The last chilling note had not yet faded away before I was shook from my thoughts by the sound of slowly clapping hands. I snapped my eye open in a brief flash of anger, suddenly furious at the almost mocking quality of the ovation. I turned to see Vigdis approaching from the entrance to the stable. I found myself lowering the harmonica with my left hand and moving my right hand away from the handle of my XVR.
“Is there something I can do for you?” I asked, my annoyance apparent in my tone.
“As a matter of fact, there is,” she replied, smiling wickedly. “I don't suppose you would have something worth drinking in this place?”
“There should be plenty in the kitchen or in the main supply room,” I said, trying to suppress my anger. “Just ask the supply room officer.”
“That isn't exactly what I had in mind,” she answered, coyly.
“I'm afraid that's about all we have to offer,” I said, not taking the bait. “We haven't had time to set up a decent brewery or distillery.”
“I much prefer mead,” she said, folding her arms across her chest.
“I doubt we have any of that,” I said, turning back to the horses.
She walked over and stood beside me as I turned on the water hose to refill the trough for the horses. They had brought enough feed with them in the sleigh to keep the horses fed for a while, but we were going to have to find more. The sooner, the better. Horses the size of a Clydesdale consume quite a bit of feed in a sitting. Although we had already scavenged feed for the horses that we already had, it was not nearly enough for the small herd that we had now.
“I must admit,” she said, softly, “Although they lack the fierceness of the Vargr, they are beautiful animals.”
“Yes, they are,” I said. “They are the descendants of the warhorses of old. The modern draft horse can trace its heritage back to the old knights in shining armor.”
“Then they have a worthy heritage,” she said, nodding. “Soon, they will reclaim their lost title and bear warriors into battle, once more.”
“Is there something else I can do for you?” I asked, turning towards her.
My patience was running thin with the Hrimthurssar. I had the distinct feeling that Vigdis and Valdis were playing some type of game with me. It was doubtful that they were truly interested in doing anything but furthering their own agenda. I had little doubt that they had already tried or succeeded in ingratiating themselves with Thrym. Vigdis had already shown me that she was an opportunist and would gladly side with the most powerful warrior. She also had no qualms about hedging her bets. Somehow, I doubted that Thrym had the subtleness of mind to even notice that he was being played.
“Where is Valdis?” I asked, already regretting the answer.
The predatory smile that crossed her lips told me that I had given her the ammunition she was looking for.
“How do you know that I'm not Valdis?” she asked, her eyes twinkling with delight.
“Your piercings are on opposite sides,” I explained. “Valdis is on the other side. You're Vigdis.”
“It's nice to see that you are paying attention, Grant,” she said with a feral smile.
There was no denying that the twins were beautiful, but they were also deadly. Any man who underestimated them might find them doing to him exactly what she had told me that day at the baseball stadium. I had little doubt that she would really do it, too. She told me she would bathe in my blood, but only after having her way with me. Undoubtedly, the sinister sisters could get the job done.
“Goodnight, Vigdis,” I said, turning to head for the entrance.
“One last thing, Grant,” she said, her voice a silky purr.
“What's that?” I asked, already dreading the answer.
Sliding her hand down my arm and tracing her fingers along the flesh on back of my right hand, she leaned close enough to my ear that I could feel the heat of her breath prickling my skin.
“Say the word and we are yours,” she cooed, her musky scent filling my nostrils. “Valdis and I can make you very happy.”
“Or very dead,” I muttered, slipping away from her.
“Perhaps,” she replied, smiling wickedly. “But I promise you would die with a smile on your lips.”
With that, I strode out of the stable and headed for the entrance to the living quarters. I didn't stop at the kitchen, but headed straight for my quarters. Once inside, I began taking off my armor and equipment. When I was out of my gear, I poured myself a generous measure of whiskey.
“Straight out o' the bottle, the way the Gods intended it,” I muttered in a close approximation of my Grandfather's Scottish brogue.
