The Awakening_Book 1 of Valkyrie's Curse series

by Ellie Mack

  “Well, it’s not home cooking, but it’s better than some I’ve had.”

  “Ah, well it doesn’t sound too terrible then.” She tucked her phone into her pocket. “OK, ready.”

  “Great. First to ze mess tent. Then I will show you ze rest. You have a meeting with the bosses in the morning at nine, I’m your designated driver. Hope you don’t mind terribly.”

  “No, not at all if you don’t mind playing chauffeur and translator until I get my bearings.”

  The aroma of garlic and marinara hit her nose. “Mmm. Something smells good.”

  Erik lifted the flap of the large mess tent. There were about twenty people inside. This made up the entirety of the camp aside from the University professors and benefactors that funded it. Tomorrow she would face the panel and see what restrictions and schedule they would put her on.

  Chapter 5: The Voice of Elders

  Heed the words of those who have gone before and fought bravely.

  -Norse Proverb

  Helena sat nervously before the board members. They shuffled papers, talked between themselves, occasionally stared at her over their glasses then back to the papers. Holding her clasped hands together tightly, somewhat wringing them as she waited for the interrogations to begin. What conditions would they have? How many hoops would she have to jump through? Could they pull the rug out from under her right before beginning this project? Her clasp tightened just as the knot in her stomach tightened.

  A slender silver haired woman approached the professor from Copenhagen. She handed him a note and conveyed a message before she walked out. The professor made a few notes, straightened his stack of papers then stood. “Miss Eskildson and members of the board. Our benefactor has been delayed from this morning’s meeting. I propose that we reconvene with Miss Eskildson after lunch, and in the meantime we continue our meeting in order to get on the same page.”

  A flurry of ayes, and second motions, and she was promptly dismissed and told to be back at one in the afternoon. In one way it was a relief, but in another she had planned to begin her journal and video journal to document the day before the big launch party that evening. Once outside in the hallway she called Erik, as he was acting as her chauffeur.

  “Erik. Ja?”

  She sighed. “Hey where are you? There’s been a delay in the meeting and I have to hang around here to reconvene at one.”

  “I’m wis my girlfriend. I thought you’d be in your meeting longer.”

  She glanced over a bulletin board as she listened. Local events, student activities and upcoming events on campus - the typical things a student would find on campus. Then she spied a flyer promoting the Roskilde dig. “How far away are you?” She asked as she read over the flyer. It directed any inquires to the owner at a local shop.

  “I can be zere in about twenty minutes. My apologies.”

  She turned looking out the main doors, wondering if she could manage to not get lost on her own. “Tell you what. I think I’m going to take a stroll down the main drag here. Can you give me directions if I get lost? I mean, I hate to interrupt things with your girlfriend, but I would also hate to end up in a dark alley somewhere dead.”

  “I can give you directions, certainly. You should be fine in daylight around campus.”

  She noticed a campus paper and picked it up thumbing through it. Inside was a map of the local shops and restaurants. Surely she’d be fine with a map. “OK, I think I got this. Wish me luck and maybe have your girlfriend wish me luck and I won’t be interrupting.”

  She folded over the newspaper, stepped outside the front of the administrative building and oriented her map from her point of view. Squinting as she looked down the street, a placard caught her eye, hanging in front of one of the shops. With a big breath she took off to explore the small community. After passing some interesting shops she decided to duck into one called Skildpadden. Inside she ordered a sandwich and sat down with her paper again. Reorienting her map, comparing shops she’d already passed to the map she felt confident in her bearings. She talked briefly with the waitress, asking for recommendations of places to go. Which places she should avoid and interesting places for student hang outs. The waitress eagerly pointed out a couple of places to her.

  Lena tucked the paper back into her purse and enjoyed her sandwich as she mentally planned her route to investigate on her way back to the campus. When she stood in line waiting to pay she noticed a poster of a young girl, she’d guess about sixteen to eighteen, that had disappeared. Back home it seemed so common place that she often didn’t even notice them as she went into and out of the grocery store or discount store. Of course, it wasn’t something unique to the states, but it was surprising to see in this small community. She paid the cashier and asked about the girl. It was a close friend’s daughter that didn’t come home from school the previous week and had been missing for six days.

  That wasn’t good. She recalled something from one of those crime shows that if the person wasn’t found within the first forty eight hours that the chances were very slim to find them. But then again there was that case from Missouri, a young boy that was abducted then recovered after several years. She hoped the girl would be found with minimal harm done.

  She passed an interesting place, a combination lounge, laundromat, bar. She made a mental note to visit there in the future. Down the street a little ways she found a bookstore. Sven’s Stacks looked like an eclectic little shop. Baubles and trinkets in the front, a large coffee bar and sitting area just beyond that, and an area that seemed like an optical illusion. What appeared to be a small shop from the street extended back the length of a city block. On either side there were winding stairs that led up. At the center back there were winding stairs that led downward, just beyond a balcony that looked over a mosaic map of the region on the floor. It was made to resemble an ancient map, with Viking ships and sea monsters. She took out her phone and took several pictures. She descended the stairs to the area below and found an historical section on local lore and Viking mythology.

