by S. T. Bende
He hadn’t been as lucky as I was.
My eyes sought out Axel. The assassin kept Rufus just below the tightly bound mage. He watched as Sverrir’s ropes loosened, and his torso folded over. “Is he . . .”
“Dead,” Torstein confirmed. “He won’t hurt anyone anymore.”
My own chest caved in relief. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.” Torstein bent his fingers. The ropes guided Sverrir’s limp body forward, so he rested beside Bodil. Torstein waved his hand, and the ropes settled on the ground. They unwound themselves, revealing an immobilized dark mage.
It was finally over.
I surveilled my team. Brigga clutched her arm. Raynor limped toward her, one of his pants legs singed at the knee. Torstein’s chest rose and fell in a rare display of exhaustion. Janna leaned heavily on my arm, an ugly, green bruise already forming atop her bloodied shoulder.
And just below us, Axel slumped over his dragon. Exhaustion painted his stoic features as he tilted his head, met my eyes, and winked. “Nice work, Shieldmaiden.”
“Back at you, assassi—augh!” The space between my shoulder blades burned anew. Freia’s dagger dug into my skin, searing my flesh and driving me to my knees.
“Ingrid!” Axel called out. “Hold on. I’ll—”
His words disappeared as we were sucked back into the darkness. The moonlight extinguished, the shaft disappeared, and I was once again enveloped in a silent void. The moment the world went black, the pain in my back dissolved. I reached behind me and gripped the hilt of Freia’s dagger. It pulsed against my palm.
That’s new.
A blinding light forced my eyes shut. Wind whipped against my face as I once again tumbled—gods only knew how far—before landing hard on my back. The impact sent the air whooshing from my chest. I opened my eyes, struggling for breath as I took in the heather-covered hillside, breathed in the salty, sea air, and in the distance, saw a beautifully familiar castle.
Valkyris!
“We’re home!” Brigga’s jubilant bleat came from my right.
“Thank gods!” Janna exhaled.
“It’s about bloody time,” Raynor muttered.
“My butt hurts.” Axel rubbed his backside.
I turned my head. “You landed on Rufus’ tail spike. Didn’t you?”
The assassin carefully lifted his leg. “Ja. But I’d do it all again to be exactly where I am right now. Home. In Valkyris. On the North Sea—not the Pacific one. In a glorious field of wildflowers—not pavement and—”
“So this is Valkyris.” Torstein’s awed voice interrupted Axel’s celebration. The light mage stood in the heather, his eyes wide as he turned in a slow circle. His gaze swept from the ocean to the castle to the Dragehus. As he took in the dragon’s barn, his lips formed a small O. “In all my years, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“It’s just home,” I offered. Glorious, beautiful, exquisitely perfect home.
“Yes, but . . .” Torstein exhaled. “You have multiple dragons. They’re magnificent.”
Axel turned to the Dragehus. A trio of dragons roamed the pasture outside the large structure. A smaller, fourth dragon galloped happily nearby. He flapped his wings, lifted slightly off the ground, then fell face-first onto the grass.
“Killsvar is already learning to fly?” Axel shook his head. “How long were we gone?”
“Just under two months.” A lyrical voice filled the meadow. “Thank the gods you’re safely home!”
“Mother!” Raynor jumped to his feet. He ran between me and Janna, his feet flattening the heather as he made his way toward Chieftess Freia. She walked gracefully across the hill, her white-and-navy robes blowing in the light breeze. When she met Raynor, she extended her arms and wrapped him in a warm hug.
“I’m so glad you’re back,” she said happily.
“Welcome home.” Chief Halvar jogged over the knoll. When he reached Raynor, he patted him on the shoulder. “How was your journey?”
“Bizarre,” Raynor said. “But successful. The target has been acquired.”
Freia and Halvar scanned the hillside. Their eyes fell on the fallen dark mage and his long-ago love before sliding to Torstein. And then over to Rufus.
