‘You really are a pig sometimes Tahir.’ Marissa growled as she pulled back from Hebro and wiped her eyes roughly.
‘I’m sorry Mary but we’re really pushed for time.’ Tahir whispered softly as he pointed to the sky. Above him a small dot of light appeared and began to grow.
‘Hold on just a little bit longer cuz.’ Tahir whispered under his breath as he looked at the now completely reformed Hebro.
‘He’ll be fine Tahir, I know you’re worried.’ Hebro croaked as she started to move around.
‘I can’t bear it without him.’ Tahir cried softly as he turned away and wiped away the tear that had welled up in the corner of his eye.
‘You’re not alone T. I’m here too.’ Marissa whispered as she snuck up behind him and wrapped her arms around Tahir’s chest and arms.
‘We need to get back to the Grand Canyon.’ Tahir croaked as he lifted his hands to squeeze Marissa’s.
‘What’s so special about a fucking big hole in the ground?’ Marissa whispered as she laid her head against Tahir’s back.
‘Aside from it’s beautiful, it’s a nexus for the universe.’ Tahir replied softly as he pulled Marissa’s arms down and clenched her fists in his own.
‘Ok, let’s get back to the canyon.’ Hebro whispered as her eyes flashed blue, instantly they were stood at the edge looking out over Marissa’s fucking big hole.
Chapter 5
Vista Encantada Picnic Area, North Rim of Grand Canyon
‘I’ll never get over this view.’ Tahir whispered as he turned to face Marissa who smiled before looking away awkwardly.
‘Get a room.’ Hebro chuckled as she walked out over the edge of the canyon and stood in mid-air above the ground.
‘Behave Hebbie.’ Marissa snapped as she tried to follow Hebro out over the edge.
‘Stop.’ Tahir roared as he reached out to grab Marissa before she made a fatal mistake. ‘She’s ascended, we’re still very mortal, unfortunately she can’t do anything if we make a mistake.’ He finished as he pulled her back slightly.
‘I thought these immortals could do anything?’ Marissa asked as she looked out at Hebro who was looking down at the floor of the canyon below her.
‘Bhan, Katie or one of the others like them could probably help us, the others I’m afraid it’s a little out of their power.’ Tahir replied as he looked at Hebro who seemed genuinely happy for the first time since they’d met.
‘So where are we going now?’ Hebro asked as she floated back over the edge of the canyon and joined them.
‘We’re waiting here, Fornicleus will join us.’ Tahir replied as he turned and saw a dark coloured muscle car pull into the car park area.
‘How can you be so sure?’ Marissa asked as she walked over to Hebro and slipped her arm through the gap Hebro had left.
‘Because he’s here.’ Tahir replied as he lifted his head to indicate the muscle car which had parked nearby.
‘Why’s he travelling in such a conspicuous way?’ Hebro asked as she took in the car and shook her head slightly.
‘In this country, that is incredibly subtle.’ Tahir chuckled in reply as he stood his ground as a small round man got out, slipped a pair of sunglasses on and headed towards where they stood.
‘He’s really let himself go.’ Hebro scoffed as the little man approached slowly.
‘That’s not him.’ Tahir said softly as he turned his back on the approaching man who vanished to be replaced by a tall muscular man with blonde hair and brilliant blue eyes.
‘How’d you do that?’ Marissa asked as the man stopped just behind Tahir who didn’t turn around or acknowledge the man at all.
‘Fornicleus please stay where you are.’ Tahir whispered softly as the man made to move forward again.
‘Tahir, please turn around, it’ll make this so much easier.’ Fornicleus said as he held out his hand.
‘No, talk to the two women please Fornicleus.’ Tahir replied as he raised his fingers and covered his ears.
‘Fornicleus what did you do with the spear?’ Hebro asked quietly as she advanced on Fornicleus slowly.
‘You took the spear my Lady, after you seized it from me I’ve no memory of what happened to it.’ Fornicleus whispered.
‘Liar.’ Tahir shouted at the top of his lungs.
‘Try again Fornicleus.’ Hebro growled softly as she turned to Tahir and nodded her head.
‘I swear my Lady, I have no memory.’ Fornicleus whimpered as his eyes darted between Hebro and Marissa.
