Chaos God 6, page 3
part #6 of Chaos God Series
“Good point,” Elora said with a wry smile.
I looked around and remembered the cries as the icicles had rained down like blades.
“Who’s hurt?” I asked.
“Just a minor scrape here, King Levi,” one voice called. “It is nothing beyond our abilities.”
“Is anyone seriously injured?” I asked, and I gestured out to the piles of rubble beneath the giant’s dead body. “Was anyone in those houses?”
“No, King Levi,” Nae answered. “They had already been emptied by this morning.”
“Good,” I sighed, and I lowered my voice so only the warriors beside me could hear. “We got lucky.”
“There are two more giants,” Elora pointed out. “Are there not?”
“That’s what Sylmarie told me.” I nodded, and I scowled as I looked back at the giant.
The beast had been more intelligent and aggressive than the giants we’d fought in the chasm, and that didn’t bode well in my opinion. I wasn’t foolish enough to think the last two giants would be easy to defeat, and I knew we’d nearly lost a lot of good people today.
“We need reinforcements,” I decided.
“It is time to leave the village,” Elora agreed.
“Yes,” I said. “And come back with more fighters. If the last two giants attack together, we’ll need everyone we can get.”
“We were lucky only one came this morning,” Emneth agreed.
I nodded at the short-haired elf, and I could see how much energy she’d used to make those two brutal attacks with her bone staff. I wondered how weakened their magic was with so many of their altars disassembled. My power felt as strong as it always had in this village, but I had a sense that the dark elves relied on their altars and totems more than I ever would.
I frowned at the corpse once more before I turned to address the villagers as a whole.
“Good work, everyone,” I announced. “Let’s finish packing up. I want to aim to be out of here in the next two days.”
The villagers nodded, and they looked relieved to have something to focus on as they started to move back to the job at hand. Emneth, Nae, Lyrie, and Elora remained by my side as the rest of the villagers returned to packing.
“They do not know of the other threat,” Elora sighed, and there was no question in her voice.
“Not exactly.” I shook my head. “I didn’t see any reason to give them something else to be afraid of.”
“They know there are unknown dangers in the chasm,” Nae said. “But not even we know what the threat truly is.”
“That’s true,” Elora sighed.
“I assume you didn’t find anything helpful in the armory’s library, then?” I asked the older Valkyrie.
“No.” Nae shook her head, and the long diagonal scar in the middle of her face pulled at her eyebrows. “I apologize, King Levi. I found nothing of use in the tomes.”
“That’s okay,” I said. “It was a long shot. None of the books at the castle have been especially helpful, either. I’m learning that the Aesir had a great fondness for novels and that there aren’t all that many history books.”
“Well, most Aesir were old enough to remember much of their history,” Nae pointed out in a dry voice. “There was little need to write things down when it was all in their memories still.”
“That’s true,” I chuckled.
“Regardless of whatever is down there,” I said. “The last two frost giants pose a serious enough threat that we need to get everyone out of here, and soon.”
“Quite right,” Emneth agreed. “We should be able to disassemble most of the remaining altars before you return.”
“Which will make it even more critical that you bring as many warriors as you can when you return,” Lyrie pointed out.
“Yes.” Emneth nodded in agreement. “With every altar that comes down, our strength lessens.”
“I thought so,” I sighed. “Alright, Elora and I will leave shortly, and we’ll return with as many fighters as Castle Levi can spare.”
“Good,” Nae said. “We will continue overseeing the process of moving here, and I will send out as many non-fighters as possible before nightfall.”
“Good idea,” I said. “Only fighters should stay in the village, and everybody else should head for the camp as soon as possible.”
“I am interested to see this camp for myself,” Nae said, and there was a light of curiosity in her black eyes. “I have not ventured beyond this valley in many years, and the few times I did the land all around was consumed by lava.”
“It’s definitely a lot different now,” I assured the older Valkyrie. “I think it will be good for all of you to get out of this valley.”
“Most assuredly,” Lyrie grumbled under her breath.
I raised my eyebrows at the dark elf, and her cheeks flushed slightly under the charcoal color of her complexion.
“Most of my workers have already moved on to the camp,” I said. “But the few who are still here will help you with the last bits of packing you have. Then, once everybody gets to the camp, they can stay and help you build your new homes.”
“We will not sit idly by as a home is built for us,” Emneth insisted.
“Dark elves are very hard workers,” Nae mused with admiration clear in her voice.
“I’ve noticed that.” I smiled at Nae. “There’s nothing wrong with accepting help, though, especially from new friends.”
“We will be grateful for the assistance,” Emneth assured me.
“Good,” I said to the red-eyed elf. “I’ve given my workers direct orders to obey yours and Nae’s commands as though they were my own.”
“When will you return?” Emneth asked.
“If we leave right away,” I said, and I looked at Elora to see what she thought. “We can be back tomorrow evening.”
“I agree,” Elora said. “But we have never made the journey without guards before.”
“That’s true,” I said. “But it’s more important they stay here in case the frost giants attack before we get back.”
“Hmm.” Elora nodded slowly.
