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Dobrynia's Path 1: Dark Harbinger
Dobrynia's Path 1: Dark Harbinger
Dobrynia's Path 1: Dark Harbinger
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Dobrynia's Path 1: Dark Harbinger

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Her name is Dobrynia. She is one of Odin’s Chosen, a beautiful Valkyrie sent to claim the souls of great warriors for Valhalla. Her world, however, has grown stagnant and dull. And so, Dobrynia has risked all she knows to enter the mysterious portal that has appeared, leading into the unknown. She steps into our modern world, and in many ways enters the mouth of Hell. Rating: EXTREME controversy.

Justice.

The single word stood out among the many thoughts and images running through the woman’s mind. This world was different, very different from the one she’d left behind, but the greed and hatred among men were as deep and constant as they’d been back home. Also, and just like it was on her world, the weak and powerless were the primary targets of these selfish and relentless predators.

The raven-haired watcher had chosen not to meddle in the affairs of this strange, new place, but the injustice and cruelty she witnessed demanded that she take action. No matter how she tried to avoid it, the blatant acts of crime and violence clamored to the forefront of her thoughts until she took matters into her own capable hands.

The furtive movements of two young men, she’d heard them referred to as ‘cholos’ a few times, caught her attention earlier. She’d followed them from a distance, watching as they whispered their intentions and garbed themselves with black, woolen masks that covered their entire heads. She’d watched as they jumped a wooden fence, then rushed towards a sleepy residence and barged in through the unguarded back door. Their screams and threats carried out into the darkness and stung bitterly at the cool night air.

Their targets: an unsuspecting elderly couple who’d made the costly mistake of living in a neighborhood rife with crime and poverty. The old couple mounted no defense, yet the two thugs still felt compelled to vent their anger and frustration on the old couple’s withered skins and frail bones. They might kill these people, she knew, even though it was so unnecessary to direct such violence against such pitiful creatures.

And so, the woman stealthily followed in the footsteps of these miscreants, her quiet footfalls carrying her across the darkened backyard, and through the threshold of the residence. She’d been so silent that she’d made it as far as the couple’s bedroom doorway, before the pair of ruffians became aware of her presence.

“Come and test your skill against one trained by Odin himself.” Her words were cold as ice, her resolve as strong as steel. “You shall not find me lacking.”

And they came, as they always did, muttering their vile and menacing threats as if to embolden their callous intentions.

On her world, justice was a swift and harsh beast. It plunged into the heart of evil, and ripped at it with piercing talons. It screeched its throaty and shrill cry at its adversary, and met its ugly force with an equal and powerful response. And like an animal, her version of justice held no remorse or compassion for those who dared infringe upon the rights of others.

The Valkyrie tensed for action, and remaining true to her nature, she commenced the fray herself.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateJun 17, 2011
ISBN9781458011565
Dobrynia's Path 1: Dark Harbinger
Author

Raymond Towers

Raymond Towers is an author of fantasy, horror and science fiction that strays away from the mainstream, plus a little in the way of true paranormal and other genres. He has written and independently published over forty titles, most of them full-length novels and collections, with several more on the way. The author has been a lifelong resident of warm and sunny southern California, a location that pops up frequently in his writing. At the moment, the author is looking for ways to reach new readers all over the world, in addition to pursuing his great love of writing and taking it to the next level.

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    Dobrynia's Path 1 - Raymond Towers

    About the cover: The cover image is titled Warrior Woman, Fantasy Fashion Idea. This image was uploaded by T. Tulik and can be found at Fotolia.

    About this title: Her name is Dobrynia. She is one of Odin’s Chosen, a beautiful Valkyrie sent to claim the souls of great warriors for Valhalla. Her world, however, has grown stagnant and dull. And so, Dobrynia has risked all she knows to enter the mysterious portal that has appeared, leading into the unknown. She steps into our modern world, and in many ways enters the mouth of Hell. Rating: EXTREME controversy.

