“Are you really from the other realm?”
“Yes, sir. May I talk to your people?”
Doctor B chuckled. “Of course. It would be an honor.”
I faced the audience and wondered how soon it would be before the Norns arrived. I was about to expose them and our world in ways they couldn’t possibly imagine.
“My name is Eirik Baldurson, son of Baldur, God of Light, Purity, and Fairness.”
The people in front looked at each other. I glanced around, expecting the Norns to appear and drag me to their home. They didn’t. Either they didn’t know or they didn’t care.
“You’re probably thinking I’m crazy,” I continued. “I’m not. The gods you evoke whenever you need help or guidance are real. Sometimes they listen and sometimes they don’t, but they are real. They just don’t live here. Whatever culture you come from, whatever gods you call out to for help, they can hear you and if they choose, they guide you.” I had them. No one made a sound. “For centuries, the knowledge of the gods has been hidden from you and only passed down to a select few. Things are about to change. I’m not a teacher and cannot explain to you everything you need to know, but one day, we will have special schools for your children to learn about the gods, magic, healing, and divination without worrying about the rest of the world finding out they are Witches, burning them at stakes, or condemning them. You will not need schools like this, and your sons and daughters, brothers and sisters will decide for themselves whether they want to stay Mortal, like you, or become Immortal, like me.”
A buzz spread through the audience. I hadn’t planned on giving them details about Valkyries, Grimnirs, and Norns, just an overview of who I was to open their eyes to the supernatural world.
“Yes, I’m an Immortal. That means if you cut me, I heal. If you break my bones, they reform. If you snap my neck, the tissues regenerate.” There was no need to tell them that chopping off my head or ripping my heart from my chest would end my physical existence. “I wish I had time to prove to you that I am the real deal, but I plan to work with the Guild and attend more meetings like this. Right now, there’s a young and powerful Seeress out there that needs your protection. She is the reason why the Witches are getting killed. Once you accept that I am telling the truth, you’ll understand why she is important. Does anyone have an athame?”
Almost every hand shot up. I liked these Witches. I engaged speed runes and appeared beside a woman in a wheelchair. The audience gasped by what they perceived as my disappearance and sudden reappearance.
“Is it very sharp?”
The woman in the wheelchair hesitated. “Very.”
“Good.” The silence was deafening. I shrugged off my coat, flexed my wrist, and separated Gunnlögi from my arm.
Another wave of murmur rippled through the crowd. I wondered how many would leave believing I was a trickster and how many would take me seriously. It didn’t matter as long as the Norns heard about it and Raine received some help.
“Before I continue, you can share what I’m about to show you with the Witches community only. Not the general public.
My eyes met Celestia’s in the crowd. I could always find her no matter how crowded or big a place was. I winked, and she shook her head.
I placed the mace on the floor and extended my wrist, but the woman refused to cut me. The man seated behind her wasn’t shy. Instead of aiming for my wrist, he aimed for my bicep. The blade sunk in, hitting the bone. Gasps filled the audience, and someone screamed. The pain was brief because I’d already engaged the runes.
“I’m okay,” I called out and stepped back.
Moving to the center of the aisle where everyone could see me, I gripped the handle of the athame and pulled. Blood gushed out of the wound. I lifted my arm so they’d see the wound close and the bleeding stop. I engaged the right runes, and the blood dried up and disappeared. I wiped the blood off the athame, handed it to the man, and walked back to the stage.
Someone had placed a glass and a pitcher of water on the podium. I poured some, sipped, and studied the faces in the audience. I removed the mic from its cradle and walked to the edge of the stage.
“Now, I know some of you are wondering whether to believe me or not, but you are magical people and you believe the impossible. I’m the impossible.” I studied those seated close by and found a buff guy. “You, could you hand me my mace, please?”
I could hear Celestia’s groan from across the room. She’d say I was showing off, but I had to convince these people I was real so they could help Raine. From what Celestia had overheard, Raine was in trouble. The Immortals killing the Witches were after her, and knowing her, she would refuse help if I offered it. I planned to talk to Torin as soon as the Witches were in Kayville, not before. He was too proud to accept help or admit he couldn’t protect Raine on his own.
From Celestia’s description, Lord Worthington was behind the killings. Whether they used the orphans or a Witch who could talk to the Norns, the end result would be the same—the Immortals would get their chance to talk to the Norns and try to change their destinies. I might hate the Norns and how they operated, but this was one time I wished they’d meet with these Immortals and scramble their brains.
The men tried to lift the mace with little results. Even Zack, who was seated halfway down the aisle, tried to lift it.
“What is it made of?” someone asked.
“A special metal from Asgard,” I said. “But it was forged by Dwarves, and I’m the only one who can lift it.”
“Like Thor’s hammer?” a woman called out.
“Yes, like Mjornir and Odin’s spear, Gungnir.” I left the mace where it was because I knew every red-blooded male in the audience would want to try to lift it. “I’m the son of Hel, the Norse goddess of the dead and the ruler of Helheim. My father is Baldur, son of Odin.”
Once again, I paused and waited for the Norns. If they were going to make an appearance and stop me, this was the time to do it.
