‘I agree,’ I said softly. I made to rub my face, but the helmet was in the way. I hesitated as I tried to think about his promise. First, it seemed the gods had abandoned us. We had found an enemy. Then, it seemed they had given us a blessing as this enemy hated his family. But I wanted to be honest with him. I pondered my armor. ‘Why do you wish to see me take the armor off?’
‘I recognized it,’ he stated. ‘Someone might as well. Would be best if you were just an ordinary elf lady as we go on shore.’
It had dressed itself when I had put the helmet on. It might not be that simple as to just removing it. It was a sentient thing, Ompar had said, it filled me with huge amounts of Glory, enough to make me dizzy with power, close to the clouds. I grasped the helmet. His eyes lit up.
‘Go ahead! I do wish to see how our na tarith looks. I am shallow, I have been told.’
‘You said you would not be surprised by anything,’ I said softly. ‘Didn’t you?’
‘I asked you to tell me what more could give me a bigger surprise, to be exact.’ He frowned.
‘We did not fall from that ship,’ I told him. ‘We fell from the sky.’
‘Sky?’ he grinned and rubbed his face. ‘I see. How long were you in the water? The cold, you see, sometimes—’
‘Just a moment,’ I said. ‘We fled from the Devourer.’
‘What?’ he said and gripped his shield tight. ‘That monster of the Gray Downs? This was the dangerous creature you spoke of?’
‘Yes. She is a monster,’ I said. ‘Though that might be said of many elves as well. And this monster harvests humans from a … strange … world far from here. And we are not like the humans in your world. Most are, but not us, the families the Devourer takes.’
I took away the helmet and wiped my red hair aside. He stared at me, absolutely still.
The armor felt strange as if asking for permission, and I tried to give it. It did not obey. I struggled and fought, and the elf continued to stare, his face not moving an inch. I cursed myself, and then I calmed and imagined the armor heaping itself on the floor. It was like turning a key. That did it. The breastplate, the pauldrons, and the chainmail and gauntlets all peeled off and fell silently into a magical heap. My gorget joined them at my feet; followed by so many strange parts of armor I could not possibly name them all. Beneath, I still wore Bilac’s tight chain and mesh armor, the very low cut armored tunic, which left most of my legs and thighs bare and the tall leather boots. They were full of water, but I ignored that. I crossed my legs and raised my face to my host. I felt strange, adventurous, bold, and I feared enough to feel sick. I had always been modest, afraid, and I had no idea what came over me. Crossed my legs? Gods, I thought.
‘You see,’ I said as I gazed at his finally open-mouthed visage of utter stupefaction, ‘I can indeed shock and surprise you. I am a human. And the Hand of Life. And I can See the Shades as the mistress Euryale calls it. Or Embrace the Glory, like you do. And I can heal like the gods intended. So perhaps pretending to be an ordinary elf will not work very well?’
He sat there, and his mouth closed with a clacking sound. He got up and sat down as his sword hilt was caught on the chair’s armrest. He cursed and kicked up and nearly fell over the table. He smiled sheepishly and went to a cabinet and fished around there, his eyes never leaving me. He came out with a green bottle of wine and drank from the bottle, taking long gulps. It was Mereidan, by the sweet fragrance that filled the cabin. He drank a lot, but he seemed oblivious to its powerful effects as he turned to me. ‘And I take it your name is not Glamir, either?’
‘Shannon, Shannon Crowther,’ I told him.
‘This changes things,’ he said soberly.
I nodded and surged up to grab his shield from the desk. He cursed and rushed me. He pushed me aside with his hand but pushed my sword in the process to me, and I grasped it instead, for I knew how to use one and thrust it at him. It hit the shield with a dull clang, and his sword was resting on my shoulder. The hand with the shield also held the Mereidan with two fingers. He was very dexterous. I stared at him.
‘Nothing’s changed with the deal,’ he said empathetically. ‘But the thing that changed is that I have no regrets at all anymore. A human Hand of Life? It is a sign from the gods, and they would want me to guide and help you. And I will do so. I am astonished, my dear, for you are so very beautiful.’
I choked, stiffened, and looked away, pushing my fiery hair aside. I nodded as he stepped away and put his shield down. I hesitated and put the sword away.
