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I was on my knees, kneeling in a pool of blood, much but not all of it was my own. I had numerous gashes, gouges, and bruises all over my body, though my worst injury at the moment was undoubtedly my shoulder, which had been both crushed and torn apart by Estrid’s clawed grip. I’d already been given an infusion of jatta in order to help me heal faster, but that didn’t do much for the pain or the exhaustion that filled me.

“Are you all right?” Lindrell asked me gently…almost motherly…as she crouched down beside me.

“Just tired,” I responded, wanting to close my eyes and go to sleep.

When I’d healed Mr. Rosewald, I’d used up a lot of essence and jatta, and it had left me completely exhausted afterwards. This time, I’d used the essence and jatta fusion to utterly destroy Estrid’s head so I could kill her, though like before, it left me completely wiped out afterwards.

“At least it’s over,” I said as I slowly got back to my feet with Lindrell’s help.

I looked around the battlefield that was Val Halla, seeing that with Estrid dead, all the daemons had turned and tried running away. Since the daemons were no longer attacking in a swarm, the Val Kyr were chasing them down and finishing them off, doing so much more easily than when they’d been attacking. Some of the daemons were so desperate to escape and return to the safety of the mists that they were even leaping from the walls.

Then I noticed that someone had made it to the anchor and had used it to contact some of the Val Kyr who’d been left on Earth. A couple fresh triads arrived through the gate and immediately joined in on cleaning up the remaining daemons. I just wished we’d been able to get them earlier, when the extra help would have been even more useful.

“You did well,” Freya told me, shifting into Ionne mode for a moment as she put a hand on my shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. Then she gave me a faint smile and added, “I am quite proud of how you handled yourself.”

“As am I,” Lindrell stated.

“I’m just glad you’re all right,” Julie exclaimed, grabbing me in a hug and making me wince as she’d put pressure on my injuries. As soon as she realized that, she relaxed her grip, then gave me a quick kiss on my lips, promising, “We’ll pick this up again later…”

“I’m looking forward to it,” I said, starting to grin until I suddenly remembered something important. “Dad.”

“David,” Lindrell gasped, letting go of me and rushing to go check on him.

Dad was on the ground where I’d left him, still alive, but with his back and side torn open from Estrid’s claws. But as bad as he was right now, I had no doubts that if I hadn’t knocked him away when I did, then he would have taken a more direct swipe from her claws and would have died immediately.

“Dad,” I cried out as I hurried over to him.

“Lynn,” Dad gasped weakly, holding onto Lindrell’s hand. He looked into her eyes and smiled faintly, the look in his own eyes being more than enough to assure me that he still loved her.

“I’m here, David,” she told him quietly, obviously pained to see him like this. At the same time, I knew it wasn’t the first time she’d seem him badly injured because of a daemonite, and I couldn’t imagine it got any easier seeing it again.

Then Dad’s eyes went to me and I gulped before saying, “I killed her…”

“Good,” Dad responded, giving me a faint smile as well.

I gave Lindrell a worried look, then fearfully asked, “How bad…?”

“He may survive his injury,” Shannon said as she bent over and examined him. I could feel her reaching out with all her kaern senses. “But if so, it will be with a damaged spine.”

“No,” I gasped in horror. Dad had already been living with enough problems, so he certainly didn’t need to add more to them. And especially not something like that.

Julie took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, silently trying to offer what little comfort she could. My tears were starting to flow at seeing my dad like this, so I needed all the comfort I could get…though not as much as him. I just didn’t know what to do.

Lindrell stared at Dad with a worried look that turned to one of grim determination. “David,” she started, keeping her voice calm and steady. “I need you to listen closely… I can save you, but I need your permission…”

I stared at Lindrell, both surprised that she’d offer this to Dad after the way she’d been punished the last time…and delighted at the same time. However, Dad was obviously having a hard time focusing because I don’t think he understood what she was really asking.

“No,” Freya suddenly announced, coming towards us and stopping a few feet away, holding her spear against the ground as she looked at Lindrell and then my Dad. “You will not convert this man.”

Lindrell flashed Freya a look of anger while I just stared at my mentor in surprise, feeling hurt and betrayed by this refusal. Lindrell got to her feet, and for a moment, I thought she was going to attack Freya. Instead, she pleaded, “He’s my husband…Michelle’s father…”

“So your geis is broken,” Freya commented in a calm tone, though she didn’t sound surprised. Had she expected it would wear off on its own by now, or had she guessed that I was the one who’d removed it?