Nothing happened.
“I’ve lived with the gods in Asgard, but now I live with my parents in Helheim. If any of you have gone on a spiritual quest to communicate with the spirit in the realm of the dead, you’ve gone to her realm. You might not have entered Hel’s Hal, but you came close enough to summon your ancestors and talk to them.” A few murmurs rippled across the room. “Now, for my last bit of proof.”
I removed an artavus from the inside pocket of my duster. “The realms of the gods have giants too. Giant men, wolves, snakes, and even hounds. Has anyone seen The Avengers?”
Nods and murmurs greeted my question.
“They got it wrong. Yes, we have giants, but they are not all bad. Like humans, we have good and evil giants. My mother owns a giant hound that watches her gates so evil souls would not enter it. I don’t want you to panic, because when Garm is not on duty, he’s just another dog.”
I etched air runes, making sure I covered enough area, but left it open-ended at the top to accommodate the hound’s height. A portal opened, the blast of frigid air blowing across the stage and hitting those seated with Mrs. Mouton and Doctor B. Of course, they couldn’t see the portal. They just felt its presence.
“Sorry, but you can’t see the portal I just opened to Helheim. Don’t worry about the draft. It’s pretty cold there.” I placed my fingers in my mouth and whistled. “Here, boy.”
The stage shook as the hound moved closer. I stepped away from the portal when he entered the cave. Garm stuck his head through it and licked my cheek. No one moved, their eyes wide as they watched the giant dog with six eyes.
“Good boy. Home.” Garm whined. “Go home or no ride tomorrow.” He growled, and the audience gasped. “Stop scaring them. Go. Now.”
Garm backed up and disappeared into the cave. The portal closed. I put the artavus away and studied the crowd.
“Any questions?”
No one spoke.
“Now that we’ve established I’m telling the truth, let’s talk about
the Witch who needs your help. Her name is Raine Cooper, and I grew up with her in Kayville, Oregon, before I joined my family. I cannot answer questions about her, but there’s one thing you should know. The Norns desperately want her on their side. I don’t know why. She doesn’t know why, but she’s the only Witch I know of who can stand up to them.” I let that sink in. “Norns, remember that name. They always travel in threes. And they change shape, color, and size. They could be men or women. Look them up online or in books about Norse gods.”
I paused and sipped the water.
“Celestia’s vision was right. Raine is one of you. She is possibly the most powerful Witch on Earth right now, and she needs your protection from the people searching for her. Only you can help her. I don’t know what you can do. Create a spell to protect her town. Use whatever you can to protect her because she’s going to change things for Witches in this world. She will fight the gods for you and you’d never have a more worthy champion. One day, we’ll learn why the gods fear her. Until then, I’ll repeat what Celestia said. Raine needs your help. Seeresses are willing to die to protect her. Let’s show them they are not alone.”
Sounds came from behind, and I turned to find Doctor B and the others talking. I wasn’t sure what they were discussing, but I wasn’t about to let them dismiss Raine’s safety.
“In return, I will find the people killing the Witches and deliver them to you. You can do whatever you want with them when the time comes. Questions?”
“Are there more Immortals like you?”
“How does one become an Immortal?”
“Are the Immortals hurting the Witches, since they disappear into thin air?”
I raised my hand, and silence followed. “You will learn a lot about Immortals and the gods in the coming months. But right now, you just need to know that yes, these killers are Immortals. But they’re not like me. They were Witches like you before they were given the gift of immortality, which they’ve abused by their actions.” That generated a buzz. “How one becomes an Immortal depends on many things I cannot explain right now because we need to focus on Raine. They want her because she can talk to Norns and they feel they’ve earned the right to visit other realms. Not all Immortals feel like this. Most of them are happy and content helping humanity thrive. That’s another thing you can learn in the coming months, too. Thank you for listening, and I hope we can work together to stop these attacks.”
The applause surprised me. I was sure they’d be busy dissecting everything I’d said. I put the mic in its cradle and shook hands with Doctor B and the members of the Guild. Mrs. Mouton apologized for our initial meeting.
“I had no idea who you were,” she said.
“I might have come off a bit strong,” I said, trying to be diplomatic. I was going to need her cooperation if I wanted to change things. On the other hand, I had to make one thing clear. “Celestia is a very special and dear friend, so I take a keen interest in anyone or anything that bothers her.”
“I will personally apologize to her,” she added hastily.
“That would be nice, thank you.”
“I had visions of a better future, and I knew our young Celestia was part of it, but I had no idea how big it was going to be,” Doctor B said. “Thank you for talking to us.”
“So, do you think I can get protection for my friend?”
“It’s already been decided.” He glanced at the council members, and they nodded. “We’re issuing a Call tonight. Witches across the country, and possibly the world, will be sent to Oregon to cast a spell around the town and protect this young lady. Where can I reach you if we need to talk?”
“Celestia is my contact person, but I’ll be back in the coming weeks to meet with the officials of the Guild and answer more questions.”
The present officials bowed and shook my hand. It was obvious they were confused about how to treat me. I had to correct them several times before they stopped calling me “Your Highness” and “my lord.”
