Goddess: A Runes Book

by Ednah Walters

  “She shared her life force with a friend of mine because of me. When she wanted to stop, I begged her to keep going. And now her life force is so low she’s sunk into a coma. It’s my fault.”

  “You’re talking about Dev?”

  “Yes. How did you know?”

  “Celestia talked to me about him, and I thought it was a brave thing to do. But that should not have caused this problem. She is strong and powerful. Something else is stopping her from recovering. I need to figure out what it is.” Concern furrowed her brow. “Not knowing is driving me crazy.”

  “Did she tell you that Dev was once a dark soul? He could have contaminated her energy.”

  The goddess shook her head. “From what I’ve been told, he redeemed himself by helping others, so her reaction has nothing to do with the fact that he was once a dark soul. I saw how he protected you outside your school when he felt my presence. All the souls are very protective of you.” She peered at me. “Do not blame yourself, Einmyria. Celestia’s situation is not your fault. I’ve seen her heal many people and recover, and I’ve called every healer in the realm, but they can’t figure out what’s wrong with her.” Annoyance laced her words. “I just sent emissaries to Asgard to bring Eir today. We’ll soon have answers.”

  The name was familiar. “Who is Eir?”

  “The Goddess of Healing. She trained Celestia. I hope they realize how urgent the matter is. Asgardians tend to take their time when something doesn’t involve war. They love to party or find a reason to celebrate.” She shook her head. “I just want her awake. The hall always rings with laughter when she’s around, which improves your brother’s mood.”

  Love and frustration tinged her voice, and my guilt increased. Despite what she’d said, I knew it was my fault Celestia was in a coma. If only I hadn’t accepted their offer. I should have said no. Stopped her when she’d become tired.

  “What can I do to help?” I asked, desperate to do anything, however small.

  “Not much, dýrr mín.” Then a thoughtful expression crossed her face. “Unless you can convince your brother to eat.”

  “And shower,” I added.

  She chuckled. “Yes, he smells worse than Garm. He went flying a couple of days ago, and I doubt he showered afterward. I’ve tried everything. I’ve threatened. Scolded. Begged, but he just stares at me, then goes back to talking to her. It’s breaking my heart.”

  And that was the woman everyone had told me about, not the one I’d read about. I had a feeling the face she’d shown me before the hugs and the tears was the one she showed the world. The face of a goddess, ruler of Helheim. The one who cried while she hugged me and was now begging me to help her son was the mother goddess. She really loved Eirik.

  “I’ll take care of him now.”

  “Good idea. Then we can sit down and talk.” She stood, and I did, too. “You two have known each other for a long time?”

  “Since elementary school,” I said as we walked toward Eirik’s bedroom. She took my arm as though she needed to be physically in contact with me to confirm I was really there. “Because my parents homeschooled me for years, I hated going to public school at first. Raine found me crying in the bathroom and took me under her wing.” I glanced at the goddess. “I don’t know if you know Raine.”

  “Svana and Tristan’s daughter? Yes. I know about her friendship with Eirik and that the two of you are very close. I owe her family a lot for taking your brother in, and loving him.”

  “Raine is awesome. She introduced me to Eirik the same day during lunch.” The main door opened, and Maera wheeled in a trolley with covered plates.

  “Not yet, Maera. Take care of our guests first.” She waited until Maera left before asking, “Have you met Celestia’s family?”

  “No, but I’ve met her best friend, Hayden, and Tammy. Are they here?”

  “They arrived earlier. Richard—that’s her father, her aunt, and her cousin are also here.” She cupped my cheek and smiled. “I’m so happy you are home.”

  “Me too.” Then I went on my toes despite the heels and kissed her runed cheek. I went to where Eirik sat and touched his shoulder. “Let me take over, Eirik.”

  “No. I need to be here when she wakes up.”

  “When she does, I’ll call you.”

  “You don’t understand,” he snapped. “I have to be here. I want my face to be the first one she sees when she wakes up.”

