Seeds of Autumn

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Stalker was given a few minutes to compose herself before Ragged Edge led them back across the veil and out of the garden into the quiet street. Stalker became acutely aware that she was filthy, Shadow and Ragged Edge were also dirty from digging her out of the ground and she looked around to check that they wouldn't be seen. She couldn't understand why the two men didn't seem concerned.

  A short distance from the house Ragged Edge unlocked a dark grey mid-sized car, the sort you wouldn't look twice at because of how common they are and he opened the back door for her. Looking inside Stalker saw that the seats were covered with plastic sheets to protect the upholstery and she managed a strained laugh at the planning that had gone into this day.

  They drove in silence across the city, Ragged Edge at the wheel, his staff propped up next to him in the foot well of the passenger seat. Shadow sat next to Stalker on the back seat, holding her hand. Her heart had returned to its normal rhythm and she was beginning to feel calm again after the entombing ordeal, though her throat ached and she was desperate for a drink of water, or preferably a nice stiff shot of vodka. The darkness of the night wrapped around her and brought her comfort so that by the time they pulled up outside the warehouse in Barrow Market she was ready for the next step.

  They approached the warehouse and entered through the large, sliding doors. The warehouse looked somewhat different on this occasion, there were no flaming barrels and the assembled members of Odin's Warriors were still and quiet as Stalker entered, flanked by the elder and her mentor. In the centre of the huge space there were two rows of hot coals glowing red. The only light in the room was coming from a string of blinking decorative lights that hung from pillars and poles in a circle just above head height. Red Scythe was standing next to the coals, holding his impressive namesake in one hand.

  Ragged Edge led her forward, every eye was on her and she felt incredibly uncomfortable. Red Scythe grasped her hand and forearm in greeting and she returned the gesture. The rest of the group formed a circle around them and she quickly found Shadow among them. He had a serious expression on his face and was avoiding looking at her, that worried her.

  'We are assembled here tonight for the initiation of Stalker-of-Night's-Shadow into Odin's Warriors. She has been nominated by Shadow's Step and has already completed a trial of stamina and discipline,' Red Scythe spoke in his authoritative voice and it echoed around the large empty warehouse. She looked at him and tried to read in his eyes if he knew somehow what had happened in Ragged Edge's garden, but she couldn't tell.

  He moved away from her and walked around the outside of the circle of assembled shifters, casting a ritual circle. 'We call upon Artemis, mother of shifters; Odin, allfather; and the Valkyries, sisters and judges of the chosen of Odin; to observe and protect the rite of purification.'

  Various assembled members began stamping their feet as they had done the last time Stalker witnessed one of their rituals and again she could actually see the ripples that spread out from their feet as energy built to form a protective barrier around them.

  Red Scythe returned to her side and took her hand in his.

  'We ask that our sister be cleansed of doubt, fear and loneliness. That emotional equilibrium be restored following her trials today and that her spirit be judged here tonight by Odin.'

  Stalker's eyes darted to Red Scythe in alarm. She felt suddenly scared of being judged and was certain for a split second that Odin, the god of war and death, would manifest before them and tear her to shreds himself if he disapproved of her. But she saw the fire and warmth in Red Scythe's eyes and remembered what Shadow had told her about their patron remaining a distant observer rather than active participant in their lives.

  The impressive leader of Odin's Warriors walked her over to the burning coals and indicated for her to stand between the two rows. She wondered if he was going to ask her to walk on them and instantly judged that as deeply unfair, she had already completed her trial of stamina. However this did not seem to be his intention, as he stepped away from her and lifted a large jug of water from the floor in the centre of the circle. He held it up high as if offering a toast, then approached the coals again and tipped the water over one row and then the other.

  Steam hissed up from the embers and surrounded Stalker, the heat was only just bearable and she held her breath as the steam swirled around her and made her skin prickle. She tried to relax and take deep, cleansing breaths and as she did so she could feel the tension ebbing out of her body. She became aware of fae within the steam reaching into her as she breathed in and retracting again as she breathed out, taking with them her negative energy, leaving only calm and confidence within her. She knew that no matter what happened next, she would now have much finer control over her inner beast, just as she had developed a profound connection to the shielding power of darkness when she answered the call of Pursuit-of-Midnight-Solitude.

  Standing there in the cleansing steam she had a sort of epiphany, a deeper understanding of herself, of what she could do and of her connection to the world around her. Grins-Too-Widely was able to keep human eyes from seeing her as she navigated her territory and connected her to her pack, emotionally and telepathically; Pursuit-of-Midnight-Solitude quenched all fear of the darkness, suppressed her scent and made it easier for her to hide in the shadows; and now these purification elementals would help her to remain calm and in control of the Agrius in times of need.