  She quickly found three books that she decided she had to have. One on the local legends and ghost tales, another on historical sites in the nation, and the third was Norse mythology. Of all the times to make such a discovery she was on a schedule and had to be back to the university for a very important meeting. At the counter, she found some interesting snack items, pens and bookmarks. She paid for her three books, a bag of licorice, a bag of what looked like teddy grahams, and a laser carved bookmark. On the window behind the clerk was another picture of the missing girl.

  As she made her way back to the university. she noticed several windows had the posters for the missing girl. There still seemed to be a small town camaraderie here, it was a good feeling. It made her feel like she was home.

  Helena sat on the leather bench just outside of the meeting room swinging her feet while staring at the ceiling.

  What was taking them so long? She decided to take out her books and flip through them. The first one she grabbed was on the local legends. Quickly she thumbed through it, noticing a few pictures and line drawing maps. Ghost tales that ranged from men gone mad from a siren’s wailing lament to vengeful ghosts of murder victims. Unexplained mysteries involving Viking treasure abounded and perpetuated the ghost tales.

  One specific ghost sighting was very close to the site at Roskilde. An ancient Viking carried a torch waiting for the approaching ship. He had been seen wandering along the bank of the fjord, up the hill to where the rune stone stood, and down along the bluff to lead his fellow Vikings to raid the village. He was always alone and his path seemed to cover a tight radius from what she had theorized was the central gate to the village. On occasion there was seen a Viking ship in the fjord, it always disappeared before reaching shore.

  As she turned the page, she heard a man clear his throat.

  “Miss Eskildson, we’re ready for you now.”

  She tucked her receipt into the book and dropped it back into the bag
. She stood, taking a deep breath and followed the man into the room. Once again she sat at the small table with the entire board at a U- shaped arrangement of three tables in front of her.

  “We’ve reviewed the study and found the site to be of interest to Kopenhaven Universitad as well as to the national heritage foundation. Our benefactor Dr. Eliazor Westergaard,” he motioned to the distinguished man sitting on the far right in a tailored Armani suit.

  He nodded towards Helena.

  “Will be occasionally visiting the site and have access to your findings. Weekly reports will be sent to our office and to Dr. Westergaard’s secretary.” The slender silver haired woman brought a bound document to Helena, that listed the email addresses, office phone numbers and points of contact. It also had the schedule for when her reports were due.

  “A representative from the University board will be onsite with you at all times, a Mr. Niall’s Lundquist.”

  The young man stood. He looked like a parroting lackey if she ever saw one.

  “We approve for the excavations to begin. You have a copy in your folder of all permits. Said permits are to be displayed publicly at all times. We will not tolerate lateness in reporting or disorderly reports. Niall’s will assist you in this endeavor.”

  Oh great. She’d have to go through the lackey for everything she did. Still, it was a minor nuisance compared to the approval of the excavations. This was a major breakthrough.

  This had been news dumped on her on the flight over. All of which should have been handled beforehand. Obviously they did things differently here.

  She couldn’t wait to get back to camp to share the news. The moderator went on for another twenty minutes before summarizing and outlining scheduled visits to the site and scheduled appearances before the board.

  At four twenty in the afternoon, the moderator gave the final instructions and a brief congratulations to Helena.

  Erik was asleep behind the wheel of the jeep when she opened the passenger door. He looked up at her groggily. “Are we ready?”

  “Yes. That was a long drawn out meeting. Some good news, some not so good news.”

  He started the car, yawning then shaking his head a little. “Anywhere you want to stop first?”

  “Nope. It’s been a long day. To our summer home Erik. Make it happen.” She zipped her jacket, feeling the cool breeze coming off the nearby water.

  “Care if I stop and get some grub first? I don’t think we are going to make it back in time to eat at the mess tent.” He checked his watch then turned down a side road.

  “OK. You want to go in or get something to go?”

  “Carry out is fine wis me.” He stretched and yawned again. “There’s a great burger place up here. I’ll run in and get them OK?.”

  “Yeah, that will be fine.” She waited in the car when he went into the cafe. Down the street she observed an older gentleman in a black pea-coat, sock cap pulled down over his ears, with a young girl that resembled the girl in the missing posters. Helena squinted, trying to make out the people. The girl looked as though she was drunk, walking unsteadily leaning on the arm of the older man. He turned looking both directions down the street before helping her into the car. When he walked in front of the car to go back to the driver’s side, he glanced down the street in her direction, he looked familiar, someone whom she had recently seen but she didn’t get a good look at him.

  Chapter 6: Portal

  Of runes they spoke,

  And the reading of runes was little withheld

  From their lips.

  -Norse Proverb

  The ride back to camp was uneventful. Lena practiced some deep breathing to force herself to relax and unwind. She prepared for what she’d say to her team. Public speaking was not something she enjoyed. The idea was more terrifying than just about anything she could think of.

  Her team! That was a big bolster to her confidence. She was actually doing this! She pulled out her notepad and jotted down the key points that she wanted to say then tucked it into her messenger bag. With a sigh of relief, she turned her attention to Erik. He’d been her right hand man and she didn’t know what she’d do without him.

