Shield Maiden (The Lone Valkyrie Book 1) Read online

  Shield Maiden

  The Lone Valkyrie™ Book 1

  Charley Case

  Martha Carr

  Michael Anderle

  This book is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.

  Copyright © 2020 Charlie Case, Martha Carr and Michael Anderle

  Cover by Fantasy Book Design

  A Michael Anderle Production

  LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  LMBPN Publishing

  PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy

  Las Vegas, NV 89109

  First US edition, March 2020

  Version 1.03, April 2020

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-64202-793-8

  Print ISBN: 978-1-64202-794-5

  The Terranavis Universe (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are Copyright (c) 2019-2020 by Martha Carr and LMBPN Publishing.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Free Books

  Author Notes - Charley Case

  Author Notes - Martha Carr

  Other Books in The Terranavis Universe

  Other LMBPN Publishing Books

  Connect with The Authors

  Dedications

  From Charley

  This book is dedicated to my wife and best friend, Kelly. Without her belief in my abilities, and patience to see the process through, this book wouldn't exist.

  From Martha

  To all those who love to read, and like a good puzzle inside a good story

  To Michael Anderle for his generosity

  to all his fellow authors

  To Louie and Jackie

  And in memory of my big sister,

  Dr. Diana Deane Carr

  who first taught me about magic, Star Trek,

  DC Comics and flaming cherries jubilee

  From Michael

  To Family, Friends and

  Those Who Love

  To Read.

  May We All Enjoy Grace

  To Live The Life We Are

  Called.

  Chapter One

  Heather Resnick crouched beside the thick trunk of an old Western red cedar, seeking a reprieve from the persistent nighttime rain. The boughs of the ancient sentinel, heavy with water, drooped low but held off most of the late-spring shower.

  She adjusted the two long daggers at her waist before pulling the hair tie from her ponytail and angrily regathered the stray hairs that had fallen into her face over the last hour-and-a-half trek through the forest. Quickly spinning the long black hair into a tight bun, she re-secured it with the tie and wiped the rain from her eyes.

  “Why am I the one sent out into the middle of the woods every time? Victoria knows I hate the woods,” Heather mumbled, checking her watch. A vine around the base of the cedar seemed to droop at her words. Heather sighed and stroked the young plant tenderly. “Not you, little one. I love you. I’m just grumpy is all. I know you don't understand this, but my underwear is soaked from this fucking rain, and my socks feel like sponges left in dirty dishwater. I would kill for a mission that took me to a beach somewhere. Hell, at this point, I would kill for a dry pair of underwear.”

  The vine seemed to be satisfied with Heather’s answer and pushed itself into her stroking finger like a cat trying to get every ounce of love it could from the simple action. Heather smiled and stroked the vine a few more times.

  As a Valkyrie, Heather’s nature affinity was with vines and grasses, and she was able to call for their assistance when needed. Compared to some of her sisters, like Victoria, who could communicate with crows, or Mindy, who had entire wolf packs at her beck and call, Heather’s nature affinity was mild. She could use it in very interesting ways, but it had taken her nearly a thousand years and twenty lives to get there.

  Checking the small full-color display of her watch again, Heather zoomed the tiny map out to get her bearings. She had to zoom out again before the map showed anything with a name attached to it.

  The town of Elk River was a good five miles to the south through wild forest. Ironically, there was no Elk River, as in a body of water. There was an Elk Creek, although anyone who’s seen a river and a creek would know the difference, but she supposed she would let the little town have a pass. It wasn't like they had much else going for them, being out in the middle of nowhere in Northern Idaho.

  She sighed, switching the small screen off and peering into the dark woods around her. The constant patter of fat raindrops drowned out most of the forest sounds, but frogs and crickets trying to continue the species by attracting mates made a sort of buzzing undercurrent of noise that further confused her senses.

  “How the fuck am I supposed to find some dark magic user if the forest won’t shut up for one minute?” she grumbled. “Dammit, Victoria! How about next time you give me a little more than ‘Oh, we think there’s a bad person out there using dark magic. Go find them and deal with it.’” She ground her teeth. “You go deal with it, sister, if it’s such a big problem.”

  “You do like to talk, don't you?” a voice that sounded far too much like a young girl’s to be out in the woods alone in the middle of the night said behind Heather.

  The Valkyrie spun around, her hands now holding the two long silver daggers in a defensive pose.