  As the steam around her cleared, Stalker was left standing, swaying slightly and with a serene smile playing on her lips. Her hearing seemed a little fuzzy, she thought she could hear applause all around her but it sounded very far away or as if she were under water. Slowly the fuzziness cleared and she looked around to see more than a dozen smiling people clapping and cheering.

  Red Scythe took her hand again and led her to the centre of the circle.

  'Now the time has come for your fighting heart to be judged by Odin. I call forth a volunteer Berserker to challenge Stalker-of-Night's-Shadow.'

  'Right here,' a voice rang out loud and clear, barely allowing Red Scythe to finish his sentence. Stalker whipped around to see a young woman stepping into the circle. She was medium height and extremely lean, she had skin the colour of rich toffee that shone in the light and she wore her black hair in fine braids all the way down her back. Her eyes were cold and hard and a sneer played over her lips.

  'Very well,' Red Scythe called out and the circle fell to order. 'Fury will be your challenger. The rules are simple. This is hand-to-hand combat only, no weapons. Innate abilities only, no assistance from allies. No killing blows. The winner will be the first to render their opponent prone.'

  Stalker took a moment to appraise her challenger, she looked as tough as nails, and small enough to be quick too. But she looked young enough to not have a gross advantage experience-wise. The two of them began circling each other, just like wolves preparing to fight. Stalker moved slowly around the circle until she drew level with Shadow and glanced at him for what she hoped would be a sign of encouragement, but he was covering his eyes with his hand, his head bowed. Alarm bells started to ring and she reached out to him with her mind as best she could in her senseless human form. He felt her and looked up into her eyes.

  Wrecking Crew was all she got from him, but it was enough. Now she knew that Fury's eagerness to volunteer was entirely personal and there was no way she would hold back from this opportunity to dominate the newest member of her rival pack.

  With a deep breath of determination, Stalker took a step towards Fury and shifted into her Agrius form. Fury was only a split second behind her. Fury's fur was deep brown, tinged with red, her braids thickened, rather than disappearing and looked like whips running down her back from the top of her bestial head. She was snarling as she stared Stalker down, but Stalker remained calm.

  Red Scythe was still stood between them, he raised his hands and the room grew instantly quiet. Stalker's breath quickened, her eyes
fixed on Fury. In her peripheral vision she was aware of Red Scythe dropping his hands and stepping quickly back to the edge of the circle. The crowd erupted in cheers and the two combatant shifters launched themselves at one another.

  Fury landed the first blow, it was a bone splintering blow to Stalker's left shoulder and she spun around with the impact of it. It was far stronger than it ought to have been and she knew instantly that Fury had tricks up her sleeve. But Stalker knew that she did too and used her incredible agility to dodge the next two blows. She was much quicker than Fury and long seconds passed with no blows landing for either party as Stalker ducked and weaved around her opponent and abandoned any attempts to land hits of her own.

  She watched the way Fury moved and used her expertise in reading people to assess the increasingly angry beast opposite her. Fury had a very short temper and was frustrated already, she was throwing her all into every attempted attack, holding no reserves back. She would tire quickly. As she moved, she favoured her left leg and right arm and Stalker focused her keen eyes on that slow right leg. She was sure that Fury was right handed, so what was wrong with that leg? There was the tiniest trace of a limp there. An old injury perhaps. She could use that.

  While she was so deeply focussed on Fury's leg, Stalker completely failed to see the next attack coming and Fury landed another excruciating hit, this time right to Stalker's jaw, she felt it crack and her huge teeth dug into her tongue. She roared in pain and backed away from Fury, but her opponent was relentless and pursued her across the circle. Hands of on-lookers made contact with Stalker's back and pushed her back into the fray, she used the momentum to run at her challenger, catching Fury around her middle and spinning her around. Stalker let go and left Fury catching her balance while she regained her own composure. Without waiting for Fury to right herself completely, Stalker launched herself forward and slashed with her talons at Fury's chest and just scraped the skin under her thick fur. It wasn't enough to do any real damage, only enrage Fury further.

  The crowd around was chanting and clapping a pounding rhythm, feet were stomping too, it was so much noise. Stalker shook her head and tried to tune it out. She reached out and tried to catch Fury in a grapple, but the other shifter slipped out of her grasp and came at her with a vicious attempt to bite into Stalker's neck. Stalker twisted away and got behind Fury, grabbing her around the chest, pinning her arms by her sides. She used her own weight to flip Fury over her head and slam her onto the floor face first, right into one of the piles of hot coals from the purification ritual. Stalker heard something of Fury's crack and a nasty hope flashed into her mind that it was the bitch's nose.

