“The motion was first introduced by the Anglo-French Cooperation Committee in...” Artyom read off the front side of a notecard, walking next to Dimitri, happily skipping down the school hall.

“Mmmmm...” He hummed. “September? World War II I remember that.”

“December.”  I corrected, rubbing my fingers across the scars on my neck. Four, jagged scars. Associating anything that happened in December with the scars made them easy to remember. “1939.”

“Yes.” Artyom said, moving to the next card.

“Ahhhh.” Dimitri chimed.

“And the Committee was led by-”

“Jean Monnet.” Demyan cut him off. “I spent all night studying the weird french names.”

“But the final draft of the motion that would form the United Kingdoms of Europe would end up being.” Aryom ignored him.

“Prime Minister Churchill.” I said, spinning on my heel to turn a corner. “He would also later become the first Prime Minister of Europe.”

“Come on Kazimir,” Came a familiar voice from the end of the haul. “You really expect me to believe you haven’t seen her all morning?”

“She came in early to study!” a milky voice whined. “We don’t share morning classes!”

One of the first voices companions chimed in, “Help us out Kazimir. Make it easier on everyone.”

“I mean I was just about to-”

“Volya!” I bark, marching towards the scene. Down the hall were three very large teenagers standing around a tall scrawny teenager, with adorably crooked glasses sitting on the edge of his nose and messy brown hair he really needed to do something with. They all turned, and the large boy in front of Kazimir half-smiled. Kazimir looked like a excited puppy. He missed me. This made me smile.

“Just the girl I was looking for!” said the leader. He became more husky than fat as he grew older. A few years and he’ll grow into his body. A proper warrior. But as is, he’d be easy to knock off his feet.

“Is that what this is, I wonder?” I say, eye cocked. “Because what I see is you and your boys harassing Kazie. Can’t have that can I?” At this point, my boys have caught up, and between them and Volya’s, we took up the entire hall.

“Hold, Hildr!” Volya said, holding up his hands. “We weren’t being threatening. We just ran into your boy toy while looking for you!”

“Welp.” I said, gesturing to myself.

“As you say.” he said. “I just wanted to make sure you were still able to come with me this evening.”

“If you still wish me there?” I ask.

“Yes.”

“Than yes.” I nodded. “We can meet at the front of the school. Jarl Petya is gonna take us.”

“Good.” Volya said, than again to himself, “Good...”

I looked at him, expectantly after a long pause. “Is that it?”

“Nope.” He said, turning to Kazimir. “Thanks for your help.”

“I didn’t do anything.” Kazie smiled.

“All the same.” Volya said, walking away, waving.

“Well now.” Kazie said, watching him leave. “That was something. We should get to-”

I cornered him against the locker. “You didn’t think we were done, did you, Kazie?” I purred.

“We have class, Hildr.” He smiled.

“Yes,” I said, kissing him, holding it softly, absorbing the moment, committing it. He was soft,  kind and tasted like honeyed coffee. “You’re cute.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” He smiled again. I liked his smiles.

“I thought we were sharing obvious facts.” I said, resting my forehead against his. He was an inch shorter. “Are you still coming over to study, later?”

“Tomorrow.” he said apologetically. “Clubs today. Didn’t Artyom tell you?”

“That’s today?” Artyom asked.

“That answers that.” Kazie sighs. Cutely. “Yes, at 18.”

“Damn clubs.” I hiss. “Well, since I can’t see you later...” I say, leaning in.

Demyan coughed. I turned to him. He tapped his watch. “We were cutting it close to begin with. And he’s heading to class with us.”

“You’re no fun.” I tutted.

“He’s right Hildr.” Kazie chimed in.

“Hush you.”

“Well I have math. I’ll catch you guys later.” Dimitri said, walking past us, as he started to whistle.

“Bye Dimitri.” I say, moment ruined. I looked to Kazie who looked far too pleased with himself. “Let’s get to class than. Mister-always-right.” I grumble.

“By Wodinns grace.” He said, before adding, “Or yours.”

“Yes, yes you speak like a poet.” I sneer, leading our way to class. “Faas is still better.”

“That’s not particularly fair, Hil.” Artyom defended. “Faas’ voice and mind are gifts of the gods, forged and perfected by the Unions.” He smiled ruefully. “Kazimir just reads a lot.”

