War Hammer: A Nate Temple Supernatural Thriller Book 8 (The Temple Chronicles)

by Shayne Silvers

  I sighed, content that my phone call a few minutes ago had at least warned the Academy about the threat – that they needed to be on high alert for a jail-break in case either of the Makers decided to rebuild their Syndicate army. They hadn’t sounded pleased at the news, but had at least been grateful for the warning. I was more concerned with how the two had found us in New York.

  I glanced down at the coin I was absently rolling across my knuckles. My Horseman’s Mask. I knew I was going to take it with me to Fae, but I wasn’t happy about it. The last time I had worn the Mask it had scared the living shit out of everyone.

  Including me.

  Diamond claws and flesh? Wings? No thanks. But… it had saved Gunnar. Even though it had permanently changed him as a result, upgrading his claws with the same diamond-like coating.

  The real question was what the living fuck was I?

  A wizard. I had been a Maker for a short period. I was a temporary Horseman – because I hadn’t heard any trumpets from Heaven making it official that I had signed up for the Varsity Apocalypse team. I had this strange white power that had ties to Heaven. Wylde. And now…

  This Gold thing.

  I scratched my cheeks, thinking.

  And Callie had the same white magic – a gift on loan from Heaven like mine? But… I had also seen some strange silver power around her in New York, and she hadn’t explained that.

  “I’m gold, and she’s silver…”

  “You have no idea,” a very low, bass voice murmured from out of my peripheral vision. I flinched, jumping to my feet.

  Or, I tried to, but they had apparently fallen asleep, so I succeeded only in falling on my face with a loud whoosh of air. I scrambled up awkwardly, ignoring the pins and needles as I looked up, ready to fight. Because I hadn’t recognized the voice, and my wards should have prevented anyone from entering my property.

  Which meant that when I looked up to see a blood-red, massive, triangular nose only inches away from my face, I almost ruined my pants. Then the lips of the beast pulled back to reveal long fangs, and it let out a snort in my face. A wet, snotty snort.

  Chapter 26

  I scooted back with a shout, wiping the snot from my face, surprised to find it a faint crimson color. I stared up at the rest of the creature, and my mouth slowly opened in awe. Massive, velvet-covered horns decorated a gigantic head, easily ten points each, and eyes of red fire stared down at me. His nose was wet with… blood. Long, wiry, shaggy fur covered his body, and a six-inch-long patch of braided hair hung from his lower jaw, looking like a goatee. The fur bunched up into a thick mane around his neck, and his pointed ears were tucked back as if about to attack.

  He had a holly wreath around his neck.

  “Easy, Rudolph,” the same voice said. I had completely forgotten about the voice.

  A massive, one-eyed, wild-haired man stared down at me, one calloused hand resting on what must have been a reindeer’s back. His beard fanned across his chest, and the mustache over his lips was waxed together in two very distinct strips that rested atop the beard hanging down his jaw. He had no shirt, and was corded with thick, hard slabs of muscle. Not the puffy kind you see in most gyms, but dense, striated, real muscle. His veins bulged as if he was hovering at two-percent body fat.

  He wore thick, iron bracers on his wrists, and although dull, they looked expensive… and ancient. He wore fur pants, with a giant metal face over each knee, and tall leather boots that looked designed a million years ago – from dinosaur hide.

  “Those look like Darling and Dear work…” I said softly, not consciously choosing to speak.

  He grunted, amused. “What would a Godkiller know about D&D?”

  I blinked up at him, a smile tugging my cheeks. “You might not realize how silly that sounds. There’s a game about that, and it makes more sense than you think.”

  A single, cold, wintry eye stared back at me above leathery cheeks, and I could have sworn I saw lightning in its depths. The other socket was just scarred flesh. His skin wasn’t old or wrinkled, but more like tough hide. A dark-blue, hooded cloak hung over his shoulders, clasped in front by a rune-covered silver brooch. It rippled in a wind that I could not feel.

  “Wait, did you say Rudolph?” I asked, staring back at the reindeer, who stamped a hoof while continuing to glare at me, puffs of steam jetting out from his snout. “The… red-nosed reindeer? Wow, you, uh… definitely applied what we refer to as marketing spin on that one.”