  A slightly built but obviously adult woman in a hooded black robe stood not three feet away. Her face was obscured by the dark hood, but the wet robe clung to her form. Arms crossed, she reminded Heather of a mean girl from high school. She was unarmed.

  The five towering half-wolf, half-human forms in a semicircle around her, on the other hand, were the definition of living weapons. Their wolf-like heads had teeth bared and ears laid back, ready to pounce. Long taloned fingers flexed, and their thick black tails swayed in the breeze.

  Unlike werewolves, these creatures didn't seem to have intelligence behind their yellow eyes beyond that of a dog, just a powerful lust to chase Heather down and maul her to death.

  The hooded woman saw Heather staring at the eight-foot-tall beasts with wide eyes. “You like my Rougarou? They were a gift from my master,” she said, a smile in her girlish voice as she reached over and petted one of their furry arms. “They’re not very smart, but they are loyal.”

  Heather blinked and stood up straight, her initial shock wearing off. She was a good six inches taller than the black-robed woman. The initial fear
fell away when she saw that there were only six of them, and five were just big dogs. This fight was going to barely warm Heather up before it was over.

  Her face fell to a thin-lipped frown. “You’re the one causing all the trouble out here? I’ll have you know I’ve been traipsing through these woods looking for you for the last hour and a half, and I hate being out here. Now I’m pissed off. Come on, you goth reject, let’s get this over with so I can get home and have a hot cup of tea and get out of these fucking soggy clothes.”

  The woman threw back her hood, revealing the face of a woman in her early thirties with wavy blonde hair. She giggled, putting a hand to her lips. That was very childlike and creeped Heather right out.

  “I’m Seline,” she said coyly. “What’s your name?”

  Heather raised her daggers and readied herself. “I am Heather Resnick, Valkyrie of the Sisterhood, and the last person you will ever see.”

  Seline’s eyes went wide, and Heather saw that they were mad. “Oh, a Valkyrie! Master will be so pleased to have you as a pet. I’m glad you came to see us.”

  “I didn’t come to see you, idiot. I came to kill you. Now, tell me where your master is, and we can get this over with,” Heather growled, gripping her daggers tighter.

  “Oh, don't worry about that. I’ll take you to him soon enough,” Seline said in a deep and ominous voice.

  The Rougarou all attacked at once, five sets of talons coming at Heather with astonishing speed.

  Heather put her arm up almost casually and formed a protective shield that wrapped halfway around her in a bubble. The talons raked against the invisible shield sending out sparks that glowed golden in the night.

  Bunching her legs, Heather sprang forward, using the shield to bat the Rougarou off their feet and onto their backs, getting within striking distance of her target. Her freehand pointing the silver dagger at the robed figure’s heart as she thrust.

  The smile was back on Seline’s face as she held out a hand to intercept the incoming shield. “So strong! You’ll be a great snack!”

  A black mist poured from Seline’s fingers, slamming into the shield and coating its surface like a viscous oil. Heather had anticipated something like this, but dark magic usually had a hefty tinge of red to it. This spell was blacker than the night that surrounded them.

  Rougarou were regaining their feet, heads shaking in anger and frustration. One let out a howl that was quickly picked up by the other four. Then the forest filled with the sound of howling wolves. There were dozens of return calls, most close by, and all of them had a tinge of pain to their timbre.

  A sharp pain in Heather’s blocking arm made her suck breath through her teeth. She saw that the mist had eaten a hole in her shield and was now pouring onto her arm, eating through her leather coat sleeve. She redoubled her efforts and poured celestial magic into the shield, and the hole closed up, but to her horror, the mist was acting like acid on her magic.

  “That’s not possible,” Heather said through gritted teeth.

  “It’s been a while for you, hasn't it?” Seline giggled. “You all though infernal magic had passed from this world, didn't you? Silly Valkyries.” Her girlish features darkened as she leaned in and lowered her voice to a harsh whisper. “Your time on this ship is over.”

  The infernal magic flowing from Seline doubled, then tripled. Heather struggled to keep up, channeling everything she had into her shield. With mounting dread, she realized it wouldn't be enough. Her shield was thinning despite her best efforts, and a quick glance around showed that dozens more of the Rougarou had shown up after the call had gone out, surrounding the two magic users, waiting for their opportunity to strike.

  Heather knew this was going to be the last few minutes of her body’s life. She would be back, but it would be another twenty years before she remembered she was a Valkyrie. She needed to let her sisters know what was happening up here.