“Besides, I’m sure we can handle any trouble we might run into,” I said confidently. “Between your wings and my powers, we’ll be able to stay safe.”
“Very good,” Emneth said. “I have much to oversee, and many altars to prepare, so I will bid you safe travels.”
“I shall go and check on the armory,” Nae said. “It has been held until the last moment, and I believe we are rapidly approaching the time it must be packed.”
“Alright,” I said. “And… I hope it doesn’t come to it, but if the other frost giants show up… Run. Abandon the village if you have to, we can rebuild homes and even altars, but we can’t rebuild you if you’re killed.”
“Yes, King Levi.” Nae nodded proudly, and her chest puffed out a little like I’d ruffled her feathers. “I have vowed to protect the people of this village for decades, and I will not fail them now.”
“I know,” I chuckled at the brash warrior. “I didn’t mean to imply anything less, Nae.”
“Good.” The scarred Valkyrie smirked at me before she turned and strode off toward the armory.
She yelled at two dark elves who were inspecting the rubble around the frost giant’s body for anything salvageable, and the pair followed Nae without hesitation.
“Safe travels,” Emneth said, and she hurried off to continue disassembling the stone altars.
Lyrie shuffled nervously from one foot to the other for a moment, and she opened her mouth twice like she couldn’t quite decide how to say what she wanted. Then she pressed her lips into a thin line and walked away without saying anything at all.
Elora and I watched the dark elf walk away, and I couldn’t help but notice the way her hands clenched into fists at her sides. Without seeing her face, it was impossible to tell what emotion was causing the tension in her hands.
“I like her,” Elora said thoughtfully after a moment.
“Mmm,” I hummed.
I liked Lyrie, too, and I was very curious to know more about the dark elf, but that would have to wait at least until this business with the frost giants was handled. A quick glance around the village reminded me the house we’d been staying in was squarely under the frost giant corpse’s torso.
“Shit,” I cursed.
“What?” Elora asked, and she turned to follow my gaze. “Oh… shit.”
“Yeah,” I mumbled. “I hope you didn’t bring anything important with you.”
“No.” Elora shook her head. “I only had an extra pair of leather pants and my bag in the house. They are easy enough to replace.”
“Good,” I said. “I left my old boots in there, but they were getting pretty worn out anyway.”
“The boots you were wearing when you came to Asgard?” Elora asked. “The ones with the metal in the toes?”
“Yeah,” I chuckled at the memory of my steel-toed boots. “They’re pancakes now.”
“I am sorry, love,” Elora murmured.
“It’s no big deal,” I said. “These boots Jarod made me are way more comfortable anyway.”
I smiled down at the supple leather boots the cobbler in Freesia’s home village had crafted for me, and at the thought of the red-haired healer, a longing to return to my other lovers washed through me. It would be very good to see Shalanna and Freesia again tonight, and I knew I’d be happy to return home again once we’d killed the last two frost giants.
Not to mention the fact that Sylmarie was living at the castle now, and I’d barely had a chance to enjoy that since she’d finally agreed to join us.
Shalanna was far along in her pregnancy now, and the closer we approached her estimated due date, the more I wanted to stay close to Castle Levi. Shalanna was going to bring my first child into the world very soon, and all the demons of this world couldn’t keep me from her side when the time came.
“I suppose we are ready to depart, then,” Elora said in a light-hearted voice. “Shall we begin the journey home?”
“Yeah.” I nodded, and I felt a sadness in my chest that Lyrie hadn’t said goodbye to me.
I shook that off and tried to convince myself there was no reason I should want such a thing when I intended to be back the very next day. Besides, it wasn’t like I was never going to see the intriguing dark elf again. Lyrie and the rest of the village would soon be nearly a stone’s throw away from my front gates. There was plenty of time ahead of me to get to know Lyrie better and to spend time with the exotic dark-skinned beauty.
“Alright,” I hesitated just a second more, and I wondered if we should tell someone we were leaving.
I spotted the black-skinned dark elf, Ivaran, and I waved to him.
“Are you departing, King Levi?” Ivaran asked as he jogged over to us.
“Yes, I just wanted to let someone know before we went,” I said, and I tried to believe myself as easily as the red-eyed man seemed to.
“Very good, King Levi,” Ivaran said. “Emneth said you are planning to return tomorrow with more warriors.”
“Yes.” I nodded.
“Then you best be on your way,” Ivaran said in a friendly tone.
“Right.” I nodded.
“Be safe until our return,” Elora said.
“Safe travels,” Ivaran replied.
I nodded again, and I knew there wasn’t any good reason to continue delaying our departure, so I took Elora’s hand in mine. We started to walk to the southern edge of the village, and we were nearly to the treeline when a voice rang through the chilly mid-morning air.
“King Levi! Wait!” Lyrie shouted.
My heart jumped up into my throat as I stopped in my tracks, and Elora and I turned back to see the white-haired elf jogging toward us with a leather satchel on her shoulders.
“I am coming with you,” Lyrie said, and her chin stuck out sharply with stubbornness.
