Valkeryn 2: The Dark Lands (35 page)

Teacher waved his hand. ‘Not happening. We need that diamond, and we need it now. If you disappear, we’re done for. We are too few to be able to breach the castle walls; we’d spend days being nothing more than an annoyance.’

Grimson seemed to think for a moment. ‘Then I will take Arnoddr, alone.’

Teacher shook his head. ‘Still no.’ He turned to Arn. ‘Sorry Arn, I trust you, but this is too important. You know what’s at stake.’

Grimson folded his arms and looked away. His jaw was set hard.

Arn just shrugged, and Teacher rubbed his forehead. ‘Last offer, you take me as well. Simms, Brown and Sharp, will create a diversion at the walls. That should draw them away, or at least make enough noise so we mice can scurry in unannounced.’

‘Mice?’ Grimson raised his eyebrows.

Arn held his thumb and forefinger a few inches apart. ‘Little animals.’

The youth nodded. ‘Mice… yes.’ His turned away for a moment, but then spun back. ‘Three mice it is.’

Sharp guffawed and punched Simms in the arm. ‘We get to do a frontal assault on a castle… with an entire army inside… on things twice as big and ugly as us. This is gonna be so cool.’

Grimson put his hand on her arm. ‘You will not be alone, or cold. Sorenson will be here soon. The moon will be high and he will come… I know he will come. And with him will be the Far Wolfen. You should wait for him.’

She smiled. ‘He will certainly be welcome.’

Teacher looked at his watch. ‘Time to get moving; we should get into place, and see if we can at least locate the diamond.’

‘Diamonds.’ Grim pulled a face. ‘Hard stones for a crown and nothing more; I care not for diamonds.’

‘I know, but we need it. And we also need to rescue our friends. Deal?’ Arn asked.

‘And kill Mogahrr? Deal?’ Grimson’s eyes blazed.

Teacher sucked in a deep breath, filling his lungs, and then exhaled slowly. ‘Sure. Let’s go.’

Grimson turned and started off. Arn followed.

Teacher turned to his three remaining Deltas. He handed over all his remaining ammunition and then walked along in front of them punching fists as he went. ‘Give me two hours, and then raise hell. Remember, if we don’t make it, there will be no home to go back to.’ Into each of their hands he dropped a Morph Steel capsule. He grinned.

‘Tastes like steel-covered crap, but packs a punch.’

Simms held it up between thumb and forefinger, and then shrugged. ‘Down the hatch.’ He tossed it into his mouth and dry swallowed. Sharp swallowed hers with a gulp of water, and immediately flexed her fingers, watching her hand.

Teacher’s smiled grimly, but his face grew dark. ‘No prisoners, no quarter given. Fight or die.’

The Deltas responded. ‘Fight or die. HUA!’

*

Teacher had finally managed to persuade Arn to don his CL-Suit, and also given him his morph steel capsule. After taking it, he spent a few minutes testing it by making long steel claws extend from the ends of each finger.

Grimson edged in between a couple of boulders, pushing a hanging curtain of vines from his path, to revel a dark opening in the rocks. ‘This will take us all the way under the castle, and into the s
ecret passages within the walls. We will be able to see and hear everything.’ He stared hard at Teacher. ‘But be warned – Man-kind have a distinct smell, and you are noisy. If the Panterran or Lygon hear us, they will pull us from the walls, just like… mice.’

He turned to Arn. ‘This is an old entrance, rarely used. It is dangerous and it will first take us deep. We must be careful.’ He disappeared into the darkness.

Arn and Teacher had to race to keep up with the Wolfen. Teacher switched on his forehead light and also held a flashlight in his hand. Arn just had a flashlight, and followed close behind the darting youth. Sometimes the walls closed to little more than a few inches, and both Arn and Teacher had to edge sideways, both grate the CL suits ensured they didn’t lose too much skin.

After what seemed like hours of continually heading down on a steep descent, they reached a large open space where the lights refused to illuminate anything above or below them.

Grimson stood at the edge of a platform of stone, its edge falling away into darkness. Arn came up beside him and looked over the edge.

‘How deep does it go?’

Grim continued to stare into the pit. ‘No one knows. Some say it goes to the very heart of our world.’ He looked back at Arn, his face carrying a hint of fear. ‘Perhaps to Hellheim itself.’

