I said, “I missed you. And even though you shouldn’t be here, because it’s dangerous, I’m glad you came.”
“Honestly, it was a no-brainer,” she said as she moved toward me, clanking the entire way. “When you left, there was total panic all around. Then all the shieldmaidens left. I was so worried, and I was done waiting around. Once Tyr figured out how we could get here, I wasn’t about to be left behind. Just ask him.” She jabbed a hand that was covered in some sort of chain-mail glove at my brother, who looked resigned, if even a little amused.
“It’s good to see you, sister,” Tyr said as he walked with Sam. “And yes, it’s true. I could not dissuade her from me accompanying me. She threatened untold things, including injury to her own body.” He appeared scandalized. “I was left with little choice.”
Tyr was covered head to toe in weapons. I’d never seen someone carry so many, especially since he had only one hand.
He truly was the god of war.
I nodded and was just about to say something when I was rudely interrupted. “God of War, your life is forfeit if you harm us,” Verdandi said, her voice pinging with rage. “You come too late to intervene. What’s done is done.”
Tyr took a step closer. He was a huge man covered in an arsenal of firepower. I would think even another god would be quaking in their boots right now. “The time draws near. Your reign of terror will soon be over,” he stated confidently. “You three will be relegated back to the roots of the tree for all of your days. You have gone unchecked for far too long. The gods are discussing this at a summit right this very moment.” He didn’t offer up an explanation of how he knew that, but I trusted him.
My father, it seemed, was still trying to rally support for me.
Verdandi pursed her lips, saying nothing, but her eyes slid to Skuld. Verdandi saw the present, so she knew what Tyr said was true, but she wouldn’t know the outcome. Skuld was the only one in attendance who could possibly know how this would end.
Skuld swished her hand, as if to say none of it mattered. “Yes, they are discussing matters, but the end result of what happens here will change that. No need to worry. Odin thinks he has gathered enough support, but it won’t last long. Once they find out what his bastard allowed to happen, they will turn on her, and him. They will be united in their wrath. In fact, this is even better than the scenario I had envisioned for her earlier.” She brushed her Rapunzel hair off her shoulders. “It’s far more dastardly.”
My mother took a step, her broadsword raised in the air. “I cannot allow you to do this. If you won’t take me instead, I will fight for our lives.” Behind her, all the Valkyries positioned themselves to back her up.
Tyr moved as well, signaling for Sam to stay back. I was relieved she listened to him. I leaned over and whispered, “Willa, please go stand with my friend. Protect her if you can. She’s fragile under all those layers.”
A vicious chortle came from Verdandi, who’d overheard me just fine. “There will be no protecting any of you, from anything. What we will achieve here today will leave you stripped and wounded.” She brought the dart up once again, settling it in front of her face, twisting it back and forth slowly. “And this is all it will take to do it.”
Willa obeyed me and went to stand by Sam as I moved shoulder to shoulder with my mother. We would face this threat together.
I had no idea what Verdandi was planning, as the dart didn’t look like anything that could harm any of us, but I knew I wasn’t going to be happy about the outcome. My hands gripped the hilts of Gundren more firmly and clenched my jaw.
Skuld interrupted in her singsong voice. “Verdi, we have places to go. Let’s finish this. Odin’s meeting will be done soon. It’s the exact perfect time to send a rocket through Asgard. I cannot wait to see the response.”
Urd stood stoically, and for the first time, I noticed that the third sister looked a little uneasy. Her skin was so pasty it was hard to tell if she was ill. “Are we sure this is the right course?” She addressed her sisters. “This new news about Odin is troublesome. The past has shown us that interfering with gods can come at a great price.”
“You would question my sight now?” Skuld said, her light tone belying the hardness underneath. “I told you, I see nothing but gain for us. This will solve all of our problems, and the realms will right themselves. In fact, it’s our only option. If we do not proceed, chaos will ensue. Asgard will thank us for this. Eventually.” She giggled. “But they cannot do anything about it, not even Odin himself. As Verdi said, once it’s done, it’s done.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Urd responded in a bland tone. “But of course I trust you. If you see that our future is secure, that’s good enough for me.” The witch straightened, her black skirts barely moving. “Proceed, Verdandi. I have a kettle on at home that needs tending.”