“He was injured while fighting alongside us…” Lindrell exclaimed in desperation. Then she grimaced and accused Freya, “This is because of what Estrid said…about him possibly being her descendant.”

“Lindrell,” I started awkwardly, knowing that she didn’t have all the information.

“His bloodline wasn’t listed in the genealogies,” Lindrell protested defiantly. “I thought he was from a lost bloodline…”

“His bloodline was never lost,” Freya responded, staring down at Dad with a sad and even worried expression that was more Ionne than Freya. “I have been watching this bloodline for centuries…for long before Estrid was born.”

Lindrell gasped in surprise at that. “What do you mean?”

“Your husband is not from a lost bloodline,” Freya repeated, raising her voice loud enough so that everyone nearby could hear. “He is from MY bloodline.”

There were gasps of surprise from nearly every Val Kyr within hearing distance. I just stared at Freya since she’d effectively just told everyone that Estrid was one of her descendants, and that was something she’d been trying to keep quiet. Then it suddenly dawned on me what that meant for me. Freya was MY ancestor.

“Yes,” Freya said grimly. “To my eternal shame, Estrid was one of my descendants…” Then she slowly looked around at all the Val Kyr, including the ones who were starting to come over and gather around to see what was going on. “But as Michelle has well proven, Estrid’s treachery has not tainted the bloodline.” Her eyes went down to my dad and she added, “And Michelle’s father has also proven this…”

“Then why stop me from saving him?” Lindrell demanded in confusion.

Lindrell looked as though she was about to say more, but Freya put up her hand and she went silent. “David Sorensen,” Freya said, speaking directly to my dad for the first time. “I am Freya…leader of the Val Kyr. You came to Val Halla to aid us in our time of need…fought with valor and skill against our ancient enemy…and have been injured grievously for doing so.” She paused at that, then in a slightly louder voice, she announced, “You have demonstrated not only great courage and fortitude…virtues that we Val Kyr value greatly…but you have also shown yourself able to adapt to a world you never before knew.”

I stared at Freya as she said this, though it was Lindrell who asked, “Freya, are you saying what I think…?”

Freya didn’t react to Lindrell’s question, and instead, continued focusing entirely on my dad. “David Sorensen,” she announced in a formal tone, “Father of Val Kyr Michelle and child of my own blood, you have proven yourself worthy of the greatest honor the Val Kyr can bestow. Will you join the Val Kyr and become one of our sisters?”

Many of the Val Kyr surrounding us gasped again at that, which was no surprise. Freya herself was the one who’d forbidden the recruitment of converts, and now she herself was trying to recruit one.

“Join you…?” Dad repeated in surprise, his voice weak and raspy. “Like Michelle…?” He looked to me, his eyes going wide in realization of what Freya was offering him.

“Indeed,” Freya responded. “Will you sacrifice your manhood and old life to join us, taking up arms against our daemon enemies and protecting the world from their evil? Will you dedicate your life to this purpose?”

Dad was silent for several very long seconds, merely staring at me and then Lindrell. Then in a quiet voice, he finally answered, “To fight those things…yes.” Though his voice was weak, there was a fierce determination in his eyes.

With those words, Freya smiled faintly, then bent down beside Dad and reached out to touch his chest. As soon a she put her hand on him, she pushed out with a small amount of val. I had my senses stretched out and saw the tiny amount of val inside of him suddenly flare to life in response, then begin to spread. The process had begun.

Suddenly, a voice cried out, “NO!”

Freya instantly shifted position, just a moment before an arrow struck her in the shoulder from behind. The arrow barely penetrated her armor, but I was stunned by this surprise attack, and by the fact that if Freya hadn’t moved when she had, the arrow would have missed her entirely. Instead, it would have hit my dad in the chest…right in his heart.

I snapped around, shocked to see Ailsa, Freya’s kaern general, standing back with another arrow already notched. She had an expression of cold fury on her face as she fired a second arrow, this one aimed directly at Freya’s head. However, Shannon was already in motion, swinging her sword and striking the arrow in mid-flight.

“TRAITOR!” Ailsa yelled out furiously, pointing at Freya in accusation.

Sharra, who was still clearly injured from the battle, suddenly had her spear tip at Ailsa’s throat. Her voice was steady and hard as she demanded of Ailsa, “What have you done?”