I downed the glass in a single gulp and let the fire spread through my body. Refilling the glass, I eased back into my chair and sipped at the second whiskey. It was more than I usually allowed myself to have at a sitting these days, but this was no normal situation. I had a lot more to deal with than usual. This time, I had an enemy inside our own walls and I couldn't see any other way to go. We needed them, but we couldn't really trust them. Oh Hel yeah, this couldn't possibly end badly.
With the fire of the second glass spreading out and into my limbs, I felt my aching muscles begin to relax. While my mind whirled from all of the thoughts that fought for my attention, I began to breathe deeply and enter a meditative state. I forced my mind to calm down and my thoughts to go quiet. I willed each muscle group to tense and then release, easing me into a deeper state of relaxation. Soon, both my breathing and my heart-rate began to slow down.
With the meditative state, came clarity of thought. The racing storm of questions began to slow down and I could deal with them one at a time. Working my way through the events of the last few days, I let the memories replay and watched for details that my subconscious had noticed that I hadn't seen at the time. Little by little, details began to emerge that I had noticed, but hadn't registered as important when I had first seen them.
The first detail to leap back to mind was how the Vargr had been waiting for the Hrimthurssar outside the cabin without being summoned. That could only mean that either they had been watching and waiting, or they had been sent back to pick them up. That could only mean that there was at least one other person out there.
The next detail was if they had all been at the meeting with us, who had kept the Clydesdales from wondering off or the Vargr from eating them? Bit by bit and piece by piece, the puzzle was beginning to take shape in my mind. Thrym had claimed that they were all that was left of the Hrimthurssar, but I was doubting that he had been completely honest with me. There had to be more warriors out there.
It was very unlikely that he would have left only one of his men out there to guard the horses and watch the cabin. It was more likely that there was another group of the Hrimthurssar out there. Exactly how many of them was anyone's guess. I hated to estimate high, but it was safe to assume that there were more than just one or two. It was completely possible that there were a lot of them out there. It would be completely like Thrym to hide the true size of his forces, leaving us to underestimate them and be completely caught off guard when they chose to reveal themselves.
There was only one way to find out, for sure. I was going to have to find a way to sneak outside without any of the Hrimthurssar knowing about it, and I would have to go alone. If more than one of us went out, they would notice who was gone and suspect what was happening. I was going to have to quietly let the others know what was going on and sneak out the door. It was time for a little recon.
Chapter Ten
Know Thine Enemy
“You have enemies? Good. That means you've
stood up for something, sometime in your life.”
- Winston Churchill
After a quick shower, I put my gear back on and headed for the kitchen area. I found everyone I was looking for in one spot. Spec-4 was cleaning weapons with First Sergeant Gregory. The other Einherjar were all sitting together, checking over their new armor. Even my wife was in the room,
getting prepared for the evening meal. When she saw the look on my face, she immediately went over and grabbed the coffee pot and started putting cups on a tray.
Spec-4 saw the same look on my face and excused herself from the table where they had an assortment of guns taken apart. First Sergeant Gregory nodded at me and gave me a brief smile. As I approached the table where the Einherjar were gathered, Snake smiled and stood up. Leaning against the table next to him was his prized hammer, Brjótanir. I noticed that it rarely left his side.
“Wylie!” he said, clapping me on the shoulder with a big grin on his face. “Nice of you to join us.”
“I wish it was just a social call,” I said, taking a seat. “Where are the Hrimthurssar?”
“We set up quarters for them,” explained Marco. “As far as I know, they haven't left them.”
“Good,” I said, leaning closer to the group.
Karen walked up to the table and started handing out cups of coffee. I could tell by the look on her face that she knew something was going on, because she always seemed to know when something was about to happen. She also knew I was behind it. Over twenty years of marriage had given her plenty of insight into how my mind works.
“What are you planning?” she asked, frowning at me.