  I leaned back to escape his stale breath. “So you want her to see you looking like a hobo when she wakes up? Or should I explain to you in detail what a girl finds unattractive in a man. Believe me, she won’t think it’s hot you are not eating or bathing. She’d be disgusted.”

  Eirik glared at me. “Celestia would never be disgusted by me.”

  “She’s a girl, and I know how girls think. Believe me, a stinky, unshaven love of my life is not what I want to see when I wake up from a coma. I’d want my man to have his shit together and be ready to hold me and kiss me and tell me how much he’s missed me, not blow stale breath in my face.” I leaned back. “Not even a mint can save you, pal.”

  Frowning, he cupped his hand, blew in it, and sniffed. He made a face.

  “See what I mean? That happens when you haven’t brushed. The mouth has the most germs in your entire body. Dental hygiene 101. Celestia will not want to smell that or kiss that when she wakes up. I don’t feel her soul struggling to leave her body. She’s just resting and building up the life force she gave up. Go. I’ll watch over her.”

  “If she wakes up—”

  “I’ll get you. I promise.”

  He hesitated.

  “I have strength runes, so if you are not done, I’ll kick down the door and drag you out here, naked and wet. Since I have no interest in seeing you naked, you better hurry up.”

  He glowered. “Dang, I’ve forgotten how annoying you can be.”

  “You were just as annoying when you came to see me at the mansion, so call this payback. Go. You smell worse than dirty gym socks.”

  “I don’t.” He lifted his arm and sniffed his armpit. “Damn.”

  “Now imagine hugging Celestia.”

  “I’m going.” His eyes went to Celestia and lingered. “You sure about her soul?”

  “Yes, I am. Remember, they love me. If her soul wants to separate, I’d know.” That wasn’t really true, but he needed to hear it.

  Sighing, he got up and disappeared through a door. My eyes met Baldur’s across the bed. He smiled with approval. Sounds came from behind me, and I looked over my shoulder. The goddess was smiling, too. I hadn’t realized she was still around.

  “You have a way of talking to him that makes him listen,” she said.

  My cheeks warmed. I’d been unfeeling. “I know how guys at home think. Eirik has changed a lot, but in some ways he hasn’t. I knew which buttons to push, and I’m afraid I wasn’t nice about it.”

  “Is it true what you said about being able to see souls wanting to separate?” Baldur asked.

  “Not really. Back at home, I’d see them once they started to separate, not before. I just wanted to reassure him.”

  “Well, I’m happy you did,” he said and extended a hand toward the goddess. She joined him on the lounge and reached out to stroke Celestia’s hand. “The poor sweetheart. I wish Eir could get here faster. You think he is stopping her from leaving?” The way she said “he” told me she was referring to someone she thoroughly disliked.

  “No, elskr mín. Ásynjur Court is autonomous, and Alfadir would have no say on what the goddesses do,” Baldur said. “On the other hand, it involves traveling here and they still fear you.”

  The goddess chuckled. “Then they are idiots. I’ve relaxed rules about visitors to my realm. All are welcome.” Baldur laughed, and she threw him an annoyed look. “Eirik and Celestia visited them from here. Why wouldn’t I be a gracious hostess?”

  “Do you really want me to explain? They are terrified of you, elskr mín.” He lifted her hand to his
lips. “Give them a few more days to gather courage.”

  She shook her head. “Like I said, they are idiots. If my emissaries are not back in a couple of days, I’m going to Asgard.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea, dýrr mín,” he said in a soothing tone.

  “I think it’s brilliant. A couple of days, Baldur, then I’m going. I will put up with their stares and distain to bring Celestia the help she needs.”

  “Of course, dýrr,” Baldur said and smiled.

  “That’s not going to work on me, so stop it,” she whispered.

  “I didn’t do anything. I’m agreeing with you.”

  “That’s what I’m concerned about.”

  The dynamics of their relationship were interesting. “How did you two meet? I mean, I know it was here. But how did you know you loved each other?”

  Baldur chuckled while the goddess continued to stroke Celestia’s hand. For a beat, I thought she wouldn’t respond. Then she glanced at him. “Do you want to tell her?”