Demyan chuckles as I smile encouragingly. Artyom is growing into himself. Becoming more open. The Unions teach this is something that must be fostered in those it does not come naturally to. Our duty is to help them grow. Keep the darkness that plagues them away as much as possible. At their own pace, always. Artyom was having a good day. So a good day it would be.

I walked out the school, following the flow of the crowd. Than waited as the crowd dispersed. As the kids went their ways to discover home. Felt the warmth drift away. As if exclaiming the point, nature pushed a cold wind threw me, as the final child left.

As I waited near the door for Volya, a familiar figure, after finishing a conversation with Demyan, and sending him home, waked up and joined where I stood. “Niece.” He said.

“The day to you, my jarl.” I respond, corners of my lips twitching as I tried to remain stoic.

“We’re using titles today, are we?” He chuckled softly. “Should I be calling you Medved outside the halls now?”

My nose crinkled at the thought. “That name has its place.” I say. “And it’s not here.”

“My thoughts exactly, dearest niece.” He smiled, touching his nose. “Though jarl is what I am among kindred and gods, out here I am just a man like any other.” He turned to me, “And to my beloved sister’s children I am uncle before anything but father to my son. Yes?”

“Do all adults enjoy their speeches so, Uncle?” I asked sarcastically.

“It helps us feel important.” He clicked. He then looked up, to the front doors of the school. “So he is sure he wishes to go through with this?”

“Yes.” I nod. “He even made sure I’d be here. He’s scared.”

“Understandable.” Uncle sighed. He waived as Volya walked out the doors. “He is very brave.” he said, before pushing off and walking towards the boy. I followed close behind.

Volya looked to my uncle, than to me, with, “Jarl Petya, Hildr.”

“How’re you, Volya?” Uncle asks.

The boy shrugs. “Not so well, considering.”

“You don’t have to deliver the evidence,” I chime in. “I can just as easily hand it off.”

“No.” He said, standing strait. “It has to be me. My claim will add to the charge and...and restore honor to my family's name.”

Uncle rests his hand on Volya’s shoulder, smiling encouragement. “What’s right isn’t always easy and rarely rewarded. But kindred stands with you, and I support your decision. You are very brave and very strong.”

I stand before Volya, looking him dead in the eyes. My orange flakes reflect back in his pupils. I choose my words carefully. They needed to be known. Felt them deeply in my core. “The gods see you Volya.”

He nodded. The warmth I felt from their presence passed on to him. He was ready, so we made our way to the central buildings. Here sat, as the name implied, the center of the community. The hospital, school, fire department, police department, and court offices all shared this center square. And as we approached, my cousin stood, waiting to greet us.

“Jarl.” The policewoman said, cigarette in her teeth.

“Lieutenant.” he replied, with a smirk.

I jumped the woman, hugging her tightly. She snorted at the familiarity. “I never see you anymore, Ianthe.” I say.

“And who’s fault is that?” she snorts again. “Not mine.”

“I don’t want to disturb you.” I say, proudly. With a touch of reverence. “You are very important.”

She smiles, and ruffles my hair. A finger brushes the scar left on the right of my head and I flinch. Her hand jerks back. Life is made awkward.

“So,” She said, lighting a cigarette with the embers of her last, eager to change conversation and coarse. She nodded to Volya. “You’re the one that wanted to talk to me?”

“I...uhm...” Volya stumbled. He still wasn’t the best with words. I stood next to him. Nodded more encouragement. He nodded back. “I have sensitive information on criminal activity in the community.” He said. It sounded like a practiced line, and still he stumbled. Confidence would be his greatest enemy in the future. I tapped my left hand against a scarred stomach. I could relate.

She nods, picking up on the seriousness of the air. She looked sadly at her half burned cigarette. Luxury items were hard to waste. She tossed it on the ground all the same, and gestured to the building behind her.

I moved to follow the group, when “Hildr!” reached my ears, followed by a man in his late twenties, in a brown suite, and green tie, a pencil in his ear. He had sharp green eyes that reminded me of what I thought emeralds must look like. “Are you here for your appointment?” He asked, with a friendly smile. Noticing my confusion, hard as I tried to hide it, his relaxed nature shifted. Hands behind his back, and standing strait, he suddenly looked the image of professionalism. “You forgot.” He stated. “It was scheduled for 1600.”

