Battle for Namsos

By Vega U. Edwards

War. A powerful word capable of bringing both death and life, destruction and rebirth. This was a new concept for the Commander to understand because they had never been in such a situation that required her to defend themselves. Being the leader of the Deafling Valkyrie Core, the Commander carries the sole responsibility of caring for both those who have passed and those living on. Looking down, they noticed that the Kill Count now displayed 297. This was not the fight that anyone wanted, I was now their mission to end this war. It wasn’t a battle the Deaflings wanted but it was one they would end, no matter the price. The Commander said a silent prayer to the gods for guidance and peace through the last of the battles.“Thor help us in this fight. Tyr lend me your arm.”
This was the final stand against evil.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 14, 2019
• ISBN: 9781984575425

Vega U. Edwards

Vega grew up in a small town and wasn’t your typical kid. She realized at a young age that it’s ok to be a little crazy at times. It’s what makes life worth living. Upon a mind blowing realization she went to visit her other parents and found the joys of space. She works in a public library in North Louisiana and started to read more and more science fiction novels and other fantasy works. With her husband and two furbabies she has created a creative life of books, diving and adventure. Vega has a degree in Family and Child Studies as well as a masters in Library Science.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Life Brings Death, Death Brings Life.

It is the job of the Valkyrie to protect those who have moved on from their physical bodies. Guiding the countless souls of the brave warriors across the realm of life to afterlife into the halls of Valhalla. A world plagued by the looming threat of war, the Valkyrie and the other gods help guide the Deaflings of Namsos.

Odin, Thor, Tyr, and Hel were the gods chose to watch over the Deaflings as they raid and conquer new worlds. Thor, god of thunder and only those who were honorable warriors were fit enough to be blessed by him. Those who worshiped Thor had his hammer, Mjolnir, burned into their skin. Thor the strongest of the gods controlled the storms in the skies with a quick temper and easily angered.

Tyr, god of war, law and justice has many legends surrounding him. There was a wolf pup called Fenrir grew so fast that the gods were frightened by the beat. The gods brought out chains to restrain the wolf. Fenrir did not believe that he could be captured so easily so he agreed to the chains only if one of the gods agreed to put his arm in his mouth. Tyr being the god of law and justice agreed to the wolf’s demands. The chains were not as inescapable as Fenrir thought and lashed out in anger. With one swift bite Fenrir bit off Tyr’s arm. He protects only those who have swarm a life of honor and inevitable death. Those who are brave enough wear the runes of his protection. A half triangle on its side with the arrow pointing up to form the base.

Dancing fire was the representation of Hel, the goddess of death. Hel was a dangerous goddess hiding from the world deep below. She was known to be greedy of her prizes and other possessions this includes the soul of those who had been slain. One soul was a god, Baldur who was slain by Hel’s father, every living thing was said to love Baldur. Hel was not willing to release his soul until her demands were met. A challenge was offered to the one who attempted to retrieve him from her clutches. It was a task that should not be able to be completed, every living thing in the universe must cry for the lost Baldur. The demands were not met, and Hel retained her prize of Baldur’s soul. Those who wear the mark of Hel are those who wish to be protected by the goddess of the underworld to keep their souls safe until death.

The tree of life Yggdrasil can be seen on those that follow Odin and his laws. Many legends surround the god of wisdom, honor, law, power and nobility. He once wondered the universe in search of true wisdom. Upon reaching the world tree he hung himself for true enlightenment. After nine days of swaying in Yggdrasil he discovered the runes to form the written language of his people. Odin sacrificed an eye to obtain the wisdom that he truly desired.

The branding of their red skin turns the marks a sickly black, filling the air with the acrid scent of burnt flesh for days to come. The Deaflings who have not been through the Placing are the Younglings. If the gods allow them to live to the Placing age. Each of the specialized Placing has its own unique role to play in the survival on Namsos. Those who do have a chance to take part in the ritual must do so at a great cost. The viscous atmosphere makes it impossible to see the velvet night sky through the radiation leaking from the atmosphere of the world. Some Younglings die before they are placed on their thirteenth year. Nothing can prevent a Youngling for the realization of their Placing. Even with their advanced technology they still thrive on the tradition of old, marking their bodies with runes for protection. Technology that gives the Deaflings the ability to travel through space, destroys worlds in an instant and weapons that can appear at the wielder’s wish. Weapons that can keep a count of the souls that have been sent to Valhalla.