‘Liar.’ Tahir barked again as he looked across at Marissa and winked.
‘Fornicleus, if you had to hide the spear where would you put it?’ Marissa asked after taking a shallow breath.
‘In plain sight, where everyone could see it but not know what it meant.’ Fornicleus replied instantly before placing his hand over his mouth.
Fornicleus looked across at Tahir who said nothing.
‘How much of yourself did you imbue into the spear?’ Marissa asked as she sniffed deeply.
‘All I did was force the shard to adopt the shape it wanted to.’ Fornicleus replied as the words tripped from his lips.
‘Is the spear still in the shape you forged?’ Hebro asked as she cottoned on to what Marissa was doing.
‘It’s hiding its true form, but contact with an ascended will cause it to revert to the shape it holds.’ Fornicleus replied softly as he dropped his hands to his sides.
‘Where would you hide a seven feet long shaft of metal in medieval Europe?’ Marissa asked as a strange notion had occurred to her.
‘Give it to a friend and ask them to hide it.’ Fornicleus replied seriously as he turned away from Marissa and headed back to his car.
‘Thankyou Fornicleus.’ Tahir whispered as he removed his fingers from his ears and turned back around.
‘For what?’ Fornicleus asked as he reached the door of the car and jerked it open.
‘For providing all the answers we need.’ Tahir replied as he allowed a broad smile to crack across his face.
Fornicleus looked at the little group who stood just inside the tree line before sliding onto his seat, fired up the engine and drove away.
‘What answers did he give?’ Hebro asked quietly, a completely confused look on her face.
‘You gave the spear to someone Hebro, when they took possession the spear transformed so it could hide in plain sight. Then, as it travelled around the Viking civilisation it kept changing what it showed to the world, that’s why I didn’t look at Fornicleus when he approached, its why he changed from small fat man to tall athletic when I turned away.’ Tahir replied softly as he looked at Marissa who smiled blankly. ‘He imbued his ability to cloud what others can see into the spear, it’s back in Europe but we needed to draw Fornicleus out somewhere he feels comfortable.’ He finished.
‘So, we’re heading back to Europe then?’ Hebro asked as she turned on the spot to see a cloud of smoke disappear into the distance, as she watched the car glowed before vanishing into nothing.
‘It was always going to happen really.’ Tahir chuckled as he made for the edge of the canyon.
‘So where do you reckon we start looking?’ Marissa asked as she walked up behind him and slipped her arms around his waist.
‘We look back and see if we can find someone who conquered after receiving a special gift.’ Tahir replied as he reached down for the bag that had appeared at his feet and pulled a small tablet from within it.
‘Where do we start?’ Hebro asked as she moved to be at Tahir’s side.
‘Well you took the spear in the fifth century, so who in history at about this time started to win great numbers of battles.’ Tahir replied as his fingers raced across the screen. ‘Ah, here we go.’ He said after scanning through the first few pages of results. ‘Tors Alvard, a chief from near modern Oslo had a series of victories over other tribes in the area about a decade after you took the spear, legends from the era claim he’d found Gungnir and it guided him in battle
.’
‘What’s Gungnir?’ Marissa asked reaching around for the tablet.
‘Odin’s Staff, a gift crafted by dwarves and considered the most powerful weapon of the ancient Norse gods.’ Tahir replied softly as he reached down his free hand to squeeze Marissa’s. ‘It was said to be forged of the same metal as Mjolnir, Thor’s hammer.’
‘It could be they didn’t know what the metal was and called it magical.’ Hebro said softly as she walked back out into thin air.
‘Argh.’ A woman screamed as she saw Hebro clearly stood in mid-air.
‘Hebbie.’ Marissa scolded as Hebro turned to where the woman was stood and blinked her eyes, the woman as if struck dumb closed her mouth, turned back to where she’d come from and vanished from view.
‘Sorry.’ Hebro chuckled softly as she walked back over the edge of the canyon. ‘Does it say where this Tors person finished up?’
‘When the Vikings raided the North East coast of England he’s said to have been one of the main chiefs there at the time.’ Tahir replied softly as he reached into is bag and pulled a small plastic bottle full of clear liquid and took a gentle sip.