  The god just watched me. I was sure I had seen him before. Up in the pavilion where I had fought Athena. Well, not in the pavilion, because he hadn’t been allowed inside, but he had been seen hovering in the air as if standing on solid ground. Of course, he hadn’t been alone then, but he also hadn’t been hanging out with Rudolph, either.

  “They’re speaking with Wulfric,” the man said, sounding amused as he read my thoughts.

  I nodded dumbly, and then climbed to my feet. His two wolves, Geri and Freki, were speaking to Gunnar. Of course. Why wouldn’t they be? “My name’s Nate,” I said, extending my hand, not really sure what else to do.

  Two ravens cawed from up above, and I felt my eyebrows furrow. “Be careful, the bastards shit on everything.”

  “Just cats,” the god chuckled. “They really fucking hate cats.”

  “Right.” I glanced from him to Rudolph thoughtfully. He didn’t look like Santa Claus to me, but I wasn’t about to ruin my childhood by asking him. Especially not when I had more important questions. Like his name. Officially.

  “You know that one already,” he said, eye flickering again. With lightning.

  I nodded, fidgeting slightly. Because I hadn’t heard the nicest things in the world about Odin, the Allfather. “Why are your ravens on my family Crest?”

  “That’s a very good question,” he said, petting Rudolph’s thick fur.

  When it was apparent that the Allfather was all-out of answers on that topic, I sighed. “Let’s try an easier one. What is this gold stuff? Should I be concerned?”

  He grunted. “I’m generally concerned when anything about me changes. As a rule.”

  “Okay,” I said, growing frustrated. “Which way did you bet?” I asked, remembering my fight with Athena.

  He grinned, a truly horrifying look that made me step back instinctively. Then he patted a pouch that clinked in a familiar tone. Olympian gold. I found myself smiling arrogantly.

  “Fuck, yeah. Odin bet on me!” I hooted, glancing back over my shoulder, wishing someone was recording this.

  He laughed. “Sure did.”

  Apparently, Odin wasn’t much of a talker, so I pressed on, coming to the conclusion that he had come here for a reason. “Do you know what I am?” I asked, hoping that covered all my bases. “I seem to pick up magical maladies wherever I go…”

  He nodded. “That’s putting it mildly.” He studied me thoughtfully. “Everyone should know who their father is, what he’s done, and what prices he’s paid. Mothers, too, of course.”

  Then he watched me in silence. I blinked at him. Then I began to shake my head.

  “Nope. Not happening. No way—”

  He burst out laughing, cutting me off. “Loki’s balls!” he bellowed, throwing his hands up as he laughed harder. “You’re a riot.” But instead of answering me, he changed topics. “You’re going Fae-side again, I take it?”

  I rolled my eyes. “Please don’t insult my limited, non-godly intelligence. You know whatever those two bird-brains see. You know I am.”

  “Watch. Your. Tone.”

  And Rudolph looked suddenly less-pleased, making his earlier attitude seem downright pleasant. “Sorry. Yes. I am.” I paused, debating, but deciding to stand my ground on this. I wasn’t walking blindly into things anymore. “Why do you ask?”

  His lightning eye locked onto mine, and it felt like staring down a tornado, but I somehow stood my ground. “Where do you keep things that are important to you?” he asked. Seeing my immediate defensiveness, he chu
ckled. “I’m not talking about your Armory. I’m talking in general. If something is valuable, where do you keep it?”

  I frowned. “Locked away? In a safe, I guess.”

  He nodded. “And where would you keep that safe?”

  “Um… somewhere close at hand. Home, I guess.”

  He nodded approvingly. “Smart. Good intentions don’t always guarantee good results.”

  I frowned at him. “What the hell does that mean?”

  Rudolph lunged at my face, and I heard a shout behind me. I dove out of the way of Christmas fangs, and fell on my ass, really not wanting to throw down with lightbulb nose. When I looked up, they were both gone.

  I spun at the sound of racing feet. Alucard was sprinting my way. “Nate! Gunnar wants to talk to you. Now! I think—”

  “He saw Odin’s wolves, didn’t he?” I growled, climbing to my feet. Alucard stopped, cocking his head. His eyes immediately shot up to the canopy, but he didn’t see any ravens.