“It appears you have brought home a guest,” Halvar said cautiously. “Or two.”
“My new dragon’s named Rufus. And this is Torstein.” Axel stepped forward, still rubbing his injured backside. “He helped us complete our mission.”
“I see.” Freia pursed her lips. “And is he . . .?”
“He’s a light mage from the future,” Axel offered. “Though there, he’d been alive for centuries, so . . . maybe also the present?” The assassin rubbed his temples. “I can’t wrap my head around time travel.”
“Welcome, Torstein.” Freia smiled at the still gaping mage. “It’s an honor to have you on our island.”
“It’s an honor to be here,” Torstein said reverently. “Valkyris is . . . it’s . . .”
“You must be quite overwhelmed,” Freia said kindly. “Why don’t we take you all back to the castle? I’m sure you’d like to get cleaned up. I’ll have the kitchen send up a nice meal for us to enjoy before we debrief.”
“That sounds wonderful, Chieftess.” Janna gestured to the bodies. “But what should we do with the deceased?”
Halvar stepped closer to Sverrir. “Is this the dark mage that caused all the trouble?”
“It is,” I confirmed.
“And the woman?”
“She was his love,” Brigga said softly. “Though she never shared his darkness.”
“I see. Well done, all of you.” Halvar bowed his head. “May their spirits rest in peace.”
Freia folded her hands together. After a moment of silence, she addressed her husband, “Halvar, please summon four of our warriors to keep watch over the bodies. We’ll perform a proper funeral at sunset. The rest of you, follow me back to the castle. I’m sure you’re quite exhausted from your journey.”
Freia smiled beatifically and walked toward the castle. When my teammates followed, I turned to Axel.
“What are you going to do with Rufus?” I asked.
“Introduce him to the family, of course.” Axel grinned at the pasture. The baby dragon jumped again. This time, he stayed in the air for a full four seconds. “Want to hang back with me?”
“There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”
“Freia,” Axel called. “Ingrid and I are going to take care of the new dragon. We’ll catch up with you.”
“Of course.” Freia nodded.
“Oh! I should probably give you this.” I dropped my weapons and reached around my back. I unhooked Freia’s dagger and walked it to her side. “Thank you for entrusting it to me.”
Freia took it from my palms. “It’s warm.”
“It got, uh, activated when the alignment tidal wave hit the beach.”
Freia tilted her head, confusion coloring her delicate features.
“We’ll explain at the castle,” Axel offered. “Once we get Rufus settled in.”
“Please don’t rush.” Freia smiled gently. “We have all the time in the world.”
We did now. Thank gods.
I crossed to Axel’s side and slipped my hand in his. Together, we led the iguana-dragon to the pasture where his new roommates apprised him cautiously. Axel made the introductions, then ducked into the Dragehus and returned with pouchfuls of raw meat and vegetables. He offered the dragons the treats, speaking calmly and drawing them together until they ate side by side. When the creatures were fully focused on their shared meal, Axel slung his arm around my shoulders and stared at the field.
“I have to be honest. I wasn’t entirely sure I’d see this place again,” he said.
“Me neither,” I admitted.
“But here we are,” Axel said easily. “See? I was right. As usual.”
I rolled my eyes. “About what, exactly?”
“I told you, everything always works out. You worry wa
y too much, Shieldmaiden.”
“Maybe,” I admitted. “I suppose we’re a good balance that way. You trust that everything will work out. And I do the hard work and planning to ensure that it does. So . . . you’re welcome.”
Axel dropped his arm to my waist. He dipped me low to the ground and planted a light kiss on my lips. “No. You’re welcome.”
“For what, exactly?” I blinked up at him.
“For the absolutely unforgettable trip I’m about to take you on.”
“Another trip?” I groaned as he guided me upright. “We just got back.”
“True.” Axel stared at the sky. “If I have to leave my parents stranded on that gods forsaken island while you and I lounge around Valkyris, I suppose they’ll forgive us. Eventually.”
