Ljunge gave a wide smile. “I will do anything that pleases you, Vár.”
She shivered, pulling Erik toward the door. Erik pulled back stopping short.
“What about an attack? Won’t they come for Göll?”
Vár pulled the door open, shaking her head. “Odin would not risk his precious einherjar for an ale-bearer. A norn, perhaps. Likely he has already fled to Asgard and is waiting to see what it is that you do.” She turned, walking into the hall. “If you are satisfied then follow me. We will return for them when you are well-dressed.”
Erik followed Vár out into the elevator and down through the lobby. When they were out on the sidewalk, she slowed her brisk pace, falling back to Erik’s side. She looked at him quietly as they walked toward the street full of shops he’d been to only a few days before.
“What?”
“You are strange to me.”
“I can imagine. Mind if I ask some questions?”
“I will answer what I can.”
“How long have you served Hel?”
She thought on it for a moment. “Hm. More than a thousand years, if I were to guess. The days fall together after so long.”
“And you remember all of them? People don’t go crazy? I’d probably lose it after farming for a few hundred years.”
“They remember enough. My mistress is subtle and lifting the weight of the ages is not something simply done. She understands their minds well enough.”
“Magic, then.”
“Crassly put, but if it will move you on to a more interesting question…”
“Why serve her?”
“Hel is the only sane creature in the nine worlds.” Vár turned to him, her eyes serious. “You would do well to keep that in mind. And to respect it. That is all I will say. You may ask her questions about herself.”
Erik laughed absently, looking around the street. “So you’re upset I didn’t ask more things about you in particular? Like what’s your favorite meal.”
“I felt no such thing. And I enjoy fried things.”
He smiled, not letting Vár see. It was possible she wasn’t as bad as she seemed. “Thanks, by the way.”
She looked at him out of the corner of her eye. “For?”
“Mystery swords. Standing between me and a valkyrie. Stabbing me in the lung.”
It was meant half as a joke, the stabbing bit. She’d helped in ways he hadn’t understood at the time and, in truth, he wanted some reaction beyond what she normally gave.
She said nothing, the rest of the walk being a quiet one. They arrived at a store selling clothing. Vár went in first and the clerk there seemed shocked to see her.
“Madame Vár! I was not aware you were nearby. I apologize for… for… being… slack?” An apology that made no sense. “Of course, whatever you need will be supplied.”
“Didn’t realize you were famous.”
Vár ignored the clerk, answering Erik. “I am known.” She turned her attention then to the panicking girl. “Dress this one. He’s seeing Hel. And bring a dress, one smaller than mine. Sized… nearly for a child. Or a girl who looks like a child. Like mine but more colorful. It should please the farm girl, yes?” She asked the question to Erik, not expecting an answer and turned back to the clerk. “And an outfit a fool might wear.”
“Yes, at once.”
It was clear from the girl’s face that she hadn’t understood for a moment what it was that Vár had meant by the last part, but she set about her work, measuring Erik. When she was done, she turned to Vár.
“Is… is the fool… is he roughly the same size as this man?”
“It does not matter. A potato sack would do, so long as it is clean.”
The girl nodded, nervous to the point of terror, and went into the back. She returned with a dark pair of pants for Erik, alongside a button up shirt, waistcoat, and an overcoat. He was sent to a changing room. It was finer than what he’d been given by Modgudr, but it fit awkwardly.
The clerk seemed pleased with it. “I will make adjustments, it shouldn’t take a moment.”
He returned to his old clothes and stood waiting with Vár. People who passed the shop saw her and continued on.
“Are people scared of you?”
Vár looked over her shoulder out the door. “Most people are scared of me, yes. It saves me a great deal of trouble.”
“Don’t you get lonely?”
Vár sighed, immediately annoyed at the question. “You are not so stupid as to ask such a question, Erik. I am not fooled by your amiable face and easy nature. I’ve seen you in thought. But since you asked, I will answer. I do not consider the unwelcome praise of simple people to be companionship. I am not lonely, and if I were, that would hardly remedy it.”
“Well, if you want a friend, you can just tell me.” He held back a laugh. “You don’t have to act so tough around me.”
“This is where you expect me to laugh and give you a playful hit on your arm, isn’t it? I am not your farm girl.” She looked at him. “I find you interesting. Hel has not told me what it is you are, but even I see there is something.”
The clerk came back and Erik tried on the clothes again. They were a perfect fit. His old clothes were wrapped into a cloth bundle and the clothes Vár had ordered into another and they were sent on their way.
Ljunge stood when they returned to the room, Vár throwing the bundle at him. Tove was sitting in the bed, Erik went to her as Ljunge began to unwrap the bundle in his excitement.
“Are you alright?”
Tove looked down at her legs. “I am… I… thought you would not return from Valhalla.”
Erik chuckled. “That’s a solid guess. Hel came.”
“Ljunge told me all that you told him. We will go and see her now?” Tove’s hands were trembling, there was fear in her voice. “Has Odin forsaken us?”
It meant more to her than he could have known. There was no answer he could give to the question that would help her, not really.
“We’re going to talk to Hel. I’ll find out what I can.”