  “As a matter of fact, yes,” he finally said. “They were fucking huge. They walked right into the Sanctorum and sat in front of Gunnar. He immediately shifted into wolf form and none of them made a sound for ten minutes. Then they were simply gone, and Gunnar shifted back to his human form. He won’t talk. He just beats on the punching bag you hung up down there.”

  I nodded, curious. “It’s time for us to go. Can you gather everyone and bring them to the Sanctorum?” I asked.

  He nodded, walking beside me, obviously full of questions.

  “Just… give me a few minutes. I need to figure some things out in peace.”

  He sighed unhappily. “I wish I could meet someone cool one day.”

  “Maybe we’ll meet Vlad or something. The way my day’s going, I wouldn’t be surprised.”

  He eyed me for a few moments, and then jogged ahead of me.

  I continued walking, mind reeling. What in the hell had that been all about?

  It seemed Odin and Conquest read the same self-help books, and that the material was well-beyond my reading level. Talking of items that should be kept locked up reminded me of the items from the Mausoleum – still in the satchel at my hip.

  But I didn’t have time to lock them up, and I wanted them within reach at all times. Until I figured out what they were.

  Chapter 27

  I entered the Sanctorum to the sound of fists striking canvas. I glanced over to see the Round Table rising up out of the floor, even though I was nowhere near it. With a scowl, I dismissed it, hoping Baba and Van would have more luck on their second attempt to find answers.

  I approached a sitting room off to the side to see Gunnar, bare-chested, and going to town on the heavy bag. Sand coated the floor where he had torn through it in places.

  “You ready to get your fiancée?” I asked.

  With a vicious snarl, Gunnar punched entirely through it, pouring sand all over the floor.

  He turned to me. “Now I am. I’m trying to get used to this diamond crap,” he muttered, suddenly extending a set of rock-like claws as his hands shifted to his wolf form, a thick white fur shooting up to his elbows.

  I nodded. “We’re in the same boat. We’ll get our answers soon enough, I’m sure. But first, that smoking hot redhead.” He grinned like a predator, his concern momentarily trumped by his eagerness. Then the look slowly faded into something darker, realizing we had some work to do to make that happen. “What were they like?” I asked in a soft tone.

  He frowned. “Like family. Like a higher form of myself. A bit like Wulfra, a bit like me. Like a perfect merging.”

  I nodded thoughtfully. “Interesting…”

  He grunted. “They wished me luck,” he said in a low tone, sounding very thoughtful, and happy at the memory.

  “That’s it? A pep talk?”

  He studied me thoughtfully. “That’s all I’m allowed to say. I swore an oath…”

  I frowned. Not at him, but at the entire situation. “Well, Odin wasn’t as helpful. At least I don’t think he was. I always meet the cryptic immortals. Oh, and Rudolph is definitely scary as fuck. He and Grimm would get along great.”

  Gunnar shook his head in wonder. “Does his nose really glow?”

  I shook my head. “With the blood of his enemies, maybe. It was like a raw, open wound. Just blood.” I shivered, and Gunnar grimaced.

  “Maybe we shouldn’t share that with the Reds. Or Alex.”

  “Good idea. Leave them in ignorance. I wish I could join them.”

  Gunnar frowned, scratching his jaw thoughtfully. “I thought Odin had an eight-legged horse?”

  I thought about that, nodding. “Sleipnir. Wait, how many reindeer does Santa have?” I asked.

  “Eight… Fuck me sideways…” he breathed, eye widening. “You think—”

  I waved a hand, cutting him off. “To be honest, I’d really rather not think about it.”

  He nodded as he scooped up a canvas rucksack from the corner of the room, and then followed me as I walked towards the waterfall, my own satchel thumping against my hip. Talon seemed to think that we could use it to get to Fae, since it resided inside my home, and I now had a bus pass to the land of sparkly psychos. If not, we would Shadow Walk to Stonehenge and try to enter that way, like we had last time.

  “Alucard should be here with Talon and Yahn any minute,” I said, studying the waterfall.

