The Valkyrie Novels Box Set, page 55
part #1 of Valkyrie Series
"Can you be still and stop being such a baby? I need to check the wound," I scolded, holding in the tears of joy, infinitely relieved when not a drop fell from my eyes.
He lay back with a pained sigh. "How bad is it?"
"Pretty good, actually. How do you feel?" I searched his face for signs of fatigue, weakness, anything.
"Like I've been asleep forever," Aidan grunted. "Bloody hell, my breath stinks."
I laughed. "That would happen, considering you've been asleep for weeks."
"Weeks?" He snorted, disbelief and confusion clouding his eyes. "Just keep your distance. I'd rather not have you fainting on me."
"Wow, a guy who doesn’t want the girls fainting on him?" I arched an eyebrow, stilling a wave of giggles. "So, apart from nuclear breath, do you feel anything else? Sore, tired?"
He shook his head, which sent a cascade of silky curls caressing his shoulders. His hair had grown. I forced myself to look away. Now was not the time to make goo-goo eyes at the patient. "Nope," Aidan said. "Everything is working perfectly. I just feel a bit tingly all over. Was I really out of action for weeks?" He paused for a short moment to scan the room. "Er, Bryn. Where the hell am I?"
I almost choked. "That's exactly where you are—Hel."
Aidan looked confused, and I didn't blame him. Freya's lodgings were very un-hell-like. "You're in Helheim. Freya's been caring for you, trying to purge the poison."
"Poison?"
"Loki stabbed you. You do remember that, don't you?" Aidan nodded. "But Loki had poisoned his dagger with the venom of the same serpent who tortured him in Hel. We aren't sure who he'd intended to stab, but in the end he got you."
Aidan remained very silent while I spoke, his face eventually losing all color. When I finished talking, all he said was, "Mm . . . on second thought, I think I do feel a tiny bit nauseous."
Panicked, I scanned the room for some sort of receptacle in case he did spill his guts. I rushed to fetch a small basin from the table at the door and returned to place it beside Aidan. My hands shook, and I just couldn’t meet his eyes. I was terrified. What if the elixir was doing him more harm than good?
A rustle of movement made me snap my gaze to the door, and I had to force myself to control my reaction as Freya—elegant, sexy and drop-dead gorgeous—glided into the room. A scowl creased her usually serene face, and I knew I was in trouble for being mean to poor Astrid. I gritted my teeth and rose as the goddess approached.
"Brynhildr, I see you have shown a great disrespect to my hospitality." Her words were shards of ice: cutting, unforgiving.
"I apologize, my lady. I had to defend myself, and if Astrid received a few wounds in the battle then it's only fair, considering she is the one who picked the fight in the first place."
I hadn't meant to be so forthright about the whole battle, but what was I going to gain by being quiet and keeping the truth of Astrid's behavior a secret? Besides, I was tired of always being the one everyone blamed. I wasn't inclined to help Astrid's cause at all.
Freya frowned but said nothing. She scrutinized my face, her expression hard to read. Unsettling. Freya then turned to the doorway as if expecting Astrid to enter. Was she hiding outside the door waiting to hear me reprimanded? I wouldn't have been surprised. She'd proved herself the spying type once already. I so did not trust her.
Aidan coughed, then retched behind us and I turned to race to his side, but Freya stopped me with a warm, gentle hand on my arm. "No, Brynhildr. Leave him be. It is the way of the elixir. It acts as a purge and flushes out the potions from the body. Take care not to get too close, as the poison is still very virulent."
I crossed my arms, unsure what to do with them, feeling very impotent as we stood so far from Aidan, just watching. He bent over the bowl, fingers gripping the rounded edges. He retched, then spewed forth a bright green liquid, the emerald poison sloshing into the bowl.
I gaped, too horrified to be disgusted. Too filled with fear. What if the poison re-infected him? What if the elixir didn't work in the end? I closed my eyes, gripping myself harder, so terribly afraid that I would see him die at the hands of Loki's poison despite all that we went through to save him. And worse, if Aidan didn't make it, then Steinn's poor daughter might not survive the elixir either.
