Asgard Awakening 2, ch 15

:)

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The room was somewhat dark, very old looking, and entirely made of stone.  Trav wasn’t sure why harpies seemed to build all of their most important structures with stone. He decided it was probably as much about a sign of wealth as for defensive abilities.

A harpy woman with similar plumage as Yaakova sat in a dark throne against the far wall--strange pink torches stood to the sides.  Trav did a double take as he realized that the torches were actually some sort of magic lamp.  Similar lamps, but white, not pink, lined the walls where they joined the ceiling.  

The harpy on the throne had to be Yaakova’s younger sister, Hravallin.  She wore an ornate headdress with the colors of the Mist family, and as best as Trav could tell she looked like she was in her early twenties.  She had a very voluptuous figure, but wore much more modest clothing than Yaakova usually did.

Harpy guards, some wearing the colors of the Mist family, and some from the royal tree, were stationed around the room.  Kin servants wearing Mist family livery stood in waiting, and Trav’s eyes narrowed as he noticed a few human slaves.  Most looked well fed and didn’t have any visible wounds.  Trav let his eyes move back to Hravallin.

An old harpy wearing an ornate robe called out, “Mistress Yaakova and companions, you are in the presence of the East Family Guide, Hravallin Mishakdatter.  All bow!”

Trav’s pulse sped up.  This was it, the time to make his move.  If he just bowed here, tried to blend in, he wasn’t sure what would happen, but his group would be split up and he refused to lose Yaakova.  He hoped that the two bars of power he’d sunk into improved reflexes and durability would be enough.  Right before handing over Hex, he’d used his shiv to activate the buffs.

So when the others in the room bowed, Trav remained standing.  He kept his face impassive, not showing any aggression or hostility and met Hravalin’s eyes.  The old harpy in the robe frowned.  “Why aren’t you bowing, human?”

“I don’t see why I should.  I am not a part of this kingdom, and I am at least peers with the Guide.”

The entire room collectively exploded into harpy anger.  Trav would have expected this reaction even if Yaakova hadn’t predicted it.  Turning the room against him was going to make his play harder, but it was also necessary to establish the pecking order--or at least that he was not part of theirs.

A harpy guard growled, “How dare a slave--”

Other guards and harpies began shouting, some stalking forward.  Hravalin still hadn’t moved--she just stared at Trav.

The valkyries moved around him in a protective circle, and Trav knew Narnaste was about a hair away from turning into a giant wolf.  The room would be big enough for her to do so, but if she attacked seriously, it would start a fight Trav didn’t want.  He hoped she controlled herself.

Yaakova was actually the best visual deterrent, stopping some of the harpies from advancing.  She’d had a dangerous reputation even before leaving her home, but now she positively dripped menace and power.  Yaakova hardened her feathers, and the razor sharp blades gleamed in the light.

Trav extended a finger, drawing a single glyph in air and thundered, “Shut the fuck up!”  It was time to make a power play.  Other Restless would doubtlessly show up to Asgard since there was such a high concentration of Restless here already, and Trav still remembered the demonic thing he’d encountered through the veil back in the witch caves.  That thing might have alerted its friends too.

It was time to be bold now, time to take risks.

The older harpy in the robe was shaking, showing all of her teeth.  “You apologize on your--”

“Apologize?” Thundered Trav.  He pointed to Hravallin but felt a little guilty as he did.  He was about to throw Yaakova’s sister under the bus.  “The entire procession that just got back, Bravoosa’s Pinions, was dispatched to find and return with me!  That was one third of your family’s military force, right?  I was their mission!” He paused, and kept his voice amplification magic on as he asked, “Who are you anyway, Grandmother?”

The older harpy began to make a grating sound, like she was so angry she’d stopped functioning.  Meanwhile, the rest of the room quieted to watch.  To his side, Yaakova said softly, but loud enough to be heard around the room, “Her name is Ursha, Master.  She is one of my sister’s ministers, an elder of the Mist family.”

