I’d been so busy staring at the spectacular tents I hadn’t paid attention to the people sitting or standing in front of them. Some were warming themselves by fire barrels, while others didn’t appear bothered by the cold. One giant didn’t even wear a shirt. He wore a robe, his masculine chest bare. His face was hairless, and even from where I stood, I could see his striking features. He was the giant from my vision. Could Echo take him?
“Stare hard enough and he’ll know you are interested,” Echo mumbled.
I chuckled. “I can still look at a man and marvel at his perfection.”
“No, you can’t. I’m the beginning and the end for you. Your destiny is with me.”
Was that jealousy in his voice? I lifted my hand and brushed the back of my arm against his. “It is. Doesn’t change the fact that all this is new to me and I’m allowed to stare.”
“What if they misunderstand and think you are interested in them.”
I scoffed at the idea. “Then that’s their problem, not mine. No, that’s your problem since you insist on fighting them. Now, stop scowling and take me to your goddess.”
“You are my goddess.” He stroked my cheek. Then he went back to scowling at the people outside. “And no one claims what’s mine,” Echo vowed. “Elves, Dwarves, or Jötnar. No one.”
The thought of him fighting that giant filled my heart with dread. But since there was no point venting about it, I walked away. When my eyes met Nara’s, she gave me a broad grin. I didn’t return it. I had enough on my plate without adding her ever-changing moods to it.
Echo led the way across the hall. He walked ahead and to my left while Syn was to my right. Nara and Rhys took the rear. I saw my clanswoman and waved. I should sit down with her sometime and learn about my people.
I continued past the empty Throne Hall to the entrance to the Sorting Room. The goddess was inside, talking to Baldur. The number of souls was unusually high. I hurried to their side.
“Sorry, I was distracted by the tents.”
“I’d love to kick out the whole lot, but your father will never forgive me.”
Baldur chuckled. “Your mother is joking. She is a gracious hostess, and once she gets over her annoyance, she’ll open the doors and let them inside.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it,” the goddess said. “They’ll be underfoot, eavesdropping when I forbid people from being near the Sorting Hall.” She kissed Baldur’s cheek. “Go. We have work to do.”
“I will need your decision soon, elskr mín. We can’t have sons of every prominent person, god, and king from all the realms freezing outside our hall.”
She grinned as though that was exactly what she hoped for. “Maybe they’ll pack up and go home.”
“Soon, Hela,” Baldur added, then he kissed my cheek and walked away.
“Are you really not going to let them in?”
“I will. Your father enjoys entertaining, and I find it hard to refuse him anything. He tells me Echo plans to face anyone who challenges his right to court you.”
I glanced toward the entrance at Echo. “He explained in his charming way why he needs to do it.”
She sighed. “And you found yourself agreeing with him even though you don’t like it?”
“Exactly.” I gave her a sheepish grin.
“Irresistible men are the bane of women’s existence.”
I laughed. I hadn’t expected her to say something so normal. “That’s so true.”
“Now tell me about your visions. I heard you’ve had several.”
I glanced at the souls. “But the souls.”
“Can wait. I want to hear about your visions. It’s an ability that’s making me rethink a lot of things. Your brother inherited the berserker powers from your grandfather, but you might have your father and grandmother’s ability. Both are gifted clairvoyants.”
I told her what I’d seen, and she dissected it, easing my fears about Echo. “I’ll be there, too. Nothing is going to happen to him if I can help it.”
Her voice and the look in her eyes said she meant it, and I believed her. Just like that, she stopped being the goddess and became my mother.
“Are we going to cheat?” I whispered.
“No, Einmyria. Goddesses don’t cheat.” She lifted her chin, and I stood straighter, imitating her. “We direct the outcome of events because we can.”
“Noblesse oblige?”
“More like deity oblige.”
I hugged her. “Thanks, Mother. I was really worried about Echo.”
She kissed my temple. “No need to thank me, Daughter. It’s a mother’s duty to watch out for her children. I’d be remiss in my duties if I didn’t look out for him when you love him. Now about the souls. Are you sure you want to do this? You don’t have to right now.”
