The Valkyrie Novels Box Set, page 57
part #1 of Valkyrie Series
Odin addressed his general. "Fenrir. As general of this Ulfr, and father to this daughter, you will be responsible for deciding the most suitable punishment."
"My lord, my only suggestion would be to send her to Hel."
The gathered group gasped, and I was stunned that he made the decision so automatically, so swiftly.
"Are you certain, Fenrir?" Odin leaned forward.
"Yes, my lord. It is the punishment for desertion and disloyalty to the regiment. As Mika's father, I believe that particular punishment is most suitable, and I wouldn't beg lenience in this case. She has done a great disservice to the Odin's army, to Asgard and to her Valkyrie partner."
"Fenrir, such is your command, and so shall I accept." Odin addressed the now white-faced Mika. "Mika, daughter of Fenrir, your punishment for your crimes is banishment to Helheim. The goddess Hel will decide the most fitting punishment for you when you arrive in her presence. You will be removed to Helheim immediately."
The crowd shuffled, probably surprised like me that the whole thing happened so quickly. Mika's confession may have moved things along. I glanced at Fen. His profile was granite, lifeless and cold as he stared at his child. My heart ached for him. I remembered what betrayal tasted like. Remembering the day Mika had confessed her true affiliations to me, the day she'd tried to kill me.
Fenrir moved toward Mika, releasing a short, golden chain from his belt. I recalled a similar chain that he'd used to secure Loki when the god had been caught after attacking Aidan. Now Fen wrapped the chain around Mika's hands, binding them within the golden links. Fen gazed at her face, the pain clear in his hollow eyes. Mika just stared back. Daughter watched father, unmoving, unaffected at all by the hurt she'd caused, by the intense disappointment and sadness that her father felt. Mika lifted her chin, showing a tiny bit of defiance despite knowing she was headed for the frigid bowels of Hel. Mika acted far too confident for my liking.
Odin stepped off the dais, gradually shrinking in size with each step as he moved toward Mika and Fen. He touched Fen's shoulder, and just like that, father and daughter disappeared in a swirling tornado of gusting air.
When they were gone, Odin faced me. "Brynhildr. Were you injured at all?" I shook my head, though it was a lie. My heart and my trust had both been badly damaged by my so-called friend. "Very well," the All-Father said. "It is time you and your team returned to Midgard. Fenrir will meet you there." As I turned to leave he added, "And Brynhildr? Well done. I am aware that it is no easy task to fight someone you care for, someone you trust."
I managed a half-hearted smile.
Odin inclined his head, and I felt blessed that he understood how I felt, how much I regretted hurting Mika. How I even regretted her whole punishment and banishment. If only I could just erase the whole thing.
Joshua's peculiar expression caught my eye as I stepped away from the All-Father. My heart lurched and a deep sadness welled inside me. He was still so angry with me. And it hurt me more than I could understand. So much that I shuddered on my next breath and had to blink away a wave of searing tears.
I made a move to go to him, and Sigrun must have understood because she immediately released my arm. But Joshua narrowed his eyes. He hesitated for the merest fraction of a second before turning on his heel and leaving the hall so fast that even Aimee looked startled at his sudden departure.
The crowd broke off into little clusters to discuss the whole horrible debacle, everyone somber and worried. Aimee strode over toward me and Sigrun. "Bryn, you really mustn't blame yourself." I opened my mouth to respond, but she grabbed my arm, her fingers squeezing tight. "No, you've got that look in your eye, the one that says you're taking the problems of the world onto your own shoulders. Stop it."
"She is right, Bryn," Sigrun said, chiming in. "Perhaps your friend Joshua is deeply hurt by all this, but I do not see how he can blame you. Mika admitted to her crime before us all. There is no doubt of your innocence."
I shook my head. "But . . . the way he looked at me," I whispered.
Aidan had also joined us, his face a granite mask. All this drama must have been a lot to handle so soon after joining the land of the alive and kicking. Poor guy. "Do you want me to talk to him?" he asked.
"Would you?" I searched his face, eager for reassurance. "Just . . . just be there for him. Don't try to change his mind or anything. I think he shouldn't really be left alone right now."