  “No, you tell her.” He kissed her on the lips. “I’m better at filling in the blanks.”

  She studied him with narrowed eyes. “Do you promise to behave and not sugarcoat anything?”

  “Would I do that to you, my love?”

  “Yes.” She glanced at me. “He embellishes everything to make me look good. I wasn’t. Not to him anyway. How much do you know about me?”

  Watching them only made me want to learn more about how they met. “Everyone in Helheim loves you and is loyal to you because you are tough but just. You care about them and the souls you help. You grew up in Jötunheim, then went to Asgard before Odin gave you this realm to rule.”

  “She demanded a realm to rule because she deserved one, and Alfadir, your grandfather, gave her Helheim.”

  I looked at the goddess. “You demanded?”

  “Asked. Like I said, your father embellishes things. When you feel you deserve something, you go for it and don’t let anyone stop you or dissuade you. Things don’t happen for those who wait or beg. What else do you know?”

  “Your life in Asgard was not an easy one.”

  She grimaced. “It had its moments.”

  “Now you are being kind, dýrr mín,” Baldur said. “I’m afraid some of my friends and family were very cruel to your mother as a child. No one, let alone a child, should ever be ridiculed for their looks. I was very annoyed and disappointed with their behavior.”

  The goddess chuckled. “He takes it very personal. The fact is being seen as different and treated a certain way is something I faced growing up. Some of the gods and goddesses were unkind, but I also found refuge with some. Frigg, your grandmother, for instance, is very compassionate. She would send for me for visits. Her hall is by a brook, and she has wild animals roaming her woods and meadows with flowers. I’d spend hours studying the birds and the animals. As I got older, she’d allow me to observe the proceeding in the Ásynjur Court.”

  “What’s that? Father mentioned it before.”

  “The court of female goddesses. I learned a lot watching her, so when I overheard them discuss Helheim and how the god in charge no longer wanted the job and had disappeared, I knew exactly what to say to Odin to get this realm.”

  “That was before my father learned about the prophecy of what would happen during Ragnarok,” Baldur chimed in. “He tried to change things, but Ragnarok is fated to happen. Once the Norns seal your fate, there’s no changing it without consequences.”

  Raine had changed destinies, and so far, she was okay because she was supposed to be a Norn. What if Celestia’s situation was the result of her changing Dev’s destiny? I focused on what the goddess was saying, but my mind was racing with what could be wrong with Celestia. The Norns could be behind her condition.

  “Your father is right. He had to die in order for you and Eirik to be born,” the goddess said. “You both have an important role to play in the future.”

  “Like what?”

  The goddess chuckled. “Your brother will be the next head of the Asir Court in Asgard, and Celestia will head the Ásynjur Court. Now where were we? Yes, my relationship with your father.”

  She neatly avoided talking about me. Did that mean I had no future worth mentioning?

  “I was running things here with my mother, who’d fueled my hatred for Asgardians for what they’d done to our family. When the reapers arrived from Asgard with Baldur, his wife Nanna, and Litr, I wanted payback.” She glanced at Baldur and grimaced. “I was not very nice to you, elskr mín, was I?”

  “You had every right to be angry and wanted revenge for the pain they’d caused you in Asgard,” he said.

  “It was more than that. There was this thing inside me I needed to ease, and I thought that having your father, Odin’s favorite son, in my hall would do that. His wife just wanted to rest, so I sent her to an Eternal Resting Hall the moment they arrived, but I kept your father with me. When his brother came to plead for his return, I was more than happy to show him off.”

  “Her newly acquired pet,” Baldur whispered.

  She backhanded his chest. “Don’t listen to him. He was never my pet, but I had him sit next to me on my throne as I told his brother Asgard couldn’t have him back because he belonged with me in Helheim.” She sighed and glanced at him again. “I was horrible to you.”

  “Ah, but it was the beginning of our adventure,” Baldur countered.

  “You are being kind. You should have seen your father in Asgard, Einmyria. He was glorious.”

  “I’m still glorious,” he countered, trying to look offended but failing miserably.