He pointed across to the other side of the abyss, where another tunnel stood yawning open. ‘We need to get over there. There was once a bridge here, long before even old Vidarr was born. But it is long gone. Now we must use the ledge.’ He pointed to a few inches of stone lining the edge of the pit.

‘Great.’ Teacher looked dow
n at his size twelve boots.

Arn pointed at his own large feet, now wrapped in the CL-suit. ‘Best we don’t look down, huh?’ He grinned.

Teacher looked over the edge. ‘Nothing to see anyway.’

Toget
her they edged slowly out. Even Grimson had to concentrate, taking one small step at a time. When they were half way across, Arn looked down, frowning.

‘You hear that?’

‘No.’ Teacher looked one way, then the other.

‘I can.’ Grimson’s ears moved as he stared hard into the darkness. ‘We must keep moving – faster.’ 

‘I still can’t hear a goddam thing. How can you?’ Teacher turned from Arn and slid a hand carefully into a pouch on the CL suit and eased out a glow stick. He bent it in half, and then let it drop. It fell and fell…. and fell. As it descended, it cast a green glow on the walls of the huge pit and illuminated what looked like large, colorless fruit on the walls. The angle made it difficult to work out whether they were something growing from the rock… or something climbing up to meet them.

When the small dot of light had completely vanished, Teacher finally heard what Arn and Grimson had heard – giggling.

Arn leaned his head back. ‘It’s getting louder… they’re coming up.’

Teacher nudged him. ‘Well move; I do not want to be on this ledge if we are about to be visited by something from Grimson’s version of hell.’

Arn started to shift sideways quicker and quicker. Teacher only had his heels balanced on the small shelf of stone, keeping pace until the wall crumbled beneath one of his boots. He went down, but as fast as he thought about it his fist sprang a metal spike, which he jammed, into the wall. He swung back up to the ledge, the spike retracting smoothly back into his flesh.

Grimson leapt up onto the opposite platform, and looked back over the edge. ‘Quickly, quickly.’

Arn leapt across, and Teacher cam
e next, looking back briefly, but then racing into the new tunnel after Grimson and Arn.

‘What the hell were those things?’

Arn shook his head. ‘Not sure, but I’ve heard them before. They seem to live in the emptiest and darkest places on the planet… and I for one do not want to meet them.’

Teacher grunted. ‘Makes two of us.’

‘Three.’ Grimson called over his shoulder.

The climb took another hour, and many times, Teacher would swing around in the dark, sure that something was so close behind him he could feel slimy fingers, or claws, or tentacles on his neck.

The going was arduous, and they had to scale tumbled boulders using only their fingers and toes. It was a relief when the rock and slimy walls gave way to a set of ancient, moss-covered steps.

Grimson turned, his eyes shining in the darkness. His mouth widened into a smile and he pointed at Arn’s face.

‘You become more like one of us every day, Brother Arn.’

Arn felt his face. ‘Huh?’

‘Your eyes.’

‘What – what’s up with them?’ Arn blinked a few times. ‘They feel fine.’

Teacher pulled back frowning. ‘They’re shining… like Grimson’s. Adapting to the dark. You really have been here too long.’

Arn noticed his flashlight had been off for a while, and he could still see perfectly well in the gloom.

‘Hmm, maybe… maybe.’ He raced up the slick steps after Grimson.

*

Arn had to jog to keep pace with Grimson. They climbed stairs for an hour – stairs carved through tunnels and directly onto cliff walls, each set winding its way up through the rock and earth beneath the Valkeryn castle.

At last they reached a wall of ancient stone, its green hue a testament to its great age.

Grimson rested a hand on the rocks. With the other he held a finger up to his lips. Together they waited for Teacher to arrive, out of breath, despite being an elite soldier. He laughed, sucking in huge drafts of dank air.

‘I don’t know what you’re on, Singer, but it seems to suit you.’

Arn shushed him, and then turned to Grimson. The young Wolfen pointed along a narrow corridor, and whispered his words.

‘These are the foundation stones of Valkeryn. It is said Fenrir and the original Guardians laid them down after the time of cleansing. Soon we will be travelling within the walls of Valkeryn itself. Remember, this is not our stronghold anymore. It belongs to Mogahrr and her vile creatures.’

Grimson turned to point along the dark passageway, when he yelped from fright. Standing silently in the dark were two figures, nearly invisible under their cowls. A deep voice floated towards them.