The ways of old help keep the Deaflings in touch with their ancestors far in Valhalla. Arriving at Valhalla might seem simple to those who are newly conquered. They would be wrong, dead wrong. Those who didn’t die an honorable death would never meet their loved ones in the hall of gods. Cowards were not tolerated. Battling it out in the great halls of the gods for all eternity drinking and celebrating with the gods is the ultimate desire of the every Deafling. It was Odin who is responsible for the protection over the Earls of the village. Namsos has not one but three Earls. All three Earls order the villagers and their warrior Core Members into Raids to forcefully acquire more land for farming or industry development. Expanding, conquering and wealth are the ideals the Earls hold true.

Those who are chosen for the Core Placing must leave their childhood behind to start a new. One must not flinch when receiving the mark of the gods they swore to serve. Core Placing is the highest rank and utmost honor, taking only those requested. No Youngling can request the Core on their own a benefactor must step forward. The elite group of trained killers who specialize in the advanced weapons of the world. Not only are they the first to leave the world and explore the galaxy, but they’re the final line of defense for Namsos.

Namsos is the core planet in which all explorations are based out of. Prophecy, legend and traditions are passed from generation to generation in hopes that those Younglings are able to learn the ways of old. Some are born on the world, others are brought to their new home by poachers or even death itself. It is up to the gods as to what path a Deafling takes to arrive. They might be captured and brought as slaves to work the fields of the world or they might die from other worlds to come to Namsos. Only a few have traveled to Namsos in the way of death. The pressures of the deep waters, high radiation, extreme atmosphere changes only take the weak. Their blistering red skin is just as unique to each Deafling as the gnarled horns, no two are the same, that help protect them from the harsh sun that blares down on the world nineteen hours a day.

The most dangerous but significant Placing is the Mining. Mining for Radium and thus survival. It keeps the community and the world alive. Everyone knows that an undefended world is a dead one. It’s the Radium that the ship builders and weapon makers need to enhance their creations. Ship builders make the destroyers and long boats are required for worldly and galaxy domination. Each raid beings the Deafling people closer to becoming the ultimate explorers and conquerors.

The mines have a nasty habit of collapsing without notice. Not even the most dedicated Deafling could survive the amount of pressure that would fall upon them. Little to nothing would be found of them. Nothing to burry. Nothing to send to the skies. There are rumors that spread though the galaxy about those who dishonor the gods. Living forever. Only one is said to have dishonored Odin to this limit, and that was well over 400 years ago. No longer is it a legend of truth but a myth for mothers to scare their children just like the Kraken. Myths and legends of old were their way of life.

Those who fail in their Placings are the scum of the world. They turn to beggars or information traffickers. Making it impossible to fully trust them. it is not possible to fully trust them. No Deafling wants to become a Thrall. They are the lowest of the low. Thralls are the slaves and are treated worse than the creatures that are raises on Namsos. Only the Core members can train the creatures after they have been chosen by the beasts. Deaflings are a heavily superstition people. Some say that those who were cursed by the gods were transformed into these beasts and condemned for all eternity to the savage new life. No Deafling would be willing to admit that they fear them. Showing fear is weakness and weakness is death. It is not uncommon to see more than one brand upon the flesh of a Deafling. Hammers, axes, runes, weapons and snakes slithering up the limbs of the Deaflings.

There can be more than one way to get to Namsos.

Chapter 2

May the gods guide you,- Gyda

Beep. Beep. Beeeeeep. There was a steady sound had started to give Freja a headache. It sounded like her alarm was going off, but it was not the same high pitched sound that it usually made. Her eyes began flutter open and she was so cold that her teeth chattered and her limbs were heavier than logs. It felt as if little needles were picking her skin. She could feel the blood pumping through her body making every muscle shutter with pain. Each breath caused her lungs to ache. There was a great reluctance to move any part of her body for fear that it wouldn’t respond kindly. She just laid there for what felt a lifetime. Simple acts of breathing and blinking seemed to take the acts of god to complete. With each breath her lungs gave a shudder struggling to keep her alive. Every bone in her body felt as flames were racing around inside her.

Freja slowly sat up rubbed her head and felt two large knots on her scalp.

Figures, she thought.