    #####

    Other e-books by Raymond Towers:

    A Terrible Thing To Waste

    Demonic Murmurs Collection

    Roaches In The Attic 0 – Non-Retrieval

    The Throwback

    The Two Sides Of Humburg

    Two Bedroom Cottage

    Variant Worlds 1 Collection

    Justice

    Justice.

    The single word stood out among the many thoughts and images running through the woman’s mind. This world was different, very different from the one she’d left behind, but the greed and hatred among men were as deep and constant as they’d been back home. Also, and just like it was on her world, the weak and powerless were the primary targets of these selfish and relentless predators.

    The raven-haired watcher had chosen not to meddle in the affairs of this strange, new place, but the injustice and cruelty she witnessed demanded that she take action. No matter how she tried to avoid it, the blatant acts of crime and violence clamored to the forefront of her thoughts until she took matters into her own capable hands.

    The furtive movements of two young men, she’d heard them referred to as ‘cholos’ a few times, caught her attention earlier. She’d followed them from a distance, watching as they whispered their intentions and garbed themselves with black, woolen masks that covered their entire heads. She’d watched as they jumped a wooden fence, then rushed towards a sleepy residence and barged in through the unguarded back door. Their screams and threats carried out into the darkness and stung bitterly at the cool night air.

    Their targets: an unsuspecting elderly couple who’d made the costly mistake of living in a neighborhood rife with crime and poverty. The old couple mounted no defense, yet the two thugs still felt compelled to vent their anger and frustration on the old couple’s withered skins and frail bones. They might kill these people, she knew, even though it was so unnecessary to direct such violence against such pitiful creatures.

    And so, the woman stealthily followed in the footsteps of these miscreants, her quiet footfalls carrying her across the darkened backyard, and through the threshold of the residence. She’d been so silent that she’d made it as far as the couple’s bedroom doorway, before the pair of ruffians became aware of her presence.

    "Come and test your skill against one trained by Odin himself. Her words were cold as ice, her resolve as strong as steel. You shall not find me lacking."

    And they came, as they always did, muttering their vile and menacing threats as if to embolden their callous intentions.

    On her world, justice was a swift and harsh beast. It plunged into the heart of evil, and ripped at it with piercing talons. It screeched its throaty and shrill cry at its adversary, and met its ugly force with an equal and powerful response. And like an animal, her version of justice held no remorse or compassion for those who dared infringe upon the rights of others.

    The Valkyrie tensed for action, and remaining true to her nature, she commenced the fray herself.

    #####

    Dobrynia’s Path 1 - Dark Harbinger

    Raymond Towers

    Smashwords Edition

    Copyright 2011 Raymond Towers

    Smashwords Edition, License Notes: This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

    All of the characters in this e-book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, whether living or dead, is purely coincidental.

    This e-book contains an EXTREME amount of controversial subject matter.

    Foreword: This novel is a complete and separate work. However, it is set in the Chaos Rift Universe, which is an ongoing and far reaching series. As such, some of the characters and / or events described here may pop up in unexpected places elsewhere in the series.

    #####

    Table Of Contents

    Part One – Arrival

    Chapter 1

    Chapter 2

    Chapter 3

    Chapter 4

    Chapter 5

    Chapter 6

    Chapter 7

    Chapter 8

    Chapter 9

    Chapter 10

    Part Two – Demon

    Chapter 11

    Chapter 12

    Chapter 13

    Chapter 14

    Chapter 15

    Chapter 16

    Chapter 17

    Chapter 18

    Chapter 19

    Chapter 20

    Chapter 21

    Chapter 22

    Chapter 23

    Chapter 24

    Part Three – War

    Chapter 25

    Chapter 26

    Chapter 27

    Chapter 28

    Chapter 29

    Chapter 30

    Chapter 31

    Chapter 32

    Chapter 33

    About This Novel

    About The Author

    Author Website

    #####

    Dobrynia’s Path 1

    Dark Harbinger

    Part One

    Arrival

    Monday, Tuesday, every day is the same,

    Trying to do the right thing, but always getting blamed,

    I’m lookin’ for some good times, but all I get is pain,

    Enough to do a man in, and drive a loc insane.