  Their conversation in the car revolved mainly around Erik and his girlfriend, and Erik’s inquiries into her own dating life.

  It felt odd to say that she wasn’t dating anyone. It had become comfortable to be a couple, even though she didn’t have deep feelings for Bryce.

  Overall, it was for the best and she could focus on this project and hopefully someday meet someone that she could connect with and truly fall in love.

  A variety of emotions threated to undo her sense of calm, but she squelched them down. She would not give in to feeling sorry for herself on any level. This was for the best. It was simply a matter of different. Sometimes, different was scary but she knew breaking it off with Bryce was the right thing. She couldn’t say that there was any sad feelings or any amount of heart ache, it was . . .different.

  She closed her eyes for the last few miles of the trip, tapping that inner part of her that seemed to have blossomed on the plane.

  She could hear her dad’s voice encouraging her. She felt the nervous energy inside, a simmering just below the surface ready to take flight at any moment. Lena wondered if this was what the adrenaline junkies felt, a low humming, inner vibration waiting to launch. The answers she sought were waiting to be uncovered!

  Gathering her thoughts, she felt a sudden crystalline focus. She saw in her mind the ancient village. The thick outer walls that protected against seafaring raiders. She saw a central courtyard, with a large meeting house. Smaller buildings off to either side of the meeting house. In her mind’s eye she could see people milling around the place, listening to their conversations to figure out what each building was for. It was as if she walked among these people back in their time.

  Her vision went from simply observing to interacting with them with the turn of a corner from a smithy’s cabin down a hill towards the dock. Suddenly the imagined villagers nodded to her, said greetings, and made comments that made her feel as she was one of them.

  “Helena!”

  She shook her head, opening her eyes to see Erik leaning over, her his brows furrowed.

  “Hello, Are we there?”

  He leaned back adjusting his jacket. “Ja. You dropped off about three miles out of camp and was completely out of it. I thought zere was something wrong. You totally went limp back there.”

  Rubbing her eyes and yawning she placed her feet on the ground. As she stood up she felt a little light headed. “That’s weird. It was like I just closed my eyes for a second to gather my thoughts.” She took a few steps tossing her purse over her shoulder and staggered slightly.

  “Whoa there. I didn’t think you drank anything, did you?” Erik moved to her side to steady her.

  “No. I’m fine. Guess the stress of today just got to me.” She offered an awkward attempt at a smile.

  “Let me help you to your tent. I’ll come back and get your stuff.” She glanced back to the land rover. It wasn’t like her to be forgetful. She turned back to Erik with a puzzled expression.

  “Sure.” Slowly things were beginning to come back to normal. It was a surreal feeling. It was like she was now in the dream and the dream had felt more real. “That sounds good.”

  It was fully dark now. She had hoped to get in a little surveying before the kickoff party but that wasn’t going to happen. She sat on her cot with her head in her hands, trying to shake off this strange dream walking feeling.

  When Erik brought the rest of her things in, he also brought her a bottle of juice. “Here, drink this. You’re not diabetic are you?”

  “No. Nothing like that. It’s weird. It must me the stress or jet lag. Weird thing is, I didn’t even think I was that stressed over this.”

  “Well you sure had me worried. I mean, bam you were out!” He knelt in front of her, making sure she sipped the juice. “You sit her and take it easy for
a few. I’ll go tell Brad to announce we’re back and have everyone gather for the meeting then I’ll come back and get you. You going to be OK?”

  “I’ll be fine.” It came out confident but she felt anything but. It was unsettling as well as disorienting. She waved him on, sipping the juice wondering if her blood sugar had dropped, or if her blood pressure had dropped, or if she was coming down with something, . . . or perhaps if she had been drugged.

  None of the options made any sense to her. By the time Erik returned she felt fine but he insisted in helping her anyway. The concern on his face was obvious.

  Before they entered the tent, she turned to him. “Erik, I’m ok now. I don’t want you to go in there hanging onto me like I’m going to pass out, OK? We need the team to have confidence that I know what I’m doing. Giving a first impression that I am weak and frail would not a good thing.”

  He started to protest but she put her hands up to stop him.

  “I’m fine. You can walk me back afterwards. If I show any signs of unsteadiness, then you come up and help me to a chair but I need to do this.” She smoothed the front of her shirt and jacket, tucked the stray strand of hair behind her ear as she closed her eyes. She took one deep breath then let it out slowly. “Do you have my clipboard?”

  He pursed his lips wanting to protest but handed her the clip board. “OK fine. I’ll go in and get their attention, then call you.”

  She took another deep breath, exhaling as she glanced over the few notes she had jotted down.

  “Alright, quiet down everyone. Our project manager has come from a full day of long stressful meetings with the board and the benefactors. So go easy on her or I’ll kick your sorry arses. Please welcome Miss Helena Eskildson.”

  Applause broke out sparsely around the room and she took one final deep breath. It was time. She forced a smile and walked to the cleared area at the front next to Erik. Accepting the microphone, she made a quick glance around the tent.