– K Á R A –

Why was it that the mortal realm had the ever present smell of urine in the air? 

I glared under a thick black hood at the mortals that hurried anxiously around the streets of Vayleron. Revna however was practically bouncing off her boots in excitement. I had to suppress a growl.

"Could you perhaps attempt to walk like you do not have a torch up your cloak." I hissed sidelong as she took in every inch of the monotonous city. There was nothing here I wanted other than to leave the empty eyes of the mortals. I had the eyes of  Tayah Ashrive waiting for me elsewhere...

"You can keep your exasperation to yourself, Stormbringer. I have not set foot among the mortals in fifty years." She murmured as she smiled at a young man that had to double take at her striking appearance and walked into the woman in front of him. Revna grinned devilishly and I struck an elbow into her.

"We have a purpose here. An immortal purpose." I emphasised. At these words she seemed to remember herself and met my eyes with a more serious nod.

"Xerxes is not far. This is where we will find the first of Ansel's trail." I stated as we rounded another cobbled street. It was not as populated as it had been when I was last here. There was more of a hush and less of a feeling of eyes on you. This was no doubt a curtesy of an immortal murderer leaving bodies lying like winter coats on the ground.

"What must I know of this mortal, Xerxes?" Revna questioned as she flicked a black strand of hair away from her sculpted features. Yet another moron gawked as we passed and I resisted the urge to make a memorable response. I tightened my fist on a concealed damandium blade.

"He was close to Tayah. This indicates a perfect target for Ansel. She merely wishes to destroy everything that has touched her life." I said emotionless. I did not need to mention to Revna just yet that I would be tracking another pair of mortals while we followed her blood red trail. John and Kaden would not be far from their home city by now. Ansel would not have used her last portal to this destination if it were not the case...

Revna was watching me with a curious look before turning her attention to the large inn before us. I froze in my step as I took this in too. A large hole had been scorched into the thatch roof and rubble had only recently been cleared from a gaping hole in the west wing. Revna glanced back to me and to the wreckage.

"Our immortal's work?"

I nodded curtly. "We may be too late to save the inn keeper from her wrath." Anger filled me and coated my veins in steel. The only positive I had now was that she would not be so far from reach. The moment Ansel acted again I would be within these walls to find her and end this. Tayah would feel all the worse knowing this.

I quickly turned my head and assessed a mortal woman stacking cabbages in her cart to finish sales for the day. The clouds had begun to darken the sky. I cleared my throat and neared the brown haired mortal a head shorter. Her eyes widened at my armour and weaponry that could not be concealed this closely.

"What happened to this inn, mort–was there an attack?" I corrected myself quickly as I scanned her eyes for my answers.

She set down her low yield vegetables and dusted her apron. A senseless action but at least she formed words.

"This is your business?" She questioned, eyeing the pair of us quickly and suspiciously. I practically felt Revna's disbelief at being questioned back but I swiftly spoke in the language of mortals to move things forward.

I flicked a gold piece onto her stack of cabbages and she froze before it like a deer. Then it disappeared into her apron and more cautious looks were cast around. I tapped the inside of my blade waiting.

"Curious it was. I eard' from the local baker that there was a fire in the night. But horrible sound it made. He suspects the guilds bein' involved." She made to busy herself again as she spoke to us quietly. "Best to keep eyes down lately you know. There be talk of an alliance between the assassins n mercenaries all lookin' for someone. Too many good folk are endin' up cut for it." She muttered crossing her chest with the sign of a false god.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

"Suppose one wanted to contact these assassins." Her eyes bulged like I had grown another head. But I had no patience for this sheep. "I will be on my way as soon as you give me something to find them." I clarified. 

"Not from around these parts are ye?" She squinted more closely at the pair of us.

I stared her down wordlessly. One more coin landed before her and was again swept away. Simple creatures. Much like birds.

She finally nodded to herself and checked our shoulders once more. The unsubtle action made me want to choke her. "The baker on the corner over there." She jutted her head to a modest shop boasting new loaves on racks outside and in. "He's the only lad does dealings with em' that's all I know honest to god."

"Let us hope you take your god seriously." I muttered.

She gave me another strange look before backing away to her cart and continuing. I cast my eyes over my shoulder to Revna and she gave me a low smirk and drew her grey hood over her eyes.

"Allow me to play with this one." She murmured darkly.

"Remember to ask the question before the threat." I deadpanned as I strode past her in the direction of the bakery.

She caught up to me easily. "Odin's words were plain. Whatever the cost. Ansel must meet her end."

This made me grab her forearm and stop our walk. Power pulsed in my veins urging my temper.

"Those were indeed Odin's words. Not to be taken without control. We do this quietly and reduce our impact on this realm and then we disappear. That is our way."

"That immortal has no way. Do you think she will give us such gracious allowances." Revna snorted in false humour.

My jaw clenched and I glared her down. She didn't realise what she was saying. To her any mortal would now be collateral. John. Kaden. Tayah's tormented eyes were suddenly before me and I had to shake the image away.