Forcing myself to open my eyes, I watched the emerald-green, almost gelatinous liquid spill from Aidan's mouth. The poison had filled his body, every drop of blood tainted with its deadly toxicity. And now his body rejected it with a bruising force. Purged the poison through the magic of the elixir.
"So it's working?" I asked Freya, my voice cracking.
"Yes, child. You have done well. The elixir is almost done with its task."
I blinked. Praise from Freya was not something I had ever heard before. I cleared my throat to mask my shock. "How long before he's well enough to leave?"
"As soon as he has purged the poison, he will need a short rest. Then he can leave," she answered, a tight smile on her face.
As she turned to the doorway, a dwarf entered the room. The sight sent a trill of consternation through me, until I realized he wasn't of the Swartelfheim princely variety. He kowtowed to Freya and nodded to me, then headed toward Aidan, who still leaned over his puke-filled basin. Aidan looked like he was about to tumble right off the bed.
I hesitated, then glanced back at Freya. "Thank you, my lady." After everything she'd done to us, I wasn't entirely certain why I thanked her, but it seemed appropriate, at least for her hospitality. Or maybe even for the care her servant now gave to Aidan, wiping his face with a wet cloth, changing his shirt, checking his wounds.
Freya smiled. "And you can rest while he sleeps. There is no need for you to sit at his bedside." More amazing than Freya's words was her expression—one of kindness.
Talk about a split personality problem.
My eyes flicked to the doorway. Sure, I had a pretty good reason why I would want to keep a very close eye on Aidan. More to the point, I wouldn't want to close my eyes for too long while down here on Astrid's turf.
"I will show you to a room where you can rest and freshen up," Freya said. She inclined her head, brooking no argument, and I forced myself not to do a double take. Since when was Freya so concerned about my health and well-being? But even the thought of a soft bed and food, and maybe a bath, didn't tempt me to leave Aidan alone again. And Freya knew. With a haughty curve of an eyebrow, she said, "Would it make you feel better if I stayed with Aidan?"
I stared into Freya's glittering eyes. What game are you playing this time? What sort of trickery are you planning?
Or was it just a simple challenge? How dare I suggest that the goddess Freya was unable to keep her promise to look after Aidan?
I peeked over at Aidan, who now lay back on his bed, his head supported by a soft pillow of fur, his eyelids fluttering closed as exhaustion took over his spent body. The dwarf waddled out of the room with the soiled clothing and the bowl.
"It's okay. A room and a bed sounds fabulous." I tried to inject an acceptable amount of enthusiasm into my voice, tacking on a smile.
Freya nodded, and as if answering his mistress's silent command, a very thin, very tall man stepped into Aidan's room. Honestly, how do these guys know exactly when she needs them to appear? "Show the Valkyrie Brynhildr a room and make sure she gets garments, food and rest."
The man nodded, his expression solemn. Although the instruction had been one of hospitality, I still detected an ominous tone.
Come on, Bryn, enough with the melodramatics. You're just too tired. And way too suspicious.
Lurch beckoned and I followed for a few steps, then came to a sudden halt. The goblet. "Just a minute," I said, rushing to retrieve the cup from beside Aidan's bed, still half filled with the priceless liquid.
Freya raised an eyebrow again, this time curious. "Ah, I see there is still some of the elixir left."
I cleared my throat, ready to put up a fight if she so much as looked at Siri's share of the magical cure. "Yes, but it belongs to someone else."
Freya's eyes narrowed. "Oh, and who might that be?"
"Lady Tyra of Muspell. The rest of the elixir is for Siri, her granddaughter, who is afflicted with the same poison." Freya's eyes widened almost imperceptibly, but she covered her loss of composure very well. Not well enough for me, though.
She held my gaze, and I didn't quite trust that gleam in her eye. But then she surprised me. "So I assume Tyra would want the elixir as soon as possible?"
"Yes, of course. I'll give it to her as soon as I return to Asgard." My heart tightened, eager to find out if the elixir would save Steinn's little girl.
"Is she in Asgard, then?" Freya pinched back a little smile.
"Yes, when Odin brought me here, she was still in his hall."
