She sat back and watched the fire, drinking wine. Her mind flitted between thoughts of her father, brother and mother.
She took a sip of her wine and sighed with happiness. Yes, it was sad that she might never see her father or brother again, but she was happy to know that she was going someplace. That she might have a future home, and that she wouldn’t be alone, or afraid, or have to hide from anyone. As grim as the situation was, she had something to be grateful for.
Across the fire sat two pretty blonde girls who couldn’t have been more than seventeen. Lucenzus went up to them and spoke enthusiastically.
Lyssa tried to watch them inconspicuously, hoping he didn’t ask either of them to dance.
When he did just that, Lyssa felt her face get hot.
She looked away and downed her wine.
Von appeared before her. The way his pale face and hair were washed out, yet his eyes glowed by the light of the fire was demonic looking.
“Dance?” he asked.
She accepted his hand.
He yanked her up, fast and strong, and caught her on his hip.
Immediately, Lyssa was taken with him, and a little aroused. Never had a man been able to exalt strength over her before.
He spun her around fast, making her laugh. They stepped around and around, until she was out of breath.
“Aren’t you exhausted?”
“No, I’m not human, anymore! I never get tired!” he boasted.
He grabbed her by the hand and led her to a section of the table where he poured her more wine.
Instinctively, Lyssa looked to see where Lucenzus was.
Still talking to one of the girls.
Noticing her gaze, Von said, “You like him? What a shame! I like you. You’re different than these pasties. I can’t stop staring at your straight, shiny dark hair, the way the light bounces off it. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
He reached over and lightly touched her smooth strands.
“The finest hair I’ve ever seen on a woman.”
“Funny,” said Lyssa. “In my land, pasty is quite fashionable. Golden locks are priceless.”
“We all want what we don’t have,” he said.
“Tis true,” said Lyssa, raising her cup.
“Cheers” he said.
That night, she fell asleep on the bench by the fire.
Sometime later, a pair of hands lifted her.
She opened her eyes and was pleased to see that it was Lucenzus.
He carried her to a heap of straw in the barn and laid her down.
Lyssa put her hands around his neck and pressed him toward her.
Lightly, they kissed for a few moments, before he pulled away.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I’m supposed to be getting married.”
“To whom?” she asked, feeling shocked.
“I don’t know yet.”
“I’m confused.”
“My father won’t let me just marry anyone. It’s a bad idea to get involved with me. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Lucenzus, it’s just a kiss. Don’t you think you’re overreacting?”
“That’s what women always say, but it’s always more they want. I did fall in love once with a mortal woman. When my father found out, he was livid; had me jailed for a long time.”
“My father jailed me all the time. It’s not a big deal.”
“Wow, Lyssa. You really have no clue about the people you come from.”
“You know, I’m getting sick of your snideness. If you don’t want to talk plainly, then don’t talk to me at all.”
He sighed loudly, and said, “The Prima people live longer than humans do. When they jail their people, it’s not just for a couple of days, more like a couple of decades.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she said disbelievingly. “Just go away.”
She laid back into the straw, and closed her eyes.
“Lyssa, you’re part immortal.”
She rolled back over and looked at him.
“What did you say?”
“You heard me. The Prima people are immortals. You and I are part immortal. By the time my father let me out of jail, the woman I loved was old and gray. It was the most devastating thing I’ve ever endured.”
“How old are you?”
“A lot older than I look,” he said, stood and walked out.
The next couple of days, they walked many miles.
Lyssa was hurt by Lucenzus’ rejection, but her anger lifted upon finally seeing Valhala.
Up on the base of an incline, nestled against a mountain, was dozens of houses. In the middle, was a construction she’d only heard of from learned men; a structure she’d only seen in Roman drawings: a large stone castle. It was the most majestic thing she’d every seen. Behind it was an enormous peak that rose well beyond and into clouds.
“Up there is Valhol, beyond the clouds.”
“That’s impossible,” she said. “How could anyone make such a journey?”
The answer to her question came a moment later.
Outlined by the horizon of the setting sun was a woman with long dark hair. Like an angel, she flew at them; her white dress billowed about her.
“Oh,” she said, as she dropped to the ground. “I’m no angel.”
Apparently, the woman could read minds, too.
“Mother?”
The woman pulled her into a bone crushing embrace.
“You must be my mother. I don’t think anyone has ever held me so tight before,” she smiled.
“Take my hands,” she said.
Lyssa took one, and Lucenzus grabbed the other.
She flew them to Valhala.
Learning Valhol
Chapter 4
They flew over the city gates and landed in town’s center.
Before them was a line of people waiting to get water from a stone well. Behind them was the entrance to the castle.
Turning around, Lyssa noticed several roads that led away from the center. Both sides of each of the roads were lined with stone houses.
The Primas were clearly advanced in architecture and stone masonry. In her land, she’d only seen drawings of stone homes.
Lyssa shivered. A thick cloud of fog hung around them.