“She allowed Estrid to be created,” Ailsa exclaimed, still pointing at Freya, who stood there with a grim look on her face. “Estrid was of her blood… Our Freya betrayed the Val Kyr because Estrid was her descendant…and now she does so again.” Ailsa pointed to my dad and yelled, “Even now, she creates a new Estrid…” Then she glared at me with an expression of hatred. “She creates TWO new threats to the future of Val Halla…”

“Your betrayal is disappointing,” Freya said in response, her face and voice carefully controlled though some of the emotion still managed to slip though. “Though not fully unexpected.”

“It is YOU who betray Val Halla,” Ailsa accused, looking as though she would have attacked Freya again if it wasn’t for the spear tip at her throat, or the fact that several other Val Kyr had also drawn their weapons. However, several of those Val Kyr were watching Freya warily, obviously listening to her accuser’s words. “This is no surprise. You atra have always been tainted…as are all converts.”

There were further mutterings from among the Val Kyr as everyone heard what Ailsa said. Freya scowled, and I had a feeling that she was exerting almost inhuman self-control at the moment to only reveal that much, because I could tell she was pissed.

“I am atra,” Freya stated simply, keeping her voice calm and steady. There was no doubt that everyone gathered around could hear her clearly, in spite of the fighting that was still occurring in the background. “I am atra,” she repeated, “as were the three Freya before me. At one time, we of the center were a greatly valued part of the Val Kyr, adapting to serve in whatever role was most needed. And as we are of all pillars yet none…it was decided long ago, by the second Freya, the daughter of the goddess herself, that we were also the best choice to serve as her successors…to serve all pillars of the Val Kyr without favoring any one.”

Freya paused at that and slowly looked around, her expression the calm and regal one I’d always associated with her Freya side. Again, there were more mutterings from the Val Kyr at the revelation that the four of the six women who’d served as Freya had been atra, which was a surprise since some of these women had never even heard of atra until I’d become one. I stared at Freya, surprised by this latest revelation as well.

“The existence and role of the atra had been largely forgotten among us,” Freya continued in her steady voice, her eyes going to me. “Until recently. Only the eldest of us remember the reasons why there have always been so few atra, and understand why we have gone three centuries without a new one being created.” She paused to once again look around with a steady and forceful gaze. “Atra can only be born from the process of conversion.” There were even more gasps as the Val Kyr realized what she was saying. “I too am a convert, though I have been a woman for so long I no longer even remember what it was like to be male.”

At this point, nearly all the Val Kyr were staring at Freya in stunned disbelief. All of her secrets were now coming out, and I could see that some of the women present were having a hard time accepting them. There were also looks towards Ailsa, some of them suggesting that the kaern general might have allies.

“The Val Kyr have existed for thousands of years,” Freya announced, her expression daring anyone to interrupt or challenge her. “And during this time, converts have always been a valued and necessary part of our order…until the last seven centuries. As the number of converts has dwindled, so too has our strength. Without atra, our strongest triads are not as powerful as they once were.”

“She’s trying to trick you,” Ailsa exclaimed, glaring at Freya with a look of pure hatred. “These false women taint us and rot Val Halla from within… You all saw what Estrid’s actions have wrought today.”

Freya final started walking towards Ailsa, her expression grim. “For centuries, I suspected a viper was hidden amongst our number, though I could not be certain of her identity until now.”

Freya reached out for Ailsa, though the kaern general pulled back and would have fought if the tip of Sharra’s spear didn’t press up tightly against her throat. Several drops of blood came out, enough to make Ailsa hold still when Freya grabbed her. A moment later, I saw Freya combining essence and kaern energies, pushing them into Ailsa in a way I immediately recognized.

“I have placed a geis upon you,” Freya told Ailsa in a grim tone. “You will answer any questions I ask, as truthfully as you are able.” Ailsa just glared back at her without saying a word.

“Freya,” Ragnhild aside with a deep scowl. “Ailsa has been your friend for a thousand years. Is this necessary?”

“She tried to kill Freya,” Sharra pointed out in a cold tone. Ragnhild reluctantly nodded at that.

“Now then, old friend,” Freya said, staring intently into Ailsa’s eyes. “Have you ever attempted to murder another Val Kyr, before this?”

“Yes,” Ailsa answered, though she was clearly trying to fight the geis. But as I’d seen with Lindrell, fighting the compulsion was almost impossible. Then Ailsa quickly added, “But they were only converts…” There were gasps and looks of surprise from the surrounding Val Kyr.

Freya stared at Ailsa with a dark look, and for a moment, I saw a flash of intense sadness and betrayal behind her eyes, though it barely touched her face at all. “How many Val Kyr have you murdered? How many died because of your actions?”