She gripped the covers to at least try to stop herself shaking with worry. She nodded quietly, tears forming in her eyes.
Erik could not imagine how it must have felt to be hated by one’s god. It was meaningless to him and Odin was only a legend who wanted him to be destroyed. For Tove it was not that way. Perhaps for Göll as well. Ljunge seemed unperturbed by the ire of a god and more interested in harassing Vár. He’d quickly changed clothes into a lemon-yellow outfit that Erik had just now seen.
Ljunge smiled at Erik when he laughed at the sight.
“It suits me well, does it not?”
Vár was visibly annoyed that Ljunge was so pleased with the outfit. Even Tove laughed at the sight, in spite of herself.
Erik turned back to her. “We’re going whenever you’re ready.”
She gave a determined nod. “I am ready.” She moved to the edge of the bed and stood, wincing.
Ljunge threw Tove the dress and she looked it over.
“How will I fight in this if we are attacked?”
Vár scoffed. “The same as you fight in anything else. Or would an enemy seeing your crotch render you unable to fight?”
Tove’s expression went immediately angry. She walked into the bathroom in a huff and changed there. The dress fit her well enough. It was well-made with fine fabrics. Thick blue and tan cotton with intricate silk designs between the cotton pieces. She offered no complaints after having put it on and, if Erik wasn’t wrong, seemed somewhat pleased to be wearing it.
Erik lifted Göll from the bed and they left, taking a streetcar to the center of the city. They went to the north, through a portion of the city that saw much more variety in the building design and the colors present. It was the closest to a difference in affluence among the
people in Helborgen that Erik had seen. Some of the things there looked nearly modern. It reminded him that there had been no telephones or radios, but that the kitchens seemed fairly modern among other oddities.
“Vár, why are there no phones or radios or anything?”
Ljunge and Tove looked at him as though he’d spoke another language but Vár just kept walking.
“Too much comfort makes people boring.”
It was all she said. Hel’s keep came into view past the end of the northern part of the city. It was set across a sprawling, nearly empty lot, paved flat. The only features in the lot proper were a pair of hulking, obsidian dog statues. They seemed to follow Erik. They were only a dozen yards from walking between the twenty-foot statues when Erik realized they were following him. The necks had turned ever so slightly.
They continued past them and Erik could swear he heard them growl as he came to the stairs that led up to the main entrance. It was a simple staircase, if very large. It again reminded him that he was among things he could not understand. At the top landing, steel doors stood in front of them. They were thick, attached to heavy frames set into what looked like solid slabs of stone. There were intricate carvings along them. Erik recognized some of the figures as gods and goddesses, all of them bowing before Hel or falling before her in one way or another.
The doors opened without Vár having to make their arrival known and they walked through, the doors shutting behind without anyone in attendance. Servants came immediately moving in parallel to them without saying a word. Both were women dressed in black and gold. The outfits, in their color at least, bore a resemblance to what Vár often wore, though she favored red over gold in what Erik had seen at least.
They came to a stop at a waiting room off the main hallway. It looked much the same as the hotel lobby, though dressed in far more red and with more even lighting. Food was waiting there and Vár stopped at the door.
“Your warband will wait here.”
Tove protested immediately. “And why should we do that?!”
Vár looked at her, no hint of hesitation in the answer. “What Hel has to say to the leader of your warband is not for you to hear. I can return you to your bed if you wish.”
Tove’s nose wrinkled, not liking the explanation but unable to argue against it. She turned to Erik instead. “Be wary.”
Erik nodded. “Yeah, I will.”
Ljunge and Tove went into the room and Vár continued showing him through the keep to wherever it was Hel was waiting.
“There is no cause for concern, Erik. If Hel meant you harm, she would not bother coming herself. Or having you brought here.”
“I’m not sure where you learned to reassure people, but you’re awful at it.”
“I did not mean to reassure you.”
Erik rolled his eyes. He had been carrying Göll for some time and even with whatever had snapped in him the day before, she was beginning to grow heavy. The power in him was not entirely constant, it seemed. Though he was far stronger than he had been.
The turns began to involve descending stairs and lights turned to torches. He was not brought to a grand hall, but to a blocky stone room with a stone table in the middle of it. Fire lit the place and Hel awaited him on the far end of the table. Vár saw him in, staying by the door. Hel looked past Erik.
“You can go, Vár.” She nodded and was off. Hel patted a hand on the table. “Put her down here.”
Erik gave Hel a deadpan stare. “You know how this looks, right?”
She shrugged casually, a gesture that seemed out of place considering the elegant dress she wore. “There are things I can’t change, Erik. No need to be so stiff.”
He sighed and, lacking for other options, placed Göll on the stone table, not stepping back from it.
Hel smiled at him mischievously. “Did you see the carvings? Out front?” She chuckled to herself. “They hate it so much.” She sighed. “Oh, but you’ll get all upset again if I carry on too long.” She clapped her hands on the stone, taking a step back. “I should start at the beginning. Don’t worry, I’ll be quick. Humans, that’s you, were created by Odin, Vili, and Ve. So, Odin has a very tenuous grasp on you even at the best of times. It upsets him, you see. Valkyries, they are not afforded that luxury.” Hel pointed at Göll, knitting her brow when there was no movement. “Ah right. Of course. I figured you wouldn’t be able to stand the noise.”
