Dead Silence

by T. G. Ayer

  I laughed, conceding her point. "Fine. But where are you taking me?"

  "Frigga has a private bathing chamber near her rooms."

  "How do you know that?" I frowned at her back as I attempted to catch up.

  "I asked."

  "What?" I asked before I recalled she had the ability to talk to a person with her mind.

  She'd probably contacted Frigga the moment we'd arrived in Asgard. I sighed and held my tongue as I walked on, feeling the weight of my armor pulling me down. Even my feet had begun to feel heavy and strange.

  When Nita suddenly stopped in front of me, I walked right into her, unable to stop myself. Although she stumbled from the blow she waved off my apology and pushed open the heavy wooden door on our right.

  As I entered the room I smelled water and felt the warm air against my cheeks, like a soft, motherly hug. I sighed, instantly relaxed by the possibility of a soak in hot water.

  Two Huldra moved silently within the stone chamber, lighting candles in long floor standing candelabras, and in little alcoves on the stone wall behind the bath. Their black cow's tails whispered along the floor and I gave them both a smile in return to their own cheer-filled grins.

  My own Huldra, Turi, was too efficient for words. By now she would have fetched my weapons, cloak and satchel from the Transfer Room, knowing it was there by some mysterious way I'd never been able to figure out. She'd probably be shining and sharpening my sword right now. And if she saw me, she'd insist I bathed and ate and rested. She was bossy that way. How had I gotten by without her?

  Now, I paid closer attention to the room, and the bath.

  And what a bath it was.

  Nestled against the far right corner of the room, it rose from the stone floor, the sides rising in craggy, uneven ridges. A set of steps carved into the right side, lead to a small area at the top of the pool.

  The small space was filled with towels, and bowls of soaps and flower petals. Nita waved her hand at my clothes, reminding me that I needed to undress before climbing inside the heated waters. I moved to the opposite wall where various ledges provided space for my shoes and armor.

  My fingers felt fat and heavy as I untied the strings at the collar of my armor and as I bent to reach for the bottom edge of the chain-mail I blinked hard as dizziness finally took me over. I fell forward and hit my head on the wall before I was able to catch myself.

  Pain bloomed at my temple and when I touched the throbbing skin, my fingers came away red. Great. I'd managed to fight off three frost giants without destroying my face but it takes one stubborn stone wall to do the job in a tenth of a second.

  I snorted as I pulled my armor up, this time without bending over. It fell in soft clinks as I dropped it on the floor. Thankful for the carved stone bench also built into the wall, I sank onto the platform and unzipped my boots, then tugged off my shirt. The buttons proved stubborn but I refused to be bested by half a dozen metal disks. Thankfully, I managed to get the shirt off without ripping it apart.

  Good thing it was black. The entire collar was soaked in blood and I wrinkled my nose in disgust. My blood had never impressed me. DNA spliced, robbed from a Valkyrie dead for a thousand years, and used to create a deadly black goop that killed the warriors of Valhalla. Yup, nothing special.

  At last, naked, I walked toward the bath, not in the least bit embarrassed only because I had my wings. They curved around me, covering my bare skin like a large soft towel.

  I padded to the water's edge and watched as Nita removed a glass bottle from the air in front of her. Neat trick. I planned on asking her more about it later. For now I watched as she pulled a stopper from the bottle contained a bright green liquid, and tipped three drops into the bubbling water.

  "What is that?" I asked, merely curious. I wasn't about to protest even if she said it was concentrated goat pee. Right now, I needed to slip into that water so desperately that very little could stop me.

  "It is a special herb, I do not believe it has a human equivalent name." She gave me an apologetic smile then swirled her hand over the surface of the water, mixing the liquid around with only the motion of her hand. "There is also a drop of liquid sunshine mixed in. Both ingredients work a lot like the waters of Asgard's bathing pools, but the regeneration properties are much more concentrated. It does not last long so you need to get in immediately." She dusted her hands off and took a step away from the pool before descending the stairs. I stepped into the water. My toes feeling the superb heat first. Nita seated herself on a nearby ledge and watched as I slipped deeper into the pool.