‘You will stay in this cabin,’ he said softly. ‘You are right. You must not show your face to my sisters. Or even the crew. Or anyone. You might die if you do. My father needs you, but some would think you a strange freak of nature. Take care and speak to nobody. It is the south, and it is unforgiving.’
I nodded and smiled at him.
And he smiled back. ‘I will tell … your friends about this plan. And I take it they can all Embrace the Glory?’
‘They can, and thank you,’ I said.
‘No. Thank you,’ he said. ‘I’ll do my best for you. It will be interesting, Shannon Crowther.’ He handed me the wine bottle.
CHAPTER 3
Five days later, the Arch pulled towards the city of Gold Hall. I sat by the window. The Spellcoast was a beautiful affair of islands, some low and verdant, others of great, spiraling heights, and the water was sapphire blue and green. Silvery fish were swimming lazily around the ship; fair sized sharks and stranger looking whales with very long snouts came to greet it. I did not see my friends, nor did I see the two sisters or the crew, but I did see the glorious nature of the south and enjoyed the sights, relaxing as best I could. I occasionally looked at the armor of the Hand of Life, stacked in the corner, and pushed away the fear of being without it.
Ompar had been a gentleman. And elf, I reminded myself. Well, perhaps not so gentle. He was a damned pirate, a murdering thief. But an honorable one. He commanded the ship like a master of the seas and the winds, and I heard him stalk the afterdeck above me during the long days, and often during the night. He brought me food, delicious sweet bread and steamed vegetables, excellent red wine, and stared at me mutely as I ate and drank. It was disconcerting at first, but I got used to it. He did not ask me too many questions, but I asked him some. My friends, my sister was fine, he told me, and I trusted him, even if I asked the same question daily. I decided he would keep his word. I slept in his bed, cleaned my teeth with his brush, and used his toilet bowl, which he emptied to my embarrassment. At night, he slept on the floor beside me, like a dog. No. A lion. His swords were out. I stared at him and one night he caught my gaze. I hesitated, he did as well, and I turned away.
I was ashamed.
‘Lex,’ I whispered to myself and knew I had forgotten our kiss. Lex loved me. He was simple to understand, recklessly brave and ruggedly handsome and had been there for me since day one. When most of the others had turned on me, he and Cherry had stood up for me, protecting me. I had feelings for him. I did.
But love?
I did not know. Certainly, my breath did not stop when his eyes met mine, though I felt warmth and gratitude. He did not make me feel like Ompar Coinar did as he lay there near me, his swords out. They both were willing to help me, possibly to fight for me. I could not explain it. Ompar made me uneasy, soft-spoken. Weak in the knees. And strangely brave. Gods, it was mad.
‘Shannon,’ I heard him say that last night.
‘Yes,’ I said, not turning. I sensed he was sitting near me.
‘Would you tell me about it? Your life,’ he said. ‘We will be in tomorrow. Things will get hectic.’
I hesitated and sighed. He placed a hand on my shoulder, and I shivered with sudden desire. I turned my back on him, and his hand fell away, and I felt relieved and ashamed at the same time. ‘Yes.’ And so I did. I told him everything. I told him of home and our troubles back on Earth. How we had been troubled and tortured by the power we could sense but not se
e after the gates had collapsed in Hel’s War. I told him of Rose, our baby sister, and Elder Shannon, the one who guided us to Euryale.
And I told him of Euryale.
I told him of the dragon she used to gain power, of her lament over her sister that was stuck in Nifleheim. I told him how Euryale had betrayed Hel for the Eye at the request of the gods, for the insult of Baldr’s entrapment in Helheim. I told him how the gods had given the Eye to Cerunnos, the mighty elf for safe keeping, and how after the gates had collapsed with Hel’s theft of the Horn, Cerunnos had claimed the Eye and doomed Euryale to remain in the Gray Downs. I spoke of Euryale’s plans to restore everything and of our sufferings and of the death of Ron and Alexis and Dmitri, and hundreds of others. I told him of the Tears, our skills and even of my fear of Dana, who was my sister, but also upset with me. And I told him of the Rot gnawing me to death and the Dragon Pact, which would slay me if the Rot did not.