My breath caught. “We get to bring your parents home!”
“Is that a yes on the boat trip?”
“Boat trip . . .” I tilted my head. “Are you going to do any of the rowing this time?”
Axel’s eyes narrowed. “I told you. That was only because I was injured. I am normally an excellent sailor.”
“That remains to be seen,” I teased.
Axel growled. My breath hitched as he dipped me again. This time his kiss was slow, and deep, and completely and totally unforgettable.
I never wanted him to let go.
Chapter 16
TORSTEIN OFFERED TO PORT us straight to the island. He said he felt awful about stranding Axel’s parents and wanted to make their return as easy as possible. But Axel wanted to do this on his own. I suspected a part of him wanted some time to process the enormity of seeing his family again. Since he’d only just come back from a mission, the two-day trip would give him the chance to decompress—to shift his mindset from assassin to civilian, if only for a short time.
I wasn’t about to complain. I’d experienced enough portals in the past two months to last a lifetime. Besides, two days off-duty with Axel—even if we would be in choppy waters—sounded like a dream. It would be the longest chunk of alone time we’d had since we started dating. And while I knew Axel would be all kinds of nervous about seeing his parents for the first time in years, I was excited to be there to support him. We’d battled a dark mage, traveled through centuries, gone undercover, and fought portal-jumping monsters. It was about time we did something as simple as go on a date. Even a really unconventional one.
My heart was light as I climbed aboard the wooden ship with the red-and-white sails.
“Do you have the directions I wrote out?” Torstein asked.
“Right here.” Axel held up the parchment.
“And the weapons I packed for you?” Janna chimed in.
“Under the bench.” I pointed.
“And the blankets and pillows?” Brigga rested her cheek on Raynor’s shoulder. “It’s almost solstice—it’s going to be really cold on the water.”
“They’re secured under a very helpful contraption Torstein magicked for us.” I smiled. “Thanks for the rainproofing.”
“It was the least I could do.” Torstein shifted from one foot to the other. “Are you sure you don’t want me to—”
“We want to go ourselves,” Axel reiterated. “Don’t worry. We’ll be back in four days. Five, if the weather turns bad.”
“You have all of the food rations we packed?” Freia tutted. “Including desserts?”
“We do,” I assured. “I promise we’ll feed the Anderssons a solid meal the moment we hit the shore.”
“They may seem a bit . . . different,” Halvar warned. “There’s no telling what years of isolation have done to them. But in time, all will be well. And I know that they’ve missed you every bit as much as Freia and I did while you were on your mission. Your parents are wonderful people, Axel. Two of the finest I’ve ever known. I cannot wait to see them again.”
“Me too.” Axel checked the sail. While he adjusted the fabric, I waved Torstein over.
“Come here,” I whispered.
The light mage stepped to the dock’s edge.
“This may be none of my business,” I said quietly, “but in case you hadn’t noticed, we currently live in a time before the mage war. Before Ama . . . well, you know. And I’m not sure what year she was born exactly, but—”
“She could very well be alive. The thought has crossed my mind,” Torstein admitted. “Though I didn’t meet her until well after the Viking Age, and even back then—er, in the future—it was . . . is considered rude to ask a woman the year she was born.”
“But she could be out there somewhere,” I said.
“I know.” Longing colored Torstein’s words. “I’m not entirely sure where she grew up—it was somewhere in the far north, but the land was so vast that she never was able to point it out on a map.”
“Sounds like we have another tracking mission to look forward to.” I grinned. “That is, if you want any help.”
“I would be honored.” Torstein bowed. “Now, go right the wrong I committed. Please give the Anderssons my sincerest apologies.”
“People with your abilities were manipulated and abused back then—er, now,” I said gently. “Any one of us might have done the same. Besides, you left Axel’s parents your home and your farmland. I’m sure they’ve made the best of it.”
“All the same, I will apologize profusely when I see them again.”