“As daughter to the Dacian King, you’ve been invited to stay in the castle with the Elders,” her mother said.
Lucenzus interrupted them. He said, “I’m gonna leave you two. I’ve got business, and I need to check in with my father. Bye, Lyssa.”
He walked down a road to their right, and disappeared into a house.
“Come,” said her mother.
They approached the castle. The guards opened the doors for them.
Inside was even chillier. Cold emanated from the stone walls.
Reading her mind once more, her mother said, “This is a cold place for non Prima people. We aren’t as sensitive to temperatures as humans are.”
Lyssa rubbed her eyes, trying to focus, but the entrance hall was too dark. All she could see was the light of a flickering candle some yards away.
“Grab my hand,” her mother said. “Prima people don’t need as much light to see.”
In near blackness, she led her down a thin, but high ceilinged, chilly stone walkway.
At the end, they went right until they were in an open space. Though there was more room around them, it was still compact.
Lyssa, who was used to large halls and open plains, said, “Being in here feels like we’re entombed.”
“Don’t worry, Lyssa. You’ll get used to it. Most people in the world live in caves that are half this size, like the desert people.”
Her mother dragged her down another right hall.
At the end was an amply lit room. Around a center stone console, a few women were preparing food. One kneaded bread while another stuffed a bird. One lady was chopping carrots.
To their left and right were more halls, but her mother l
ed her up a set of stone steps.
Although the steps continued upward, they stepped onto the first landing and walked to the end of the hall.
Her mother, Sana, opened the door.
In the center of the room was a large table with chairs. Next to it was a canopied bed. On the right sight of the room, there was a fireplace. To the left was a large shuttered widow.
Lyssa opened the shutter and looked out.
Below, there were hundreds of houses. People walked in and out of them, carrying items. Some worked out in the open, farming animals and crafting while others tended small fields.
Suddenly, light filled the room.
Lyssa turned around. Every candle on the wall had come to flame.
“You can call fire with your mind, too?”
“Yes. You, probably, can do things, too.”
“Me?”
“Every Prima is different. We each have our own abilities to control the elements, to read minds, and to master certain forms of kinesis. Since your half Prima, you might have some of these abilities, too.”
Lyssa didn’t think she had any so called abilities, but she did think back to a time when she’d visited a lion tamer who’d come to town. A particularly stubborn male wouldn’t obey him. When the tamer struck him with a whip, the lion went for him. Without thinking, Lyssa grabbed the lion by the tail, and flung him several feet into an open cage, and locked the door.
There were many more strange incidents of strength, after that day.
“The Prima people are stronger than the average human. Our muscles are made up of a different kind of tissue,” her mother said. “Our flesh is completely resilient and resistant to spasms, strains, and over pulling, as described by humans.”
“But not resistant to stabbings?”
Sana looked at her shoulder.
She walked over to her, and pulled down her sleeve.
“Oh that’s nasty,” she said. “After we talk, I’ll take you to the apothecary, down the street. You’ll find our medicine is advanced. The swelling and puss will be completely gone by tomorrow morning.”
She sat down at the table, and gestured that Lyssa should do the same.
“Where do you live?”
“In a lovely house further up the mountain base.”
“What is it you wish to talk to me about?”
Her mother looked at her, quizzically.
“Well, actually, I assumed that you’d want to talk to me. I figured you’d have lots of questions, as usually those who are reunited with us do.”
“I do have questions. I just wasn’t sure if now is the time.”
“Now is fine, as we haven’t much time. You are to meet several of the Elders for dinner in a few hours, so how about we just jump right in? I’m sure you want to know why I gave you up. That’s the number one question our interbred children have.”
Sana paused a moment, sighed and continued, “As you know, our people are dying out. Humans are, now, the dominant species. We could easily blink them out of existence, but it won’t change the fact that the Primas are dying out. We’ll continue to do so, whether the humans are here or not. We’ve decided that it’s better to have at least one intelligent form of life, rather none.”
“Why don’t the Prima people simply have more children?” Lyssa asked.
“Primas don’t reproduce as quickly as humans, and that’s a good thing, considering that we’re immortal. The Earth’s resources could be easily depleted.
Our reproductive system comes into cycle once every century, and we carry the child for ten or more years. This is why the humans will always dominate us in numbers.
When our elders realized how quickly the humans were populating, they tried interbreeding to create a species that would defend us, Primas, and keep our legacy alive. Unfortunately, most of the human women died, while most of the Prima women miscarried. You and Lucenzus, and others like him are quite the minority. You’re likely the result of some sort weakness or mutation in our genes.
However, the King and I were not an attempt at population. We met on the River Danube, one night at a solstice feast. We fell into passion with one another. Our union and you were both by chance.
When I found myself pregnant with you, our Elders thought it a unique opportunity to liaison with the humans. If we couldn’t breed well with them, we’d form an alliance.
King Decebalus agreed to raise you as a lady of the house in exchange for gifts, as he was due to marry Andrada. He would’ve never seen you suffer, but he had no intention to take you home with him. Also, he agreed to send us the best of his humans to join us.
