[Chapter 18 - Bona Fide : In Good Faith Pt.2]

The air was heavy and tense with silence so loud that even breathing too hard would make you stand out. We had moved from the entry way back to the kitchen area and everyone was joined at the long wooden dining table. At one end sat my mother and in the chair adjacent to hers was me. Next to my mother stood Louse and Aela, each on one side. They both had a pale and serious expression as they stood straight and firm with their hands clasped behind them.

At the opposite end of the table was the Valkyrie. She sat straight and slightly hunched forward, next to her resting against the table was a large two handed broadsword encased in a silver sheath, both of which matched her armor. Her pointed helm left little opening making it impossible to identify any part of her face or focus, yet I couldn't help feel as though I was being pierced by her stare.

"My deepest apologies at our lack of hospitality" my mother broke the deafening silence "I'm afraid we were not expecting company. In fact Elwen was just"

"Going into the Mana zone?" the Valkyrie interrupted with a blatant tone. The different pieces of her armor could be heard shifting as she straightened her posture.

My mother paused briefly before an almost cynical smile formed "Indeed. If I remember correctly, last time I checked I was one of the only people able to give someone the right to do that, so I'm sure it won't be a problem?"

The Valkyrie remained still and silent before replying with a much more monotone approach "Yes…Of course. And as such we have left you alone while you did so over the last few years"

As soon as she said that my head snapped up from the drooped position I was in. What does she mean by that? My mind began to fill with even more questions than I already had but I tried my best to maintain a poker face as my mother responded

"I see. Well as that is the most interesting thing going on in our humble little estate I can't"

The Valkyrie interjected once more, this time turning her head in my direction making it obvious that her attention was on me, something I had been well aware of this entire time. Yet the difference in directness alone was enough to make it feel as though she had raised a knife to my neck.

"Is that so? See me personally, I find a 14 year old Elf with no formal training or education being able to not only survive, but actively hunt in a mana zone fascinating. Even with you as his mentor, someone would almost see this and think th-"

With a raised and now slightly aggravated voice my mother interrupted "What! Is. Your. Business"

The air seemed to reverberate from my mothers voice. As soon as her words vanished a heavy silence took over and the Valkyries demeanor instantly changed. The laxed and egotistical position she was in quickly fell apart as she cleared her throat breaking the tension.

"Yes, of course." she looked back at me before refocusing to my mother "The reason for my attendance is to settle a rather, complex, matter of politics. As of one week ago Yeldan Vinswain, current head of the Vinswain family is missing and presumed dead"

"I beg your pardon" my mother exclaimed

"I'm afraid I'm not able to discuss that particular matter any further. Moving on, '' my mothers face was still twisted in surprise and a growing anger but nevertheless the Valkyrie continued cleary feeling re-empowered "there is now an empty seat in both the council and your house."

"My father aside, I still fail to see why this concerns us? Just follow the standard process as if he had no heir and choose a branch family member. Then a new house can join the council in the Vinswaines place, I'm sure Arbor is just drooling at the idea."

"And you would be correct. However, I think you are just as aware as he is that it would not be that simple. Replacing the head of your family would be nothing. But for Arbor to be able to swear in a new family to the council he needs the blessing of the Valkyrie commander, the Völsunga.".

As she said this a metallic crunch could be heard from her gauntlets as she clenched her fist "And technically speaking"

The anger of being cut off when it came to my grandfather had been visibly swelling within my mother and now it seems it had reached its limit. She stood up in a rush causing a sharp skidding noise as the chair she was in scraped across the polished wooden floor.

"AND TECHNICALLY" her voice boomed with anger and authority "That would be me!"

She stared down at the Valkyrie who's body had frozen. Her head was lowered like a dog too afraid to face its owner. Like flipping a switch the demeanor of this interaction had changed entirely. The sarcastic and backhanded exchanges that once shot back and forth freely were now unimaginable. As I sat frozen I couldn't do anything but watch in a held breath as the once almost egotistical Valkyrie began to speak in a shaky and breaking voice

"Y-yes"

"Yes what?" my mother demanded.

Almost as if she was falling out of the chair the Valkyrie began taking the form of a bent knee without raising her body or head. At the end of the table, almost out of sight, she was now in a full bent knee with her head bowed, holding her sword in front of her like a soldier awaiting orders.

"Yes, my queen."