    Until, out of the sky, like an angel straight from heaven,

    With the poise of a warrior and the grace of a maiden,

    Comes the figure from the fables, and the hero from the myths,

    Tellin’ all corruption, best y’all cease and desist.

    With Justice as her sword, and Honor as her shield,

    She’s causin’ all the outlaws to start tremblin’ with fear,

    And who dares cross paths, with the steel that she wields?

    I’m tellin’ you right now, there’s a new gun in town,

    And as for this hero, you better believe that she’s for real!

    - Darnell’s new rap

    1

    This dark new world was vastly different from hers, Dobrynia mused. Gracefully and rhythmically she extended her strong arms across the waves and braved the ocean current to carry her well-proportioned body nearer to the shore.

    The stars here were aligned differently, the raven-haired woman compared. Both the air that swirled above her head, as well as the cool water that embraced her nude form, were pungent with filth, so much that her nostrils had at first revolted from the initial exposure. Some distance back, the woman had allowed herself a small taste of the ocean, but no sooner had she moistened her tongue with the salt water, than she’d spit the vile liquid back out. It had not tasted like the ocean she was accustomed to. It had tasted… somehow rotten.

    The immortal Valkyrie had made a serious choice in coming to this exotic place. A return to her home among the Nordic gods was unlikely to occur, as Odin had forbidden his subjects from traveling to this strange dimension. And a very strange this place was, where there existed a new and disturbing version of the world of men, Midgard, but with no trace of the world of the gods whatsoever. Exile, the great Odin had decreed, for any who dared leave Asgard and venture through the rift.

    And what of this rift? This mysterious and jagged tear in the fabric of reality they’d found, what was its true purpose? No one in Asgard knew exactly when it had first appeared. They knew only that it had not been there one day, and then it had flourished into existence the next, with no explanation or fanfare for its arrival. Of course, many of Dobrynia’s contemporaries had been intrigued, prodding and poking at the bizarre hole until one of them had actually fallen through it.

    Naturally, it had been the mischievous and aged trickster god, Loki, who’d blatantly stuck his crimson head right through the portal. As the rumor went, some unnamed goddess or god had playfully pushed him from behind, but unexpectedly, his entire body had fallen forward. After teetering half in and half out of the hole for a few moments, he’d been completely swallowed by the man-sized tear into space. What had begun as a joke soon became deathly serious as Loki did not immediately return.

    Long, tense minutes stretched into many hours, with no sign of the wily god, until finally Loki popped back through the rift. Soaked to the skin, he’d been babbling about towering structures that punctured the heavens, and of speeding metallic chariots that screamed when approached. It was a world without gods, he exclaimed, spouting gibberish and grabbing madly at Odin’s tunic. A world, he said, where there was no magic.

    Further, Loki revealed that he’d come across hordes of fearless humanity, many of which had expressed hatred at the mere sight of him and his resplendent robes. They’d attempted to hunt him down, he stated, and only his frantic return to the rift had prevented him from being lynched by the bloodthirsty mob. The rift had moved from the point where he’d first breached it, inexplicably, and it had taken him some time and trouble to relocate it.

    Eyeing Loki’s rent clothing and battered arms and legs, had prompted Odin to make his severe decree to forbid any further investigation into the rift. At first, Dobrynia had been as appalled as the others, and the otherwise fearless Valkyrie had given the ominous tear of reality a wide berth.

    Things quickly resumed their normal, dull pace, however, and soon enough, she began contemplating the rift with newfound interest. It offered adventure and intrigue, something the strong-willed woman had not enjoyed in some time. How many centuries had it been, she asked herself, since the inhabitants of Asgard had witnessed a truly great war among men? Odin had granted her the privilege of being a Valkyrie, a warrior and chooser of the bravest souls mankind had to offer, but presently, was she not reduced to the duties of a mere serving girl?