"What is the matter with you?" Revna stated, interrupting my thoughts. Her silver eyes churned in calculation as she watched me. "Before your last descent no mortal would stop you from achieving your task–" her face morphed into that of disbelief in an instant. My blood was now running cold. "Kára, you cannot let your feelings for her cloud your judg–"

My power glowed in my fist before she finished. "Intelligence is not a weakness. You forget who has dwelled among the mortals. Drawing attention is not in our interest. Lest the Valkyrie's need to be forgotten from history once more and not return for another century." I deflected knowing that she knew all too well when we had to disappear and become a myth once more. When we became a little too noticeable..

She shut her mouth and glanced down, then quickly around us. "Very well." She hissed, turning her back on me and crossing her arms. "I suppose you would have me leave the ground untouched and my weapons growing dust in their sheaths too."

"If possible." I snorted.

"Unbelievable." She muttered to herself.

"You are my friend. Do not test me on this." I told her back.

"Do your job, Stormbringer. The rest is secondary." She called over her shoulder.

I glared at the thickly hooded back of the immortal striding past dull clothed mortals. My thoughts churned. If she hurt the mortals. The important mortals. What could I do? They were all collateral damage to our task. But the names of those closest to Tayah needed to live. If they fell at our hands she may never be able to look at me in the same way. I would just be another immortal killer to her.

That was no longer an acceptable title.

I followed after Revna with my hand more tightly on my weapons. Thanatos was upon my back. It called to my power and my will. No matter how strong the formidable earth wielder was. She was never a match if it came to it. Gods I hoped it did not come to it.

– T A Y A H –

I toyed with an ember between my fingers as I watched the sunrise over the mountains.

It hissed between them urging for fuel to burn hotter. My mind drifted as the early morning Valhalla light cast an orange across snowy peaks. I wondered how my Valkyrie faired. How it was back on the mortal realm. How her hunt for Anselle went and if she were any closer to mounting that narcissist's head on a pike.

I thought of John and Kaden. It was a lot to ask of her to ensure their safety even with the dangers that came with pursuing an immortal. But they were family. Even if I must outlive them and be off realm for gods knew how long, they deserved a full life–even if that included tavern wenches and rigged games of cards.

A sudden shift in power caught my attention. Before I could fully prepare myself a silver eyed immortal stared at me cooly. I flinched upright out of the cushions and eyed the unfamiliar Valkyrie cautiously.

"I see you are familiarising yourself with immortal life." The dark brown haired woman said with a wry smirk. I shifted on my feet and noted the gleaming axe across her back. 

"And you would be..?"

"A Thousand Suns. Though most call me Astrid." She grinned as she offered me an armoured hand. I slowly took it and gave a stiff shake before taking a step back. Was anyone unattractive on this realm? She chuckled and it made the plated black and gleaming armour shift in places... it was almost obsidian. A purple half cape hung from one of her shoulders with gold trim.

"At ease, immortal. I come here with purpose and it is not to seek you harm." Her loose hair tangled in the wind as she spoke and I relaxed a stance I hadn't noticed I held. 

She continued, "You and I appear to share the same elemental." She told me with excitement as I watched with a growing frown.

"You also throw fire around?"

She laughed and grinned, "You have no idea. I can do a lot more than that as my name suggests–but we digress... I am here as your mentor." She stated casually.

I stared at her flatly. "I have a mentor, though I am grateful for your offer."

"Yes, I am familiar with Stormbringer." She said with a serious nod. "But I have been summoned for this purpose to help you master an element I already possess."

"Can you be un-summoned? Because my–Stormbringer will return soon enough to ensure that I have this mastered." I retorted as I made to loosen my shoulders and walk around the immortal. The shock and eye widen made me smirk when my back was to her.

"I–immortal–I must insist!" She called jogging to follow me into Kára's home.

"Look, A Hundred Suns–"

"A Thousand Suns." She corrected quickly.

"Sure. I have the best immortal possible to deal with all of my bad temper and even worse attitude. I appreciate Odin bestowing this monumental task to you but it is not necessary." I finished as I plucked one of the red fruits and took a chomp facing her.

Her brows were low in thought.

"But I have been summoned–"

"Look." I interrupted her through a mouthful of deliciousness. "Just return to what you were doing before this. I will worry about my own power."

"What happened to that wall?" She enquired suddenly casting her eyes off to the scorched side where my power had recently redecorated.

I set the fruit down. "An unfortunate accident."

"This is exactly what we must address. Your power is uncontrolled." She insisted as she crossed her arms before me.

"Maybe that was deliberate..." I ventured.

"You are an awful liar even for an immortal." She stated with an eyebrow raise.

I sighed loudly. "What will it take for you to leave?"

"You consent to begin training of course."

I stared at her. She stared back. "You will leave once Stormbringer returns?" I demanded.

"You are quite fond of her." She said as if discussing breakfast and not my undying love. "Are you both sexual partners?"

"Good gods! Get out!" I demanded, turning my back on the blunt, infuriating immortal who remained there with her head tilted like an oblivious–

"I will take that as a confirmation on your training, immortal!" She called at my back as I crossed the room to get as far away as possible.

"Whatever makes you vanish faster, Ten Suns!" I called over my shoulder.

"A Thousand Suns!" She replied angrily this time.

I grinned as I walked now.

"I will return once I have prepared! Expect me soon immortal." She said before finally disappearing and letting me have something new to complain about on this realm.