But then the Romans came, and his main concern was protecting your land. They fought and lost, three times. We knew it was only a matter of time before Rome would tire of King Decebalus.
Now we could’ve easily pushed out the Romans, but the Elders thought it useless. Not only would they be risking the lives of Primas - as though we’re strong, we’re far from indestructible, but the humans were populating like ants. They’d never stop coming, and as you can see from nations around, they don’t stop until they conquer.”
“Why did you never come to visit me?”
“In recent years, women are rarely allowed to leave Valhala.”
“Why?”
“Many women have gone missing over the years. We suspect they were abducted, sold into slavery, or killed for being Prima. Unlike you, many of our women haven’t been trained to fight. The Elders don’t believe women should do such things.”
“What about half Primas?”
“You’re going to be initiated. You’ll be expected to remain, and do as the Elders tell you.”
“I don’t want to be initiated. I only came to meet you. I’m a human, born and raised.”
“You must be initiated. Our people are dying out. The Elders will not accept your rejection. Don’t make them force you, okay? Lest they jail you, and then you won’t see sunlight for thirty years.”
She paused.
Lyssa didn’t respond.
“Tonight, you will dine with the village Elders, here in the castle. Tomorrow, you’ll be taken to the hall, where you’ll train with the priests and priestesses.”
~~~
Later that day, there was a knock on the door.
A handmaiden came in and placed a white waxed linen dress on the bed. She explained to her about how to get to the dining room, and then left.
Lyssa put on the dress, and went downstairs to dinner.
She turned right at the hall, and right again.
In a large room, several men were gathered, drinking from gold goblets.
Lyssa was relieved that there were only a few people. She was never one for big parties, yet her father always had the biggest, and always insisted that she entertain.
The stone room was small, though charming. It had a large fireplace and a long table that could have seated twenty. Tapestries hung on the walls, and statues stood in every corner of the room. A large wood and iron chandelier hung from the ceiling.
The Primas were a clean and elegant looking people. They were tall and slender, with each of them standing at about six and a half feet, with waist length blond to red hair, pale skin and eyes.
They each wore simple linen tunics with gold belts and gold jewelry.
Of them all, only one blond man stood out. Aesthetically, he looked like the others, but his eyes were as red as Von’s. He stood about a foot taller than the others, and his shoulders were also twice the width.
Lyssa knew he must have been a mighty warrior, probably the strongest man she’d ever seen.
One man with long light brown hair and blue eyes walked up to her.
“I’m Stelar. I’m a priest up on the hall. Come, I will introduce you to the others.”
The men were extremely polite, and made elegant gestures, like nodding their heads, making quiet compliments, and light handshakes.
Their behavior was an extreme contrast to the men of her f
ather’s kingdom. Often, to show gratitude, loyalty and enthusiasm, they’d make loud, boastful speeches with over exaggerated body language.
The warrior, whom Stelar introduced as Sestin, looked as though he wasn’t one for parties. In his wine colored eyes, she thought she saw disinterest.
Next to the impressive man, stood one who wasn’t as striking in stature so much as in stance. He had light auburn hair, and orange eyes that seemed almost fluid. The color seemed to move across his iris, almost like flames danced in his eyes.
“This is General Vidar,” Stelar said.
The man with the strange eyes inclined his head toward her. He wore a linen tunic like the others, but he had a mesh duster over his. And on his gold belt, a row of knives hung on hooks that’d been soldered on.
Vidar’s skin was smooth and pasty. It was almost the color of dough, except extremely glossy.
“Vidar is from an older race of Primas,” explained Stelar. “That is why he looks… different.”
“Tell us about your life as a Princess,” said the one Stellar introduced as Orlandus. He had long chocolate brown hair and marble blue eyes.
“I’m not a princess. I’m a lady.”
“What?” he asked, sounding confused.
“Orlandus, the humans don’t honor birth children, unless those who produced them are sanctified by marriage,” said Vidar.
Lyssa didn’t know if she should be ashamed or what. Being a bastard, in her land, was not a good thing.
Stelar must have heard her thoughts, for he said, “Don’t worry, Lyssa. Primas don’t understand marriage. When you live forever, being bound to one person is not a wise idea. No, we survive best by mingling. We only started to engage in the practice of marriage recently, when we needed it to help our people – in our attempts to liaison with humans. Still, some of us don’t know all the rules of human society.”
“Maybe we should marry her off to a powerful king?” offered a white blond man with stone colored eyes.
“Daius, don’t be rude,” said the warrior, Sestin.
“How am I being rude?”
“I’m not marrying anyone,” she said assertively.
“As a lady, you should know better than to say no to a man,” said Daius.
Lyssa’s temper flared. Never had a man had the gall to talk to her, a lady, in such a way. In her father’s palace, he’d surely be jailed.
“You’re not my father, and you’re not my king. No man will ever dare talk to me like that! You will check yourself, sir, or I will leave, immediately.”