The Valkyrie Novels Box Set, page 19
part #1 of Valkyrie Series
He didn’t stop. His last words, shouted over his shoulder, floated to us as the door closed behind him.
“In two days.”
Chapter 27
The whole of Asgard boiled and buzzed. If Freya was as powerful and imposing as Odin, then I could understand the frenetic tone of the hustle and bustle.
Even Turi rushed into my room after dinner to grab my armor. “It needs a double polish to elicit double the shine!” she said, an excited tremor in her voice. I didn’t doubt the girl believed her words. But I paid little attention to her as she breezed in and out of the room. My mind tumbled thoughts of Brody and Joshua and Aidan together. I focused on finding a way to either get into Valhalla or get information on the condition of my friends.
The next morning, our training focused on working with the Ulfr. The whole thing seemed a bit back to front since I’d already been out with Fenrir yesterday, but I choked back my opinion. The upside was the welcome absence of Astrid. Even Sigrun commented on how much calmer and more relaxed the training session was.
I wasn’t prepared for the transformations of the Ulfr though. Fenrir paired each one of us off with an Ulfr, and though they were still in human form, the glint in their yellowed eyes hinted that we were in for much more than hand-to-hand sparring. My blood still ran cold with the memory of Fenrir’s half-transformation on the day we first met.
The Ulfr, as humans, were a magnificent race. A raw beauty shadowed the harsh, rugged lines of their faces and though you would think such craggy facial structures would be misplaced on the females, you would have been way off the mark. They were beautiful, both male and female. Beautiful and strong. And dangerous. No doubt the best backup a girl could ask for, but still dangerous.
My partner was a woman named Mika. She was tall, muscular. Dark hair held back in a neat ponytail. Exotic Asian eyes. We sparred, exchanging blows and defensive moves to warm up. We were well matched in strength and agility. And although my mind wasn’t entirely focused on the task, my body made up for my lack of attention.
When Fenrir growled, the reverberation of his animal call sank into my bones, bringing dread with it. I knew what would happen next. The Ulfr heeded his instruction. Brows flattened, cheekbones flared and canines lengthened. I didn’t want to look at Mika but my gaze settled on her face. Her eyes were a deeper yellow and despite the distinct changes to her bone structure, she still retained the look of a human.
I sighed, relieved.
“I see you are not afraid of me,” Mika said, her words slightly distorted by her protruding teeth.
I resisted the urge to step back. “I wouldn’t expect you to be here to harm me. Aren’t we fighting on the same side?”
“Well, technically we are not on the same side,” she said. “But truthfully, we all know why we are here. And it is serious. So we take our training seriously too.”
A little shocked by her admission, I blurted out, “What do you mean we aren’t on the same side?”
She raised a brow and studied me. “The stories tell us that Fenrir will defeat the great god Odin at Ragnarok,” she said. “Fenrir does not agree, and has offered to help to train the Warriors of Odin and Freya. All your regiments will know our techniques in case the stories are true.”
“So it’s a sort of a suicide mission?”
“Something like that, but not quite. Fenrir does not want Odin to lose. Whether it is to Fenrir or to the frost giants. Our master would rather be the loser, as he will never raise arms against his own master. This is the best way to ensure it.”
I nodded, appreciating what she meant. Fenrir was an honorable man. Wolf.
We continued sparring. The lack of armor meant more bruises, but freedom from the heavy weight of the bronze meant more strength and stamina. The day passed in a snap, as time sped up to compensate for our hard work.
Later I joined Sigrun at the pool to soak away the bruises and muscle aches. I suspected the water possessed some kind of magical rejuvenating quality, as my injuries healed super-fast, bruises faded away within twenty-four hours and muscles were soothed before bedtime. Easy to understand how the job of a Valkyrie could be fulfilling and comfortable despite stretching through centuries.
“How can a Valkyrie be killed?” I asked, sinking into the welcoming embrace of the heated water.
She blinked at me. “Why? Are you planning to get rid of Astrid?” Sigrun’s smile was broad, and we both laughed.