Ailsa tried fighting back the answer again, but she couldn’t resist blurting out, “Seven. I’ve killed seven of those tainted converts myself…and I’ve arranged the deaths of five others.”

Ailsa looked pissed at being forced to confess her crimes, but not nearly as angry as some of the other Val Kyr. A minute earlier, some of those Val Kyr had obviously been sympathetic to her and her claims of converts being a corrupting influence, but she’d just admitted to killing twelve Val Kyr, and that had suddenly changed everything.

“You killed twelve of our sisters,” Gretchen snarled, drawing her sword, though she certainly wasn’t the only one who was readying her weapon.

“Freya,” I said, feeling more than a little stunned by the revelation that the head of the kaern pillar could commit such murders. Once Freya looked to me, I gulped and said, “When Estrid had me prisoner…she told me about the night she left Val Halla…”

“Continue,” Freya told me.

I nodded at that. “Estrid told me that two Val Kyr had attacked her…and had tried to murder her. She said that she killed them in self-defense, then ran off… At the time, I’d thought she was lying, but now…”

“What do you know of this?” Freya demanded of Ailsa.

“I sent my two most trusted to eliminate that filth…before she could betray us,” Ailsa responded with a sneer, no longer even trying to fight the compulsion. In fact, she almost seemed pleased to be able to brag about her deeds. “But when Estrid killed them instead, I took advantage of the opportunity to eliminate three of the other converts instead…”

“And you blamed their deaths on Estrid as well,” Shannon said in a cold tone, which reminded me that one of the women who’d died that night had been a friend of hers.

Julie leaned over and whispered in my ear, “And I would have gotten away with it if it wasn’t for you meddling kids…”

I glared at Julie, who was only trying to deal with her own stress by joking around, but this wasn’t the time for it. I gulped, then half whispered, “So Estrid was telling the truth…”

“Who were the sisters you murdered?” Freya demanded, her voice cold and hard. “Name them…”

As Ailsa began listing the names, there were looks of shock and horror from those who knew the victims. There were also outbursts of rage, and I suddenly realized that Ailsa would be very lucky if she left this courtyard alive. Gretchen, Shannon, and several others had looks of deadly fury in their eyes, and they clearly wanted revenge for their murdered friends and relatives.

“Beatrice was of my bloodline,” Moraigh stated in a quiet but deadly tone.

“Molly was my niece,” Bethany added.

“I have long suspected such a threat from within,” Freya admitted, her voice still stead though now filled with a great sadness. “Converts had died on missions without proper witness or explanation. Others had vanished without a trace from within the walls of Val Halla itself.” Her attention settled firmly on Ailsa again as she added, “But I am gravely disappointed to find the threat was from one I once trusted…whom I had considered as a sister.”

“We may have been comrades, but you are no sister of mine,” Ailsa responded, giving Freya a look of defiance and contempt. “You are the cancer that infects Val Halla…that let this happen…” She gestured around the courtyard where the fierce battle had just been fought, then to Estrid’s body.

“Estrid was a broken woman,” Freya admitted, “but it seems your actions played a large role in driving her to this fate. It was your attempt on her life that drove her away from Val Halla and into the arms of the daemonites.”

“If you hate converts so much,” Sharra demanded, “then why not murder Freya as well?”

“Because I had no opportunity,” Ailsa spat out viciously. “If I had, I would have cleansed Val Halla of her presence long ago…” Then she glared at Freya with a look of hatred, explaining, “For seven centuries, I have watched in wait, seeking an opening to end your life without drawing suspicion... But always, you were on your guard or surrounded by those who would see. Always, you were within Val Halla, where the death of our Freya would not be ignored…”

“So, you truly would have murdered me as well,” Freya said in a flat tone. She stared into Ailsa’s eyes, then asked, “You had a plan in place, did you not?”

“Yes,” Ailsa admitted, her eyes darting too me. “When you allowed the new convert to remain, I saw an opportunity… My plan was to kill you, placing the blame on her…” Ailsa sneered as she proudly explained, “This would serve as a reminder of why we forbid recruiting converts…and ensure it never occurs again.”

“You are as mad as Estrid,” Ragnhild stated. She clenched her massive axe tightly, making it clear how much she wanted to use it at that moment.

That accusation just seemed to piss Ailsa off even more. “Estrid was a monster,” she snapped. “All that I have done was to protect our order from a threat that you were too blind to see.”

“You murdered Val Kyr,” Gretchen pointed out bitterly. “Just like Estrid.”

“I cleansed Val Halla of more traitors,” Ailsa exclaimed.