I tensed.
Their conversation was cryptic, but I knew whatever they had planned was going to upset the gods and, ultimately, be blamed on me. I leaned into my mother. “Do you know what they’re going to do?”
“I have an idea,” she said. “We must not let it happen. The dart is the key.”
Verdandi smiled cruelly, her attention on us. “Yes, the dart is the key. How impressive of you to notice, Leela.” She raked scorn-filled eyes over my mother. “The Valkyrie temptress who lured Odin down a rabbit hole is proving to be intelligent. But not overly so. Shieldmaidens are forbidden from fornicating with their maker, as you well know. You have committed a crime in more ways than one. Asgard will blame you as much as they will blame your daughter, for it was you who had Odin’s bastard and kept her from us. If she had never been born, this tragic event would not have occurred.”
“I kept her from you because you would’ve killed her. I would do it again in a heartbeat,” my mother said defiantly, passion infusing each word. “I care not what my future holds. The seer who came to Asgard all those years ago was an impostor. You have to know that by now. Harming my daughter for his prophecy is no longer valid. Odin will be proving that soon—if he hasn’t already. Then, what Tyr told you will come true. You will be confined to your hovel underground, never to see the light of day again.”
Verdandi laughed, and it sounded like she was gargling with nails. “It matters not what the seer predicted. It matters what we see. And Skuld has seen the devastation that your daughter will wreak if she is left alive. We must put a stop to it at all costs. In case you’ve forgotten, that is our job. We keep things running so that destiny stays on track. Without us, the seven realms would fall into chaos.”
“That is doubtful,” my mother said. “You three have been running the seven realms by your own agenda for far too long, taking lives and liberties for your own gain. Whatever the outcome of going after my daughter, it is for you alone and has nothing to do with her fated path. Your wrongdoings have had a ripple effect on all of us, and you must be stopped. Your time of unlimited freedom is coming to an end.”
“You dare speak to us that way, vixen?” Skuld snarled. “We were born to do this job. There are no others to take our place. Without us, the worlds sink into oblivion. We have ruled for a thousand years, and we will do so for a thousand more.”
A thousand years? Was she serious? No wonder she looked like a peeling skeleton without her glamour. Honestly, she made Verdandi look like a teenager.
“The Valkyrie is right,” Fen piped in. “You have been given too much power, and you’ve wielded it unwisely. It’s catching up to you, and your time is coming to an end. It was Skuld who ruined my life, and for what reason? When we have the ear of Asgard, they will come to understand what’s to be done, and it is you who will pay the ultimate price.”
“How do you know such things, wolf?” Verdandi sneered. “We were born into our destiny, just like all of you.” Her gaze raked the group. “This is our duty, and we will do it to the death. Nothing stands in our way.”
Tyr shifted his weight, his weapons clattering, reminding me of Sam a
nd her armor. They were two peas in a pod. “Except all of us,” Tyr boomed, his deep voice echoing around the clearing. “You are not infallible, witch. I’ve been told tales about your kind since I was a babe. The god of war is prepared to fight all beings, including you three. I suggest you leave this place while you are still able.” He aimed a large spear gun at Verdandi.
“You would engage us in battle?” Verdandi half laughed, half snickered. “Then you are more foolish than any other. If you harm us, the price is death.”
“Not this time.” Tyr’s voice was firm. “You cross a line when you hunt my sister. As Leela stated, the seer who made the prophecy was a fake. Right now, my sister should be in Asgard with our father, stating her case to the Council. There is no doubt that Odin has already garnered support for her cause. The only law that was broken was that he lay with a shieldmaiden, which has no impact on Phoebe, and that law has since been abolished. It was written in an older, more stoic time. Phoebe and Leela will be cleared of any wrongdoing.”
I should hope so.