Chapter 3
“Uh…” I struggled to regain control of my face as the shock and excitement played out clearly on my features.
There was a strategic disadvantage to having Lyrie walk with us in the fact that we couldn’t take flight as easily. Though I knew if it came down to it, I could carry her in a shifted form. Plus, I was confident we could take care of any monstrous creatures we came across on the journey back to Castle Levi.
Besides, we’d never run into anything more than a sickly lava demon or two between here and there, and that was well within our abilities to kill with just the three of us.
The advantages of having Lyrie walk with us were purely selfish, and I looked at Elora to see what she thought. The silver-haired beauty gave me a sly smirk that was so small anyone else would have totally missed it, but it made my heart race.
“That sounds lovely,” Elora said in a friendly tone. “It will be nice to have your company along the journey.”
“Yeah, definitely,” I agreed, and I cleared my throat. “You’re obviously welcome to join us, but are you sure you won’t be needed here?”
“They can make do without me,” Lyrie said, and she started to walk with a mask of nonchalance. “I am very curious to see the Spire, and I understand Castle Levi is close by.”
“Uh, yeah, it is,” I said.
I looked at Elora to see what she thought of that, and my Valkyrie lover shrugged a little before she continued walking. I decided it was best not to question the reasoning that gave me the pleasure of Lyrie’s company alongside Elora, and I hurried to catch up with them.
“You have never seen the Crystal Spire before?” Elora was asking.
“No.” Lyrie shook her head. “I had assumed it was destroyed during Ragnarok.”
“It was very badly damaged,” I said. “But there’s a lot of it left.”
“It’s still incredible to behold,” Elora said.
“I am very curious to experience even the broken remnants of something that was once so splendid,” Lyrie murmured, and a sliver of sadness crept into her voice. “You see, I never expected I would have an opportunity to see it for myself, but now that I know there is something of the place left, I cannot resist.”
“I’m sure you must be curious about a lot of the world,” I said.
“It is true,” Lyrie said, and she lifted her chin slightly. “I have lived in this valley my entire life. All I have seen of the world has been between here and the chasm.”
“It must be thrilling to venture into the world for the first time,” Elora said in a bright tone.
“I have never been this far south before,” Lyrie admitted, and she looked down at her feet before she took a bold step forward.
I couldn’t help but smile at the excitement that glowed in Lyrie’s black eyes as she set a steady pace south, and I tried to imagine what it must be like. I’d spent most of my life in Boston, but with the wonders of the internet, I’d always been able to see the rest of Earth, at least through the screen of a computer. Lyrie was essentially blind to the world outside this valley, and all she had was her own imagination and the stories of others.
Elora and Lyrie chatted in a friendly way for a while as we hiked further south, and the snow slowly shifted into a much warmer climate. The trees grew thicker for a while before they disappeared completely, and the small desert scrub bushes that had started to take root in the Black Plains cropped up around us.
“It is hard for me to believe the whole world is not covered in snow,” Lyrie said in a strange tone.
One look at her face told me why. Her black eyes were wide with amazement, but her mouth was carefully controlled in an expression of forced boredom. I stifled a chuckle as I realized she was trying to conceal her excitement from us, but I could see right through her.
“Your village is the first place I saw snow on Asgard, actually,” I said. “Most of the world is a hot and dry place now.”
“I do believe I will enjoy this heat,” Lyrie said casually as she shed an outer layer. “My toes have been cold my whole life, and I look forward to experiencing something new.”
Her arms were strong and toned, and there were a series of scars dotted like a band around her right bicep. I could only assume it was a form of body modification that was traditional for the dark elves, and it made me wonder what patterns the other villagers had hidden beneath their winter clothes. Not that any of them would hold my interest quite the way Lyrie did.
“It’s nice to be warm,” I said as I forced my thoughts away from the enticing spread of skin.
I thought back to the icy New England winters of my childhood. I’d always longed for the break in the chill along the Boston city streets, and then there were several good weeks of spring weather before the summer heat made the dumpsters into boiling piles of sewage that made back alleys stink like the Draugar fires.
Asgard never had that problem, and even the lingering stench of dead monsters wasn’t nearly as bad as the sushi place’s dumpster a block down the street from my apartment. That was a stench I would never be able to clean out of my memory, and I was happy to be gone from it.
“It’s good for farming,” I continued. “But it’s also good for the soul, I think. Either way, there’s only so much cold a person should have to endure.”
“I do believe I shall find that I despise the cold.” Lyrie grinned.
“I must agree with you, Lyrie,” Elora commented. “I much prefer the heat to the cold of your village.”
“Was all this land lava before?” Lyrie asked as she gazed out at the rocky landscape before us.
“Not quite this far,” I said. “We’re moving into the Black Plains shortly.”
“This is the name you have given this area?” Lyrie asked.
“Yes,” I said. “We figured it would be helpful if we identified some landmarks and gave them names.”
“The world is so changed from what it once was,” Elora agreed. “There is no reason to continue trying to live in a world that no longer exists.”
“Exactly.” I smiled, and I pointed up and traced the line of the triple mountain points with one finger. “We call this Three Peaks.”
