Prologue

1235 A.D.

The boat rocked on the sea as the wind whistled through the rigging. Occasionally, a wave would come high enough to enter the boat. The men cursed and used their helmets to bail the water out. One of the men sat in the stern, staring blankly at the horizon. One of the other men moved beside him.

"What are you staring at Erik?" the man asked.

Erik glanced at the man.

"Just thinking Sven."

"Thinking!" Sven asked, "What could ye possibly be thinking about?"

"What we're about to do."

"Ah! Battle!" Sven laughed, "That's right! This is yer first time to England! Those English swine won't know we're there until we've already landed and sacked the village!" Sven looked at Erik. "Ye aren't afraid are ye?"

"Of course not!" Erik shouted.

"Liar." Sven said, "A man who isn't afraid is foolish! Even with Odin on our side, we all know there is a good chance we won't come back." He clapped Erik hard on the back. "Take Nod over there! He pees himself everytime we go into battle!" The other Vikings laughed while Nod glared at Sven. "Just fight yer hardest when we finally meet the English! Perhaps ye'll impress the Valkyries enough that when ye fall they'll take ye to Valhalla!"

Erik smiled and nodded. He turned and looked back out to sea. He then frowned.

"What is it?" Sven asked, looking in the same direction as Erik. "Ye see something?"

"I thought I did." Erik said, "But you'd just laugh."

"They say sea serpents live in these waters." Sven said, "Creatures big enough to swallow this boat whole. Tell me what ye saw."

"It looked like a woman on horseback." Erik replied.

"A woman!" Sven shouted, "HA! The only women out there are the mermaids!" He leaned closer. "And don't be going after them. They'll take ye to yer death."

Erik nodded and returned to his gazing.

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"You mustn't let them see you."

The young brown haired woman looked over to her superior.

"You might distract them," the superior continued, "and that might alter their fate!

"I'm sorry Milady." She said softly.

The older woman walked her horse closer to the young woman's. She, like the younger woman, was dress in gold armor, with swords hung low from their waists. Golden helmets covered their heads, but allowed their hair to come out from behind.

"Don't be sorry," the elder said, "Learn! This is your first time out! Mistakes are expected!"

"Yes Milady Freya."

Freya sighed, "Forgive me. Having the Norn with us always causes me to be more aggressive."

The young woman glanced at one of the other women riding with them. That one was dressed in silver armor and had long dark hair. All the other women present showed her reverence.

"Why is Norn Skuld riding with us?" the young woman asked.

"She does what she will." Freya replied, "And she has ridden with us often. She alone knows who we shall take to Valhalla, even before the battle."

"Because she is the future."

"Yes." The Freya smiled, "I'm glad you are finally learning. You shall become a great Valkyrie if you continue to do so, Mist."

Mist nodded at the Valkyrie Leader, before returning her attention to the boat.

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2574

"uhh Mist?"

Mist blinked and looked around. She was sitting behind the desk in her office. Sitting across from her was the Queen Mana of Hell, with the Demoness Mara standing a short distance behind her on one side, and Valkyrie Dawn on the other.

"Hmm?" Mist asked.

Mana looked at Mist slightly confused.

"You uhhh….you were saying something, then stopped."

Mist blinked.

"I was?"

"Yes." Mana replied.

"Oh." Mist looked down at her paperwork. "I see no problem in having Valkyrie Dawn be part of your protection team."

A smile crept across Dawn's face.

Mist noticed.

"She will of course continue her training."

The smile on Dawn's face vanished.

"I would hope she'd have time to visit her 'mother'." Mana said.

"She will be able to visit you." Mist replied, "But her training must continue. Otherwise, how is she to become a great Valkyrie?"