“It’s okay.” Despite her words, I could tell she really wanted me with her. Doing the same thing over and over again for thousands of years must get boring and lonely. Now she had me. “I don’t mind, and I really do want to practice. So first, I engage medium runes, will them while they are in energy form, and blend with them, listen to them. Then, when they are done, I engage warding runes to expel them.”
“That’s right. Do you want a chair? I don’t want you getting tired.”
She was a worrywart, too. Just like Mom in Kayville. “I’m fine, Mother. Besides, you are standing. If you can take it, so can I.”
“Are you making fun of my age, young lady?” The eyebrow above her blue eye shot up, and she didn’t crack a smile, yet I heard the teasing in her voice.
“No, I’d never do that. You look fabulous, but the fact is”—I wrinkled my nose and grinned—“you are old. Ancient.”
She laughed out loud, drawing the attention of the guards and the Grimnirs, including Baldur who was talking to Echo and his team. The surprise on their faces was baffling.
“That’s a good one. I’ll have to tell your father. If I’m old, what is he?”
“One-foot-in-the-grave old?” I added without thinking. “I, uh, I didn’t mean to say that.”
“Because he died and came here?” She chuckled. “I don’t care about his previous life. We got the best part of him. His soul. Did you know that his body was burned on a pyre on top of his ship? The most beautiful and largest ship in all of Asgard. Thor, despite his strength, could not push it. They had to use a Jötun. Our people.” She sobered up, reached out, and tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. “I’m happy you are home.”
“I’m happy I’m home, too.” And it was the truth, despite the unwanted suitors.
“Okay. Let’s get to work.”
For two hours, we welcomed souls, and I used my runes to help those who needed closure before sending them to their Resting Halls. Twice, there was some commotion by the entrance, but no one disturbed us. When we were done, it was lunchtime. Baldur was waiting for us when we left the room. He didn’t look happy. He whispered something to Mother and whisked her away.
“What’s going on?”
“The guards your mother sent to Asgard returned without Goddess Eir,” Echo said. “Your father is pissed.”
“Why didn’t they bring her back?”
“They weren’t allowed past the gate. Heimdall was gone, so his guards placed them under arrest while waiting for his return. It’s been over a week. They were lucky a certain Valkyrie overheard the guards talking about spies from Helheim and asked what was going on. Somehow he got them released.”
“Which Valkyrie?”
“Andris.”
“I told you he wasn’t bad. Man, Eirik is going to be devastated by this.”
The number of people inside the Waiting Hall had nearly doubled. And since they weren’t dressed fancily, I assumed more villagers had arrived to keep vigil.
When we arrived at Eirik’s, it was too quiet. Usually, I could hear his voice from the door. Imagining the worst, I rushed into the bedroom, but he wasn’t alone. The room was packed.
Lavion was back, and with hi
m were two elderly healers. One had a hand on Celestia’s forehead while the other touched her chest. Tammy watched them with narrowed eyes. She was never far from Celestia’s side. Zack, seated on the lounge, had been scarce, but I’d seen him with the other three girls. Hayden, Jessica, and Trudy stood at the foot of the bed while Eirik was in his usual seat. They all looked up when I entered. I went to sit on the arm of Eirik’s chair.
“What do you see?” Eirik asked the healers.
The Dwarf touching Celestia’s head had been staring at me. She shifted her attention to Celestia. “I see memories of her healing the villagers, then a man in a white robe. There are memories of possession and tormenting people.” She glanced at Eirik. “Has she ever done anything like that while in the astral plane?”
“No,” Eirik, Hayden, and Tammy said at the same time.
“Celestia is a healer,” Eirik added sharply. “She’d never possess anyone.”
“I’m only telling you what I’m seeing, Rising Star,” the Dwarf said. “I didn’t mean to offend.”
“There’s also a very strange energy coming from her, but it’s not hers,” the second Dwarf said. “It is weak.”