    Day after day, Dobrynia found herself bringing dishes of roasted beef and pork to the Greater Gods, or of refilling horns of mead to give to the many Viking heroes residing in Asgard. And after these frequent feasts, who but her, along with her fellow Valkyrie, were entrusted with the responsibility of cleaning up the leftovers and washing out all the dishes? Many of her peers had expressed dissatisfaction and disgust at their sorry state of affairs. Only one out of the whole bunch would prove to have the fervor and determination to defy the dictates of Odin himself, and that would be Dobrynia.

    And so that night, some five nights after the rift had first appeared, Dobrynia intrepidly approached the opening. She’d quickly discarded her clothing; a white tunic, golden belt and short, fur-lined boots, in order to avoid whatever calamity had befallen Loki over his resplendent attire. Then, she had taken the short, fateful steps toward the destiny that awaited her. The rift stood there, as clear as day, hovering just a few inches above the ground. It didn’t take more than a single calculated leap to traverse the forbidden boundary. And if she would not be allowed to return to Asgard for the remainder of her life, she decided, then so be it.

    Regretfully, Dobrynia thought to herself, things were not starting off as well as she’d hoped. She had partially seen the dark night and the black ocean waves through the bizarre and nearly opaque opening, but immediately upon crossing over, she found herself falling and fully immersed in freezing and churning water. It took a few moments for the woman to right herself in the strong rip current, and a few more before she found the sleeping shoreline. She began swimming, and in this here and now, we take up our developing story:

    A few dozen bold and determined strokes later, the Valkyrie reached the shallows. Her feet sought and found purchase on the shifty sand below the depths, giving her the steadiness to upright herself. With secure steps, Dobrynia waded past the now playful surf and onto the moist beach, allowing her eyes to roam across the broad and dark expanse of sand and shadows before her.

    The sight of the moon comforted her, appearing as a recognizable pendant across the bosom of the night sky, but all else was alien to her gaze. There were numerous structures, crammed so close together they almost appeared to be a single solid wall. In addition, and as far as her eyes could see, there were a vast number of colorful and haunting lights, in so many bright hues that she quickly became disoriented. There was no noticeable resemblance to the home in Asgard she had just left behind.

    The beach was desolate at this late hour. With her body cold and shivering, Dobrynia followed her first impulse and trudged towards the nearest source of heat, a small open fire. As she approached the crackling and warm flames, her wet arms hanging closely at her sides, she cautiously eyed the two disheveled men huddled beside the tiny, burning pit. They were what passed for beggars in this world, her senses told her, without a home, such as she herself now was, and fortunately for them, without the palpable inclination towards evil she so abhorred. She would not have to kill them on this night, she thought to herself.

    Are you for real? One of the transients asked, his mouth agape as his eyes took in her beautiful form. He turned towards his partner, beaming with a smile that revealed as many teeth absent as there were present. Get a load of this girl, Harv.

    Loki had revealed that the difference in language between the two worlds would not be a barrier, although there had been no explanation as to why this might be the case. Somehow, everything that came out of the mouths of these men would be translated appropriately by the time the words reached her ears. With some hesitation, she formulated a response. I have lost my way.

    You’ve lost a lot more than that, sweetie. The first man laughed. Not that we’re complaining, mind you! Not one bit!

    How must she look to these men, she wondered. A nude and alluring siren emerging from the sea, her long black hair draped behind her, clinging wetly to her back and shoulders. How must her breasts look to them, full and shapely, her proud nipples jutting out defiantly from her recent cold swim. She felt the familiar tingling sensation of another’s lust on her skin as their two pairs of eyes took in the pale flesh of her body. In her heart, she felt the men’s want as they began to crave running their haggard hands down her slender shoulders, over the curves of her hips, and across the rest of her.

    Fortunately for them, they kept their mounting desires to themselves.

