"True. Don't let this dandelion eater bother you, he has nothing valuable to say."
Ingrid tried to keep her face neutral, but Dúngarr's flaring nostrils caused her lips to twitch as she fought a smile. "What do you want? Why are you here menacing my people? They are nothing to you--this is between you and me."
"They mean something to you. I'm not here to play games with a child and a misshapen termite. Your presence is required at the court of His Highness, Prince Jarrick, and I am to escort you."
Ingrid slid her hand in front of Plintze as he tensed and leaned forward at the insult toward him. "I have no intention to go with you. Jarrick and I already came to an understanding when we spoke earlier."
Dúngarr stared at her, then sauntered toward her with an elegant ease. Ingrid fought to keep her thoughts blank. There was no way she'd let this Elf know she thought him impressive. "That's far enough." A sound of shuffling feet and mumbled words from the back of the room caught Ingrid's ear. "I want to see my friends and family. I have nothing more to discuss with you if they are harmed in any way."
Dúngarr stopped and drew in a long breath before releasing it, slow and steady. Narrowing his eyes at Ingrid, he tugged the corner of his mouth into a menacing grin while snapping his fingers. The hearth fire lifted higher and every sconce along the walls flared to life. Cramped along the back wall stood Ingrid's mother, father, Jorg, Selby, Helka, and several others from the village. Jorg was held on either side by Elves who were dressed similarly to Dúngarr and were equally impressive in their beauty. Several others stood guard, keeping everyone wedged against the back wall. The pressure in Ingrid's head increased and the faraway pounding grew louder as she locked eyes with Jorg. His lips were tight and his muscles tense as he stared at her.
Trust me. Ingrid let out the quick message, but dared nothing else since she knew it would not be a private conversation between them. She say Jorg's jaw muscles twitch and then he nodded so slightly it was almost unnoticeable.
Dúngarr looked at Jorg and smiled--an evil, twisted smile like the kind from someone who enjoyed plucking the wings off butterflies. Turning back to Ingrid, he stepped closer until he was within reach of her. Lifting his hand he slid his knuckles down the side of her cheek. "I suppose you could be seen as pretty, for a human." Dúngarr turned to Jorg and projected his voice, loud and clear. "What do you think, halfling? Am I correct that you ignore your Elven side and try to blend in with the humans?"
Ingrid closed her eyes and clenched her fists. Defending herself she could handle, but turning on others, that would take more. The darkness filling her thoughts might be useful after all. "Leave him alone."
"Are you going to let a little girl fight for you, halfling? Not very noble, I must say," Dúngarr said.
Jorg tensed and stepped forward, but an arm snaked out and pressed against his chest. Klaus stood by Jorg's side, his muscles tensed and his chin high, keeping his eyes on Dúngarr.
"Don't engage with him, Jorg. He's taunting you and it's not the right time." Klaus lowered his voice, "Patience, son." Startled by the inference and the support, Jorg pressed into his heels and stood still. He glanced over and Klaus gave a slight nod, making Jorg relax his shoulders to be ready for whatever might happen next.
"Interesting. You know what he is, don't you? Let's see those disgraceful ears of yours. That is why you keep them hidden isn't it?" Dúngarr continued to taunt and expose Jorg.
"I'm not afraid and I'm not hiding," Jorg said.
"Then pull your hair back."
Jorg's lips were stretched into a tight white line and daggers flew out of his eyes, but he raised his hands and pulled loose the leather string tying his hair atop his head, then swept all of his hair up and secured it in back. He kept his eyes on the smirking Elf in front of him the entire time and never flinched when several gasps could be heard within the crowd. Ingrid's heart squeezed tight, feeling his pain even if he didn't show it.
Dúngarr laughed and his companions joined him. "You have been worried to show those? Maybe when you are full grown, they will be more impressive." Jorg sneered and mumbled something under his breath that sounded like a growl. "I'm tiring of this. You are nothing--not human, not Elf, and not worth my time to insult."
"I thought your business here was with me," Ingrid said to bring his focus back to her.
"Ingrid, you need to leave. We can handle these beasts," Klaus called to her. "Go!"