“Is it my grandmother’s?” Eirik asked.
The Dwarf shook her head. “No. I’d recognize hers from what she did to the orphans in my village.”
A hollow feeling settled in my stomach as I listened to them. There could be another explanation for what they were seeing. Dev. He’d possessed people and messed with their heads, and his memories and energy could have transferred to Celestia when she’d helped him.
“Can you compare the different energy inside her with another?” I asked.
The Dwarves studied me.
“Yes,” the one touching Celestia’s head said. “Do you know where it’s from?”
“Yes.” I couldn’t tell them how Celestia had helped Dev. Echo had said those with her kind of gift kept it a secret. “She treated a friend of mine. Maybe his memories and energies were transferred to her. If I brought him here, could you check his energy and compare it with hers?”
“I’ve never heard of anything like that happening, but then again, I’ve never met a healer like this young lady,” the first healer said. “So young yet so powerful. Yes, I can compare their energies.”
I glanced at Eirik. He wore a bleak expression. “We need to bring Dev here.”
He nodded and called out, “Echo?”
Echo entered the room. He must have been in the living room. “I’ll get him.”
“No, send Rhys and Nara. Father wants you to keep an eye on Cora.” Eirik went to Celestia and dropped a kiss on her forehead. Then, ignoring everyone, he headed for the door.
“Eirik,” I said when he brushed past me.
“I need to be alone,” he murmured and continued out the door.
I saw the pity on the others’ faces. They didn’t have to say it. They all knew helping Dev had messed up Celestia, and Eirik was pissed about it. He was probably blaming me for it. Without speaking to anyone, I left the room.
Echo was talking to Rhys and Nara in the rotunda. I walked past them without slowing down and headed straight to my parents’ quarters. I dropped on my bed and went back to the place where I’d been when I’d first arrived in Eljudnir, blaming myself for what was happening to Celestia.
Chapter 15. I’ll Die For You
A knock at the door announced Echo. Without saying a word, he crawled beside me and tucked me under his chin, not caring that my mother might walk in on us.
“It’s not your fault,” he whispered.
“It is.”
“Do you want me to talk to Eirik?”
“No. In his present mood, he might barbecue you.” I sat up. “The weirdest thing is I know she’ll be okay. I saw it in a vision. She was with me in the glass hallway, looking down at you fighting one of the giants. Raine was there, too.”
“When did you see this?”
“This morning after breakfast. I don’t know how Celestia wakes up, but she does. In the meantime, I have to find a way to help her. We’ll start by exonerating Dev.”
“Rhys and Nara went to get him. I don’t think memories are transferable. Energy, yes, but not memories.” He stroked my arms. Then he reached down and laced our fingers. “I’m supposed to ask Litr to bring you lunch.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“I am. You want to come with me to Grimnirs Hall for lunch?”
I lifted my head to study his face. “Seriously?”
He nodded.
“Okay.”
“Good. May I carry you there?”
“Is that your way of telling the entire hall we are together?”
“Eating lunch together does that. Kissing you does that. Carrying you is my way of keeping you close to my heart.”
I grinned. No wonder I was crazy about him. He said the sweetest, corniest things ever. “I like the thought, but I’d feel ridiculous. I don’t want my people to think I’m the kind of woman who needs to be carried around. However, I’ll eat lunch with you in the hall. So put me down, please.”
“Can’t I at least carry you to the door? Hold you just a little longer?”
Really corny. A knock on the door interrupted him, and I wiggled from his arms. Litr was on the other side of the door when I opened it. He didn’t even blink when he saw Echo.
“The Rising Star wants to see you outside the dragon’s room. He sent Karle, but he got lost.”
“Dragon’s room?” I asked.
“It’s where he changes, but we are going to lunch first,” Echo said.
“No, we’re going to see him first,” I said.
Echo groaned. “If he does or says anything to hurt your feelings, he’ll have to deal with me,” he vowed, and Litr chortled.
“It’s not funny, Litr,” I reprimanded him.