“I've been thinking,” I began, addressing everyone in the group.
“That means trouble,” said Spec-4.
“It's never good,” agreed Karen.
It seemed odd to see them both agreeing on something, especially when it concerned me. I couldn't help but wonder if the two of them had come to an understanding while I was gone. If they had, neither of them had decided to clue me into the decisions they had reached. Anyway, that was a topic for another discussion. At the moment, I had bigger fish to fry.
“Yeah,” I said, trying to smile as I glanced back and forth between the two of them. “Anyway, I've been thinking about the last few days and our new guests. I have no doubt that they're holding out on us. They're hiding something.”
“Of that,” rumbled Bergelmir, “you can have no doubt. It is in their nature to be treacherous.”
“Just fucking great,” muttered Snake.
“What do you think they're up to?” asked Butcher.
“I'm not completely sure,” I said, “but I think I know how to find out. I have a feeling there are more of them then they're letting us see.”
“That would make sense,” agreed Bergelmir. “I thought it highly unlikely that even the Eldjötnar could have utterly destroyed their numbers without a battle that would have raged for days.”
“They’ve got to be lurking nearby,” I said. “I think that they're watching us, waiting to see what happens.”
“And once we help them beat the Eldjötnar,” said Bridgett, “they would be able to turn on us with overwhelming numbers.”
“That's why I want to get a closer look at the area around us,” I said, keeping my voice low enough that only those of us at the table could hear it. “I want to sneak outside and take a quiet look without them knowing I'm gone.”
“Sounds good,” said Snake. “When do we leave?”
“We don't,” I said. “For one, they'll notice if too many of us went missing. For another, one person can sneak through the woods a Hel of a lot quieter than a group. I grew up hunting these woods. I know I can get in and out without them seeing me.”
“I don't like you going alone,” said Karen, shaking her head.
“Me either,” agreed Spec-4. “That's just asking for trouble.”
“I'm not particularly crazy about the idea, either,” I said, “but it's the best shot we have.”
“I agree that it needs to be done,” said Marko, “but I don't think you should go alone. Take at least one of us.”
“I'll move easier alone,” I argued, frowning.
“Wylie,” said Karen, gently. “Take at least one other person with you. Please.”
“Alright,” I agreed reluctantly.
I couldn't deny her anything, and she knew it.
“I'll go,” said Snake.
“No offense, man,” I said, grinning, “but you're not exactly built for stealth. You make too much noise.”
Snake shrugged, but didn't argue the point.
“How about me?” asked Spec-4.
“You would've been my first choice,” I said, “but it's getting colder out there and you don't handle it as well as we do.”
“I'll go,” said Butcher, standing up. “I've been a deer hunter since I was a kid and I know how to handle myself on a mission. I was a Recon Marine.”
“Alright,” I said. “Butcher and I will go. Grab your gear. I want to get moving as soon as possible. If we hurry, we can be back before it gets too late. I don't really want to spend the night out there.”
Butcher started gathering his gear while the others talked in hushed tones. I explained to them that we would have to make certain that the Hrimthurssar didn't suspect what was going on. We would have to explain why we were gone. I doubted that they would ask about Butcher, but they would surely notice that I was gone. We decided that we would use the claim that I had returned to my quarters with my wife and asked not to be disturbed.
By the time Butcher returned with his gear, I already had all of my weapons buckled in place. Not only were the swords ready, but I had the XVR and Beowulf loaded and ready to go. I had already treated my weapons with the silicone lubricant that Bowman had given me.
Everyone was excited when they learned that it didn't freeze when exposed to the outside air. Although it would allow us to use the weapons, we still had to be careful that no ice got into the barrels or breaches. Even the silicone couldn't prevent that from happening. The guns would have to stay beneath our cloaks, if we wanted to be able to use them when the time came.