  “I sure hope the other part works.”

  I nodded. “They didn’t seem concerned about it. We’ll just have to see. But we’ll have Yahn and Vampula to scout in a worst-case scenario.”

  Gunnar grunted, still not happy that Yahn was joining us, thinking him much too young.

  And he was right, but we needed wings, and Yahn had been the only dragon willing to go. Raego was dealing with some dragon stuff, and had had about enough of my associations, lately. He’d lost a lot of dragons in the war, and wasn’t happy about offering up another. He also told me it didn’t look good that he kept helping me. If he wanted to remain neutral to events – giving him a better vantage to discover what was happening out in the world – he needed to not be seen as my errand boy.

  He had a point, but it still made me feel uneasy. Something was off there, and I idly wondered if it was related to what Callie had told me, that I had been pushing people away lately, not speaking to them in their language.

  But it would have to wait. Yahn was our only choice, and his skills could be invaluable over there. Camouflage. If we needed to get Ashley out quickly, he could hide her for us until I had a second to get us all out. Because Talon told me that since I had survived the Fae Invitation, I now had the ability to bring others back and forth at will, no longer needing a key to return.

  We were about to find out.

  Talon, Yahn, and Alucard entered in silence, game faces already on. They met us near the waterfall, and I studied them as they approached. They each wore plain clothes and a jacket with a canvas rucksack slung over a shoulder – complete with medical supplies, food, and water. They didn’t wear them entirely over their backs in case their change destroyed the straps, unable to accommodate their new forms. Because the Fae had a way of changing you. Some more than others.

  Even Yahn, the normally upbeat Swede was unusually somber. Then again, he had been through a war, and wasn’t entirely as innocent as he had once been. For everyone’s benefit, but mostly his, I cleared my throat.

  “You all saw what happened to me when I went over there. It… changes you. I mean, look at Talon. He got a new name and now has to take care of his own litter!” I said, face serious.

  “Hilarious, Manling,” he muttered.

  I met each of their eyes, Alucard first. He nodded resolutely. Yahn didn’t even bat an eye – either the best poker face in the world, or entirely committed. It would have to do. He was a big boy, and I needed to show him some respect. He could always disappear if things got crazy.

  Then again… that would leave him stuck in Fae.

  I met Talon’s eyes, whi
ch were watching mine as if reading my thoughts. He nodded one time, and I concealed my breath of relief. Talon would get him out if things went sour.

  “First a few rules. The Fae are… different. They consider anyone born on our side to be Manlings. Much like we tell Fairy Tales, the majority of them share Manling Tales. And the majority of those we came across saw Manlings as the next best thing to the bogeyman. They will still try to eat your face, but you need to understand that they see us all as monsters.”

  “Good,” Alucard interrupted. “Let’s drive that point home, shall we?”

  Gunnar growled his agreement.

  I nodded. “Be that as it may, we’re not looking for a war. We’re extracting a friend. We can’t let our rage take over. It’s way too easy to let that happen over there. I’ll try to keep you grounded, as will Talon, because we have to remember part of ourselves – as we are here, right now. I want everyone to think about the most important thing in the world to you. Seriously, think on it. Then you’re going to share with the class so we can all hear.”

  I waited. Gunnar didn’t miss a beat. “Ashley. She’s my everything.”

  I nodded. “That’s good. I also would have accepted your best friend, Nate, but Ashley will suffice,” I mumbled. He grunted, not looking the least bit guilty, but he was smiling.

  Alucard stared at the ground for a few moments. “Family. My real family. You assholes. The Reds. Tory. My family of monsters.”

  I smiled, nodding. “Remember it. You’ll need it as a totem.”

  Yahn was staring into the middle distance. “The Reds,” he said firmly, not meeting my eyes.

  Alucard turned to him suspiciously, but Yahn didn’t return the look. “The Reds?” I pressed.

  Yahn compressed his lips, nodding. I really tried not to smile. “Which one?”

  Alucard folded his arms, scowling murderously.

  But Yahn didn’t immediately answer. After a few tense moments, he finally did meet Alucard’s eyes, and what I saw made me shiver. There was not an ounce of fear in them. It was a raw challenge.