

  Chapter Fifteen: The Glow of Ivory

  Chapter Sixteen: Vanishing Act

  Chapter Seventeen: The Holy City

  Chapter Eighteen: Living Heart

  Chapter Nineteen: Tower of Wings and Steel

  Chapter Twenty: Sweet Treats

  Chapter Twenty-One: Talk and Truth

  Chapter Twenty-Two: The Scribe's Tower

  Chapter Twenty-Three: Garden of Valhalla

  Chapter Twenty-Four: Tales of Valor

  Chapter Twenty-Five: Snake Eyes and Wings

  Chapter Twenty-Six: Passages and Propaganda

  Chapter Twenty-Seven: Cloaked and Hidden

  Chapter Twenty-Eight: Childhood Hideouts

  Chapter Twenty-Nine: Path of Magi Summoning

  Chapter Thirty: Sthardust Fields

  Chapter Thirty-One: The Wyld Traveller

  Chapter Thirty-Two: Myan and Gold Eyes

  Chapter Thirty-Three: Despair or Deceit

  Chapter Thirty-Four: Blinked and Out

  Chapter Thirty-Five: The Journal

  Chapter Thirty-Six: Drekkin Reach

  Chapter Thirty-Seven: Liquid Eyes. Swirling Questions

  Chapter Thirty-Eight: Drekkin Pier

  Chapter Thirty-Nine: Sirens and Salty Sea Harrah

  The Song of Darkness and Light

  Forever in night, Darkness hunts light.

  Light is devoured, at every hour.

  The Wings of Three, are destined to be.

  Odin has chosen

  The Alchemist has his mark

  The Realm will seal them both.

  It will be Ladies of Strength

  That seal their fate

  Wild at heart, and Warrior Soul

  Will transcend from legends of old

  Secrets and Schemes, will link a new being

  Of scales, and bloodlines lost through time

  Darkness and Light, and Sacrificed White

  For Peace throughout the Knight

  The Three Cod Pieces

  I saw the smirks cross their faces, as they glanced to one another. Slightly laughing at what they had found, thinking good fortune had blessed them. That it was luck they had stumbled into a cave seeking refuge from the chaos of the Army of Darkness.

  I knew what they saw when they looked at me. A defenseless girl, covered in rags, equipped with rusty cooking gear. Easy prey for those on the hunt for more than meat on a fire.

  Though many things had changed, most stayed the same. The grisly behavior of unsavory men, for instance. That hadn't changed, and with the realm divided into war, it wouldn't any time soon. I had changed, and these decorated thieves were about to find out just how much.

  Cod pieces, the three of them. They saw only what they wanted--a fresh body to be soiled and discarded. Their tunnel vision, and need for evil deeds, would be their undoing. Today, good fortune would not be blessing them. No, this day, they will meet death.

  What was unknown to them, as they made their advance, was a benefit in my favor. Years ago, I traded in my gown for armor, my scrub brushes for swords and daggers, and my innocence for life lessons.

  They spotted the slits in my dress, but not the knives strapped to my thighs. One even commented on the fullness of my breasts but was unaware of the dagger slipped neatly between them. When they advanced, to begin the dance of dominance, they never spotted the sword covered by my bedroll.

  While they were herding me, they did not know, I was taking the lead. Corralling them to my rage filled dance floor. With years of training, my steps were already choreographed, the steady beat of my heart, my battle song.

  I let loose the pans I had been holding, hot stew spilling between us. The metal pans bouncing against the rock, set the war drums in motion.

  The battle had begun.

  They paced my steps, and soiled the air, as foul comments passed their lips. They wasted their breath, I counted mine.

  I feigned a fall to the floor, my hand covertly slipping beneath my sleeping cloth. They laughed, but I struck. I didn't hesitate pulling my sword and slicing at the legs of the men towering above me. The yelled in pain, scrambling for their weapons.

  I flung my dagger, ending the fight for the one to the left. I spun, sword in hand, and opened the throat of the man before me.

  Now, I stood, face to face, with the only one left. His words were cursed, but his confidence was shaken. Surprise had gotten the better of him, and so did a woman. His gazed darted to the dead men at my feet, then up at me. I smiled, showing my teeth. I had him dead to rights, and he knew it too.

  He glanced to the entrance of the cave. I stood between him and his escape. This man, so sure of the outcome a few moments ago, fidgeted nervously as he tried to work it out, balancing his options. I waited to see what he would do. I offered no comment, or dialogue, to encourage or discourage, his plan. Whatever that turned out to be. When he moved, I matched him, keeping myself in the way.

  Finally, with no good alternative left to him, he glanced to me, and tossed his sword away. He followed this by dropping to his knees, bowing his head in defeat. His words were sorrowful, his eyes filled with tears.