  She smiled and continued to stroke Celestia’s hand. “He was just. Kind. Charismatic. Envied by many and admired by all. Whenever I met him, he was always kind. I admired him greatly.”

  “Just admired?” he teased, and pink tinged the goddess’ normal cheek while the runes on the other appeared to coil faster. “I think it was more than that.”

  “You had a crush on him?” I asked, grinning.

  She scowled. “Explain this crush.”

  “Our daughter means you more than liked me, dýrr mín.”

  She sat upright and lifted her chin. “You were a married man and far older than I was.”

  “She had a huge crush on me.” He whispered something in her ear, and she laughed softly, her eyes twinkling.

  “Maybe a little,” she conceded. “I admit I’d hide behind pillars and watch him. Everyone adored him.”

  “And now I adore your mother.”

  “That’s because I wore you down. You had no choice but to love me.”

  He sighed melodramatically. “What a chore.”

  I laughed. Now I knew where Eirik got his wacky sense of humor. The goddess just shook her head, her eyes going to the bathroom door. The water had stopped running.

  “Are you hungry?” she asked.

  “A little, but I want to hear more of your story.”

  “Can you convince your brother to eat, too?”

  “Oh, yes.” I glanced at the closed bathroom door and hoped Eirik stayed a little longer and shaved. “So how did, uh, Mother wear you down?”

  “She didn’t. I wore her down. I reminded her every day she was a beautiful woman and I was devoted to her. She wanted me to talk to her while I wanted to kiss her, so I did both. And she rather liked it.”

  The goddess sighed. “You are impossible, Baldur.”

  “I’m telling our daughter the truth.”

  “She doesn’t need to know every detail.” She angled her head and said, “Yes, Maera. You can come in.”

  Sounds came from the living room. Then the housekeeper appeared in the doorway. She beamed. “Shall I set the table here or your quarters?”

  “In here, and let me know when Einmyria’s rooms are ready.”

  Maera left, and Baldur got to his feet. “I’ll join you for dinner, but first I need to check on our guests. Don’t forget to tell our daughter how hard you made me work
to prove my love to you.” He kissed her forehead and walked around the bed, dropping a kiss on my forehead and another on Celestia’s. “Come back to us soon, little one.”

  The goddess watched him as he walked across the room. A sigh escaped her. “Your father is a wonderful man. I hope one day you meet someone like him.”

  I wanted to tell her I already had, but I held my tongue.

  “Not once during those years did he complain about how I treated him. He didn’t just take care of everything I asked of him, he made sure the guards did their duties, dressed properly, and learned court decorum. He ran drills for possible attacks, created a chain of command, and a duty schedule. I didn’t ask him to do any of these things. My mother had trained the guards before he arrived here. She was an amazing strategist when it came to military attacks and counterattacks, but she didn’t know anything about running a hall and dealing with visitors from other realms. Her solution was to attack anyone who entered our realm and ask questions later, and we did that for millennia. Baldur changed all that, and so the two of them didn’t get along. It only grew worse with time. Maybe it was the fact that she hated him that caused me to seek his counsel more and more. The more time we spent together, the more he’d ask me personal questions about my past instead of discussing the realm. I kept telling him it was none of his business.”

  I laughed. “But he didn’t stop?”

  “No.” She chuckled. “I think you might get your stubbornness from him, after all. Once he decides to pursue something, he never gives up. Ordering him to stop didn’t work. Talking down to him didn’t work either. Finally, I gave him a little information to test him. I told him terrible things about my childhood. Cruel stunts children played on me. He’d get angry. I even overheard him tell Litr he wanted to beat his uncles to a pulp for the things they’d said about my parents in my presence.” She smiled while my heart broke for her. Tears rushed to my eyes. “I never realized how much pain I’d carried from those years until I saw things through your father’s eyes. Oh, dýrr mín. Don’t cry. This is all in the past.”

  “Doesn’t make it right. I hate bullies, Mortal or gods. Only last week I had the Grimnirs punish the bullies who’d caused a girl’s death.