Trav heard the confusion in the whispers around the room.  ““Master?  Did Yaakova really just call him ‘Master?’”  He silently thanked his harpy valkyrie and vowed to do something nice for her later.  She didn’t usually call him Master, and only had now because he’d asked her to back in Najila’s old workshop.  Luckily, she hadn’t been too difficult to convince.  Trav wasn’t just fighting for himself and his family on Asgard--this was about saving Yaakova’s family and maybe even her entire tribe.

If the North or South tribe absorbed the East tribe, the East harpies would not be treated well, and most would not no longer be allowed to breed.  In fact, this was how the West family was destroyed a hundred years ago.

This entire plan had hinged on a few things, including their group being summoned to the guideroom as soon as they’d returned.  Yaakova had predicted it--her sister would want to make sure that Yaakova didn’t run off or disappear without honoring her promise.  She’d been willing to give her older half sister a chance, but likely didn’t actually believe that Trav was a High Master.

It was time to change that, and if not, at least get the entire East Tribe talking about Trav.

Trav was still pointing at Hravallin.  “The Mist family is weak, and the East Tribe faces destruction even as the five families squabble.  I have arrived to help the Mist Tribe and Hravallin Mishakdatter win the royal tree!”

“Heresy!” screamed a guard.

Ursha held up one gnarled, clawed hand, calling for silence.  Yaakova growled low in her throat, holding angry guards at bay.  The old minister’s voice was strangled, like she was half enraged, half aghast.  “Are you moon-touched, human?  Who are you, a slave,  to say such shameless things?”

Trav couldn’t have asked for a more perfect way to make his announcement and mentally thanked the angry old harpy.  He drew himself up, squared his shoulders, and with all the public speaking skill he could gather from Odin’s memories, he announced, “I am a High Master, the Allfather reborn!  In fact, rather than a High Master, think of me as a Reborn Master!  I have arrived, and I will bend Asgard to my will!”  Trav had thought the speech sounded corny as he’d planned it, but also seemed like something a god would say.  As it turned out, none of the harpies thought it sounded goofy at all.

The entire room erupted.

Behind him, Captain Bravoosa yelled, “What is going on?  Yaakova, did you know about this?”

“Of course I did!  Now guard Trav!” snarled Yaakova.

Ysintrill was unarmed, but had already put a harpy down on the floor.  The feathered Kin gasped for air after the dark valkyrie had kicked her in the throat.  As other harpies attacked, Ysintrill bobbed, weaved, and turned her body to smoke in order to avoid being clawed to ribbons.  Her fighting style was as brilliant and savage as it was elegant, but she was still being pushed back.

Trav cursed.  He really couldn’t afford to use his power here.  Killing Yaakova’s people would ruin his plan and truly make him an enemy.  If he went down that road, it’d be something he couldn’t take back, couldn’t do over.  Trav made a quick judgement call and reversed his earlier order, calling out, “Narnaste, change forms!”

The room went from a melee of confused harpies and enraged harpies, trying to reach Trav to tear him apart, to being dominated by an enormous red wolf.  When Narnaste growled, the very stone in the floor seemed to vibrate.

Trav crawled up her fur until he was on Narnaste’s back.  She was so tall that even with the huge size of the room, Trav couldn’t sit up straight.  Cries of fear rang around the room as the harpies tried to get away from Narnaste.  A few threw magical attacks, or shot arrows at Trav, but Narnaste easily blocked them with her shoulders.  Trav winced as the hide on one side of the huge wolf smoked.

He still had his voice amplification glyph active but before he could speak, Hravallin beat him to it.  The chair she was sitting might have had an amplification effect too, or she’d used some sort of magic of her own because Trav could hear her clearly.  “Stand down!” she ordered.  Then she snapped and enhanced the sound.  The sharp crack got everyone’s attention.

Trav thought it was a cool trick and switched his vision to one band of a magical spectrum, using his emberstone eye in particular.  As soon as his vision shifted, he squinted.

There was another figure standing near Hravalin, more like a shadow, but Trav could see her.  The figure was entirely invisible to his normal vision.

“Since this is a Mist family matter, and everyone here is Mist family or trusted, we will discuss this openly.”  Hravalin flayed the harpies inside with her eyes.  “Everyone will stay silent and listen while I speak to this human.”