‘Whereabouts in England we heading for?’ Marissa asked as she reached out for the bottle and took a similar sip.
‘York.’ Tahir replied quietly as he took the bottle from Marissa and replaced it in his bag.
‘What’s so special about York?’ Hebro asked as she moved between Tahir and Marissa.
‘York Minster’s been around for nearly two thousand years and rebuilt many times, records show the Danes visited the area for a while and were involved in the construction of at least one church on the site.’ Tahir replied quietly as he reached out and took Hebro’s hand. As Marissa reached out her hand the world seemed to change hue, in an instant they were all stood looking at a colossal stone wall bathed in light, the sky above inky black.
‘Ok, so what’s so special about this place?’ Marissa asked as she looked up at the Rose window in the wall of York Minster.
‘It’s just pretty.’ Tahir chuckled as he followed the wall down to the door which opened without bidding.
‘Are you doing that Hebbie?’ Marissa asked as she crept forward to the threshold.
‘Nothing to do with me.’ Hebro replied quietly as she raised her hand and a ball of white light appeared.
‘Enter at your peril.’ A soft female voice whispered from the darkness.
‘Who’s there?’ Hebro asked as she advanced to the door and peered inside.
‘Welcome travellers, enter at your peril.’ The female voice repeated softly as a light appeared just above the door bathing the entrance in an eerie glow.
‘Who are you?’ Tahir asked as he crossed into the entrance hall.
‘Valfreyjas.’ A tall athletic woman replied as her form materialised between the last row of chairs. ‘Hello Lady Hebro.’ She said her head dipped slightly as she began to move forward slowly.
‘You haven’t’ changed Valfreyjas.’ Hebro chuckled as she moved into the beam of light.
‘You know each other then?’ Tahir asked as he tried to push passed Valfreyjas.
‘Be warned mortal, what you seek is protected by forces you cannot comprehend.’ Valfreyjas warned as she raised her hand to stop Tahir.
‘I think I’ll cope.’ Tahir chuckled as he reached out his hand and moved Valfreyjas’.
‘I warned you mortal.’ Valfreyjas growled as a bolt of energy formed between her eyes and leapt forth to where Tahir stood.
‘Try again.’ Tahir scoffed as the bolt passed straight through him.
‘Impossible.’ Valfreyjas roared as another larger bolt flashed between her eyes raced down her arm and into the palm of her outstretched hand.
‘I wouldn’t.’ Bhan’s voice growled from up in the rafters.
‘My Lord, is that you?’ Valfreyjas asked as she dropped to one knee.
‘After a fashion.’ Bhan replied as Tahir stepped passed gently and walked down the centre of the chairs.
‘T. Wait for me.’ Marissa squeaked as she slipped passed Valfreyjas and caught up with Tahir.
‘Don’t tell her but it’s me in the tannoy system.’ Tahir chuckled as he showed Marissa the phone in his cupped hand.
‘Cheeky.’ Marissa whispered as she slipped her arm around Tahir and followed him up to the altar. ‘What are we looking for?’ she asked as they reached the imposing table in the middle of the space.
‘I don’t know, something about this is familiar though.’ Tahir replied as he ran his hand over the rich fabric covering the altar.
‘Anything?’ Hebro asked as she appeared by their sides.
‘Where’s your friend?’ Tahir asked as he turned to see where Valfreyjas was.
‘I wouldn’t worry about her.’ Hebro replied ominously as a flash of power snapped between her eyes.
‘Tell me you didn’t hurt her.’ Marissa pleaded quietly.
‘She’s fine, just not going anywhere for the time being.’ Hebro replied as she turned to where Valfreyjas was stood motionless.
‘Locked in a moment of time?’ Tahir asked as he cocked his head slightly to one side and traced his fingers under the edge of the altar. ‘Got you.’ He muttered to himself as he found a small raised section that gave slightly to his touch.
With a loud click the floor under them began to move slowly.
‘How’d you do that?’ Marissa asked as she stepped back in time to watch as the slab she’d been stood on no longer existed.
‘You don’t have an ascended guard something as simple as this building, do you?’ Tahir asked as he reached into his pocket for a small torch.