"No, Papa. I'm not going anywhere. His idle threats don't bother me. He's not in charge, only doing the dirty work like a thrall sent by his master."
Dúngarr turned toward her with a scowl. "You would have done better to keep my good humor. I am to escort you to Jarrick, that's true, but he didn't specify in what condition you arrived."
Ingrid took a step forward. Plintze grunted at her side and stepped with her. A sound from outside made her stop and drew the Elves' attention. Ingrid shoved all her body weight into Plintze, causing the two of them to tumble sideways to the ground as the front doors flew open and fur-wrapped bodies streamed through the door with shrieks and raised weapons. They were faces Ingrid recognized, others from the village who must have gotten away and were now back to help.
Commotion erupted throughout the house with the captives in the back rushing forward to trap the Elves between the two groups of Norse warriors. Ingrid and Plintze scrambled to their feet and joined the fray. The Elves were outnumbered, but not outmatched. They slashed with their daggers and spun staffs that looked like ordinary walking sticks before they twirled and twisted with speed too fast for the human eye. Backing themselves toward the side wall, the ten Elves kept the fighters at bay in a semicircle, picking them off one by one as they rushed forward. Plintze held his ground against two Elves, keeping them away from the others. His skills matched theirs in speed and cunning. Ingrid wanted to join in the fight but rushed from body to body instead, healing the most severe wounds as quickly as she could. So far no one had signs of lethal injuries and she suspected that was on purpose. The Elves were toying with them, finding it a fun game like cats playing with a nest of mice. The smiles on their faces should have been obvious to everyone, but the fighters were too focused on their own rage to notice.
"Stop!" Ingrid cried. "This will not end well and it is only serving their purposes." Tired of healing as many wounds as she could while more and more surfaced, she wanted an end to the madness. "Dúngarr, I'm the one you want. I surrender."
"No, Ingrid, you can't do that!" Jorg standing at the front, locked in single combat with an Elf, twisted and pushed himself free as he yelled to her.
Rushing forward, she squeezed between the large bodies until she stood in front of the Elf leader. "I will go, but with certain terms. Stop this fighting, for one."
Dúngarr gave her a satisfied grin. Closing his eyes he raised one arm and chanted something in a language Ingrid had never heard. All at once the human combatants froze in place. Ingrid looked around stunned, her eyes wide and heartbeats pounding like waves in her ears.
"What have you done?" Klaus asked, directing his question to Dúngarr.
"Only as your daughter has requested, putting an end to your dismal display of fighting skills. It was becoming a bore anyway, so I don't mind giving in to her request." Facing Ingrid, he asked, "What terms do you offer? Make no mistake, however, I'm under no obligation to enter into negotiations with you. Still, you amuse me and I want to hear what power you think you hold to make a deal."
Plintze moved to Ingrid's side, unaffected by the Elven spell, and sneered at Dúngarr. A movement on Ingrid's other side caused her to turn. Moving in measured steps with a trickle of sweat sliding down the side of his face, Jorg walked to Ingrid. Soft and grateful, her eyes spoke words she couldn't say. He smiled at her then turned to face the other Elves.
"I'm not surprised to see the pile of stones make a poor choice, but you must have more Elven blood than I thought, halfling."
"Enough, Dúngarr," Ingrid turned back toward him.
"You will leave and never return, letting my village return to normal and live in peace. I will travel to Jarrick on my own, after everyone here is safe, secure, and healed of the injuries you've caused."
Taking hold of Ingrid's arm, Jorg turned her to face him. "Please don't do this."
"Ingrid, we will find another way. Listen to Jorg and forget this nonsense," Klaus said, still frozen in place by invisible bonds.
Ingrid looked toward the sound of his voice and saw her mother standing near him. She smiled at Ingrid, "I'm proud of you. Your path is clear and you must take it whether others understand or not."
"You've known all along, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"Agnethe, don't," Klaus begged.
"We can't keep the information hidden from her any longer. I would think our current situation proves that," Agnethe said.
Ingrid turned back to Jorg, still with his hand around her arm, but his eyes were closed. "Jorg, look at me," she said softly. "I know what I'm doing. Please trust me."