    Missy, you gotta forgive our bad manners. The second man, the one named Harv, sprang up nervously. We don’t mean to be starin’ at you like this. It’s just that we hardly ever run into any women around here, and we sure as heck never run into any naked ones.

    Yeah, we’re not perverts or anything. His weathered companion stood as well, hastily taking off his bulky outer clothing. You’re welcome to use my coat if you want, until you find your clothes again.

    The men had kind hearts, Dobrynia considered, although their intentions were somewhat misguided. The offered coat smelled as bad as its former occupant, and with a gentle smile, she declined. I thank you, but that is not necessary. She stated, turning towards the obscured buildings nearby. What is the name of this place?

    We’re sorry for starin’… Harv was still apologizing. We don’t want any trouble from the law. They’ll use any excuse to roust us out of here and dump us out in the boonies…

    What is this place called? She repeated, with a little more authority in her voice.

    You mean this beach?

    Dobrynia nodded. Yes. I need to know this, in the event I have to return here.

    The two men glanced at one another, briefly dumbfounded.

    Mission Beach. The first man answered. You feeling okay, miss? You didn’t bump your head or anything, did you?

    Mission Beach. The woman repeated.

    Yeah, we’re only a couple of blocks from the Roller Coaster. Harv pointed into the obscurity. It’s right over there, only it’s already shut down for the night.

    Dobrynia turned towards the indicated direction, unsure of what exactly a roller coaster might be, as she took a quick assessment of how wet her body still was. She could fly now, she surmised. After uttering a brief thanks for being allowed to bathe in the heat of the fire, she took a few steps back and transformed herself into a large raven that soared into the night sky. The bird form’s moist feathers brought welcome warmth over her formerly nude skin, she noticed immediately, and to memorize her bearings, she circled the small fire pit and its two bewildered tenders once.

    What the hell just happened? Harv asked his unkempt buddy, who in reply made a face and shrugged his shoulders. We didn’t just imagine that, did we?

    I dunno. The other shrugged his shoulders, ducking low to snatch up the bottle of whiskey they’d been sharing. But I will be taking another drink, thank your very much.

    Ready to begin her exploration of this curious and smelly new world, Dobrynia gracefully flapped her damp wings and spurred into motion, and quickly left the two men and their small fire far behind.

    2

    Dobrynia kept her raven form for the next few days, using its mobility in order to wander and explore freely without being hampered by our world’s many inhabitants. In this way, she became aware of many of the differences between this Midgard and the one she was accustomed to; changes in technology, in construction, in casual attire.

    Everything had changed, it seemed, except for the people themselves, or at least their inner selves, as admittedly, she’d never come across such variety in the sizes and shapes and colors of human beings as she encountered here.

    She ate as a raven would, snatching up whatever bugs and garbage she could find, although at first she found this repulsive. Dobrynia hadn’t kept her animal form active for this long in ages, if ever, but as time went by she grew accustomed to the bird form’s habits. After happening across some discarded French fries, she began frequenting several fast food restaurants’ parking lots, where such strange delicacies as half consumed burgers and tacos abounded. She also observed this puzzling enigma of people constantly transporting themselves to these wondrous eateries to purchase foodstuffs wrapped in colorful dressings. There were no comparable places like that back home.

    When she wasn’t observing or eating, Dobrynia would float carelessly through the sky, or retire to the few and tiny patches of natural landscape that had somehow escaped being built upon, where she occasionally enjoyed the sights and sounds of small children at play. There was much happiness and beauty to be appreciated on this world, she sometimes found herself thinking.

    As with most birds, the raven spent an enormous amount of time preening herself; clearing her feathers of debris and keeping them clean and smooth. It was in the midst of one such session when some predatory cat decided to pounce upon her. Like cunning foxes, these cats were, only smaller. Dobrynia’s instinctive response to this transgression was to grip the beast’s ferocious maw with her talons while her beak darted past its flailing paws and plucked out one of its eyes. Before she could completely blind the furry demon, the cat had recoiled reflexively and fallen from the tree branch they’d both been perched on. It was a costly lesson in forgetting to stay alert, as the feline’s claws had damaged several of her feathers, resulting in her only being able to travel short distances before the strain became unbearable. Unlike Asgard, this new world had very little magic, and instead of being able to heal herself within a matter of minutes, she was burdened with this handicap for several days.