“Of course not. How did Brunhilde die?”
“She chose to marry for love. At that time a Valkyrie removed herself from Asgard if she chose to marry.”
“Why?” Seemed a bit sexist to me. A woman had as much right to a career as a man, and I couldn’t see the Brunhilde everyone spoke about as being subservient.
“Because it was the belief at that time that the duty of the woman as a wife is all-encompassing. That it is not possible for a woman to be a wife and mother and still fulfill roles outside of her marital home.”
I frowned. “And I hope that’s changed,” I said dryly.
“Yes, it has changed. A long time ago. Frigga had become tired of losing Valkyries because of the old rule. She said that as the wife of Odin, she had certain wifely obligations but as the Goddess of the Clouds and Sunshine, Fertility and Marriage, she had other duties to perform. She argued with Odin that if she left her goddess duties just because she had an obligation to him as a wife, what would happen to the world? He then insisted she was capable of performing both tasks perfectly well without sacrificing the other. Frigga won the debate and the freedom for the Valkyries to choose to marry if they wished.”
“Go Frigga!” I whooped and slapped at the water.
“Yes, we are most grateful for her strategy.” Sigrun sighed happily and reached across to turn the hotter pipes on. Soon we were perspiring from the heated water, though reluctant to leave its steaming embrace.
“What happens when Freya arrives?” I asked.
“A procession and dinner. The next morning we have a mass meeting, presenting the Warriors. Then Freya chooses.”
“What does she base her choice on?”
“Freya is a war goddess. Naturally, she wants the best Warriors but she is not allowed to tip the scales. Balance is important, especially when all she is creating is another regiment within the same army. But Freya is a demanding general. So she is fussy. It is good that Frigga helps with the choosing.”
“Frigga?”
“Yes, she is a seer. Not a full oracle, but she senses the nature of a creature. Their deepest desires. Their dreams. Using her knowledge, she will advise Freya.”
“Wouldn’t that be a sort of conflict of interest?” When Sigrun frowned in confusion, I explained. “Frigga is Odin’s wife. Wouldn’t she choose the best Warriors for Odin anyway?”
“But you see, it is not a competition. Each regiment must be weighted equally, with the same number of strong and wily Warriors as the next. Nobody wants to belong to the regiment that loses the war. Nor would you want to lead that regiment.”
It made a lot of sense, the way the gods worked. I rose from the waters and toweled myself dry, glad now that I’d washed my hair since there would be an official procession. “So, with the procession I take it our training will be canceled?”
Sigrun reached for her clothes. “It depends on Fenrir,” she said. “We will meet at the training field, along with all the other Warriors and Ulfr. Fenrir will organize the regiments, both new and old, and prepare us. The new Warriors will be placed at the front of the procession, to allow Freya to observe them.”
My stomach twisted as my mind strayed to Aidan and the rest of the kids from Craven. They were in for some grueling training before Freya came around again. I promised myself I’d find a way to get to them, even though Valhalla was totally off limits so far. Maybe Sigrun could help.
“Sigrun, is there any way I could see Joshua and Brody and Aidan?”
Sigrun stopped walking. Clearly, my request didn’t sit comfortably with my friend. “You know it is not allowed. Valhalla is where the Warriors recover. Where their life is returned to them. You cannot go intruding on something meant to be an almost sacred activity.”
“I just need to know they’re all right. How long before I can speak to them?” I hadn’t realized how afraid I was until I asked the question. The four kids from Craven were my only link to a real home. Despite the sour taste Aidan left in my mouth, he was still a link to Ms. Custer. “And what about Aimee?”
I’d wondered where they would have sent her. “Aimee? Oh, that would be the girl who was retrieved from your town? She will be in Valhalla.”
“But I thought Valhalla was for men only?”
“Did you learn that from your modern history books too?” Sigrun asked dryly.
“Well, it’s what I was taught.” I bristled slightly. Could I help it if the historians of our time had misinterpreted the real facts of history?
“So in your armies, do they have both men and women who fight for their country?”