Opening his eyes he stared at her, unblinking with a flush to his cheeks. Leaning down, he put his forehead against hers. "I love you," he whispered.
Ingrid's breath caught in her throat and she closed her eyes to capture the tears that instantly sprung into them. Her cheeks wobbled as she smiled, taking a long deep inhale of the sweet grass and pine smell surrounding her. "I love you, too."
"Isn't this precious," Dúngarr interrupted. "Young love is sweet, isn't it, but it's a waste of time. I will not agree to your terms. Under no circumstances will I leave here without you. Look around; you have no one that can enforce your wishes."
"I can," Ingrid said. "You forget, I've already spoken with Jarrick--excuse me, Prince Jarrick." A half grin curled her lip when she saw him bristle at her sarcastic tone toward his leader's title.
"He would not have agreed to let you come to him unescorted, I'm certain of that. Do better, little witch."
Growls erupted from either side of her and she couldn't help but snort a quick laugh. Plintze and Jorg closed in tighter to her sides. She glanced to the ground with a smile before meeting Dúngarr's eyes and stepping forward, alone.
"Careful, you don't know how right you might be about that." A sensation was building inside of her making her blood feel like it was about to boil and her skin itch all over. Opening and closing her fingers, energy pulsed through her and the only thing stopping her from giving in to the stirrings was the worry for everyone else in the room. The darkness oozing through her mind pushed and rolled until she realized that it seemed excited. Shaking her head, she smiled. "Do you think Jarrick would leave it to chance? What if you never found me, what would have happened then? He knows exactly where I am. Before he allowed his lizard to try to kill me, he gave me a gift." She glanced back at Plintze, who was smiling at Dúngarr.
Walking forward, she stopped within arms reach of the Elf she understood to be second in command. Smiling at him she reached out and touched his arm. Pressure built within her, squeezing her lungs tight and making her want to scream, but she had no air. Then, with a sudden gust, she felt the energy release through her fingertips and the Elf collapsed to the ground. Her chest heaved, the tang of magic coated her tongue and she stared at the fallen warrior, slowly lifting her gaze to watch shock mixed with fury take over Dúngarr's features.
"I will come when I'm ready. After you release everyone, go home and wait with your Prince."
"Very nice," he leaned toward her, "I didn't think you had the guts to try it. Did you think I would leave before confirming Jarrick's essence had taken hold? You have until the second full moon to arrive. I'm assuming you found the village on your travels that held no value for us? Let that be your reminder of what will happen here if you don't make it on time." Ingrid nodded, the memory of dead bodies and burning buildings flashing behind her eyes.
Walking toward the door, Dúngarr stopped and turned to Jorg, "You'll come too, I hope." Laughing at Jorg's glower, he strode through the doors, all the other Elves following with two of them bolstering the collapsed Elf between them, still groggy, but reviving. Ingrid eased some of the tension from her shoulders when everyone else in the room rushed after them, freed from their invisible restraints.
20
Klaus, Agnethe, and Selby surrounded Ingrid within seconds of their freedom. Agnethe reached out and pulled her daughter into a tight hug, letting silent tears drop into Ingrid's hair. Sagging against her mother, Ingrid allowed the warm embrace to bring her a moment's peace. Pulling back, Agnethe brushed the side of Ingrid's face and tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear.
"You've been through so much. Selby filled us in on what happened during your way home."
"How is Hagen?" Ingrid felt a pinch of guilt that it was the first time she'd thought of him, bringing a shaky hand to her forehead. Clamping her mouth shut, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath while she rolled her bottom lip between her teeth. When she opened her eyes, everyone was staring at her, but no one had told her how her brother fared. "Is he ok? Someone say something."
"He's fine, no different from when you saw him last," Selby answered. "We were just giving you a minute."
"I'm sorry." Ingrid shook her head and looked away into empty space. "Something happened. It's why I was late getting here and couldn't warn everyone."
"Let's go in the back room and we can talk where it's more private," Klaus said. Around the room there were several people standing in small groups trying to look like they weren't talking about Ingrid's powers or Jorg's ears.