As the beam flickered into life and penetrated the darkness all three stood with their mouths open. Beneath them a cavern of almost equal size revealed itself.
‘What’s this?’ Marissa asked quietly as she took in the scale of the space she was staring at.
‘Not the catacombs that’s for sure but I know you’re staring into a pocket universe.’ Tahir replied softly.
‘Will it be dangerous down there?’ Marissa asked genuine fear creeping into her voice.
‘Can’t wait to find out.’ Tahir replied softly as he looked at Hebro who nodded slightly before blinking. In an instant all three were stood on the floor of the cavern looking up at the small hole they’d just travelled through.
‘Is there anything down here?’ Marissa asked as she furtively looked around for danger.
‘No, but it doesn’t mean there won’t be traps for the unwary.’ Hebro replied as she scanned the surrounding area.
‘What’s worrying you Mary?’ Tahir asked as he placed a hand gently on Marissa’s shoulder.
‘Something about down here seems off to me, I can’t place it now, but I can’t help feeling nervous. Marissa replied softly as she wrapped her hand around Tahir’s and squeezed it.
‘Think of Stef.’ Tahir chuckled as he pointed his torch out into the darkness. ‘Jesus.’ He exclaimed as the beam of his torch cast over a small statue with two large gems embedded within it.
‘I haven’t seen one of these in years.’ Hebro chuckled as she walked over to look more closely at the statue.
‘You know what this is?’ Marissa asked as she walked passed Tahir who seemed rooted to the spot.
‘Yes, it’s the embodiment of a guardian.’ Hebro replied softly as she placed her hand between the eyes. As they looked on the statue glowed before starting to grow. Within a few seconds a tall powerfully built man stood before them, his eyes glowing softly and his perfectly tailored suit reflecting the light from Tahir’s torch.
‘Can he help us?’ Tahir asked shakily.
‘No, but it’s a good sign we’re on the right track.’ Hebro replied as she looked at the man, bowed her head slightly then watched as he returned to his old small statue form.
‘Is it safe for us to pass?’ Marissa asked as she scanned the surrounding area for more of the little statues.
‘For now.’ Hebro repli
ed as she held out her hand and a small ball of white light appeared. With a small blow the ball floated free of her hand and raised itself a few feet above their heads.
‘There.’ Tahir whispered as he motioned a small table immediately in front of them about thirty feet away.
‘What’s so special about this?’ Marissa asked as she walked up to the table and ran her hand over its surface. She pulled back her hand when it was warm to the touch.
‘Remember, some rules you’re used to don’t work here.’ Hebro cautioned seriously as she walked up behind Marissa and placed her hand on the table. Instantly the top of the table vanished, in its place a small pit appeared, at the bottom of the pit a small wooden box was sat.
‘Ok, now that’s creepy.’ Tahir chuckled as he reached into his bag for a length of rope.
‘It won’t work.’ Hebro whispered as she placed a warning hand on Tahir’s wrist.
‘I can see the bottom and it isn’t far, maybe ten fifteen feet.’ Tahir said looking at Hebro with a surprised look on his face.
‘Looks can be deceiving.’ Hebro chuckled softly as she picked up a small stone at her feet. ‘Watch this and tell me how far it is.’ She finished before releasing the stone.
Tahir watched as the stone fell gracefully into the pit, he counted passed ten in his head and the stone was still falling. ‘Ok, that shouldn’t be taking so long.’ He said looking between Hebro and Marissa.
‘General rule on earth, at ten metres per second that rock should’ve taken less than a second to hit the bottom but it’s still going. There’s a lake on Earth where the waters are so clear you can see to the bottom, it doesn’t look that far but it’s nearly three hundred feet to the bed. Remember when my race is involved nothing’s ever what it seems.’ Hebro said softly as she looked at a small tree sprouting from the ground over the other side of the hole.
‘So how do we get to the bottom Hebbie?’ Marissa asked as she peered over the edge into the abyss.
‘We fall.’ Hebro replied softly as she looked at the tree and a rope began to grow from one of the overhanging branches.
‘Surely we can climb down.’ Tahir said as he looked across at the tree and thought about tying his rope around it.
Spear of Heaven: The Fallen Page 9