Göll stretched out immediately, her muscles all taught and knotted. She let out a horrible scream, tears pouring from her eyes.
Hel laughed, raising her voice to shout over the screams. “You see, Odin can do as he likes with her. And this is what he likes.”
“What are you doing?! Help her! You did it before, right?” Erik put his hands on Göll, but she showed no sign of realizing it.
“I only made her quiet, you see. She has been in this pain since Valhalla. Odd you decided to keep her away so long.”
Erik slammed his fist into the table. “Why are you telling me this? Just get to the fucking point!”
“So stubborn.”
Göll went quiet again.
“She’s still in pain, isn’t she?”
“She is, and will be until you listen.” Hel’s face went grim. “Odin has… ways. Urges. Or did. Now he is a broken, paranoid fool. Ever since putting his eye down that well.” Hel shrugged. “It’s his fate.”
“The point!”
“Calm down, Erik. I’ll arrive there when I want to. For a man who has spent his time in my world frustrated by knowing so little, you’ve grown very impatient suddenly.”
Erik snapped his mouth shut, looking down at Göll, trying to hold in his anger.
“Done? Good. So, Odin had a baby. Plenty, in fact. And very, very few of those babies had babies.”
Erik’s eyes turned up to Hel.
“I see you get where this is going. Odin is something of a very literal father figure for you. Or should be.” She chuckled. “And now for the beginning of the interesting parts. He saw that all the others were chosen by valkyries and that they died in battle and on and on. But the woman who bore your ancestors? She married a coward. They fled to a farm on a tiny island and Odin simply forgot. No prowess in battle, no notice from an increasingly mad old god. It’s good, right?” She laughed.
“Why does he want me dead?”
“No, no. There’s an order to these things. You’re upset that Göll is in pain, remember?”
Erik looked away, stomping his foot. “Yes. Fuck. Tell me something useful.”
Hel pouted. “Not useful that you’ve got the blood of the Allfather? I mean, that’s just being unreasonable, Erik.” She sighed. “But I’ve promised you help and a story is hardly that.” Hel returned to the table and Göll’s limbs wrenched out, screams returning again. “Man can never steal from a god, Erik. Not really. But there aren’t any men here— not exactly— so stealing a little valkyrie…” Hel eyed down at Göll.
“How?!”
She smiled. “Will yourself into the place that Odin sits. She is a piece of him. You must make her a piece of you.”
Erik shook his head. “I don’t…”
Hel shot him a coy smile. “The kiss of life.”
“No, this… this is weird. You’re fucking around.”
Hel shrugged and Göll sucked in a breath, another scream erupting as soon as she had the air for it.
“How am I supposed to…”
Göll quieted.
Erik rolled his head back. “Okay, fine.”
He leaned over her, his hand at her cheek. Her eyes opened, clear and icy blue. “Erik?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Sorry.”
He put his lips to hers and felt Göll’s chin press toward him. He could feel the very life flowing from him. The world became hazy as her cold lips flushed with warmth and she rose from the tab
le, sitting, her hand on his chest.
He pulled back as Göll opened her eyes again. She looked down at him, realizing what had happened and shoved him away.
“What… what?!” She spun, seeing Hel. “No… Erik, what deal have you made? I…” She put a hand to her chest and looked back at Erik. “You… But you are human.”
Erik stood up, holding his hands up. “She told me it was the only way to help you. And… I mean, it was nice.” His knees went weak and he fell onto them. The hard stone was unforgiving. His vision blurred and returned, thoughts swirled in his head.
Hel snapped and his mind cleared. “That’s better. Now, I think, since I got to witness such a beautiful scene, that Göll should share her secrets.”
Erik stood, looking at Göll with curious eyes. She looked at Hel and back to Erik, desperation plain on her face.
Göll shook her head. “I have no secrets.”
Hel rolled her head in annoyance. “Come on. Tell him why you are the only ale-bearer who still finds chosen? All of them with a particular name.”
“…Haki.” Erik whispered the name.
Göll came to him. “It was not… A seeress told me. She said that I would one day deliver to Valhalla a great warrior. One who would be remembered above all others ever brought to Odin’s hall.”
“Me? It can’t be.”
Göll would not meet his eyes. There was something she knew that Erik did not, that much was clear. He looked to Hel.
She raised her silver eyebrows in surprise. “Oh, me? Fine, if Göll wants to be bashful around the man who literally gave her a second chance at life.” Hel came to the front of the stone table. Erik looked up at her, waiting. “There is a story. It says that when Odin tossed his eye down a well, he gained more than wisdom.” She continued past, waving for them to follow. “He remembered all of the ages. Every Ragnarok. And he came to fear them.” They climbed the stairs, Hel happy to let her story sit until she was back at the surface. She continued as they moved down a hallway. “The other gods, they have come to fear Ragnarok as well, hearing Odin’s stories of the horror that awaits them. He wishes to break the unerring cycle of time.”
From Death to Valhalla (The Last Einherjar Book 1) Page 31
