For the better part of their conversation, Valkyrie stood attentively, possessed by an overly intrigued expression—salivating internally for the knowledge spilling forth—yet as Kiada continued along innocently and obligingly, the patterned, horned girl made mention of a brother. It took all of the ghostly-hued adolescent’s willpower to not flinch visibly, repulsed, and wear the true nature of that feeling blatantly on the outside. She couldn’t help but pity the other (briefly), for the mar on what appeared otherwise to be a rather impressive individual.
Through barely parted lips, the Shieldmaiden sucked in a steady breath and nodded. “I understand,” she commented softly and with a surprising injection of empathy—a double-edged sword indeed. It appeared as though everyone outside the perfection of Sunnmōre was tainted in one way or another…
The smile, quietly comfortable with the amicable type of company Kiada provided—finer than many, shrewder than most—quirked subtly as she misunderstood the concluding suggestion put forward. “Oh?…” she mused openly, visibly processing the idea which she supposed had some merit. It would take a considerable amount of flogging to shape one into form. “A brother? I suppose I could make use of one, though I anticipate their variety is more a hindrance than help; a more intelligent creature would be of greater use.”
—but she grinned nonetheless, envisioning the complimentary picture of this world’s creator, the mother of the Rift, pressing an affectionate palm down upon her and revealing a wholly efficient servant; a gift. Perhaps she lingered on the thought too long: silence stood between she and Kiada like a great black wall.
“…and what of alliances?” she blurted hastily into the stillness. Valkyrie could only assume that there would be others like her, somewhere, with a mind to eradicate (or perhaps enslave…) the men in the Rift—and beyond.
Halcyon Flats
