The Crusaders II The Players Calls 9.4

1.          In the realm of Asgard

Geraldine stepped back one foot and grabbed hold of the extended wrist before she hurl the warrior to the rear of her. She did not stopped there as she rushed forth to leapt pass the second warrior by stepping onto the knee and jumping over. She cleared the head and kicked back with her left leg to pushed her distance over a few metres. She touched the flooring and pushed forward with a run. Her target was the long staff at the end of the yard but she was cut short with a side blow on her shoulder by another warrior who came diagonal to her track.

Geraldine lost her balance but she regain it fast to continue her run. The warrior was running parallel to her but this time she had her strategy work out. She curved in with her right hand reaching out to grasp the warrior by the mane of his long hair and pulled hard. He went down with howling in pain while she went ahead. She reached the staff and pulled it out.

"5 to nil." She shouted out while looking at the seven warriors panting at the yard. "All of you are pathetic."

"Lady Geraldine, we are ....not experts in this game." Thor was trying to cover for his team defeat, but Geraldine was furious. She walked up to the two metres over high blond bulging muscle pony tailed warrior and stared up to his eyes.

"In this war, there are no second tries or five times over attempt. There is only one attempt and you win or lose." Geraldine made her point. "Get into training and do it right this time."

Geraldine walked to the sideline and grabbed a goblet containing water. She gulped it down and saw Lady Sif looking at her. The lady is a Valkyrie; born and bred as a warrior with the beauty adored by many. She was dressed in a tight suit buttoned from neck to the leggings cased in the thick knee high boots. She had on a short jacket to cover her upper body just above her waist belt holding her sword in the scabbard. Her dark hair was free flowing to below her shoulders and despite the lack of any shades, she looked beautiful.

"I like the way you trained the boys. They won't last a battle with me at this rate." Lady Sif smiled at Geraldine. "Come with me. Let me show my warriors."

Geraldine followed her to a set of waiting horses. They rode for a distance before they reached another Hall.

"Welcome to the Hall of Freyja or the Chamber of the Valkyrie.' The entrance to the Hall was adorned with the carvings of a woman warrior on a horse. Lady Sif opened the door of the Hall to admit her guest. Inside the hall like that of the Hall of Judgment, there were no furnitures but its walls were stacked with swords, spears alongside bow with quivers and shields of round and square shapes. There were over a dozen women dressed in armor sparring with their partners.

"Helga, come forth." A buxom lady with a girth that would rivaled many beer barrels stepped forth holding her battle axe. She had donned on a chest armor that covered her treasured milk laden orbs while her arms are encased with metal strips that protect her.

"Helga here is a mother of six child who still awaits her for their dinner. In times like these, she leave it to her elder child to do the household while she defends the realm." Lady Sif introduced her warrior. "All of them are mothers or lovers of the warriors, but in dire times like this, they would come here to armed themselves."

Another one approached the duo and introduced herself.

"I am Elvie, the sister of Jordan who ride with Loki. He was misled in his loyalty but I hold firm to mine. I am here to defend my realm from the misled and may the Gods forgive me, if I have to kill my own brother." Elvie was all dressed in a read dress beneath her armor and wield a short sword. "My skills is archery and none shoots better than me."

Geraldine was to reply when Lady Sif intervened.

"The Valkyrie numbered one thousand over and we can fight alongside the warriors of Odin." The hall cheered to those words. Then there was a knocking on the door. The door was opened to admit a warrior from the Hall of Judgment.

"Odin request the presence of Lady Geraldine now."

"I am sure he would." Geraldine replied. Then she looked over to Lady Sif. "Men are like that; too demanding."