  I'd never felt anything so wonderful, and I had a well-known obsession with hot water. "Wow, this feels amazing." I sighed and relaxed, leaning my head against the edge of the pool and closing my eyes. "Why does it not last?" I asked suddenly.

  Nita tipped an eyebrow. "Have you ever seen sunlight care how you want it to behave?" she asked with a grin.

  "No, I can't say that I have." I kept a straight face. "Stubborn and very hard to control, sunlight."

  We both laughed as I slid deeper into the water, soaking the slice in my neck in the healing waters. I traced a finger along the jagged edge of the wound, ripped open by the blade of an icy frost giant fingernail.

  I was glad I couldn't see the wound.

  Glad that I wouldn't see what type of horrible scarring this new injury would leave. From the moment I'd begun my life within Asgard I'd been injured both in training sessions and in actual battle. The magical waters of the palaces bathing pools had served well so far, soothing aches and pains and encouraging healing. Nita's liquid sunshine and herbs would do the same for me.

  I sighed again and felt the heat make its way deep into my muscles, warming and releasing the tension. Nita laughed. "Through the ages a hot bath has always been a tincture for the soul."

  I grinned and flexed my muscles beneath the surface. When I opened my eyes a glow caught my attention immediately. The entire surface of the pool shone like some kind of bio-luminescent life-form. The pale green light shivered, floating along the top of the water and as I shifted I could see that deeper within the water, the shining blobs danced as they slowly dropped to the bottom.

  "Wow," I said. "What is that?"

  "It's a substance released from the herb I mentioned. It gives off a healing energy and shines in the darkness. It is a beautiful sight." Nita's clothing shirred as she rose and moved up the steps toward my head. "Lean back. I must check the healing."

  I obeyed, setting my head on the side of the pool and turning to give Nita access to my neck. Her fingers traveled along the edge of the wound as she inspected the healing.

  "Did it work?" I asked holding my breath.

  "You haven't died yet, so I'm assuming yes," she said dryly, then rose and dusted her wet fingers into the water.

  I snorted then lifted my hand to do the same thing the elf had. I gasped as my fingers met smooth, unbroken skin.

  Healing? What sort of healing is this?

  "Yes. It's quite magical," said Nita as she took the last step to the ground. I was getting used to her being able to tell what I was thinking. She turned to face me while I patted my neck repeatedly like an ape. "I must be leaving. Your wound is well healed, and there will be no scar. Perhaps this will ensure you remain healthy for the war." There was an odd note to her voice, as if there was something else she wanted to say but didn't dare.

  I moved to the side of the pool nearest to Nita, almost getting distracted by the gleaming particles floating around me. "Are you leaving Asgard?" The water sloshed over the edge as I spoke.

  "No. I will not leave. I believe Asgard is the safest place to be. And yes, I will be seeing my mother, although to be really honest it is not necessary. My mother and I communicate with each other all the time. I knew she was well and alive."

  "Are all elves as talented as you?" I asked, now curious about the entire race because I was so impressed with one.

  Nita smiled. "Some are, but the ancients possess much
more power overall." She gave me a wave as she walked to the door. "See you soon, Bryn. And take care."

  I lifted my fingers and gave her a poor excuse for a wave, and a moment later found myself alone. I hadn't asked her if she had any extra of her special healing potion but I figured there really was no need. If she remained in Asgard then she'd likely be there if I needed her.

  I had to admit though, there had not been a day that has gone by in all these months that something did not surprise me.

  CHAPTER SIX

  The thought of returning my bloody clothes back to my body, hadn't been pleasant until I'd found the bell. Some rooms, including my own, contained a Huldra bell. It must work on some ultrasonic level because ringing it makes no sound that I could hear. But ringing the Huldra bell called one to you, and if you didn't have the same powers as the gods to call one at will, it was very handy.