  Dropping her dagger, Heather reached up to her watch and quickly scrolled to a button she had never used before. She hesitated, not wanting to be wrong, but when her shield suddenly formed several holes and infernal magic began to burn its way into her, she jabbed the button.

  The watch, attached to her magically enhanced phone, sent a warning out into the aether.

  Two thousand miles away, Victoria Gara’s phone chimed with a pre-written text that all Valkyrie-issued phones had stored in them.

  Sitting in her board meeting at the head of the long wooden table, Victoria picked up her phone and read the text she always dreaded to see. One of her sisters was dead.

  “I’m sorry, Thomas. I need to take this. Can we reconvene in an hour?” Victoria interrupted the man speaking.

  Thomas stuttered to a halt. “Of course, ma’am.”

  Victoria stood, adjusted her gray pencil skirt, and walked out of the meeting, her heels cracking across the marble floor like angry gunfire.

  Chapter Two

  Victoria appeared in the never-ending white nothingness of Elsewhere, the place between life and death where a Valkyrie did their most important work. She was the first to arrive as usual and summoned up a large blue felt wingback chair from nothing.

  Sitting carefully and crossing her legs in the pencil skirt took more grace than most would think, but Victoria made it look as natural as breathing. Working in the upper echelons of the business world for the last hundred years had taught her how to maneuver in restrictive business attire with ease.

  She opened her attaché case and began going over the notes from the board meeting earlier that day.

  “Always work with you, sister,” a girlish voice with a thick Southern California accent said, making Victoria look up.

  A young woman she had never seen before stood with her hands on her hips; two bouncy, blue-dyed pigtails brushed her shoulders. She wore a plaid miniskirt and thigh-high black leather platform boots that were laced all the way up the front and added five inches to her short frame. She wore a cropped long-sleeve t-shirt with Wagner is my Spirit Animal written across the stretched fabric holding her ample chest at bay.

  While Victoria didn't recognize the body, she did recognize the person.

  “Hello, elder sister,” Victoria said with a smile as she put the attaché case on a side table that materialized out of nothing as she let go of it. She stood and embraced the young woman. “I was hoping you would return to us soon. Since your last death, things have been a little hectic.” She pulled back and took the woman in, brushing her fingers through one of the blue pigtails. “I see this body is going through its rebellious phase. What are you, sixteen?”

  The woman laughed. “Fifteen. God, I was a little shit right up until the moment my memories came back. It happened a day and a half ago, and I’ve been putting out fires ever since.”

  “I hate waking up as an asshole,” Victoria agreed. “It’s so much work to get back on track. What is this body called?”

  “Missy Walker,” she said, rolling her eyes. “God, even my name makes me sound like a brat. That’s what you get for having parents born and raised in SoCal.”

  Victoria shrugged and chuckled. “I always found SoCal to be great. The weather was nice, and people seemed adventurous.”

  Missy rolled her eyes. “The last time you spent any time there was during the Gold Rush, Vicky. It’s changed a little since then.”

  Victoria laughed. “That’s true. What can I say, Sweden called to me. I love it here.”

  Missy summoned a chair of her own, and the two women made themselves comfortable while they waited for their sisters to arrive.

  “I’m glad you’re back,” Victoria said with a relieved sigh. “I don't know how you handle all the sisterhood business so easily. Every time you die, I have the worst decade and a half of my current life.”

  “Practice,” Missy said, crossing her leg over her pale knee, the heavy platform boot pulling her foot down at an extreme angle so her calves touched on the outsides. “I’m several thousand years older than you. I was my
last sisterhood’s eldest too. Speaking of that, is there anything I need to be up to speed on before the others arrive?”

  Victoria’s smile faded. “Yes. Heather sent out her distress call. She was investigating a large patch of corruption in Northern Idaho. We think it’s a dark magic user who’s set up shop. Unfortunate, but part of the life cycle. I was going to send Gretchen out to see what happened, but now you get to decide who to send,” she said with a wry smile.

  “Have we lost anyone else?” Missy had dropped the affectations of her young body and was all business.

  “No, we’re all still here, though a couple have had to use the Reaper and are now Lone Valkyries. They are still in communication, but it’ll be a few more years until we can get close.” Victoria smiled. “That brings us to the most interesting thing that’s happened since we first took passage on Earth: there’s a new Valkyrie.”

  Missy’s eyes went wide. “A new Valkyrie? How is that even possible?”

  “I have no idea. Her name is Mila Winters. She’s an anthropologist at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Smart, pretty, and has a singular will that is impressive, to say the least.”