Hovering ten feet in the air, nestling the top of her head in the crevice of the vaulted ceiling the seventeen year old hesitated. ‘Dive!’ She urged herself, ‘No she’ll expect that.’
Ika habitually troubled over the best course of action mid-spar. Under scrutiny she hesitated but in a real struggle she was as fluid as an airstream with the bird’s-eye, full picture in sight, if only she could exhibit such grace in front of her coach.
She lamented her lack of execution. Now crumpled in a heap in the corner, her wings contorted painfully beneath her. A morsel of blood leaked from her closed thin lips, teeth clamped ready for what she had coming.
“I don’t expect you to perform under my scrutiny, yet. My first goal is to instill within you the instincts you will need when it comes down to fight or flight.”
Ika gasped. Her wings fluttered.
“I think you are ready for your first field assignment.”
The young valkyrie’s jaw slackened and her dark eyebrows inched toward her cropped snow white hair. Her breath shortened.
“Patala." Holding up her hands, bending the light and air, teacher produced an image of the Hindu underworld.
The suspended shimmer showed a glittering bright landscape. Rolling hills topped with towers and keeps presided with rich royalty, fertile valleys with towns nestled beside clear streams sanctioned the decadent populous. Impossible gemstones hoisted high above the settlements gave light to the subterranean paradise. Exotic delicacies overflowed he landscape. Graceful beasts, perfect blossoms, rich sounds surrounded the land. According to Hindu legend every minute portion of the seven underworlds surpassed each of the seven spheres of heaven.
“I’m going there? What’s in Patala?” By now Ika had righted herself and was sitting, inhaling through her nose, exhaling orally, slowly gaining a controlled steady pace.
“The spirit of one Gerd Svafsson, contracted with Vali, son of Odin, and now indebted to the gods until after Ragnarok. He traded his soul for revenge on the man who killed his family.”
“So how did he end up in Patala anyway?”
“He was sent as part of an anti-terrorcult militia to quell an uprising near Angkor City.”
“Oh I heard about that. At least fourteen Vikings died in the struggle, several more were taken captive. The new houses are being blamed and given ultimatums for their release. It looks like it might start a war.”
“Gerd Svafsson was among the slain. I have witnesses placing him in the seventh level of Patala, for which the rest of the realms take their name.”
“And you want me to go down into Patala rescue him from the Naga.”
“Gerd is reportedly unwilling to leave the realm of the Naga. I want you to rescue Gerd from his own pride.”
“I can see why.”
whoa man... it looks awesome... I'm still recovering from my phobia of reading, but eventually I will get to reading the whole thing all the way thru.
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