Bruises, cuts and other gashes appeared on her body seemingly out of nowhere. All her friends have labeled her as a klutz from the moment that they met her. There was many different questions flooding her mind. Where did she end up? What happened to her friends? What happened last night? All these questions were making her headache double in size. While her head was pounding with these thoughts, she looked around to see that she was lying on a metal loading dock of some kind. There were people all around her in strange clothing that she didn’t recognize. There were ships of all sizes along the walls. Some looked to be in thousands of pieces. Some people had portable screens while others were carrying boxes three times their own size. The chaos of the room made her vision spin. Lights of all different colors filled the space. Lines crossed every which way that made red, blue and green lights flicker along the floors and walls.

Oh my god! Freja shouted.

With all of the strange surroundings it, Freja just noticed that her hands were bloodstained. Frantically, she started scratching and rubbing at them to try to get clean. She ran over to a wall to see her reflection in the metal. It was not just her hands that were covered but her whole body was bloodstained. Convinced she was bleeding she rubbed and searched for the source of the wound. A sudden overwhelming fear set in across her whole body. Her breathing because short and shallow. Quickly followed by chest pains and the familiar sense of nausea.

She scratched at her scalp and noticed that the two lumps had grown. Freja to rub at them to see if they were actually just a simple knot on her head or something worse. Cancer was going through her mind and she had convinced herself that they were tumors. In the middle of her panic, Freja didn’t notice the group of people walking down the landing slowly approaching her. There were three women with jewels hanging between their horns and a small child. It was the child that spoke up first.

Mommy, what was that lady doing? Why she acting weird? his soft little voice broke through her panicked mind. Freja ran up to the group, but they all took a few steps back. Their heads were slightly tilted to one side with big wide eyes staring directly at her.

You have to help me! I have no idea what was going on, I have no idea where I am, please!

The group took a few steps backwards from her they all looked at each other slowly. One gently placed a hand on Freja. She fall asleep the second the hand reached her shoulder. Muted words filtered through her mind. Strong arms picked her up and placed her in some kind of six wheeled transportation with a soft roof and round doors. A driver got in on the left side and turned on the vehicle it let loose a horrific sputter before coming to life.

Time to wake up now, sweetheart, a soft voice cooed.

Freja didn’t want to wake up so she rolled over pulling the covers she closed her eyes tighter. When she pulled the covers up over, she felt her head. The knots were still there, bigger than ever. It wasn’t a dream. Shooting upright in bed she started looking around the room which was oddly soothing. A soft turquoise light filtered in through a window giving everything in the room a soft hint of the peaceful tones. Desperate to know the answers to her unspoken questions she made the decision that she wasn’t safe here. Frantically she threw off the covers, she swung her legs over the bed to get up, however, a soft hand gently pushed her back to the bed.

It’s ok now, sweetheart, you’re safe here. My name is Gyda. Just move slowly and try not to panic, I will explain everything in time, she tried to sound reassuring.

Gyda’s voice sounded soft, like an angel, to Freja’s frazzled mind. While slowly sitting back on the bed, Freja attempted to position herself towards the door in case she needed to make a quick getaway. Watching hundreds of murder mystery movies taught Freja to always have an exit plan.

Please tell me the last thing that you remember before you woke up on the dock and the others in the village found you. Gyda’s voice sounded of velvet and the jingling of the jewels on her horns sounded of wind chimes that used to hang in her mother’s home. Freja wanted to go back to sleep.

Well, I don’t really know what happened she replied. Freja tried to recall the last thing to come to her memory and what the freaking hell happened. Trusting people on first meeting was not one of Freja’s strong suits.

Um, well. I was at a party and I feel like I have the biggest hangover ever. She rubbed at her temples to try to make her vision slow.

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you’re dead, said Gyda calmly.

Shit this really sucks. There’s no way that I can be dead. Freja thought.

That’s real funny. This is a joke right? How can I be dead if I am clearly talking to you and breathing? Freja sucked in a hug breathe of air to cough it back out in a failed attempt to prove she could breathe.

Reality slowly sunk in. She was dead. Small black dots danced around the edges of her vision. Her mind shut off. A cold sweat trickled over her skin. Gyda snapped fingers in front of Freja’s face to bring her back to the now.

As I was saying you’re dead. You got into a massive car crash and you were dead before anyone else got there. Still following me? Freja half nodded "Good, well you’re not in what your people call heaven, but you’re also not in the hell that they believe in either. You’re on a different planet entirely. It is called Namsos. She could see that Gyda was being serious and trying to explain the gravity of the situation.

You’re one of us now, and we’re called the Deaflings and that is what you are. Your Earth life is over therefore, it will be an easier transition if you start accepting your new life and start forgetting your old life. I grew up here and have been asked to look after you for a little while. This is kind of like my second Placing. I work in the Mines and I’m a Healer.