"Very well, then. Let us be going. I shall take you to give Tyra her elixir." I opened my mouth to protest, not keen to leave Aidan right away, especially not with Astrid probably lurking out in the hallway. "Do not worry child, I shall bring you right back." She held out her hand, beckoning me to her. Freya nodded at Lurch, who tilted his head in a tiny bow.
I stepped closer to Freya's side and held on to the goblet as a cool breeze swirled around us, picking the long strands of my hair up and slapping my face with them. I shut my eyes, which was probably a mistake; it made the swirling wind and the churning of my stomach feel a million times worse.
Chapter 36
In mere seconds, I felt the pressure of solid ground beneath my feet as we materialized in Odin's Hall. I took a deep breath, relieved to see Odin and Frigga at the dais, deep in discussion with Tyra. The frequent smiles, the odd touch of an arm, revealed a camaraderie that made me curious. Guess they were old friends or something.
All three turned to watch us enter, each face displaying a similar look of consternation. Then Tyra's worry morphed at once into a brilliant smile. Surely she was not that pleased to see me?
No, of course not.
Beside me, Freya grinned back at Tyra. The dragon matriarch's pleasure was for none other than the ice goddess herself. And oddly enough, Freya looked lovely. The pleasure on her face transformed her usual empty beauty into something too stunning for words.
Freya's voice rang warm, filled with delight. "We thought it would be best to bring the elixir to Tyra now rather than wait until Aidan is fully rested."
Odin nodded and smiled, clearly pleased at the decision. Tyra stepped forward and embraced Freya as if the two were buddies from their schoolyard days.
I barely heard their chattering conversation amidst the shock thrumming in my ears. Wow. Freya and Tyra are friends? Good friends, given all the laughter and the hugs and the high-pitched reminiscing. I was more astonished that Freya was capable of maintaining any kind of loving relationship, much less one that could instill the kind of warmth and pleasure now emanating from the usually cool and fastidious Grand Lady Tyra of the Nidhogg. My widened eyes met Odin's amused one, and he winked as he watched the little reunion.
At long last, they were done hugging each other, though not before I realized that Freya had only brought me to Asgard so fast because she wanted to see Tyra herself. I tried to analyze how I felt about that. It didn't take me long to figure that it hardly mattered why Freya did what she did. I gave a mental shrug. As long as she took me back to Aidan soon, I could be happy for her.
Maybe.
Not that I would ever forgive her for playing with Aidan's life and forcing me to traipse across America and charge into Muspell just because of her stupid vanity. And now, here she was giggling away as if she'd done nothing wrong.
Okay, people. It's great you got to see each other. Yeah. But I want to get back to Aidan, you know.
They broke apart and Tyra turned her eyes on me. Good thing I hadn't begun to tap my feet with impatience.
"Brynhildr, I am sorry. Freya and I have not seen each other in centuries." She threw another warm glance at Freya, whose face could definitely do with that particular brand of happy smiling more often. She looked so lovely that even I began to smile. "I must thank you, Brynhildr. You have done Steinn and Siri and myself a great service. Please remember you can always call on us if you are ever in need of help." She placed her hands on my shoulders, staring into my eyes with a gentle warmth in her gaze, like a honeyed embrace. The golden sheen in her eyes told me she meant every word.
It was difficult not to want to run away, faced with the kind of gratitude and happiness that Tyra displayed. I guess I just wasn't used to people appreciating me that much. I blushed. "Thank you, Lady Tyra. I'm glad I could help. Perhaps someday, when she's well, I could meet your beautiful granddaughter?"
"It is done. But remember, we will always be there for you if you need help. You still have the eye?"
I nodded, the warmth still permeating the skin on my cheeks. "Yes, it is safe."
"Very well, then. The eye will always be a way for you to communicate with me. Just hold it in your hands and I will know you need me." Tyra pulled me into a warm embrace. At first I remained stiff, unsure of what to do, surprised by this new Tyra. Her burden had lifted to reveal a motherly warmth beneath the cool temper and the fiery anger of the dragon matriarch. Then I hugged her back with equal warmth, holding the goblet carefully.
When she released me, I placed the goblet in Tyra's hand, grinning.
"The goblet belongs to you, Brynhildr. When the elixir is finished, I will send it back to Asgard."