“Doctor Vavilov...I did forget.” I admitted, hard as that was. “But not because of...my head. Because of something else.” I say, gesturing to the group that now waited for me at the door.

The doctor looked at the group, rubbing his beard. “Yes, well.” He made a show of looking at his watch. “I was running late as it were to begin with.” He looked to me and smiled. “Will 1730 do?”

I sigh relieved. “Thank you, doctor.”

He held up a finger. “We will be discussing this slip up in your sesion, mind.”

I nodded, before leaving. “Sorry.” I say to the group. I see the question in their eyes. The concern. I hide the anger. “I’m fine.”

Ianthe placed coffee mugs in front of Volya and I, who sat opposite her at her desk. She handed another to Uncle, who was content to sit at a chair next to the door. From his seat he could see the entire room and it’s exits. If the door opened, anyone coming in would not immediately see him. He did this often.

“Alright, comrade.” Ianthe says, nestling comfortably into her chair. She places an ID card into her keyboard, and her computer blinks into life. Fingers hovering over her keyboard, she looks to Volya. “What crime do you wish to report?”

Volya fidgeted for a short time. Gripping at his pants legs. Reaching and retreating from his coffee mug. Playing with his thumbs. Finally, he breathed in and said in a rush of one breath, “I wish to report the crime of stealing rations, hoarding rations, distributing rations for sale and luxury, and transporting and distributing drugs for sale and luxury.”

Ianthe whistled to herself as she begun to type the report. “These are heavy. Do you know the leader of these crimes? Or the location of the goods?”

“They can all be found at a shack hidden in the woodland I can lead the authorities to. And the leader of the operations is...” He gulped, pausing again before continuing. “Is my father. Kaarle Yegorov.”

Ianthe pauses at typing the name. Her peripherals taking in the boy sitting across from her. Uncle doesn’t react. He sits silently, already knowing everything Volya said. I sit tall, willing my strength, Thor’s strength, towards the boy I once thought so selfish and stupid. “Are you sure you want to file this report?” Ianthe asked. “You don’t have to have your name on it. This can be anonymous.”

“The leader of the smuggling ring is Kaarle Yegorov.” He says again. Voice like stone now. “He is trading goods and resources that belong to the people for luxuries and personal gain to Chinese class traitors.”

Ianthe sighs, pinching her nose with both hands. She looks over to Uncle. He nods. He had already confirmed Volya’s story, when I, at Volya’s request, told him during the last hall gathering.

“Alright.” Ianthe finally spoke, as she finished typing into her report, before turning to Volya. “I’m going to send officers to investigate the site you mentioned. Is there any further evidence you wish to hand over to the investigation?”

He nods. A small motion. He pulls out a folder from his backpack and hands it across the table. I watch him, amazed. Amazed that he was carrying that weight on his back all day and said nothing. Ianthe looks over it, quickly skimming across pictures and documents. “My father kept this locked up.” Volya said. “There was also pieces to a rifle.”

Uncle and Ianthe stiffened at this. Those who served in the military unions were given a rifle during their service. A rifle they were allowed to bring home after their twenty years. Only they received proper training in weapons that kill. Only they were allowed such dangers. To my knowledge, Volya’s father had never been a part of the military.

Ianthe tapped a finger against her fist. A low hum escaped her throat. “He can’t be allowed to return to the home.” She said, more to herself than anyone else. “There is a clear and present danger.” She returned her attention to Volya. “You’ll need to be protected for the duration of the investigation.”

“Okay.” He said, simply. Momentum lost with his part done.

“Will he still be able to go to school?” I ask for him. Education became increasingly more important at his age. He was less than a handful of years from his assigning.

“Not under normal circumstances no.” She responded, holding out a hand to stop our disappointment. “But, I can try and have you turned over to me. You’ll live in my apartment until the end of the investigation, and in which you’ll be assigned proper living arrangements by the Union. If that’s alright with you?”

“Yes.” Volya said. “I think that’s alright...”

“Hildr.” my Uncle said, as Ianthe starting filling out more forms on her computer. “I believe that your part is done. I think it save to head you your own appointment now.”

“I agree.” Ianthe said, not looking away.

I turned to Volya. He nodded, before saying, “Thank you for your strength, Hildr.”

I smile, as I stand to leave. “You didn’t need it. You’re Volya the Mighty.”