I wrapped my wolf skin cloak around my shoulders and buckled it in place. Butcher had his own cloak that had been made out of heavy fabric and dyed to serve as arctic camouflage. It wasn't perfect, but it was the best we had to work with. It would have to do, for now. I would have preferred something that would completely cover the black of our armor. That would give us better concealment against the stark white of the snow, but we didn't have time to be picky. Later, we would have to put arctic camouflage on our armor in order to blend in better.
I sent Marko and Spec-4 out to check on the Hrimthurssar and make sure they weren't where they would see us leaving. Once they reported back that Thrym and the others were in their quarters, Butcher and I slipped into our packs and headed for the door that led outside. I gave Karen a quick kiss on the lips, then wrapped my shemagh around my face. Butcher wrapped his own shemagh, then covered it with a heavy scarf. With a quick nod, he indicated that he was ready to go.
Pulling my hood up over my head, I gave Marko a raised thumb. Immediately, he began pulling open the massive vault-like door that protected the entrance. Instantly, I felt the colder air rush inside to meet us. I knew that the longer we held the door open, the greater the chance that the Hrimthurssar would notice the change in the air and realize what was going on. Without hesitation, Butcher and I headed out the door.
Before we had started up the stairs, Marko was already closing the door behind us. I could hear the massive locks sliding into place, sealing the door tightly. Reaching under my hood, I activated the radio ear piece beneath my shemagh and listened for the chirp as the set activated.
“829 Radio Check,” I said, softly.
“Loud and clear, 829,” replied Spec-4. “Signal is strong.”
“Me too,” muttered Butcher, ignoring radio discipline. “How do I sound?”
“Loud and clear,” said Spec-4 with a chuckle. “You two be safe and get back here as quick as you can.”
“Copy that,” I replied. “829 out.”
When we reached the top of the stairs, I could see that the door to the little building had been shut and was still secure. I could hear the wind howling outside and knew that it was snowing again. I just hop
ed that it wasn't snowing too hard for us to accomplish our mission. If we couldn't see to navigate, we wouldn't be able to find our targets; much less our way back inside the compound.
Opening the door, I had to put my shoulder into it to shove enough snow out of the way in order to open it far enough for us to get out. Although the snow was falling heavily, visibility was still clear out the surrounding buildings. That was good enough for us to continue on with the mission.
“Let's move,” I said, motioning for Butcher to follow me.
We slipped outside into the storm and shut the door behind us. Although we would leave clear tracks in the snow, it was snowing hard enough that they wouldn't be visible for long. Also, unless someone was specifically watching for and expecting someone to come out of the compound, they shouldn't be watching for them. Only the Vargr posed any significant threat, at this point.
Using the buildings as cover as much as possible, we headed across the compound. We were careful to not cross into the open anymore than necessary. Even with our cloaks allowing us to blend in, movement could be seen from quite a distance away. It would be the movement that would give us away, more than anything else.
By the time we reached the northern gate, more than an hour had passed. The trip should have only taken about twenty minutes on foot, if we had taken the most direct route. The circuitous route we had taken had prevented us from crossing any of the open areas of the park. We had mostly stuck to groups of buildings and trees. If anyone had seen us, we didn't see or hear any indication of it. Although I wasn't certain what kind of alert we would have heard, I figured at the very least we would hear the Vargr.
Instead of opening the gate, we slipped up and over it, dropping into the snow on the other side. It would make it slightly more difficult for us to return, but it would also keep the gates secure. I knew that the Vargr could go over the wall easily, but I also knew that the gate standing open would be a dead giveaway that someone had exited. It might make it harder on us when we returned, but it was safer to leave it closed.
Once we were clear of the wall, we had the choice of either crossing the river by using the bridge or just crossing the frozen water. Although I wasn't particularly happy about the idea of crossing the ice, the bridge was completely out in the open for about eighty yards. There was no cover or concealment. If anyone was in the area at all, there was no doubt that they would see us.
Ragnarok Rising: Desolation: Book Five of the Ragnarok Rising Saga Page 14