I shook my head. "Keep it. It will give me a reason to come and visit you."
She smiled and nodded as if that was the best idea ever. Our sudden friendliness felt slightly surreal, since the woman had, not so long ago, threatened to kill me.
Tyra and Freya said their goodbyes, and I tried not to listen as they promised to see each other more often and not let two centuries pass without having some girl time.
Then, back at my side, and with a quick nod to Odin and Frigga, Freya whisked me back to Hel.
As soon as we arrived in Freya's Hall, Lurch glided in through the already open doors. Again with the mind reading? He beckoned, dark hair falling and framing his ancient, crinkled face. Freya had already turned her back and walked off, dismissing me without a backward glance. So easy to believe that I'd only imagined the joy I'd seen in her eyes just minutes ago.
I went quietly with Lurch, no longer worried about Freya or the goblet and its precious contents. Now, I just needed to worry about Aidan.
Lurch led me into the passage and made to walk past Aidan's room. I glared at his departing back as he didn't bother to check what was keeping me.
I cleared my throat and said, "I'll just check on Aidan. . . ."
Lurch kept walking away, and I didn't bother to stop him. I knocked and opened the door just enough to poke my head inside. The smile on my face fell when I saw Aidan's sleeping form. He looked so still lying there. But the rise and fall of his chest comforted me. Yes, he was just asleep.
Fast asleep from the looks of it.
My heart clenched as I shut the door. Although really disappointed, my emotions still soared. Aidan was going to be fine.
I took a shuddering breath and tamped down tears, which rose in an unexpected wave of pure emotion. Blinking back the moisture in my eyes, I hurried after Lurch down a corridor lined with flickering torches. We approached a carved door, unusual in that its pale wood gleamed with an almost marble texture. Lurch opened the door and stood aside, waiting for me to enter, his eyes focused on his feet. My curiosity at his over-subservient manner lasted only until I was hit by a sudden vision of him waiting for me to enter the room and then rushing to lock me in, trapping me in Hel forever.
I choked back a panicked laugh. Bryn, you are a bloody idiot. Scare yourself to death with your crazy imagination.
He waited, silent, as I studied the beautiful wood-paneled room, the high timber roof struts, everything so similar to my own room in Asgard, except that the rich mahogany walls rippled with carvings of waterfalls and sprites.
As I walked further into the torch-lit room, the stone floor emitted a deep, bone-searing cold, and yet the room felt comfortably warm. On the left side, set into the floor, a pool of clear water bubbled. Black rock glistened in the light of the torches as water brushed against stone in little wavelets created by the constantly moving bubbles. Steam rose from the surface, and I sighed.
"There are towels beside the pool and a change of clothing on the bed, my lady," Lurch said from the doorway. He bowed—and swiftly rose a good few notches in my estimation. My lady, indeed.
"Thank you." I smiled at him, but he just stared back at me, his wrinkled face expressionless. What was he waiting for? Before I could ask, a pair of dark-haired dwarfs marched into the room bearing trays of food. Enticed by the delicious aromas, my stomach rumbled softly, but neither of the stiff-faced food-bearers seemed to have heard. They didn't look at me; just plunked the trays down on a mahogany table.
Looked pretty much like nobody smiled in this realm. Other than Freya and Astrid, of course, and, well, their particular brand of happy smiling people left a lot to be desired.
The dwarfs left without even acknowledging me, but I couldn't have cared less. All I wanted was for them to be gone so I could dive into the hot pool. Lurch bowed again and shut the door. It didn't take long before my coat and armor lay in an untidy pile on the floor. I dove into the water, submerging myself all the way to my neck.
The heat and the bubbles massaged my sore muscles, and I groaned with pleasure. Laying my head against the stone ledge, cushioning it with a small soft towel, I breathed out the day. I thought of Aidan, sleeping off the effects of the poison, of Mika and her betrayal of her father and of our wasted friendship, of Siri who'd soon return from her coma and be able to hug and cuddle the two people who most cared for her. I thought about Astrid and her attempts to avenge some ancient disagreement, and about Freya's unexpected generosity. And I thought about Joshua, who would have to heal his broken heart.