I reached out to clasp Torstein’s hands. “I know you will.”
“By the way, I’ve disposed of the ingredients,” Torstein said.
I nodded. When we’d wrapped Sverrir’s body, we’d discovered the items needed for the Control spell tucked inside his cloak. We’d actually come that close to being expunged from the historical record.
“Did you destroy all of them?” I asked.
“Except for the crystals—those I handed off to your chieftess. She promised to keep them secure.”
“She’s kept the dagger all these years,” I said fondly. “She’ll be able to look after them.”
“I’m counting on it.”
“Everything all right, Shieldmaiden?” Axel stepped over one of the benches.
“We’re fine,” I assured him. “Just getting some last-minute instructions from Valkyris’ newest—and only—mage.”
“How do you like it here so far?” Axel asked.
“It’s different,” Torstein admitted. “It’s been a while since I’ve lived in a time where indoor plumbing wasn’t mainstream. Though I am impressed that you’ve managed to use älva dust to create your own version.”
“We’re resourceful like that.” Axel slung his arm around my shoulder.
“So I’m learning.” Torstein smiled. “Well, travel safely.”
“Come home soon!” Janna stepped forward.
Freia waved. “Give your parents our love.”
“Done. Done. And done.” Axel glanced at the sky. “Guess we’d better shove off. The water’s only going to get choppier.”
“Great,” I said weakly. My other seafaring experience had been that one awful boat trip. Axel had nearly irritated me to death, plus I’d been seasick the entire time. But my boyfriend had promised that I’d find my “sea legs” over the next few days. And, more importantly, Torstein had given me a bracelet that he swore would settle my stomach. He’d mumbled something about the inner ear and pressure points, though whether the bracelet affected those things using a potion or an enchantment, I had no idea. Either way, I was determined to pull my weight, support my boyfriend, and, gods willing, get over any seasickness before Axel’s parents joined us on the boat. It was my very first family vacation.
And I intended to enjoy every minute of it.
To say the journey was rough would be an understatement. A storm blew in at the end of our first day at sea. While Torstein’s magical rain shelter kept us dry, it couldn’t stop the fierce winds from violently rocking the boat. My bracelet was put through its paces. And though I did eventually get sick, my stomach settled pretty quickly. In the morning
, everything was smooth sailing—both inside the ship and at sea. By the time a landmass appeared on the horizon, I knew my churning gut had nothing to do with the waves. We were about to see Axel’s parents.
I desperately wanted this to go well for him.
“You remember what Halvar said?” I asked nervously. “About them possibly seeming different from the way you knew them?”
“I do.” Axel rowed steadily. “And I’m not concerned. Trauma may change people, but it doesn’t alter their hearts. My parents are still in there somewhere. And I have the patience to wait them out.”
I angled the sail so it caught the wind. “I know you do.”
“Besides,” Axel continued, “I’ve waited this long to see my parents again. I can hold out for a few extra weeks, months—whatever it takes.”
I tied off the sail and sat down beside him. Then I leaned over to kiss his beard. “You’re a remarkable man, Axel Andersson. You know that?”
“I do,” he said amiably. “Now pick up an oar and row. There are no free rides on this ship.”
“Please.” I rolled my eyes. “I did more than my fair share of rowing last time.”
“You’re never going to let that go, are you?”
“No.” I picked up an oar and dug into the water.
“That’s my girl.”
I stuck out my tongue. “What will your parents say when they find out you grew up to be an insufferable know-it-all?”
“I have no idea.” Axel shot me a wink. “But we’re about to find out.”
The boat drew up to the island. When we’d nearly reached the shore, we both jumped out and grabbed a rope. We waded through the surf, pulling the boat onto the sand before tying it to a nearby bush. When it was secure, I took a breath, looked around, and waited for Axel’s instruction.
“This is your reunion,” I said quietly. “Do you want to start searching, or would you rather give them time to find us before—”