“No, young goddess. But you need these before you go outside.” He gave me a green fur-lined cloak with a hoodie. The inside was warm and so soft I sighed. The gloves, also fur-lined, came to my elbows.
“Thank you. They fit perfectly. Whose are they?”
“They are your mother’s.”
My mother’s. I might not have known her for most of my life, yet I felt a closeness to her that was hard to explain. Maybe it was because she took such pride in my work with souls and was excited about my abilities, while Mom and Dad in Kayville had tried to hide them.
“Okay, Mr. Hothead. Let’s go.” I took Echo’s arm. “And you cannot pick a fight with my brother. He’s hurting, and we both know he would not have asked Celestia to help Dev if it weren’t for me. So I’m responsible for her situation.” Echo opened his mouth, but I shook my head. “Not a word. Let’s prove that Dev didn’t contaminate her energy, and I’ll stop blaming myself.”
We followed Litr to the rotunda, then through a portal to a hallway with high small windows. Mother hadn’t shown me this side of the hall.
“He is outside.” Litr pushed open a side door, and cold air drifted into the hallway.
Echo went ahead of me and growled. “We have a problem.”
“What?” I asked, trying to see around him.
“Some of the preening buffoons are coming this way. Litr, get Syn and some guards. I don’t know what Eirik was thinking asking you to join him. I have a mind to go out there and give him a lecture on your safety.”
“Do you really think I’m not safe, or is my father just being overprotective?”
“I’ll take overprotective over a mob knocking you down in their eagerness to meet you. When they present you, it’s going to be in an orderly, stately manner. You are a goddess and deserve to be treated like one.”
I didn’t know how to respond to that, so I kept quiet. Litr returned with Syn and two other guards. They went to intercept the guests while Echo and I trudged through the snow to where the golden and the gray dragons stood, hot breath blowing from their noses and turning the air foggy.
“I’ll help Syn keep them away,” Ec
ho said and left. I tilted my head to study the dragons. They were huge, but Eirik towered over the gray dragon, his scales gleaming. I wondered why he didn’t have his chipped horn fixed. He lowered his head and stared at me with his big eyes. Everything about him was huge. His jaws. His teeth. His wings.
“I’m sorry for storming out like that.” His voice was a low rumble that was both familiar and strange.
“Don’t be.”
“No, I shouldn’t have. Trudy just chewed my ears for doing it. I didn’t know you thought I did it because I blamed you for Celestia’s situation. Far from it. If anyone should take the blame, it’s me.”
“Why? Celestia helped Dev because of me, not you.”
“No, I asked Celestia to help him because I felt he deserved it. He helped Raine’s father down that aisle, he helped save you from dark souls, and he brought Echo and Rhys back together, which meant no tension around the hall. Mother was getting tired of their rift. Helping Dev was for everyone, but the decision was mine. If he contaminated Celestia’s energy, it’s because something went wrong and laying blame is not going to fix it. Are we good?”
Every second I spent in his company showed me how much Eirik had grown and changed. “Of course.”
“You haven’t met Karle, have you?”
I waved at the gray dragon. “No, but I saw him and his sister when they arrived. Echo said you are from Jötunheim. Nice to meet you, Karle.”
Karle stared at me slack-jawed without responding.
Eirik groaned. “Ignore him. If his sister were around, he’d get his act together. What? Why are you staring at me like that?”
How could I not stare at him? He was a dragon. A freaking talking dragon. My brother. “Damn, you are huge.”
He chuckled, the sound rumbling through him. “Don’t say it like it’s a bad thing. Thanks for sharing your vision. When Celestia is up and about, I’ll take you up and show you the entire realm.”
“Uh, let’s take it one step at a time. I have to get used to you as a dragon first, not the annoying guy who used to tease me.” I glanced at Karle. “He used to be so mean to me when we were young, there were times I actually thought I hated him.” Karle bobbed his head without speaking. So as not to embarrass him, I focused on Eirik. “May I touch your scales? I’m dying to find out how they feel.”
Goddess: A Runes Book Page 25