Aidan nodded and rushed off in search of Joshua. I prayed that Joshua would accept Aidan's advice. Prayed harder that he would forgive me. But forgive me for what? I had nothing to be forgiven for. I'd done what I had to do. Mika had been the one at fault all along, insisting she come with me wherever I went. I remembered the hard expression in her eyes when she'd demanded to come with me to the Swartelfheim. And that had been only seconds after she'd been making out with Joshua. The memory of the time I'd caught them kissing twisted in my gut. Was I angry because she'd just used him? It had to be that, because the only other possibility was that I was jealous, and that just didn't make any sense. Joshua was my friend.
A friend who had been horribly used.
A shudder rippled through me. Mika had been a snake in our midst all along. I'd trusted her because she'd seemed so honest, and because she was the daughter of a man I looked up to, a man I cared for. But it all made sense now. The tone in her voice the day we'd first met, sparring on the training fields. The subtle undercurrent to her explanation of why Fenrir now fought for Odin rather than against him. Her criticism had been so blatant then. But it only made sense when her betrayal had finally been revealed.
Mika had been my friend, and now her betrayal had probably just taken two of my best friends away from me. Would Fenrir and Joshua ever be able to look me in the eye again?
"Valkyrie Sigrun," Odin called out, his voice jarring me out of my self-pity. Sigrun hurried back to him, and the group of einherjar and Valkyrie fell into a wary silence.
"Yes, my lord." Sigrun sketched a quick bow.
"Valkyrie Sigrun. As Fenrir is otherwise engaged, the responsibility of the team will rest with you on this next mission."
My friend stiffened. Clearly, she hadn’t expected this, and from the set to her jaw she wasn't liking it at all. "My lord, I apologize. I feel that I should remain in Asgard and await Fenrir's return. I should be here in case he needs me." Sigrun's face reddened and she lowered her eyes. Only the slight shiver in her fingers told me she was terrified of Odin's wrath.
She need not have worried. "Very well then, Valkyrie Sigrun," Odin replied. A sad, soft sigh left his lips. "You can remain, but I do need a leader for this mission. I will require you to elect a replacement to head the scout team today."
Sigrun's head bobbed up and down, and her smile held a hint of her old cheery self as she sent me a knowing grin. "My lord, I choose Valkyrie Brynhildr. I do believe she has proved herself worthy of leadership."
Odin returned her smile, then met my eyes. "Child, this is a great responsibility." The All-Father's eyebrows wiggled as he frowned. "Are you willing to take on this role, to be responsible for the safety and the actions of your team?"
"I am, my lord," I answered, keeping my expression neutral. What else was I supposed to say? Hell no, I just want to go on the mission, not be the boss? Sigrun and Odin were crazy to put me in charge.
Chapter 38
An unexpected rush of relief flooded through me when my feet touched Midgard ground. Just being back home gave me a sense of security. Until I took a deep breath and gagged.
Until I registered exactly where Aidan and I arrived.
Until I took a deep breath and gagged.
The place reeked. The most disgusting and laughable thing was the familiar blue dumpster.
Aidan and I scanned the shadowed, grimy alley and grimaced at each other. We'd stood side by side as we arrived off the Bifrost, stepping right back into the stinking New York alley we both knew so well.
A glance at the wall behind me revealed the bullets still embedded in the brick. At my feet, dark brownish stains marked the spot where I'd dripped blood all over the filthy concrete. My last memory of this revolting alleyway was of being shot at, and the pain of Worthington's bullet plunging into my abdomen.
Sigrun, Aimee and Joshua followed a blink of an eye later, disturbing our trip down memory lane. Two other Valkyries, Enja and Pia, arrived along with them, completing the pairings for our mission.
Sigrun, of course, only meant to accompany us as far as the headquarters. Something about delivering a message from Odin to a Warrior named Erik, the head of the New York branch.
Sadly, we were a hodgepodge crew sans Ulfr. I didn't need to ask why they hadn't joined us. Mika's betrayal would've sorely hurt the Ulfr reputation, not to mention their pride. I had to admit, if only to myself, that I was very worried about Fen. I never got the chance to speak to him before we left. I'd realized, after all the time that had passed, that I'd finally actually forgiven him for the whole diving-off-a-cliff episode.