Trav was very impressed.  Despite being so young, Hravalin spoke very well.  She’d taken the best path to save face and make it seem like she was in complete control.  As Trav studied her, his magic sight turned up evidence that she had a lot of power too--likely about the same as Yaakova when Trav had first met her.

“But Guide--” began Ursha.

Hravalin didn’t back down.  She held out a hand.  “Silence.”  Her expression softened.  “You are very wise, and you have served several guides well, Ursha, but this is something new.  I am the guide for our tribe, so this is my responsibility.  I want to hear what the human has to say.”

“So be it.”

Hravalin stood.  “Human, call off your wolf.  Let us talk.”

Trav slid down Narnaste’s back and ordered, “Stay back please, Narn.”  He walked forward until he was about halfway across the room and the guards pointed weapons at him, no-so-subtly telling him to stay in place.  Hravalin stayed where she was standing.   Trav heard footsteps and turned.

Yaakova proudly walked behind him and stopped, with a somewhat reluctant Captain Bravoosa in tow.  Trav spotted Ysintrill on Narnaste’s back.  She’d gotten a sword somewhere and all of her normal expressions of kindness and gentleness had been replaced with the eyes of an ancient warrior.

Trav crossed his arms.  “I can’t come any closer, so this is more a yell than a talk.”

“My family cares about my life, and I am not complaining.”  Hravalin offered him a wry smile and turned to Yaakova.  “Sister, what is the meaning of this?  I gave you these soldiers.  I trusted you!”

Yaakova rolled her eyes.  “Oh come on, Villi, you summoned us in here before we’d even had a bath and planned to keep me under your thumb.  Captain Bravoosa here was babysitting me the entire time.  It wouldn’t surprise me if she had to take notes on everything she heard me say among my group.”

The captain moved from foot to taloned foot, and Trav felt a flash of humor as he realized the captain was really terrible at keeping a poker face.

Hravalin set her jaw.  “I am our family’s Guide!  And this human--”

“My name is Trav, and I am not human, at least I don’t think I am anymore.  You don’t have to call me by a title, but you will stop addressing me as ‘human.’”  He paused dramatically before continuing, “--Or I won’t help you.”

“How could you possibly help us?”  Ursha’s mocking laughter rang until she caught sight of Hravalin’s furious expression and choked.

“I told you to stay silent, Ursha.  If you disobey me again, I will be forced to punish you.”  

As the older harpy gumped, Trav felt impressed with Hravalin all over again.  She had the same self confidence as Yaakova, but also seemed to have more control over her temper, and better communication skills.  The fact she was so young just made her more impressive.  Trav was beginning to understand why she’d been chosen.

She turned to Trav and said, “Ursha spoke out of turn, but her question was good.  What can you possibly offer me...other than to father children in my tribe?”

Narnaste began to growl, but Trav gave her a look until she stopped.  He met Hravalin’s eyes and said, “Without my help, you have no hope of becoming the Royal.”  After a breath, he took the final plunge, putting words to the East tribe’s grim situation.  “And if you don’t become the Royal, the East tribe probably won’t last another ten years.”

The harpies around the room began to hiss again, but Hravalin, Ursha, and several other older harpies near the dais just glared.  Trav raised the volume of his spell and said, “It’s true, and you know it!  Even the other East tribe families have better militaries than you do.  They are not supporting you, and if you eventually beg, which you will have to do in order to have a chance of winning a martial contest for the royal tree, it will result in debts that eat away at this family!”

The room grew louder and trav continued, “The Mist family is still one of the top five in the East tribe! You are weak, but the non-named families are even weaker.  Meanwhile, the North tribe and South side are strong, and have been weakening the East tribe for five years, right?  All of this infighting will make your tribe weak, vulnerable.”

Trav had no problem memorizing information, and Yaakova had been a good teacher.  Trav practically felt like he’d grown up a harpy now with as much as he knew about harpy politics.

“Do you intend to just insult and taunt us until my good will fails and we rip you apart, human?”

Trav frowned and drew a quick glyph in the air that transformed into a globe of red light that floated outward before silently forming a soundless little explosion.  The demonstration took almost no magic power, and wasn’t dangerous, but it sure looked scary.  He heard a Kin in the crowd breath, “Rune magic.”