Everything that Gyda was telling her made less and less sense. It was as if she were in a cheesy sci-fi movie. God, how Freja hated those movies. Her eyes glanced over to a brand that Gyda had on her arm. It’s the mark of the gods. Hel is the one who looks over us in the Mines. It’s hard work down there. Many of the ones who work in there are greedy and selfish. It’s typical for them to die young. A good way for our Earls to eliminate some of those who are, let’s say unrulily. Many of those that I worked with have been crushed by the cave-ins. My friend Lofn is one who saved me from a painful death not too long ago. It was clear to Freja that she had a lot to learn about this place if she wanted to live.

So. Am I going to have to get one of those brands? I’m not very good with pain. Gyda nodded and said, you have to take part in the Placing. Everyone does there’s no escaping it. The ceremony takes place every few lunar cycles. The next one isn’t for a while so you have a little time to adjust to things.

I just have one more question, why do you have horns and what’s on them? Freja questioned her with intensity. Gyda pulled a face of disgust, I was given my jewels by my lover if you must know. You will have your horns grow in. No, they will not look exactly like mine and yes, you do want them. The jewels are like your engagement rings. It is a representation of their love and devotion to me along with the part they played in the victory.

Freja shrugged her shoulder and thought to herself ‘oh yeah, a battle victory and a devotion of love thing, sure that totally makes perfect sense. How could it not make perfect sense? This person is bat shit crazy.’

Gyda reached out her hand to slowly help Freja off the bed.

Would you like to see Namsos? Freja didn’t even get a change to answer the question before she was forcefully guided to the edge of the door. Freja, welcome to the rusting wasteland planet of Namsos as flung the door wide open.

When the sunlight hit Freja’s eyes they instantly began to water. Freja hadn’t realized how dark it was in that peaceful little room. In an attempt to block the brutal sun, she shielded her eyes with an arm. Sounds were louder than they should be possible. She was able to hear full conversations from anyone around them. The sun light played off the colors all around her. Each Deafling that passed were dressed in simple shades of tans and black. Vendors were lined up in every possible inch of free space selling foods and other goods to anyone who wondered buy.

The unique scent of death lingered in the air. A metallic decaying scent filtered into the mix, flowing through the small doorway where the two girls were. The mix of new scenes hit Freja that made her gag. Gyda merely giggled. Those are just the smells from the mines and docks you’ll get used to it one day, she said. If you don’t die first.

What the literally fuck did she just say thought Freja. Gyda took her are and walked towards the hoard of bodies in the streets. Bodies filled every empty space. Younglings were gripping at their mother’s skirts so they weren’t swept up in the flood. Merchants were calling out to those who passed by to examine their goods. Freja saw foods of all kinds. Strings of dried meats and brightly colored produce were hanging from multiple stalls. Each merchant claiming that their products were the finest around. Clanging of metal and cruising came from a nearby shop made Freja wonder what was going on. She was too scared to ask to take a look. They walked slowly through the bustling marketplace so that Freja did not trip or miss anything. Both men and women had different shades of red skin, some almost looked pink while others looked like they had dried blood caked all over their skin. One man looked as if he had just finished a battle for his life and was gearing up for the next one.

Gyda? Why do some people have brands and scars and others don’t?

The brands are basically tattooing that you would see on Earth. The more elaborate and detailed the better so most pay well over a lifetime of pay to get one done. Some think that certain patterns will help guarantee them luck and a good honorable death even without really doing anything. Lazy twunts.

Freja just smiled and nodded like she understood what she just heard even though she clearly had no clue as to what was just explained to her. As they continue their tour of the village Gyda explained what each brand meant.

All brands must be visible at all times, for it is how we can identify one another said Gyda as she showed off her arm. Each god watches over different Placings and the brands are in honor of them. Very simple. Those that are part of the Core always have the best-looking scars and their brand is normally incorporated into the design. They are the ones who are protected by Tyr. Gyda led Freja to their final destination, The Hall. We’re here. Go on in and talk to the help at the front and tell them who you are. They’ll take you to the Earl of our village, and they’ll be able to tell you what to do next.

You’re not coming with me? asked Freja in a panicked tone.

Gyda shouted back to Freja before leaving Nope, I can’t go with you, I wasn’t requested, and I have made my Placing selection. I have a feeling that things will go alright for you. Go with Odin, Freja!