  “Please, don't kill me. I didn't mean it.” he pleaded.

  I laughed, “Yes, you did. I saw in your eyes, and your friend's, what the three of you meant to do.”

  He begged, his hands folded as if he were in prayer, “Please, I beg you. I am unarmed, and mean you no further harm.”

  I kept my sword at the ready, lest he get any wicked ideas. That was a lesson I only needed to learn once. I still bore the scar across my chest, as a reminder. I let him sputter on about death, and how he deserved to live, as I thought about what to do. I couldn't kill him, he was unarmed. Well, I could, but that would certainly put a black mark on my white soul. Of course, if I let him go, he could just sneak back in, and try again later.

  Decisions. Decisions.

  I had it. A plan. I wouldn't have to kill him and could put something else at the forefront of his brain, aside from revenge.

  “Stand.” I demanded.

  More sputtering, and
prayers, but he did as instructed.

  I motioned with my sword, “Drop all of your belongings, into a pile, over there.”

  The expression that laced his face was one of horror. As if parting with his belongs was worse than death itself. Incoherent curses flew passed his lips in a fevered frenzy. His soft demeanor gaining strength, as his anger grew.

  When his weapons, belts, and coins, were scattered at my feet, I spoke again.

  “I'll be needing those clothes as well”

  “What?” he yelled. “You mean to disarm, and disgrace me?”

  I shook my head, “Disgrace, or death, your choice. It was certainly no matter to you when you chose to enter here, with the intent of leaving me to be disgraced. Now, hand them over.”

  “My lady...”

  “Oh, My Lady, is it now?”

  He moved on with his objection, ignoring my comment.

  “...I will catch my death out there, in this weather...”

  “You almost caught your death in here. At this moment, you have better odds out there. I am losing my patience, and rethinking letting you live.”

  It fell weird, and uncomfortable watching him, but I didn't want to take any chances. I compromised with myself, and just kept an eye on his movements, and the shadows, out of the corner of my eye.

  “You can keep your under clothes. I won't be needing those.” I said quickly, before he could expose himself fully.

  Once he was down to his skivvys, and bare feet, I set him on his way. Though, he groveled the entire time, he went, nonetheless. Even if, it was almost at the state of a tyrannical toddler.

  Keeping to the shadows of the opening, I watched him trek through the muddy terrain, weaving his way through the trees, until he was gone. When I could see him no more, and my ears could no longer hear, I finally lowered my sword.

  I was sure he would be back, but it wouldn't be soon. Either way, it was time to leave. This cave had served its purpose, and now, it was time to move on. I dressed in my armor and headed out.

  The Army of Darkness would be arriving soon, and with them, the HiSkale.

  Death's Right Hand

  I stood awestruck at the pure raw power that descended toward me. In the midst of battle, frozen in place by the most wondrous creature the Gods ever created. When she arrived, you knew the battle was about to change.

  Long blonde hair flew behind her as she stormed toward victory. A long heavy sword in her hand, cutting down the enemy as she advanced. Tight leather bracers made to protect the delicate wrist, attached to her, and adorned with sharp spikes, became nonetheless a weapon itself. When the enemy got too close to cleave with the sword, she backhanded them into death's grip with a swish of her arm.

  That dark leather studded armor that covered what looked to be a delicate frame didn't hide the menacing aurora that seemed to pulse around her. She was death's right hand, and every aspect of her seemed to promote that fact.

  She moved with all the grace that women posses while dealing Odin's vengeance with finesse. Every move, every kick with her heavy boots, and every strike she dealt was flawless. As if it were choreographed and set to music of old. It was the dance of war, and she was the master.

  The dark black, leather suit protecting her, did little to cover the blood, and gore splattered upon it, as she handed out permanent punishment.

  In legends of old they came with wide wings, dressed in white, to save the souls of the Heroes. This one came cloaked in darkness, dealing death, to save the living.

  This was the new age.

  The Age of Valkyrie.

  The Dark Valkyrie.

  Unseen Ghosts On A Field.

  The tides were shifting. It had been going our way. The Avenging Angel arrived, it invigorated our side, but it was quickly fading. As were the lives of those chasing the light. The enemy had grown and multiplied. More and more, from every direction. There was no escaping them.

  We had the harder trained experienced fighters, but they had the overwhelming numbers, and were crushing us.

  I was one of the few women who took up arms to protect what I loved, and what I worked so hard for. At first, we had the upper hand, as the enemy disregarded women as formidable foes.

  We took full advantage.

  To the enemy, we weren't even there. They charged passed us, not giving us a second glance in their advance on the men in the front line. We didn't take offense, we simply followed behind them, taking them down like unseen ghosts haunting this field. Now, they saw us, and came at us with everything they had. Neither side was holding back. We held our ground for a long period of time before gaining the prize. Victory hung in the air, soaring along the breeze. It was then I had finally taken a small breath. It was the next second that same breath was stolen from me.