“I thought I told you about calling me human, harpy.”

Hravalin’s eyes narrowed and her jaw firmed, but she nodded.  “What is your name?”

“You can call me Trav, or Travis.”

“Well Trav, you have all of us watching, and you’ve yet to explain what you are actually offering.  You’ve disrupted my court, claimed to be a god, angered my guards, and basically acted as if you want to die.  You have power of your own, but the other main reason you are in one piece right now is that you have so many powerful friends guarding you, including my half sister.”  Her eyes flicked at Yaakova.

Trav grinned without humor.  “I have chosen not to harm any Bernacian except in life or death self defense or in defense of another.  You might have a different opinion of my abilities if I’d wanted you dead.”  The harpy guards fingered weapons, and one looked like she might draw her bow, but Trav met her eyes and shook his head.  “I’ve killed rakshasa.  I will not go down easily if it comes to serious violence.”

Hravalin asked Yaakova a question with her eyes, and her sister slowly nodded.  The East tribe Guide blinked.

Trav continued, “And this situation would be very different if my group were not unarmed.”

“You have a shapeshifting Kin guard who can turn into a giant wolf, so I’d hardly call you helpless, but yes, I will say you have a point.”

Perfect, thought Trav.  She’d completely walked into where he’d wanted her to go.  “Weapons are actually one way I can help.  When they left this place, Bravoosa’s company was the weakest of the Mist family, correct?  Now they are likely the strongest.  Between the advice I have given, and the enchanted armor and weapons I have gifted, Captain Bravoosa’s soldiers are much more dangerous than they had been before.”

“Captain Bravoosa, is that true?”  Hravalin seemed more curious than guarded now.

Bravoosa tucked her wings in as close to her body as she could and bowed.  “Yes, Guide.   And--”  The captain paused and looked around like she wasn’t sure if she should speak anymore, but Hravalin waved her on.  “He is very popular among many of my soldiers.  They have sparred with him, and he can keep up, or even surpass them.  And once he demonstrated some magic that I received a report about later.  They believe he fought a rakshasa.  He also has a rakshasa nephew, a ward.”

“A what?  He travels with a rakshasa?”  After Bravoosa nodded, Hravalin asked, “What kind of enchanted weapons?  Lower grade?”

Bravoosa shook her head.  “No.  High grade.”  She drew her sword, activated it, and the blade burst into flames.  She manipulated the weapon again and the fire grew, shooting toward the top of the room.  Right after the flame had burned a scorch mark in the stone overhead, Bravoosa cut the effect.  The surrounding harpies were stunned as the captain said, “He gave away armor that is probably worth a small fortune to a soldier who beat him at chess.  Now I have soldiers armed with sidearms that are better than the main weapons of some of the most powerful armies on Asgard.”

“I...see.”  Bravoosa turned to Trav.  “Explain.”

“It’s simple really,” said Trav.  “I can make enchanted armor and weapons.”  As the room grew noisy again, Trav spoke over it and said, “Everything I have to the soldiers were gifts, but I am also prepared to gift you with a few choice weapons for your guards in order to help pay for my rescue.”  He smiled at her.

An older harpy demanded as she strode forward.  Decorations on her leather armor flashed in the artificial light.  “No! Bravoosa’s soldiers are lowest!  Those weapons should be given to the other companies!”

Hravalin gave the older harpy an irritated look.  “I just corrected Ursha, Colonel Wesnyag.  Are you trying to annoy me?”

“No Guide, I just--”  As the older harpy spoke,  Trav could clearly see that while most of the harpies in the room respected Hravalin, this soldier did not.

The Guide  held up a clawed finger.  “Soldiers’ personal property remains their own.  If we take personal items, we will not have an army left.  Do you want us to lose the royal tree before we’ve even had the trial, Colonel?”

Trav saw the perfect opening to speak again.  “The trial is the next way I can help.”

“Oh?”  Hravalin turned to face him again, and Trav admired her poise, but he had some of the memories and experiences of an ancient Restless in his head.  No he could see right through her, and recognized her anger and fear.  Hravalin was very good at acting like she was tough and in control, but she knew she was on a losing team.