My gaze shot to Urd as she adjusted her hat, her eyes pinned to the ground. Something was up. If what Tyr had said was true, then the Norns coming after me was unjust, especially if they knew the seer was a fake.
They had to have an ulterior motive.
“None of what you say is true,” Skuld said dismissively, swishing her hand. “That particular seer might’ve been a fake, but her birth was not supposed to be. I can see the future”—she waved her perfectly manicured finger at me—“and she will bring about Ragnarok if she’s not stopped.”
There was a collective intake of breath.
The Valkyries around me began to murmur.
Fen had told me bits about Ragnarok, the fated battle between the gods. Many of them would die, including my father, by Fen’s hand. It was destined to happen, no matter what, but nobody knew when.
No one said anything for a full minute.
The air was cleared by a snort. Ingrid called, “Bullcrap, Skuld. Ragnarok is fated . It will come when it comes. My niece is not the catalyst for anything, because there is not one person who can influence something so big. You don’t fool us, and I think you’ll say just about anything to get what you want. I haven’t figured out what your endgame is, but everyone here knows it has less to do with Phoebe and everything to do with whatever it is you gain. If you’re smart, you’ll take Tyr’s advice and leave us before this gets uglier. I am willing to go to jail, or even die, for my niece. Most of us assembled here are. Not giving a shit is as dangerous for a Valkyrie. It means we have nothing to lose. And, really, the gods can’t kill us all. That would be folly.”
“Leaving is advisable,” Rae added, looking defiant. “If I lose my life defending Odin’s child, I consider it an honor. All the shieldmaidens are prepared to fight to the death.” To accentuate her point, she raised her katana. If I came across Ragnhild in battle, I would quake in my boots. She was strong and embodied the word fierce .
Skuld didn’t change her expression, except to close her eyes.
After a second, she tilted her head back.
She appeared to be divining. I hoped it was bad news for her and good news for us. Verdandi took a tiny step back as her sister continued on in her trance.
I felt hopeful for the first time since they’d arrived.
I sneaked a glance at Sam where she stood in her ridiculous armor. I was happy Willa stood close by her side. My best friend was brave in so many ways. She met my gaze and gave me a small smile and a noisy thumbs-up. I knew if she could, she would let the Norns know exactly what she thought. But Sam was too smart for that. If she called attention to herself, she became vulnerable. Tyr knew she was smart, or he wouldn’t have brought her. I smiled, thinking of Sam haranguing my big brother until he finally gave in, finally letting her have her way.
Suddenly, Skuld’s eyes snapped open, and she raised her head. “All is well. The meeting is over, and the future is the same.” She turned to Verdandi. “You will proceed, dear sister. They will not fault us. I see it clearly. It’s our job to protect the realms. We must do this.”
Verdandi brought the dart up as a slow, creepy smile spread across her dry, cracked lips. She was more than happy to do Skuld’s bidding.
In fact, this was the most joyous I’d ever seen her.
She leveled her eyes on me, and I crossed my swords in front of my body, ready to engage. “Once this dart finds its home,” she said with a cackle, “your world will rock on its axis until it finally spins completely out of control. You will be tossed into the darkest, vilest of our worlds, never to return.” Her muddy teeth flashed as she drew her arm back, and with a speed I hadn’t expected, she launched the dart, sending it hurtling through the air.
I sprang in front of my mother to protect her, Gundren burning brightly. I couldn’t tell exactly where Verdandi had been aiming, and the projectile was moving too fast to track.
It wasn’t until I heard an anguished cry that I knew the dart had found its mark.
27
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P lease, no! Please, no! The words raced through my brain as I ran. Tyr and Fen beat me to him. I skidded to a stop, dropping to my knees and tossing my swords to the ground.
Tyr held his brother in his arms, his face betraying nothing.
Baldur lay on the ground, the dart sticking out of his chest. It had penetrated deeply, only the very tip showing. The Valkyries amassed around us, forming a protective circle around the god of light.
“We have to get him out of here,” Ingrid said. “I’m not sure what that is, but he seems to be reacting strongly to it.”
