"Hand over all your valuables" a man holding up a sword said as 4 other men held bags out. "Please we have nothing," a woman pleaded. "You have horses, wagons, food children" the man said "If you have no gold we'll take those" he added. "Do so if you dare," Freya said, suddenly stepping in front of the woman.
"Who do we have here" said the first man. He was the leader, that much was clear. He stepped toward Freya, putting the sword under her chin and lifted her head. Perhaps getting in his way without a weapon wasn't a smart idea. Freya thought to herself. "How beautiful you are with your silver hair and emerald eyes like jewels" he said. "How has a man not taken you?" He Questioned. "One has" she told him. "And what happened to him?" He asked. "He was burned alive" he told him.
The man moved the sword down to her neck. "I'd watch your words unless you wish for your death" he told her slightly annoyed. "Why must I watch my words when what I say is only the truth?" She asked him. "Your pretty little tongue will get you killed one day" he told her. "Perhaps" she said as the man began to press the sword into the side of her neck, making blood begin to drip from it.
Freya suddenly grabbed the sword, blood now coming from her hand. "I won't let you take what little they have left," she told the man. Suddenly they heard a loud screech. "Sehrunira," Freya said. "What the hell did you just say?" the man said, offended.
Suddenly Valkyra flew down from above and flew towards the man forcing him to remove the sword from Freya's neck and take a few steps back. Valkyra flew up as Thalor landed on Freyas should and let out a screech towards the man.
As Valkyra flew back down towards the man she let out a breath of fire, nearly missing the man as he fell to the ground. "GET THAT DRAGON AND THE GIRL WHO COMMANDS IT" the man yelled. The man pulled out their swords and ran towards Valkyra who was still flying around the man and now dodging his underlings as they attempted to swing their swords at her.
The other 2 pulled out their swords and walked towards Freya and Thalor. Thalor got in a defensive position and let out another screech towards the men. Freya looked past them. There was a creek.
Freya looked back at them. her look cold and yet somehow determined. "I'm sorry" Freya said in an emotionless tone. "Tukibure," Freya said. Without hesitation Thalor opened his mouth. As the men stepped back with their eyes wide The inside of Thalors throat began to glow orange before letting out a breath of fire at the men. The men began to scream as they fell to the ground and began to roll around.
"Valkyra" Freya said getting valkyras attention. "Hofera innarubumuj" (The Sword) she told her. Valkyra flew down to the ground and picked up one of the swords the men had dropped before flying back up into the air and dropping it above Freya allowing her to catch the sword, and landing on Freya's shoulder.
Freya pointed the sword at the leader who was now being helped up by the last 2 men. "I truly do not wish to kill you but I will do so if you force my hand" she told him. The man clenched his teeth as he stared at the two dragons on her shoulders.
"Retreat" the man said and the 3 of them left leaving the remains of the other 2 behind. Freya let out a heavy sigh as she dropped the sword, and fell to her knees. She was relieved no one had been hurt.
"You're hurt" Luana said, running to Freya and kneeling to her. Valkyra and Thalor flew off her shoulder and landed on the ground beside her. "What?" Freya said as she suddenly looked down at her left hand. "Oh I see" she said as she noticed her hand and wrist covered in blood. "Your neck as well," Luana told her.
"You saved us" the woman whom Freya stepped in front of earlier said as she appeared in front of Freya. "I did nothing of the sort" Freya told her. "You risked your own life for us," the woman said, kneeling down and grabbing Freya's hands, ignoring the blood on them.
"All this time we blamed you for what happened to our village... our home..." the woman said. "But none of it was your fault" she continued. "It was that bastard of a king who stole your throne that did this to us" she said. "I gave up the throne far too easily" Freya Said. "But you've changed" said the woman. "You lost your beloved and I can see in your eyes you crave to avenge him by taking back the throne you lost" the woman said. "You are the rightful heir to the throne and today I believe you proved that you would put your life in front of others whether they are your subjects, your people or not" the woman continued. "As repayment for your sacrifice today" the woman said, helping Freya up. "I wish to pledge my loyalty to you" the woman said, bowing to her. "What?" Freya questioned. "Truly you need not do that" Freya said. As the other villagers surrounded her.
Luana was the next to kneel, "you saved us, and kept them from taking what little we have left" Thomas said. "I shall pledge myself to you as well" he said before kneeling. One by one the villagers kneeled to Freya. Pledging their allegiance to her. Valkyra flapped her wing in excitement almost as if she knew what was happening.
Freya was the rightful heir to Atwell, she compared to her younger twin brother Sevian believed in putting not only her people but all the world first. She desired peace. But she knew the only way to do that would be with a war fought with dragons.
She knew that becoming queen she would need to win the War Of Fire.
TO BE CONTINUED