“Yes.  The challenge for the royal tree will be combat-based, right?  That is all anyone knows.  We don’t know when it will happen, but I suggest that while we wait, I can continue to supply  Bravoosa’s Pinions with enchanted gear and other advantages.  Haven’t challenges like this in the past usually been restricted to one company-sized group of soldiers commanded by each Guide?”

“That is mostly correct.”  Hravalin nodded, and she leaned slightly forward, waiting for Trav’s response.

Gotcha, he thought.  “I am suggesting that I am integrated into Bravoosa’s Pinions as her superior, to be of equal rank with you when you are leading.  So you will be like a general, and I will be the Sergeant Major.”

“What is a Sergeant Major?”  Hravalin frowned, and Trav mentally cursed.  He might be losing her.

“It doesn’t matter.  You can use whatever title you want.  But if I am part of your force, my valkyries will go with me as bodyguards, or secretaries, or assistants, whatever you need to call them to explain them being there.”

Hravalin thoughtfully tapped her lip with a claw.  “The company size for most trials in the past have been right around 40 strong.  Mmm.”

“You can’t seriously be considering this can you, Guide?”  Colonel Wesnyag’s feathers were all but spasming, and she flexed her claws.

“I am considering it, Wesnyag.  As the Guide of the East tribe, it is my responsibility to verify new information about the trial.  It is also my responsibility to keep an open mind and do what I must for our tribe and our family.  Everything this...Trav has said is ridiculous on its own, but I trust Captain Bravoosa, and I do not think Yaakova would follow someone weak.  The fact she is following a human, and begged me to give her soldiers to find him before is extraordinary by itself.”

The old soldier began to complain again, but Hravalin cut her off with as slashing gesture.  Then she said, “Trav, you have given me much to think about.  I want to verify everything you have told me, and interview the harpies you traveled with.  After that, if you can truly be of use, we will have a meeting.”  She frowned at their surroundings.  “In private.”

Most of the harpies around the room were spellbound at this point.  Many likely didn’t believe what Trav had said, and some were still angry, but they were fascinated by what was taking place before them.  Also, a tiny few of them really had begun to believe.  Trav could feel it.

He caught sight of a female Demona in the guideroom, glowering at him from the corner.  Not everyone was happy about what was going on.  This thought made Trav eye the invisible listener on the dais.  The hidden figure had moved back and forth a few times, like they were debating running away, or staying.

Trav said, “I understand.  But Guide, while you think about it, I have a question.”

“What?”

“Tell me this--do you have an invisible member of your court standing near you on that dais?”

Hravalin’s eyes widened, and she began to turn even as the invisible watcher moved toward her.  With his magic sight, Trav thought he caught sight of a weapon.  He’d been prepared for something like this to happen, though.

Trav Shadowstepped to the side of the figure, summoning Hex as he did so.  He caught the attacker’s wrist, savagely clamping down with his strengthened hand and using a bit of magic to shoot a current of electricity from his thumb to his fingers.  The watcher made a surprised noise and released a weapon right before Trav drove home Hex.

“C02!” he thundered, triggering a preloaded rune equation.  A great torrent of air burst from the dagger, causing an immediate, violent reaction.  The powerful blast of gas delivered directly into the wound did horrible damage to Trav’s target.  As its invisibility dropped, the watcher was revealed to be a harpy, flopping on the ground as she thrashed in agony.  Trav winced.  He’d gotten the idea for this rune spell by a weapon back on earth.  It was definitely effective.

The harpy had died fast, but was still having horrible reactions to what Trav had done to her.  She had on some really sleek, polished-looking dark armor.   Nearby Mist family guards gasped.  “North tribe!  North tribe was here!”

“Spy!  A spy!”

Not all of the harpies understood what had happened, and they surged forward, believing Trav was a threat again.  Some of the guards rushed forward to look at the fallen spy.  Trav felt a clawed hand grab his arm, and Hravalin gently pulled him behind her.

“That may have been an assassin,” she said.

Trav nodded and whispered, “Good.  I’m glad I could help and I mean you no harm, truly.  But you really do need me, and if we win, you don’t even need to give any credit to anyone else for your win.  Guiding deities don’t get the same sort of recognition.  Think about that.”