    Following more study of this new world and its inhabitants, Dobrynia concluded that mankind here acted much the way it did in her world. The predators of men would frequent the night, and in their hearts, Dobrynia would see their greed, their jealousies and their hatred. There was an abundance of violence here, from the drunkards who exited, or were thrown out from, their contemporary version of taverns, from the thieves that crept up and battered their weaker victims, and even from some unpredictable factor where some men would become mad with some intense and irrational bloodlust towards others, to the point of cutting short their counterparts’ lives for no obvious reason. There was much she had to learn, she knew, before she could meddle with the affairs of the men of this world, and she would have preferred to remain an observer for some time longer, had events not transpired that forced the Valkyrie to abandon her passive role.

    Her dark and feathered form was posted atop a hibernating bicycle shop, in the dead of night, or what passed for night in this world, as quite a few places seemed to never shut down entirely. The road, she’d overheard some hours ago, was named University Avenue, and she’d been observing with some fascination at how the steel chariots obediently halted whenever the lights commanded them to. Most of the chariots did anyway, as there was sometimes one or another that dared to dart across the intersection of roads, just as the lights were decreeing another halt. It was a programmed cycle, of course, but why would any man be slave to a mere colored light?

    A narrow road was back there, to the rear of the building she perched on, and from this area she heard the recognizable noises of sharp grunts of pain following heavy blows from punishing and unrepentant fists. As was her custom, Dobrynia sidestepped along the upper edge of the store and re-positioned herself until she had a better view of the incident. She saw three forms in the shadows below her. One administered the beating, a second, prone form was its recipient, and the third figure stood nervously a few feet away and cast wary glances around him, as if he feared some new demon might suddenly appear to join their number.

    These humans were dark skinned, and throughout her travels in her own world, she’d come across a number of them, near the Islamic nations of the southern hemisphere of Midgard. That they preyed on one another in this world did not surprise her, for did not all other sorts of men do the same?

    The difference was that on this night, the one under assault was a woman, lying there helpless and in agony as the angry man over her repeatedly struck down on her arms and back. Men fighting other men was acceptable, for were not men instinctively inclined to war among themselves? But a man savagely beating a woman, a woman who was not even putting up a defense, well, that was nothing short of deplorable.

    Let’s go, Gee! The third man cautioned. Even veiled by the shadows, Dobrynia could hear that he wasn’t fully convinced such savagery was warranted. His heart seemed to waver between conscience and revenge, but unlike his partner’s, it was not brutal. You made your point, so let’s just get out of here!

    No, the bitch gonna pay! The other, this Gee, snapped in reply. He briefly struggled with the woman, forcing her hands aside so he could deliver a smashing blow to her face. You hear that, you gonna pay! I’ma put you in the hospital!

    The writhing creature below mewled something unintelligible in protest.

    It was at that point that the fury began to boil up in Dobrynia. Without further thought, she swooped down into the dark back road and transformed herself into her human form. The third man, the lookout, gasped as he witnessed this, but Dobrynia paid him no mind, for her attention was fully concentrated on the scoundrel crouching before her.

    You will not strike her again! Dobrynia hissed angrily.

    Gee’s hand was wrapped around his victim’s throat. The woman was choking loudly, struggling to break his strong grip, but he’d heard Dobrynia’s threat. Slowly, deliberately, his head turned towards her.

    Who the fuck are you? He spat out, gawking when realized he was addressing a nude and shapely newcomer. Gee impatiently shook off the flailing hands of the beaten woman and straightened himself up. I’m gonna break this bitch’s neck, and then I’m gonna break yours, for butting in to what ain’t your business. But first, I think I’m gonna have a little fun with you.