‘The seed of Grimvaldr united again in Valkeryn. I knew Odin would make it so.’ First one, then the other pulled back their hoods.

Teacher smiled. ‘Balthazaar.’

‘Balthazaar, Vidaar… you survived. But how?’ Arn rushed forward, embracing the old counselor.

It was Vidarr who responded. ‘The secret-ways of the castle have been mine for many, many lifetimes. My only regret was I couldn’t save more of our people.’ His face dropped. ‘I was condemned to watch… even the fate of your mother and father.’

Grimson lowered his head, and Balthazaar went to one knee before him.

‘Your return is the sign we have waited for. We are far from bea
ten yet young prince. Balthazaar looked to Teacher, rising to his feet.

‘Captain Jim Teacher, we meet again. I had thought you all dead or captured. The queen has made much sport with your taken warriors.’

Balthazaar put his arm around Arn’s shoulder, looking into his face. ‘Our world and time seems to suit you, Arnoddr. You seem… different.’ He shrugged. ‘There are many things to discuss, but we have little time and more pressing urgencies. Princess Eilif is held captive by the Queen, along with some young Man-Kind.’

‘Eilif… alive?’ Arn grabbed Balthazaar by the shoulders.

The old Wolfen nodded. ‘Alive, and safe… for now. She is being kept in the deep dungeons with the ones called Edward and Becky.’ Balthazaar reached out and gripped Teacher’s arm. ‘There is war afoot – a sizeable force of Panterran and Lygon has headed to the wastelands.’ His grip intensified. ‘To attack your world, Captain Teacher.’

Teacher nodded. ‘We’ll be ready.’

Balthazaar nodded. ‘Then that is something.’ He grew silent for a moment. ‘So here we are within the walls of Valkeryn surrounded by Mogahrr’s entire army. They will need to be cleaned out… all of them. We will need a strong plan.’

Teacher nodded. ‘First we need…’ 

‘First we need to get Eilif out safely…’ Arn’s eyes blazed, and Grimson nodded in agreement. ‘… and also Becky and Edward; they are not strong, and must be petrified by now.’

Vidarr rubbed his chin. ‘We believe we can rescue them. But then we will need to flee as the Lygon will tear the castle apart looking for us.’

‘We are not leaving without the diamond.’ Teacher’s voice left no doubt to his resolve.

‘The red stone?’ Balthazaar raised his eyebrows and continued. ‘It is hung from the queen’s neck.’ He shook his head sadly. She is in the heart of the castle and is never unattended. Even when she sleeps, her private guards do not.’ He lifted his eyes to Teacher’s ‘And what of the one called Briggs?’

‘Can she be saved?’ Teacher asked.

‘Saved? Perhaps. Restored to her old self? Not once a greyworm has been inserted. It burrows to the centre of the brain… where it nests, feeds and eventually lays eggs.’

Teacher grimaced. ‘Then, she stays. But I need the diamond to close the doorway between our worlds. If not, ours will be torn apart – sorry, it’s not negotiable.’

Arn sighed. ‘He’s right. It’s my fault it’s even here.’ He turned to Teacher. ‘We get our friends first, and then all make an assault on the diamond; okay?’

Teacher nodded once, but his expression was unreadable. Arn went on.

‘Let’s hope your Deltas can make enough noise to draw a lot of attention away from us. Or we’ll end up attending the next Lygon feast – as the main course.’

Teacher smiled. ‘Don’t worry; they know what to do.’

Vidarr grabbed Grimson, and hugged the youth. ‘Good, and now, we must hurry. Mogahrr will be in the throne room, and should only have a skeleton force with her. If this is to happen, we must rescue Princess Eilif, and be safely hidden when the Lygon leave the castle to meet Captain Teacher’s forces.’

‘Forces?’ Arn turned to Teacher and grinned.

‘And then?’ The Delta captain asked.

‘And then we pray to Odin there is enough of a diversion to allow us to get beyond the walls of Valkeryn.’ Vidarr half bowed.

In the silence that followed, no one asked what was supposed to happen after that.

*

Vidarr has instructed them to the utmost silence as the passages narrowed between a wall of solid rock and giant stones. They needed to creep, slowly, silently, Vidarr stopping every now and then to remove a plug of stone no bigger than his thumb. Immediately a shaft of light would beam through, and he would place his eye to the hole, nod, return the plug, and then continue leading them onwards.