  They came quietly and covertly.

  Something thought impossible given their numbers, but there they were. Ten groups of fifty advanced, known as the HiSkale. As large as this was force was, it was a small group. They were the winged twisted version of man, and reptile, fused haphazardly, in an attempt, to create a superior species to rule the realm. They were fast, they were strong, and they were disciplined.

  Impressive, and deadly.

  They plowed through the opposition in search of the one thing they sought. In this moment, it wasn't us. They rushed past, slashing at those who simply got in the way on their way to her. Death’s right hand covered in the blood of their allies. It didn't take long to figure out their end game, and we sprang into action, attacking them from behind.

  They thwarted us by hovering above the swords, and axes, we carried. The few equipped with bows were no match for the number of floating foes. The metal tips barely pierced the heavy scales anyway. We collected ourselves and charged headlong into the swarm still afoot, as they hacked, and slashed at the force they were created to extinguish. Her. She had their full attention.

  We helped, but not enough.

  I had fought my way to the inner circle. Three rows of them between myself and her. I could see the blurs of her movements and hear the breaking of skulls. I fought even harder, almost in a frenzy. If she falls, we all die. Saving her, meant we stood chance.

  Our forces were divided.

  The bulk of our people fought the reptile scum, the rest of the force were heading off the original advancing Army of Darkness. They were men. Evil, deranged, twisted minds focused on devouring flesh and bone, but they were human. They were the ones who broke through our defensive lines with the rising sun, destined that this be the last day we see it. For many, sunrise would never come for them again.

  They were in Odin's hands now.

  Amid the fighting, I didn't see who had knocked me flat on my back. The air in my lungs was battling for release, and the ringing in my ears had me blinded. I rolled onto my side, trying to avoid the melee, and heavy boots. My sword had slipped from my grip. It took a moment before my faculties returned. I shook my head to clear my vision, and just ignored the deafening bells in my head. Warm blood trickled down my neck, in trails, and into my armor.

  I had to ignore that too. Paying attention to small wounds could lead to bigger, more severe ones. The ones that call out to death, begging for release. I stumbled to my feet, gaining my bearings. There before me, a hideous face crept ever closer. Taunting me. It had spotted my sword-less hands and found me an easy target.

  I squared my shoulders, showing no fear, calling on the shield maidens of my ancestors to give me strength, and courage. Two steps between us, and it lunged at me. I screamed my own battle cry and met it in the middle. The head on collision, ended very quickly. It came at with me brute strength. I side stepped, stabbing it between the eyes with a dagger I pulled from its belt.

  I reveled in my small victory, but only for a moment. That reptile, now lying dead at my feet gave way to the vision of my nightmares.

  The Valkyrie had fallen.

  War Cries of Shield Maidens

  I screamed, as I pushed my way passed those
lingering to watch the foe die at their hands. I blocked out the cheers of victory from the Army of Darkness, the happy hissing voices of the HiSkale, and the cries of the warriors around me. I had to.

  I dropped to my knees, checking the wounds of our fallen savior. There wasn't an inch of her that wasn't covered in blood, and mud. She looked as if had beenswimming in it. I guess, with the way she fought, she was.

  She lay flat on her back, still clutching her weapon. I couldn't bring myself to take it from her hand. That long jagged edge sword, used to bring so many victories belonged there, in her grip. I moved around it, wiping her once pale face.

  Blood and gore matted in her hair, caked to her face, and I had to work a bit to remove it. It took what seemed like forever before I could get a good view of the face. The one I was so sure would be wearing a victorious smile when this was over.

  My heart was broken, and I could hold it in no longer. Anger rose, as my tears fell. This was wrong. This battle was supposed to be the last. The battle to end all this nonsense. I knew, in my heart when the Valkyrie arrived, victory would be ours for the taking. The Army of Darkness would be vanquished, and we would finally live in peace once more.

  I had been mistaken.

  The Valkyrie had fallen.

  The Army of Darkness had won.

  It was then I felt it. The monster born of rage and agony. I was consumed with it. My body temperature rose, the songs of my ancestors filled my ears, building my strength, and my courage. I said a small prayer to the Gods, and prepared myself for death, grabbing the closest weapon at my feet. My battle cry echoed in my ears, as I lunged into battle the Army of Darkness. I didn't realize it was her sword until I removed the head of the foe closest to me.

  I had to admit, it felt good. I felt powerful.

  Odin's Chosen

  The sounds of battle still raged as I came to, gathering my strength. It took a moment to realize I was lying flat on my back, Odin's voice in my ear.