    Dobrynia sensed no remorse in the man’s voice, and felt no remorse herself for what she did next. Settling her weight on one leg, she pivoted and lashed out with the other, the heel of her foot driven harshly into Gee’s neck. The man’s throat was crushed, his Adam’s apple left beyond repair, giving him no recourse other than to clutch at his neck, gasp and sputter, and to stare back in disbelief as his life force rapidly seeped away. In order not to prolong the man’s torment and to conclude the event quickly, Dobrynia stepped behind him. When their bodies stood back to back, she reached over her shoulder to latch on to Gee’s head. With calculated force, the Valkyrie snapped the back of the man’s head over her shoulder blade, hearing the distinct crack as the skull became separated from the vertebrae of the spine.

    Gee’s lifeless body slumped onto the alley floor with a soft thud.

    You kilt him! The prone woman shrieked, her bruised arms trembling before her as she crept away from the fresh corpse lying beside her. You kilt him!

    Detecting something odd in the woman’s voice, Dobrynia peered closer. It was not a woman as she’d first assumed, it was a man, a man wearing a woman’s clothing. A man, but with a woman’s full breasts. How was that possible? Penetrating past the panicked and rushed palpitations of the man / woman’s heart, Dobrynia discovered something else. There was an intense craving in him / her, an overriding want for some artificial stimulant, the desire so strong it eclipsed essential states such as health and caution.

    This craving began to fill Dobrynia with nausea, causing her stomach to contract as if to vomit, and forcing her to abandon her quest for information. She took a few steps backward to clear her senses, glancing sharply at the remaining attacker, who by this time had pulled a weapon from his clothing.

    What are you? The distraught second attacker demanded. You came outta nowhere!

    He was on the verge of panic as well, Dobrynia noticed, pointing a black and shiny device towards her. The Valkyrie had seen one of those, once before, hearing its thunderous applause as some miscreant had used it to scare away a group of ruffians that had cornered him. The loud noise would have no effect on her, she decided, taking the initiative towards administering her own version of justice to this man, to deter him from ever again standing silent while another man battered a defenseless man / woman / thing. She wouldn’t kill him, but…

    Stop right there! The man commanded, his shaky fingers gripping the odd little object. I mean it! You stay away from me!

    Dobrynia did not stop, and the man squeezed his tense hold on the weapon, setting it off. The Valkyrie had half-expected the man to throw the thing at her, balancing her weight in such a manner that she’d easily be able to dodge the missile. What she had not expected, however, was for some unseen lightning strike to issue from the weapon, searing into her side and just below her ribs. Had she not been angled away from the man, she’d have been struck in the center of her abdomen. As it was, a blinding scorch of pain invaded her side and drove her down onto one knee.

    There was no second strike. The man simply turned and fled, and behind her, she could hear the man / woman / thing wailing and scrambling to his / her / its feet and fleeing in the opposite direction. She hadn’t expected much in the way of thanks, but to be abandoned like this, with these sharp waves of pain racking her body, well, what had driven her to come to this strange world in the first place?

    As blood began spilling from her wound, Dobrynia struggled to her feet, staggering aimlessly across the alley and into the street while vainly trying to formulate a plan. She couldn’t concentrate enough to begin healing herself, as the pain was a constant and overbearing thorn, and yet she had to, otherwise she knew she would die. Gathering her strength, she tried to focus on the injury, but succeeded only in pushing herself over the edge of consciousness.

    Her presence of mind, her awareness, began to dwindle, and through blurred vision she caught sight of some dark form approaching her, its arms outstretched and menacing. As her eyes shut of their own accord and her balance failed her, she thought to herself, what would they think of her, a siren lying nude and dying in a world where she didn’t belong…

    3

    Like a novice butterfly’s wings, Dobrynia’s eyes awkwardly fluttered open.

    Dan! An old woman’s sharp voice shouted from somewhere nearby. "Dan, she’s coming to! Get your

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