“Yes, of course. Women have the same rights as men do.”
“Well then, why should Asgard be any different?” Sigrun admonished me with a smug smile.
So Aimee would be with the boys. At least she wouldn’t be alone. There was a slight comfort in that. “Is there any way you can get me in to see them before tomorrow?” I was desperate to speak to them, to tell them I was here with them.
Sigrun frowned, but I knew that expression. She disapproved of my request, but understood and sympathized. I hoped it meant she would come up with a plan to help me.
A long moment passed in which I wondered if she had decided it was too risky. Finally, she spoke. “I have an idea. Be ready after dinner. I shall come to fetch you from your room.” A sudden, mischievous grin revealed her clear enjoyment of the exercise in breaking the rules.
As usual, dinner was delicious and Astrid’s absence made it even more pleasurable. We weren’t the only ones who noticed. Sigrun and I both heard Astrid’s name mentioned during the meal.
Once back in my room I spent a few minutes marveling at the unbelievably high shine that Turi had managed to coax from the already shimmering armor.
Then I paced the length of the room.
With every passing minute, my heart beat faster and the flip-flops in my stomach bordered on nauseating. When Sigrun knocked on the door at last, I was one step away from screaming my impatience.
I grabbed my cloak and slipped silently with her down the large high-ceilinged passageways. What was the purpose of the height? Had giants once roamed these halls? Or was it a statement? Maybe the height indicated the majesty of the Lord whose house it was.
The entire castle was a magnificent architectural monster. Built into the side of a granite mountain face, the structure dwarfed the mountain, so the natural ridge was no longer visible. Tall spires rose into the clouds, with some turrets encased in cloud cover almost all year round.
We walked the path to Valhalla in the dark, sticking to the low walls beside the roads. The night was silent, cold and dark without the moon. I didn’t dare ask any questions. We were too far along to turn back, but my gratitude to Sigrun for even considering my request was enough. I owed her big time.
We gave Glasir a wide birth, staying as far out of her brightness as possible. As I steered clear of the entrancing tree, I traced the outline of the leaf she’d given me. Njall had been kind enough to drill a small hole into the end of the leaf, allowing me to thread it onto the thin leather thong already holding the amber stone. It now lay against my chest like a charm, protecting me.
Sigrun chose a path that bordered the outside of the hall, all the way to the back. It was a long way, only because the hall was so monstrously large. Of course, it had to be, since it housed every Warrior ever brought to Valhalla in the history of time.
We came to another set of doors. Sigrun leaned close and knocked lightly. Three short soft taps. The door opened in silence and a face popped through the small opening. The short red-haired girl smiled in relief, beckoning with one crooked finger for us to follow her inside.
The kitchen was bright and warm and we waited while the girl checked the door.
Leaning close I asked, “What’s happening? Who was the girl?”
“She is sister to the Huldra who attends me. They have worked all around Valhalla, know the place entirely too well.”
“It was nice of her to help us out.”
“I have known her a long, long time,” Sigrun said, a happy warmth in her voice.
The Huldra returned, her eyes bright and her face cheerful. “There are clothes inside the cold room.” She pointed to a little door behind Sigrun.
Once in the room we changed into the clothing laid out for us. I stared at the two fake tails, which sat on the bench. Pointing to them, I asked, “What are we supposed to do with these?”
“Wear them silly. Here, I will show you.” Sigrun grabbed one of the bright red tails and showed me the leather string tied to the stump of it. This she tied around her waist. She slid the tail into her skirt, dropping it onto the floor behind her. It fell through the bulky petticoats and peeked out from the bottom of the skirt. It looked perfect. Even her wings were gone, hidden by Sigrun’s glamor. I still wasn’t all that sure I knew how to use the whole glamor thing. No doubt she would fix my wings too. I hoped. She opened her neatly tied braids, spreading her wavy hair out behind her, letting it fall down her back. “Now I am ready. Come on. What are you waiting for?”