"I want to help the wounded first," Ingrid said.
"I've been around the room. No one is so dire they can't wait for a while," Klaus said, putting his arm around her shoulders and directing her out of the room. Agnethe glared at a couple in the corner that wouldn't look away as they all walked toward the back of the longhouse.
Taking seats around her parents' room, Ingrid started to tell her story then realized Plintze wasn't among the group. "Where's Plintze? He should be in here," Ingrid said.
Jorg stood up, "I'll go get him."
Selby took the opportunity to fill Ingrid in on the rest of her journey to the village which was uneventful except for the constant bickering with Jorg. "Don't tell him, but," she leaned back to peek out the door, "he was pretty good company, and it was actually kind of fun."
Ingrid smiled at her friend and felt a twinge of jealousy seep into her heart that she hadn't had the chance to be there. Outside the door, they could hear a whispered argument taking place that wasn't so whispered.
"Plintze, come in here. I want you here when I tell everyone what happened. You need to explain the parts when I wasn't conscious," Ingrid called.
A few grumbles and mutterings later, Plintze peeked around the corner before he took a couple steps into the room with Jorg following to be sure he didn't change his mind. Ingrid noticed that Jorg had pulled the tie out of his hair, letting it fall over his ears again before he returned to the room. Plintze nodded to the others, found a seat off to the side and plopped down, folding his arms over his chest.
"Comfortable?" Ingrid asked.
"Humph," he said and then looked up at her trying not to smile at her giggle.
"I had to make sure you got it out before I start," she winked at him and he turned away in feigned annoyance. "Without Plintze's help, I would not be here. I owe him my life."
Plintze fidgeted in his seat, uncomfortable with the attention or the praise. "Get on with it. They don't want to hear about me," he said.
"I would love to know a lot more about you. Perhaps when Ingrid is finished with her tale, you can tell us yours," Klaus said.
"Nothing to tell, just listen to hers."
"Don't worry, he grows on you," Ingrid said with a small smile.
"What happened out there? What kept you?" Jorg stood against the wall nearest to Ingrid; lines creased his forehead as he waited to hear her story.
Ingrid sat silent for a minute gathering her
thoughts. Lavender hung in small bundles around the room giving a sweet scent that helped to calm her nerves while she played with her fingers resting in her lap. Not looking up at anyone, she told how she had run into a dragon before meeting Plintze the first time and then again when she had to fight for her life. Briefly she tried to describe her encounter with Jarrick and who he was, but she still struggled with it herself and didn't go into much detail about the vile darkness battling inside her head. Her mother looked pale enough when she would sneak glances in her direction. Finished with her story, they all sat in silence for a few minutes.
"You shouldn't have been alone. I shouldn't have let you be alone," Jorg said in a quiet voice.
"We both let her go off by herself," Selby said, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
"Neither of you could have stopped me. I needed to go. I was supposed to make it here in time to warn everyone. No one would have gotten hurt if I'd have made it in time."
"Blah, blah, blah. It's no one's fault but the evil Elf pulling all the strings. He's not done either, so don't waste so much time whining. We need to be figuring out what to do next," Plintze piped in.
The others looked stunned and a little offended, but Ingrid smiled. "Thank you, Plintze, for your keen wisdom. He's right, though. We need a plan to defeat Jarrick. If he manages to break Odin and Freya's spell before I know how to stop him, not only are we in danger, but no one throughout the Danelaw lands will be safe."
"One thing is certain, you are not going to meet him," Jorg said.
"I am. I gave my word, and I meant it."
"Ingrid, we can't let that happen--it's too dangerous," Klaus said. "There will be no more discussion about that."
"Papa, I understand why you say that, but I'm not a little girl anymore. If I don't go, it will be too dangerous for everyone, everywhere. Jarrick is not going to stop, and he thinks he's doing the right thing. He talks as though he is repairing an old mistake, like we will all appreciate what he does. I didn't want to believe that I had anything to do with all this business about the spell and the healer, but I do. I am the healer, Papa. This is my destiny for some reason only the gods know."
Ingrid, The Viking Maiden (Viking Maiden Series Book 1) Page 21