  Fury leaped to her feet, shaking her head and brushing burning embers from her body. Blood splattered from her mouth and left drops on the floor, a huge roar went up from the crowd. Stalker didn't hesitate, she locked her eyes on that weak right knee and launched herself at it. She bent forward and grabbed Fury's leg, she twisted with all her might and dislocated the knee as she pushed Fury to the ground, slamming her down on her back. Fury howled in anger and pain and Stalker roared as she felt Fury's talons pierce her left side and stay there.

  The two of them were locked together, Stalker still holding Fury's leg and Fury's claws and fist buried in Stalker's side. Stalker snarled and felt pain racing through her body, it was excruciating, but she refused to let go. She had her, she had Fury pinned and undoubtedly unable to stand and continue the fight. She had won, if she could only hold on until Fury accepted it and relented.

  But Fury hissed in her ear and refused to admit defeat. They stayed locked together like that for what seemed like an age. Finally Stalker felt hands on her shoulders and individual voices became clear to her in the sea of noise.

  'That's enough. Break it up,' Ragged Edge called out above the din from somewhere nearby.

  'Stalker,' Shadow's voice was barely above a whisper in her ear. 'You've won. Let go now.'

  She was panting and moaning with the pain in her side, barely able to register what was happening.

  'No!' Fury roared in her other ear and Stalker yelped as the talons were ripped from her flesh. Shadow pulled her away and two others had shifted into their Agrius forms for the required strength to drag Fury across the circle and restrain her.

  Red Scythe approached Stalker with his hands up and Stalker realised that she was salivating and straining against Shadow's grip just as much as Fury was across the circle from them, she must have looked like a savage dog champing at the bit. She steadied her breathing and fought to regain control of the beast, she felt the purification fae calming her and the beast settled into a quiet rumble in her chest. She shifted back into her human form and slumped against Shadow. The pain in her side doubled and she clutched it with both of her hands as if trying to hold herself together. When she looked down and saw the blood pouring down her side and over her hands, she realised that she wasn't far wrong. She whimpered at the sight and tried to look away.

  'Don't worry, it's not as bad as it looks,' Red Scythe said soothingly, bending to peer at her wound.

  'I have a hole in me!' she cried desperately, but Red Scythe chuckled.

  'You'll get used to that.' He straightened up and smiled warmly. 'May I take your hand?' He held his hand out toward her uninjured side and slowly she released her injury and took his hand with her own blood-soaked one, wincing as she stepped forward with him towards the centre of the circle. He gently lifted her arm and a massive cheer erupted all around them.

  She was the victor and she had clearly been accepted as one of Odin's Warriors. Elation filled her and she felt a fire flare up in her heart. Odin touched her, she felt it. She felt her body fill with strength and speed and when she gingerly put her free hand to what had moments before been a gaping wound in her side, she felt mending flesh. A grin lit up her face.

  Red Scythe released her and she walked slowly back towards Shadow. People moved in towards her, blocking her path and pushing past each other to congratulate and welcome her. She smiled and thanked everyone, but was desperate for the warm arms of her mentor. He pushed his way through the sea of people and grabbed hold of her, he pulled her into a protective embrace and steered her out of the crowd.

  'Well done,' he whispered. 'I am so proud of you.'

  'Th-thanks,' she stammered.

  'Fury won't easily forget that fight, you know.'

  'Neither will I,' she replied coldly.

  'Now then,' he spoke a little louder. 'Where do you want your first tattoo?'

  First Strike provided Stalker with plentiful quantities of the vodka she had so desperately craved earlier in the evening and once she was suitably numb from the alcohol she straddled a chair and leaned over the back of it, while he tattooed the rune for “Berserker” on the back of her neck.

  A lively party had sprung up around them, though someone had had to take Fury home. Stalker tried to feel bad for the way the fight had gone, but she couldn't, she felt very pleased with herself and at the same time extremely bitter towards Fury for making it so personal.

  By the time her tattoo was finished her tongue and shoulder were completely healed and her side was well on the way.

  'It's going to leave a scar,' Shadow told her after cleaning the blood off her.

  'Cool,' she murmured into her glass of vodka, a drunken smile stuck to her face.

  First Strike held out his right arm and showed her a silvery line all the way down the inside of his forearm.

  'That's my initiation scar. Nearly lost the whole arm, but then Odin sent the healing fire and it healed right up in front of my very eyes,' he grinned. Stalker grinned stupidly back and realised that she was having trouble keeping her eyes open. She'd been through an extreme physical ordeal and was now drinking on an empty stomach. Not a good combination.

  'Can you take me home now, please?' she asked Shadow and without a word of objection he scooped her up and made their apologies. Ragged Edge came outside with them and she vaguely heard him offer to drive t
hem home before she passed out.