“It’s mistletoe,” Fen answered, his nostrils flaring, his voice devoid of emotion. “The only thing that can kill him, which the Norns well know.”
Baldur gave us a weak smile. “It’s not so bad.” He coughed, blood pooling on his chest. “This is an easy death. I would choose it over many others.” Baldur smiled up at Tyr. “It is good to see you, God of War. It has been too long between meets. I see you are not without your arsenal, and for that I am grateful. Our sister needs to be protected, and I’m glad you have arrived. You must keep her from harm.”
“Until I saw you, I did not know you resided on this plane.” Tyr’s voice rang of sadness. “Your whereabouts have been kept secret. I searched for you over the years after I found you were gone, hoping to locate you, to no avail. Your ship, Ringhorn, is awaiting your return. It is docked in Vanir, right where you left it. I’ve visited it many times.”
“I’m glad of that. I want you to have her. Ringhorn will do well with you at the helm.” Baldur chuckled, which turned into a series of shallow coughs. “My other brothers might argue, but they will honor my wishes.” He turned to me, giving me a weak grin. “Take care, sister. Our meeting was too brief, but you are in good hands.”
“You’re not going to die,” I insisted, my voice cracking. I met Tyr’s gaze. “Can you pull the dart out?”
Tyr shook his head. “Even if I could get the dart out, the damage is already done. The weapon found true aim.”
“Then we have to get him to Yggdrasil.” My voice was panicked. “Right now. The tree can save him. We have to try!”
Rae gave the command. “Transport the god of light to the tree. Ingrid and Billie, stay behind. The rest, take him in your arms and go.” Rae nodded once at me. “I will expect your return within the hour. If you don’t show, we will backtrack.”
“Thank you,” I told Rae. “We will follow as soon as we can.” I rested my hand on Baldur’s shoulder. “I will see you soon. Yggdrasil has healed me, and it will heal you, too.”
Baldur motioned me down, and I leaned over. He pressed his lips to my cheek. “The only thing I regret is not meeting you sooner. You have a good heart, Phoebe. And remember, don’t let my mother scare you.” He grinned. “She will be angry, but it’s mostly bluster. She has been good to me—her only crime was caring too much.
Tell her all will be well and I love her.”
“I will.” I swiped my cheeks as the Valkyries gently took him away. He had to be okay. When they disappeared out of the clearing, I turned to the Norns, who stood with satisfied looks on their ugly faces. “Why?” I shouted as I stood. “Why would you hurt him? He has done nothing wrong, and this will achieve nothing. Why not just kill me? Isn’t that what you wanted? For me to die?”
“Your death will no longer satisfy fate,” Verdandi answered, looking pleased, which made me angrier. “Instead, you will get the torture you deserve, tossed into the deepest pit of our worlds. The gods will see to that, especially Frigg. You will pay dearly, as she loved that boy more than anything in the seven realms. You will feel her wrath.”
Urd snagged Verdandi’s arm, looking pensive. “We must leave now. If we don’t, the outcome may change.” It seemed Urd was the only one of them with any sense.
My swords clashed in front of me as I walked. Energy raced through my body in a tight swirl, making me feel kinetic. It surged into my palms, flowing seamlessly into the hilts. The blades began to spark. I was beyond rage as I waved Gundren, light bursting from the ends like a pair of deadly sparklers.
“I’m not letting you get away with this,” I fumed. “I don’t care what happens to me. Like my aunt just told you, I’m not afraid of death.” The need to avenge Baldur’s death pressed down on me, more than anything else I’d experienced since becoming a Valkyrie. Once the words were out of my mouth, I knew they were true.
I wasn’t afraid to die.
Skuld stepped in front of Verdandi, blocking my path. “It doesn’t matter if you’ve found your true inner strength,” she baited. “It’s too late for that, which should be your motto. You don’t have enough power to fell us, and it certainly won’t bring your dear brother back to life.” She tossed her head back and laughed. “That ship has sailed.”
Freed: (Phoebe Meadows Book 2) Page 21
