VaLkA

mare / four / chestnut pangare / yakut / 13.0 hh

When she had first arrived on the islands, the Yakutian mare had been quick to judge the individuals who called the islands home as self-serving creatures with neither direction nor purpose. To a certain degree, the latter had been proven wrong - though not in a way that Valka could celebrate. If anything, it seemed that there were some who existed solely for the sake of taking that which was not rightfully theirs. Like Rougaru and Cullen, they claimed by virtue of strength anything that they desired - and there were few who seemed inclined to oppose them. Instead, those who did not fit into the category of takers seemed determined to bury their heads in the sand, as if they might escape the ever-grasping hands of tyrants by drawing no attention to themselves. Of course, such complicity was doomed to fail. Eventually, the few who dared them would fall, and then those who had stood by while it happened would be the only ones left with anything worth taking. And in time, they too would fall.

Though she had harbored her silent doubts from the beginning, it was no less of a blow to hear the dark bay offer her sympathy in a tone that seemed to contrast the very words she spoke. And though the Vulcan continued on with her speech to request specifics about the aid that they sought, Valka was certain that there would be none forthcoming. At least not the sort of assistance that could even the odds between one small mare, her large buckskin companion, and however many loyal souls the Lagoon’s twisted boss had gathered. The Bay was growing, but its numbers did not - could not - support enough fighters to hold their own against the entirety of a bachelor herd. So the buckskin Vanner had suggested that there might be those willing to help amongst the Peak, and Valka - out of little more than desperation - had allowed herself to be swayed.

Some valkyries these women had proven themselves to be. Just like the legendary women-warriors, it seemed they were content to crouch here on their mountainside and wait until the odds of a battle became insurmountable. Perhaps when the world was in peril, they would finally be roused - but by then, many and more would suffer the same as Goose and his family. And the skjaldmær could not stand by and watch this happen, even if her Bay remained safe as a result of Cullen’s offer.

But neither could she fight alone. Valka knew enough of war to know that she would be defeated, and enough about Cullen to know that he would answer her failed challenge with an unmatchable level of cruelty. Fighting the urge to speak with venom, the stout red mare turned her gaze away from the Vulcan pair. As fortune would have it, her dark eyes found the scattering of stallions again, and the seed of an idea began to germinate in the soil of her thoughts. Perhaps for the price of their freedom, these prisoners could be moved to do what the Peak would not. “I did not want to come. Not want to ask for help,” the Bay’s protector explained, shaking out her shaggy auburn coat in agitation. “But there are too many who will fight in Lagoon, and not enough in Bay to match.” She moved on quickly from this point, sensing that the ears that listened willingly now could just as easily tired of what she spoke, and turn deaf.

“You have prisoners here from Lagoon. What is plan for them?” Valka asked, letting her gaze find the black mare who had spoken of Cullen with such contempt, and then the dark bay who seemed to speak for those who resided here. As war went in her birthland, captives were either exchanged, or - if nothing of equal value could be offered - executed. It was doubtful that the Vulcans intended to swell the Lagoon’s ranks by restoring these stallions to their old home, so that left only one option if they didn’t wish to hold them indefinitely. Death might be the safest recourse for the bachelors if they could not be trusted - but it was possible that the time they’d spent here had been enough to show them the error of offering their loyalty to a creature such as Cullen.

Of course, she had little of value to offer in exchange for the captives, but perhaps they would be willing to part with them for a pittance - especially if it helped restore order and peace to their own home. Having paused long enough to hear whatever response the two Vulcans offered, Valka decided to be just as explicit as their leader had asked. “I would take, if you think they can be trusted to fight against old leader. If not, still best to get rid of them before they return to Cullen. But I know no help come without cost - what would be cost of this?” If it was a boon that the Yakut could offer, then she would give it willingly - unless it involved sacrificing another’s freedom. There was no amount of desperation that could convince Valka to abandon her principles and trade away the lives of others as her own had once been.