But that was then. Right now, I had to think about now.
Aidan snorted. "Of all the places in New York?" He shook his head and grimaced. The rest of the team took no notice of us; Aimee and Sigrun scowled at the filth, and the others wrinkled their noses at the stench. Aidan, on the other hand, took a deep breath. "Ah, the beautiful aroma of New York."
"Shut up and let's get going." I hid a grin and jabbed him in the ribs, no longer worried that he'd get hurt. He was all healed and as good as new now.
"What? Don't you want to take in the sights? The bullet holes and your bloodstains?" Aidan teased. I may have imagined it, but for the briefest second my bullet wound throbbed with an answering agony. I blinked, willing the memories away.
"What? Bryn, are you hurt?" Sigrun gasped, spinning me toward her to inspect me for open wounds.
"No, no." I glared at Aidan, who stood by watching and grinning as I fended off Sigrun's searching fingers. "Aidan's just being an idiot. I was shot right in this alley when we were looking for Brisingamen."
"Dear Odin. And Aidan wants to show us your blood?" Sigrun turned to Aidan, and I did a double take at the interested gleam in her eye. "Aidan, could you show us, please? We may not get another opportunity."
Aimee giggled, but I noticed she too watched closely as Aidan pointed out the little holes in the brickwork where stray bullets had punched into the brick. Then he revealed my bloodstains on the ground with a flourish of his hand that was ridiculous and funny, and a little sad, all at the same time.
I didn't bother to look behind me to check if Joshua paid any attention. I was sure I could still feel his stare burning into the back of my head. But I didn't want to drag myself back to that sad place where I mourned the loss of my best friend, nor did I want to examine feelings better left undefined.
At least Joshua was with us, even though he'd so far refused to talk with me. Maybe once we returned to Asgard things would be easier to resolve. Not that a broken heart would be easily healed no matter whom that heart belonged to.
"Come on, you guys, let's go," I said. The sparkle of horrified fascination in Sigrun's eye made me laugh too, and I was glad she was having some fun, but we had to get going. We had a mission to fulfill. I wondered if we would meet Fen at the headquarters, though I wasn't sure if I was looking forward to seeing Fen, or dreading it. I owed him a huge apology. But no apology could ever make up for what Mika had just done to him.
Following the directions Odin had given Sigrun, we found ourselves heading into Lower Manhattan, dodging the lunch-hour rush. My stomach churned with nervous anxiety as we walked along the busy New York streets shoulder to shoulder, not to mention wing to shoulder, with millions of strangers. I'd learned how to slap on a glamor fast enough, but I'd never been totally comfortable with the idea that all that prevented a random stranger from seeing my wings was a little bit of Asgard magic. And I knew the fiasco in the souk would haunt me maybe forever.
We stopped at the address and stared. I leaned over Sigrun's shoulder and double checked the details. Yes, we were meant to find Asgard's New York headquarters. So the last thing I'd expected was to end up standing on Wall Street, facing a towering, iconic skyscraper whose exterior alone held even the Craven kids in awe. Number Forty Wall Street was more than impressive, especially in comparison to Valkyrie Ingrid's rundown little suburban house outside of Cairo.
Sigrun handed out identification badges, which had our names and photographs, even barcodes. My eyebrow shot up in surprise and disbelief. The plastic tags looked real, and probably were real for all I knew.
I slung the tag around my neck and followed the group, my heart thumping as we entered the security area. A uniformed security guard narrowed his eyes at our group, his attention drawn to us as we bottlenecked at the modern security turnstile. But Joshua and Aidan quickly showed the Asgardians how to scan their ID tags, and we passed through without a hitch.
All the while Sigrun had seemed confident enough, even unfazed by the craziness of New York's streets, but as we approached a bank of gleaming elevators she slowed to a halt.
"What's the matter?" I whispered.
"What are those?" Her forehead furrowed.
"They're called elevators. We use them to move up and down in the building."
"Like the Bifrost?"
"Yes, I guess you could call it a mechanical Bifrost," I agreed.