Hravalin’s cheeks were pale, but she was keeping her composure.  She gave the body one more look and glanced at Trav.  Then she held out a forestalling hand to the nearest guards who had just noticed how close Trav was to their Guide.  “I must think now.  Guards, take him away, somewhere...safe.  We need added security in this room.  I want a complete sweep.”

“Am I under arrest?”  Trav carefully modulated his tone, not sounding aggressive nor weak.

The young guide seemed startled by the question.  “What?  No.”

“So I have my freedom?  I am a guest?”

Narnaste was no longer in her huge wolf form.  Trav’s valkyies were almost being ignored now, and they picked their way carefully over to where Trav was on the dais.

Meanwhile, word seemed to have already spread about what happened, or maybe it’d just taken more guards this long to arrive.  New harpies poured in from outside, rushing through the door and moving to inspect the body of the harpy Trav had just killed.  The room was full of noise and chaos, with some guards pointing at Trav, and others beginning to push each other.

Hravalin waved her hand, moving to the corpse as well.  “Yes, yes, you are a guest.  Stay out of trouble, please.  You have made everything more complicated, but you truly might have just saved my life, so we’ll continue this later.”  She turned and waved over a couple of competent looking guards. “Make sure they are protected.

As the guards acknowledged the order, Trav bowed graciously and hid his smile.

***

Trav and his valkyries were ushered down a hallway and into a side room, with heavy guards placed outside.  Outside the doors, screams, hisses, and even the sounds of fighting echoed through the heavy wood.  No matter how the situation shook out, Trav had made a huge impact.  He probably couldn’t have asked for a better setup than revealing a spy in such a flashy way.

The screaming outside intensified, there was a thump as a body hit a door.

Trav was a little troubled now that he wasn’t directly involved with what was going on out there.  Because of his actions, a new religion was probably coming to the East Tribe.  Between the faith he knew he had with some of Bravoosa’s Pinions, and what had just happened, it was inevitable.  He wasn’t entirely comfortable with it, but if he was willing to kill a whole lot of Kin, and maybe some humans on the way to his goals, it didn’t make sense to shy away from building his own cult full of monsters.

Trav motioned Yaakova over, dropped his mouth near her ear and asked, “How long does it take to get a message back to the capital of Demona, mobilize an army,and make it here?”

“About two months, new one.”  The realization in her eyes showed she knew why he’d asked.

He sighed.  “We have two months then.  How long will it be before we know what the test for the royal tree will be?”

“Maybe a week, a month? No more than six weeks.”

Trav nodded.  “No time to waste.”  He turned to meet eyes with all of his family.  “Now where is my wife?  We need to tell Tiffany she’s probably about to get a new temple.”

Ysintrill frowned.  “Shouldn’t we stay here?  The crowd, and everything else going on…”

“Yeah, of course.”  Trav nodded.  “We’re going to give it an hour or two to die down, but I expect word to spread fast, and the other tribes might try taking a shot at us.  Let’s all wash up first, then head out.  Can you tell the guards please, Yaakova?  Hopefully they really are our guards and not our jailers.”

The harpy gave Trav a long look before slowly shaking her head.  “I don’t know exactly how I feel about all of this, but even though it is for selfish reasons, I think you may have just given my tribe some real hope.  Not for the first time, I am glad I did not kill you when we had first met.”

“Me too.”  Trav grinned and gave her a playful swat on the ass as she headed to the door.  She rolled her eyes at him and Ysintrill giggled.  

Narnaste ignored them all as she headed the bathroom.  “Can everyone please wash?  I have a sensitive nose, remember?  We have been on the road for a long time.”

“Sorry, Narn.”  Trav suddenly remembered her burns and the wounds she’d taken minutes ago.  The wounds probably weren’t as bad in her Kin form, but he rummaged around in his pack for some salve and followed her to the bathroom.  She’d taken care of him, now it was time to take care of her.

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A lot of of stuff in the first book, and the second has been leading up to this moment.

This is a massive chapter, and it took me a while, but I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Did any of you predict anything like this happening?