  I rang the bell and a Huldra came within minutes. I gave her a message to call Turi, who was thrilled to see me, furious I'd been hurt, and totally in agreement about clean clothes. Thanks to her, I was now in a fresh dress, the waves of silk falling to my ankles. My feet were shod in leather sandals that twisted up my calves to be tied at my knees, a very Roman look. My wings fluttered at my back as they dried out, now airy and light.

  Revived, refreshed, and repaired, I walked to Odin's hall looking eagerly for Frigga or Thor.

  Turi had taken most of my weapons to my quarters, leaving me with Gungnir in its sheath on my back, and a dangerous looking short sword strapped to my waist. The only armor I wore was my breast plate and my forearm braces, the gleaming bronze, patterned with a chain-mail design, a perfect foil for my red hair and equally flaming wings.

  I didn't need a mirror to tell me I looked good, that at last my long aquiline nose seemed to fit my face, that at last my full lips seemed to balance out my high cheekbones. I'd reached a stage in my life where I appreciated my reflection, where I actually liked what I saw looking back at me.

  A year ago, as a lonely teen I'd seen only the face of an insecure young loner, a foster kid that nobody wanted, a girl who had never been in love, who hadn't had a family to call her own, who hadn't had even a smidgen of self-confidence.

  Today, a warrior Amazon of a woman looked back at me. A woman who fought and killed for what she believed in, who protected her new family with a dangerous passion. And I liked being that woman. And, I liked that others liked it too.

  Like Odin, Thor and Frigga.

  They were no longer gods and goddesses, pagan gods that should not have existed. They were my family.

  When I entered the Hall, Frigga and Thor were sitting on the dais at the far end. The great white hall was a general meeting place for anyone in Asgard who wanted to speak to the gods.

  Today, a few Ulfr, dressed in military wear, and a small band of dwarfs, milled about, either waiting to see Frigga or Thor or having done so and in no hurry to leave.

  One Ulfr, whose wolfy-self remained entirely beneath his glamor, was walking to the dais as I neared it. The moment he saw me he stopped, then bowed low and stepped back. I waved him on saying I'd wait but he insisted. Recognizing his respect and not wanting to insult him, I went ahead and stepped up onto the dais.

  Just the act of climbing onto a place held for only Odin and his family, was a strange enough experience. But as a daughter of the All-father it was as much my right as it was Thor's or even Loki's. It may have felt strange but I couldn't change reality. Nor would I want to.

  Frigga rose and opened her arms to me. Her dark hair flowed richly over her shoulders and down her back. She wore a dress similar to mine, her armor gold instead of bronze. In her piled up hair she wore a thin gold crown, a thing closer to a tiara but without the cheap stones.

  Her open-armed gesture made tears rise in my throat. She'd never been anything but welcoming to me. Not once had she ever made me feel unwanted or unloved. I stifled my laughter. The woman who had come the closest to being my mother was a fabled goddess, and the wife of the man who had fathered me – or to be specific the man who had fathered the original Brunhilde, the warrior princess whose DNA had helped to bring me into existence.

  For a moment I thought about my own mother, Geoffrey Halbrook's wife Irene. A woman who'd abandoned me long before I even knew how important a mother was. A woman whom I'd longed to see for years, for whom I'd cried endless tears. She'd known something of what her husband had done, and she'd had little patience or care for the young child growing up in her house. She'd left us because Dr. Stephen Lee had seen fit to have a little conversation with her.

  Another thing I could lay at the feet of Aidan's father. I wondered what Irene would think if she knew the whole truth? What would she say if she saw me now? And suddenly, enveloped within Frigga's loving embrace, even knowing it was probably not something Irene Halbrook would ever give me, I longed to see my own mother.

  Frigga leaned back from our hug and brushed the side of my face with her fingers, tucking a stray lock of hair around my ear. "Are you feeling better?" Her expression was filled only with concern and care.

  I nodded. "Nita filled you in?" I asked, grinning as she nodded so solemnly. I squeezed her arms.

  "So how did you end up in Loki's clutches?" asked Thor, the scowl on his face implying he wasn't pleased with me.