He listened patiently, silently and took my hand. His thumb went over the silvery shackles, and he shook his head. ‘Six months. Six months to beseech a goddess for a cure. And there is a Dragon Pact where you have to kill a First Born. Dear girl, your sister should love you for your bravery and generosity. I know a Dragon Pact is a powerful curse. You must succeed in fulfilling it, or you will die. Is there no cure for the Rot?’
‘Well, that is Euryale’s deal,’ I said, terrified. ‘She is … her blood is the only thing that can cure it. It can resurrect, I think. It did. If you draw blood from one of her sides, it is a deadly poison; the other side can even resurrect a dead one. I have tasted both. I thought I had cured the Rot, but she had bitten me twice, and I should have had more of her healing blood. But I can heal it off the Regent’s wife. That is what she says. I don’t know why.’
He grunted. ‘Hand of Life is not meant to be immortal. I read Frigg gave Hand enough powers to heal herself to a degree, but she can heal others far better. She is a gift to others. I am sorry you cannot cure yourself of this thing.’
‘Hopeless,’ I said and finally wept. He gathered me in his lap and soothed me, singing an elven song of lament, and I let the tears come as I listened to his gentle voice.
Finally, as the moons trekked the sky, he stopped his singing and lifted me back to his bunk. ‘It might seem hopeless, Shannon, but I have never seen one as brave. I’ll help you. All the way to Hel’s gates.’
‘I think you have a weakness for human females,’ I grinned and curled up.
‘Only for the ones I admire,’ he said, and I slept.
CHAPTER 4
I slept late. That last morning, Mar was already high when I was startled from my slumber. I realized it was due to a door closing and found Ompar there, hesitating and then smiling. ‘Good morning,’ he said brusquely. He held a leg of some bird, lathered in a thick sauce. ‘Sorry, I have no manners. But then, why should I? It’s my ship.’
‘Gorge away, my lord,’ I told him and sat up to look at him as he tore the meat off the thing, threw the bone on a plate, and wiped his fingers on a rag. ‘Your breakfast is soon ready. I stole the leg from it. Bulathon trapped some birds this morning from the mast. We must not overfeed you. Will make you fat.’
‘I’d like to be fat,’ I said with a smile. ‘It would mean I am living a peaceful and prosperous life someplace.’
He smiled. ‘One day you will be corpulent, then. Two more hours to the harbor. We will march to the garrison of the city, where we will sequester you until the night. Your friends will be there as well. The one I hate is a commander and lord of the land of the Gold Hall, and he commands the troops of the land, but he has no say in the matter of my prisoners. That is the law. And he avoids me like I had the plague. He knows I won’t bow to him, and tries to avoid the embarrassment.’
‘Very well,’ I told him uncertainly.
He hesitated at my tone. ‘I am an elf of my word.’
I nodded. ‘Sorry. It is very hard to trust anyone after Euryale. Her lies and manners did our innocence and ability to trust a great disservice.’
‘I thank you for speaking with me last night. I do,’ he said. ‘And I’m afraid for you. I told you, I will take you to the gates of Hel. But I cannot help you with Cerunnos Timmerion. That’s the gate. Everyone knows only the Hand can enter that hall as she is partly of the gods.’
‘Everyone says so, and I will enter it alone,’ I said. ‘I must trust the prophecy.’
‘Prophecy?’
‘Euryale told me about it. Or rather had a severed head recite it to me.’
‘A head,’ he breathed. ‘Gods, what you have witnessed?’
I smiled. ‘I know the prophecy says that an awkward fool will restore the eye,’ I said. ‘Euryale was convinced it is I. Or perhaps after harvesting Hands for so long, she had to convince herself it is I.’
‘Awkward fool?’ he grinned.
‘I was called that by Ulrich. One of the others,’ I said.
‘He lacks bedside manner with beautiful women,’ Ompar laughed. ‘But perhaps you are one. Perhaps so. But there are so many other fools less brave and beautiful. Listen. Whatever happens, if you end up trying to gain the eye, you must know about the place.’
‘Surely the Regent will fill me in,’ I said softly.
‘He will,’ he told me. ‘But you must prepare. In the past, they said some Hands have tried this deed. Not many, as the Hand is precious to the Regent’s rulership. None came out. There is a cursed hall. It once belonged to the god Freyr, ruler of all of Aldheim, and it was simply called Freyr’s Seat. Now, Cerunnos and his court reside there. It’s called the Whispering Shadows now. It is a horrible place.’