I took one last look at my foxtail as it peeked from under my skirt. One peek behind me to confirm my wings were invisible. And crossed my fingers. Fox tail or not, this had better work. Or we would both be in deep doody.
Chapter 28
I hurried after her to the kitchens, and soon we both stood ready to serve.
“Thank you, Lifa,” Sigrun said to the Huldra. “Now how do we get to them?”
Lifa nodded at the question and gestured toward the table occupying the center of the room. Three trays sat there, loaded with goblets and small bowls filled with strange gelatinous goop. Certainly looked like sick people’s food.
“We take one tray each, and take it to each einherjar,” Lifa said. “You will get your chance to speak to them when you serve them. Do not be too long, but there is no real danger of being caught. Almost everyone has retired to their rooms for the night, and the few Warriors still in the hall will leave soon enough. Now follow me.”
She picked up a tray, held it at her hip and left the room. We followed, mimicking her confidence and her style of bearing the tray. It was easier than I expected. The hall stretched endlessly before us, empty except for a few warriors gathered together in small groups, and the little infirmary set up by the entrance. We neared the rows of beds where the two dozen warriors lay. Some looked in good nick while others appeared frail, still holding on to death.
Aimee sat up in her cot, talking to another warrior in the bed beside her. Joshua and Aidan were flat on their back, both conscious but silent. Brody was nowhere to be seen. I stiffened. His absence scared me, increased my desire to see him and convince myself that he was okay.
Aidan, one arm on his chest, stared off into space. His forehead was smooth where the bullet wound had so recently gored it open. I swallowed, aware he might not want to see me. Aware he might be as confused as I’d been my first day here.
Soon we were lowering the trays onto a stand of tables beside the beds. Sigrun began to hand out her goblets and bowls to a group of Warriors a few beds away, and Lifa took the far end.
I grabbed a share of the food and drink and walked to Aidan’s bed. I hadn’t intended to see him first, but my feet pulled me toward him. The hall was warm, and unlike our dining hall, a multitude of fires burned along the walls, throwing off a constant, pleasant warmth. The faint odor of food and the low murmur of conversation drifted toward us.
I tilted my head forward, allowing my hair to hide my face as I knelt beside the low pallet. He turned, expressionless. Until he saw my face. For an instant his eyes lit up, as if joyful and bright, then the joy fled, replaced by a self-deprecating smile. Of course, the tail! He thought he was just imagining it was me.
“Hello, Aidan,” I said, taking his hand and placing the goblet into it. I had to ensure it looked like I was performing the task of one of the Huldra. Behind me, my wings shivered, hidden within the folds of Sigrun’s glamor.
“Bryn?” He sat up slowly, balancing the goblet carefully as he moved, not taking his eyes off my face. “Is it really you?”
I nodded. “Keep your voice low. I’m not really allowed to see you until you are better.”
“What happened to me?” He fingered his forehead where the bullet had entered his skull. “My head . . . I know I hurt my head. It’s still sore to touch, right here. I thought I was dreaming.”
He looked bewildered, confused, and I was tempted to sit beside him and hold him in my arms. But I couldn’t. Not just because it would reveal our real purpose here, pretending to be Huldras, but because I couldn’t trust myself to get close to him. I was supposed to be angry with him.
“You called Ms. Custer,” I said, thinking it would jog his memory if I gave him some of the details.
“Oh yes. Something happened at her place after you disappeared. I wanted to apologize to her, to make sure she knew it wasn’t my doing. She was so angry, like she thought I’d had something to do with your disappearance.” Aidan’s shoulders drooped. He held his head in his hands as if it was too heavy for his shoulders to manage the weight.
“What happened?” I asked.
“I’m not too clear on that. I went to Craven. I remember hiding out in the bushes outside Ms. Custer’s house. Waiting for the right moment to go inside. I recall the blow to my head, then nothing.” He pressed his temples. “Wish I could remember what happened after that. Next thing I knew I was waking up here. Even this place seems like a dream, not to mention the fantastic stories they’ve been telling us. As if we would believe their crap. Probably a government experiment and they’ve turned us into zombies or something.”