  "I had Derek rig up a program which he used to track Loki's movements on the Bifrost. He called me to say they found where Loki was." I shrugged, knowing already how bad it looked for Derek. "It's possible that Derek was sending me into a trap but I need to speak to him first. Loki has hijacked me on the Bifrost before so who knows. It could be all Loki's doing."

  Thor didn't look satisfied with my answer.

  I smiled, assuring him I was fine. "Good thing Nita was there. It was close but I survived."

  Thor just raised his eyebrows. When he opened his mouth to speak, Frigga gave him a stern look and he closed his mouth. The goddess patted my shoulder and shooed Thor off Odin's throne.

  "Sit." She pointed at the seat leaving me certain it was in my best interests to listen.

  I sat.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Geri and Freki, Odin's wolf companions, appeared on either side of the throne, as if conjured from thin air. But my imagination was probably wilder than the truth and they'd probably just been sitting behind the throne and only now came forward to greet me.

  Thor crouched beside me, his bright blue eyes filled with concern. "How do you feel?" he asked, his eyes scanning my face and my neck. He put a finger to my chin and tilted it away, clearly searching for the wound.

  I pushed his finger away. "Don't bother. I couldn't find it either."

  "Are you sure you were near death? Or are you just in need of attention?" Thor smirked as he got to his feet and dusted off his armor. He was a sight for sore eyes. Fortunately his looks didn't interest me in the least, a good thing considering he was technically my brother even with a few halves added into the mix.

  He wore a white silk shirt, black leather pants and boots, and an overdress of glamored armor that was invisible to the standard person's vision. A new development in recent weeks, coming from an armory that seemed focused on creating better and better armor and weapons, since those we had possessed were simply insufficient to defend ourselves against Loki.

  In recent days, we'd farmed out the weapons construction to the dwarfs, putting Dvalinn in charge. I cleared my throat. "How did Prince Dvalinn and Sarah take having to return to Swartelfheim?"

  "Reluctantly," said Thor with a snort.

  "I can imagine." I had to laugh. Sarah was a Midgard girl who'd fallen for the son of an evil dwarf queen. And I knew Sarah too well. She was the type to want to be in the middle of the action. "I'm surprised she didn't refuse to leave."

  "She almost did. I had to convince her that once she saw the job that they had in store for them, she would be happy to return home. And thankfully, she gave me the benefit of the doubt."

  "What changed her mind?"


  "Oh, just the two weapons engineers from Midgard who showed them the plans for their new Jotunn destructors. Or whatever they called them." Thor put his thumbs into his belt loops and grinned, clearly happy with himself that he'd battled with a little human female and won.

  I returned his grin. "I have to say I'm relieved. At least that places Sarah out of immediate danger."

  "Why does her well-being concern you so much?" asked Thor, his forehead creasing.

  "Because she is my friend." I smiled at him, then said, "And she is going to have a baby."

  "What?" Thor looked stunned. "She never said."

  Shaking my head, I felt excitement flutter in my stomach. "She doesn't know. Well she didn't know when I last saw her."

  "How would you know then? She does not look . . ." Thor made a curved motion out in front of his stomach.

  I giggled and even Frigga's laughed softly. "She won't, not yet. She is only in the early stages."

  Thor shook his head. "I don't understand how you know."

  With a short lift of a shoulder, I pursed my lips. "I just do. And it's not the first time. I've dreamed before. In fact, I dreamed of the Vigrid Plains even before I went there."

  Frigga touched my hand leaning forward to look at my face. "Bryn, how long have you been able to see things?" she asked, her voice soft and gentle. I was hesitant to admit it, but her tone was encouraging enough to make me answer.

  I looked away, staring into a dark corner of the hall. "It happened a few times when I was very young. It didn't happen as often as seeing pretty shining people. So it caused me less trouble with the head-doctors."

  "And since coming to Asgard?" asked Frigga.

  "I haven't paid too much attention to it. It's happened a few times and I've pretty much ignored it."

  Frigga shook her head and the light glinted on her armor. "Do not ignore it, Bryn. The more you use it the more you will be able to see."