I got off the stage, picked up my mace, and bonded with it. The woman in the wheelchair handed me my duster and shook my hand. I had a feeling she wanted to talk, but others also reached out to touch me and shake my hand.
Doctor B tried to intervene and urged them to let me pass, but people were not easy to control, unless you were a Grimnir. Rhys, Nara, Ranger, and Daiku deliberately decloaked in front of the audience and flanked me. The people fell back. I reached Celestia’s seat and saw it was empty. My stomach clenched with panic.
“Where is she?”
“Outside,” Rhys said. “We have a problem.”
“Norns?” I was more than ready for them.
“Norns would be preferable,” he mumbled, and I wondered what could be worse. We entered the foyer, and I saw what they meant.
CHAPTER 19. OLD AND NEW WOUNDS
EIRIK
Karle, son of Chief Skavnir, looked out of place in his circus tent, red and gold cloak. Before I could recover, I noticed Trudy. At least she blended in. She wore white pants and a dress shirt under her cloak. A few feet away were Syn and Echo, the people responsible for bringing them to this realm. They’d better have an explanation.
Then there was Celestia’s father. He was talking and peering at her while she appeared to be trying to calm him down. I had no idea what Karle and Trudy were doing on Earth, but it couldn’t be good. Not when their guide was Echo. Yet I didn’t go to them. I headed toward Celestia and her father. She looked worried, and that was not acceptable in my book.
As I got closer, I overheard part of their conversation.
“Of course, I was worried,” Chief Devereaux snapped. “Davies said you went into a trance and started screaming. But what happened when I got here? The guards told me that I couldn’t see you. I couldn’t see my own daughter. Where is that man?”
“That man” meant me. Celestia winced when our eyes met.
“I tranced and witnessed terrible things, Dad, and freaked out. It happens all the time. Ask Hayden. But I got the sketches of the people behind the attacks on Witches.” She rummaged through her bag and pulled out the sketchbook.
Her father took the pad and barely glanced at it. His eyes narrowed on me before moving to the people around the foyer, his eyes lingering on Echo and Syn. The two Grimnirs had that effect on people. Even from across the room they exuded a tangible menace, so I wasn’t surprised the chief had zeroed in on them.
“We need to talk, junior.” He turned to Celestia. “This won’t take long.”
“Daddy.”
“It’s okay, pumpkin. This has nothing to do with you.” He pressed a kiss on her temple and walked away. Celestia shot me an apologetic look and shrugged. I hoped my smile was reassuring even though I was a bit worried. Her father was unpredictable.
He didn’t speak until we were at a fair distance from the others.
“Odin, Asgard, and other realms are a few of the words I heard tonight. Which one are you? The heir to a powerful European Witch family who runs the Witches Guild or the grandson of Odin?”
“Grandson of Odin and the heir to the Asgard throne. Please, don’t be angry with Celestia. We can’t advertise who we are in this realm without serious consequences. Celestia knows that. I can get away with saying things she can never tell anyone. She only replaced Asgard with Europe, but both my paternal and maternal grandparents are Witches.”
The chief stared me down. “You want to tell me that Norse gods are real?”
“They are, sir. Everything else Celestia told you about me is true. I was raised on Earth as Eirik Seville, which you already verified, and I didn’t reunite with my parents until four months ago.” I couldn’t tell whether he believed me or not. The man would make a formidable opponent in a poker game. “How did you hear what I said when you didn’t come inside?”
“I have my ways. More of your people might be arriving, but this is still my town and nothing happens in it without my knowledge. Remember that.”
“Yes, sir.” There wa
s no point in telling him Grimnirs had been here way before the town was his and would be here once he was gone, or that since four months ago, their numbers had doubled in Windfall because of his daughter.
Chief Devereaux studied Celestia, who kept casting glances in our direction while listening to an excited Trudy. After a moment, his gaze swept over the others before returning to me.
“I don’t know if my daughter’s involvement in all this started with you, or if it happened because she is a Witch, but I’d like some straight answers.” His voice was hard and cold. “You promised to hand over the person behind the killings to the Witches. Why?”
“The Witches have many abilities and can deliver a swift justice. From getting inside his head and making him relive the terror and pain his victims experienced to casting spells that render him useless. He is a powerful man, but they can fix that.” They could remove the pure life force protecting him from my berserker powers.
“Sounds like you know this man,” the chief said.
I hoped to. Planned to, actually. “No, I don’t, but I know powerful men and women, and how they think. These acts by this particular Immortal and his followers are simply a rebellion, and we have our way of dealing with them.” Since I was leading one against the Norns, I had no idea what the consequences would be, but he didn’t need to know that.”
“If they are breaking the law, they belong in jail,” the chief said firmly.
“Your jails cannot hold Immortals, sir.”
He studied the Grimnirs, again his eyes lingering on Echo and Syn. “Why not? They look like your average thugs.”
“Those men are my mother’s reapers. They don’t deal with the living. They only appear to collect souls and deliver them to my mother for safekeeping.”
Heroes (Eirik Book 2) Page 31