‘You are not boosting my confidence,’ I said with terror. ‘I have to go—’
‘I know,’ he smiled gently. ‘You must prepare with the Regent. He will know more. But I can do something. I will give you the shield. It might make a great difference.’
‘Didn’t you just call it the greatest treasure of the south?’ I asked him with wonder.
‘Yes, fitting for a queen,’ he said with a wink. ‘It will fold spells. Arrows. You will need it.’
‘Queen,’ I answered, stupefied. ‘I am no queen, but I will try my best to defeat the thing. I must. I thank you. I have risen far from a castaway.’
He roared with laughter. ‘It’s up to all of us to get you there. And you have to be careful with your friends. That one girl. The dark-haired beauty.’
‘Dana,’ I said softly. ‘She is the sister I spoke to you about. Don’t tell me you have been looking at her—’
‘No! Dana,’ he repeated. ‘Your sister.’
I nodded and looked uncertain. ‘She is my sister, yes.’
He sighed. ‘Of course, she is. Yes, you told me. She was the one keeping you afloat,’ he concluded. ‘As you said, she is the cause of some turmoil to you, though. Isn’t she?’
‘She is,’ I repeated. ‘She has kept me afloat most of my life. She excelled, she was once liked by all, she charmed and laughed, and I was the sullen thing everyone either pitied or ignored. But we …’ I shrugged.
‘Changed here, didn’t you? As you told me last night. You gained Glory, but you also gained insight into each other. And you did not like what you found. She envies you that.’ He nodded at the pile of armor.
I hesitated. ‘She might. She is much more practical than I thought,’ I told him honestly.
‘By practical you mean callous. I looked in her eyes,’ he said and waved his hand. ‘The others are all petty and faulted, yes, but—’
‘And you are not, lord?’ I asked with anger.
He bowed slightly. ‘It is not an easy thing for an elf to admit to a human, but I am. Faulty to the fault. I drink too much, for one thing, and I hate to lose. But there is something about her. Your sister. She loves you, I think. But she is desperate to be … in the right, perhaps. To shine. To carve something for herself. There is something else there as well. Fear.’
‘Fear?’
‘She fears som
ething. She fears terribly. She is anxious. She hopes to receive something. Or to be rid of another thing. I know not.’
‘She can be fearless in battle,’ I said dubiously.
‘Battle and life are not the same,’ he said softly, and then his voice hardened. ‘She has been tormenting your other friends all week with her sarcasm. They are in a foul mood all. And I don’t trust her.’
‘I know she is hard to—’
‘Be careful with her,’ he said. ‘Sister or not. In fact,’ he said. ‘I’d leave her in Trad or some other peaceful place, yet away from Himingborg.’
‘Leave her?’ I asked incredulously. ‘No! And she is very powerful. And I try to trust her. I need to trust them all. I do trust them. Perhaps more than you, Ompar. I don’t know you.’
He smiled. ‘You don’t. But you will. The boys like you. That is something. I doubt they will ever betray you. All the girls are strange.’
‘Boys? Lex?’ I asked him while ignoring his other words.
‘Boys,’ he said simply.
‘Oh,’ I said and scowled at him. ‘I thank you for your advice.’
He saw I was not listening and sighed. ‘Fine. All I am saying is this: expect nothing and trust yourself. Do not plan for anyone to carry you. Not even your sister. Or the boys, even. The small one, Cherry? She is furtive and strange. The blonde girl hates you. The dark one is angry and seething with impatience. Trust the Charm Breaker, Shannon. Some of them will love you; others will leave you. Some might oppose you. I will not, as long as you don’t turn evil.’
I felt annoyed by his words. ‘How are you not evil to humans? You married one, yes, but still you probably own slaves.’
He shrugged. ‘Yes, I do. I have some thousand humans living in Lowpass. There are many reasons why my father and Tiria hate me,’ he said with a wry smile. ‘And Nis, my wife, was just one reason. One thing is that I treat my slaves fairly. Lowpass, my fief north of Gold Hall and near House Vautan borders is not as severe a place towards humans as the rest of the land. I lack some strange sense of … pride and arrogance that most of my family possesses abundantly.’
Eye of Hel: Stories of the Nine Worlds (Ten Tears Chronicles - a dark fantasy action adventure Book 2) Page 5