Sigrun stared, wide-eyed, when the doors slid open and spewed forth a crowd of people, none of whom seemed to even register us waiting at the doors. People way too busy with their own lives.
While we waited for the elevator to empty, Sigrun handed me a plain silver key. "I believe it is meant to assist with our entry to the headquarters," she said with a nod, her usual confident cheer a little subdued.
Inscribed in the key were the words "Private X12." Unsure of what I was meant to do with it, I entered the multi-mirrored elevator and scanned the number panel. At the very bottom, a little sign said "Private Access." Bingo.
I waited until our team filled the small space, then inserted and turned the key. The doors whispered closed and we rode the elevator in silence, the mechanical whirring of the contraption a stark reminder that we were very much in Midgard, with all its gadgets and electronic machinery. Almost a full minute passed before it sighed to a stop, the doors gliding open, spilling us into a plush reception area, all glass panels and peach fabric walls, complete with a nice little blonde receptionist. Boy, did I feel out of place, and frumpy, even though the girl was a foot shorter. The look on Aimee's face confirmed she felt the same way.
"Hello, how can I help you today?" Betty, as per her silver nametag, rose and smiled brightly at us. Half-amused, half-shocked, Sigrun's eyes flicked from the girl's deep cleavage to her teeny little skirt.
I stepped closer to Betty's desk and said, "We're here to see Erik. I'm afraid we don't have an appointment." I smiled politely, even when she inspected me from head to toe and then did the same to Aidan.
"That's not a problem at all. I'll get him for you." She turned to her desk, picking up her phone to tell Erik he had visitors. She kept her tone cool and neutral while her eyes ate Aidan up in one heated stare. Down girl, he's taken. I think. . . .
"Please have a seat, he'll be here in a minute," she said, but her attention had already moved on to Joshua. Fickle, Betty, very fickle.
"Thanks," I muttered. Nobody sat. I guessed none of the team were in the mood to relax. We just stared at each other in the mirrors and waited. Betty frowned at our rudeness but said nothing. She just dropped pertly into her seat to wait for Erik to appear, stealing a few more peeks at Aidan, who appeared uninterested and almost bored. Betty raised a piqued eyebrow and focused her eyes on her computer screen. Thankfully, we didn't need to wait for too long.
Erik, when he arrived, proved a surprise. He was every bit the tall, muscle-bound Warrior: implacable dark eyes, prominent, almost regal cheekbones, unsmiling face. But it was his African heritage that threw me. Silly, really, after having been exposed to so many different ethnicities within the Warriors and even the Valkyries. But, yet again, I was surprised by the multinational representation of the einherjar. Must be all those blond Vikings always associated with Norse mythology.
He gave us a ghost of a nod in greeting, ebony skin gleaming in the fluorescent light. "Thank you for getting here so quickly." He had a slight accent, and I had to remind myself to pay attention to his words instead of trying to place that curious rise and fall in his voice. He looked over at Sigrun beside me and asked, "Valkyrie Sigrun?"
"Well met, einherjar Erik," Sigrun responded, her voice filled with the utmost respect. Seemed Sigrun knew this enigmatic Warrior. And they were familiar enough with each other to elicit a mutually warm greeting. Now Erik intrigued me more than ever. "I have a message for you. Is there somewhere we can talk?"
"Of course." Erik inclined his head, and I found myself admiring the regal tilt to his neck. "Please follow me," he beckoned. We entered the inner room behind Betty. Inside, fingers tapped away at keyboards and the low hum of voices made a soft backdrop to the rapid clicking.
Erik led us through a warren of cubicles to a large, glass-walled meeting room— very professional boardroom type, fitted out in mahogany and soft leather. Very plush and so not typical of Asgard. Everything at this New York location, from the ID tags to Erik, seemed out of place.
He threw a quick glance at the gathered team and said, "Karl here will get you up to date while I speak with Valkyrie Sigrun." He nodded to a Warrior who stood stiff-backed at the doorway, a pile of files in his hands, hair sticking up in all angles, frazzled to the max. "I will return shortly."
I watched, curious, as he led Sigrun away. They disappeared into a room a few doors down the hall. Then Aimee tugged on my arm, and I directed my attention back to Karl.