“Why?” Freya demanded. “What reason do you have for this hatred of converts? You did not always feel this way…”

“The coup,” Ailsa snarled again. “Seven centuries ago, the converts proved they could not be trusted when they attempted to seize control of Val Halla... They betrayed us, murdered true and loyal Val Kyr, yet you allowed those tainted traitors to remain…because you are one of them.”

I stared at Ailsa, having almost forgotten about that coup attempt, where a group of converts had tried and failed to take control of the Val Kyr. Everyone had been so focused on Estrid and what she’d done that they seemed to have forgotten about the coup, which was the event that had truly started the downfall of the converts.

“Six converts were behind the attempt,” Freya pointed out in a grim tone. “Each was a former knight or noble who believed that their former rank and titles meant that they were entitled to greater position and authority in Val Halla. These traitors conspired with daemonites and were slain for their betrayal, a betrayal the other converts had naught to do with.”

“THEY KILLED MY DAUGHTER,” Ailsa screamed at Freya, her eyes blazing with fury. “They murdered Ingi, and I swore over her body that I would make them pay…that I would drive every last one of you tainted false women from Val Halla…that I would cleanse our order of your treacherous kind…”

Freya just stared at Ailsa with a carefully controlled and unreadable expression. But in spite of that, I could see the anger and pain in her eyes…and perhaps even a hint of pity.

“Take Ailsa to a cell,” Freya commanded, once again in full Freya mode with her emotions under tight control. “She will remain there under guard until I have decided her fate.”

As Sharra and Ragnhild began to escort Ailsa away, their murderous triad member suddenly slipped loose from their grip and started to run towards the nearest wall, perhaps intending to follow Estrid’s example of long ago and escape into the mists. However, she’d barely made it ten yards before an arrow was shot through her knee, sending her face first into the ground.

Jass lowered her bow and bitterly muttered, “You’ve shamed our pillar.”

Ragnhild picked Ailsa up from the ground, not being very gentle about it. Then she unceremoniously tossed the murderous Val Kyr over her shoulder and carried her towards one of the buildings.

I watched them go in silence, not sure whether to hate Ailsa for what she’d done…and for the fact that she’d planned on framing me for Freya’s murder, or if I should pity her. It seemed that like Estrid, she’d been broken and twisted by the tragedies of her past. I briefly wondered if there was a lesson in there somewhere, but at the moment, I was too tired to consider that.

“Once,” Freya said, her voice firm but sad, “I was forced to ban new converts from our ranks…both to sooth Val Kyr fears and to protect those who would be unjustly accused and attacked.” She paused at that, slowly looking over all the Val Kyr present before loudly announcing, “This ban is now revoked, so let all Val Kyr know that once again, converts will be welcomed with open arms.”

There were a few cheers at that, though most Val Kyr were too physically and emotionally drained after the recent combat and shocks to show that much emotion. However, I had no doubt that once everyone had a chance to fully absorb what had just occurred and what it meant for the order, there would be more of a reaction.

“Our new sister will likely be dazed and confused when she awakens,” Freya announced to the Val Kyr who remained. “She will require understanding and support if she is to adjust and thrive as Val Kyr.”

I turned my attention back to Dad, who was still on the ground with Lindrell crouched down beside him, holding his hand. She looked up to me and gave me a faint smile, then turned her attention back to him. Without hesitation, I went over and crouched down on his other side, taking his other hand in mine and then sharing another faint smile with Lindrell.

“You’re going to be fine, David,” Lindrell gently told him, though I doubted he could hear her since he seemed to be unconscious.

Dad’s val was still growing and spreading through his body, but I could already tell that he’d been infused with jatta energy as well in order to encourage the healing. His recent wounds were indeed starting to heal up, though it would be awhile before the process was complete.

“How long?” I asked Lindrell. “How long before his body starts changing?”

“It won’t be noticeable for a few hours,” she answered. “The whole process will probably take longer than it did with you…”

She looked to his prosthetic leg, reminding me that he would actually have to grow a whole replacement. I felt a little excited at the realization that he would actually have his leg back, which would probably make his new body a little easier for him to accept.

“Lindrell,” Freya said, putting a hand on her shoulder and then looking at me. “Michelle…” Freya…Ionne gave me a gentle smile and assured me, “He will be a welcome addition to the Val Kyr, but for now, he needs to be taken inside and made comfortable.”

“I’ll take care of that,” Lindrell said. Then she bent over and gave Dad a gentle kiss on his lips before musing, “I wonder what you’ll look like once you finish changing…”