Chapter Twelve
“SO WHY DO you suppose there’s more color in Sven’s tattoo now?” she asked Vigdis and Kjar. “I was under the impression added color meant he and I were doing well sticking together.”
“And I think you are as was just proven when Sven helped draw you away from Níðhöggr and Múspellsheimr.” Vigdis appeared to mull something over as she eyed Sven’s tattoo. “Might I touch it?”
She tried not to, but Emily tensed regardless, her vision hazing red as she looked from Vigdis to Sven. This whole going into heat thing was a trip. A really bad one. How was she supposed to manage her raging hormones through all this? She knew Vigdis would not break her word. That she really, truly was just trying to push Emily into Sven’s bed no matter what it took.
Sven’s eyes met Emily’s in question. “I will not allow her to touch it if you wish otherwise.”
She went to speak but snapped her mouth shut when she nearly released a growl that she knew would be aimed at Vigdis. Damn inner dragon.
“It’s fine,” she finally managed into his mind, not trusting her dragon enough to open her mouth. “Seriously, it’s okay.”
Sven’s eyes held hers for a moment before he nodded at Vigdis to go ahead. The seer’s eyes went between them one more time before she sat beside him, pressed her fingers against his tattoo and closed her eyes.
“Ah, yes,” she whispered, smiling before her lips turned down and she shook her head. “Clever but so much risk...”
When she trailed off, everyone waited with baited breath for her feedback. Eventually, after several deep breaths in which her eyeballs rolled back and forth as though she was in a deep sleep, she opened her eyes and nodded. “I understand now. At least what I am meant to at this juncture.”
“For starters,” Vigdis began before anyone could respond. “While Sven’s brother and his cousins were most certainly marked by the double-headed serpent, Sven was marked by Níðhöggr and his blossoming prophecy. That which pits his descendants, Sage and her sisters, against those spawned from his enemy. Those dragons now swim around the base of the evil Yggdrasill or as it is better known, Skáld’s Ash. For that is the double-headed serpent’s family name.”
“But that means ‘poet’ in our language,” Halla broke in, ever the optimist. “So maybe he’s not as dark as we think?”
“Everything original to Múspellsheimr is perceived as dark and vicious to those here on Midgard,” Vigdis enlightened. “It can be no other way with the nature of those dragons. Ones who have never left Múspellsheimr and been tempered by our world. So trust me when I say he is dark.” Then she offered a conceding look. “Though on their home world, it could be said that neither Níðhöggr or Skáld is necessarily more sinister or evil than the other. What they are is dominant, restless and forever hungry for more power and prestige amongst their kind. As are all those native to that fiery world.”
Vigdis’ eyes met Sven’s. “For whatever reason, Níðhöggr has marked you to oversee his long-standing vendetta with those he cursed, Skáld and his offspring.”
“So the double-headed serpent still lives?” Håkon asked, his brows deeply furrowed as he glanced at Emily, not pleased she was tied so closely to this.
“Thus far, there is no reason to believe he has died,” Vigdis said. “Like the seers that remain on my home world, Vanaheim, dragons live considerably longer than those here on Midgard. Not to mention, time goes by much differently.” Her eyes went to Kjar’s. “Either way, you should all be prepared that like his offspring, Skáld is very much a part of this. And unlike Níðhöggr, not by way of the tight constraints of death and Helheim, but directly from Múspellsheimr itself.”
“That’s why Níðhöggr was able to contact Emily, yes?” Håkon said. “Because of her connection to Hel’s world.”
Vigdis nodded. “Yes, so prepare yourself, dragon, as you might be contacted by the beast as well.”
Emily and Håkon exchanged glances, concerned more for each other than themselves.
“So back to Sven being marked,” Emily murmured as her eyes went to Vigdis. “What does it mean that he’s been tasked to oversee this vendetta? Why him?” The idea that he was at the heart of such a thing made her stomach twist and her heart grow sluggish. “You must have some clue why. Some sort of speculation.” She shook her head. “He’s not even related.”
“It could be a number of things,” Vigdis said gently, urging Emily to take a few more sips of ale to calm her. “Sven is not only both dragon and seer but also a more stable and wise human than most. So says two regions making him their singular king.” The seer eyed her warmly. “Then there is his longstanding connection and devotion to you, not only a powerful Dragon Medium and daughter of a reincarnated seer but nearly an adopted daughter to Goddess Hel, Ruler of Helheim.” Her eyes flickered from Sven back to Emily. “Between the two of you, you encompass four worlds. That is no small thing.”
“There is a bigger picture here though,” Kjar said softly as he considered the two of them. “One that has everything to do with the unbreakable bond they share. Their near lifelong comradery.”
“Yes, I believe so,” Vigdis said. “And it is that, their strength of love, that is being tested via that tattoo. Every time more color arrives, they have proven themselves even more.”
“To what end though?” Vivienne asked. “Why would Níðhöggr want them mated? What purpose will it serve?”
“If nothing else, being mated would enhance their power considerably. Power that might just allow them some sort of access to all four worlds on a more constant basis.” Vigdis shook her head. “And I can think of no better couple to oversee what lies on the horizon. To inspire what must come to pass.” Her eyes went to Davyn’s tattoo before returning to everyone. “They are going to have to make sure that Sage and her sisters are not mated with Skáld’s dragons. Those that are his kin.”
“Because that would mean an easy win for Skáld,” Emily said, filling in the blanks.
“It would mean far more than that if what I sense is true.” Vigdis’ eyes swept over everyone. “If Sage and her sisters are lured by these serpents, and mate with them, I do not foresee any sort of happiness for them. If anything, they will either become slaves on Múspellsheimr or suffer a tortuous death. We here on Midgard will be even worse off.” She shook her head, the look in her eyes dire. “No, Níðhöggr has given his offspring a fighting chance by bringing them to the Sigdirs and by marking Sven to carry out his vendetta.”
Sven remained silent, but Emily could feel the weight of those words on his shoulders, so she squeezed his hand again. When his eyes met hers, she rallied all the strength she could muster and nodded. If he was the one tasked with this, then she was too. They were in this together. His people were hers and vice versa. The same went for their kin.
“So I am to make sure my kin mate with these women from the future,” Sven said softly as his eyes met Vigdis’, “while seeing to the safety of two regions.”
“Something you will not be doing alone,” Kjar vowed.
“No,” Davyn agreed.
“We will all stand by your side,” Håkon added.
“Absolutely!” Halla declared, her eyes shining with anticipation, a little too eager considering the circumstances. But Halla was Halla.
“What of my father?” Sven said. He might appear calm and composed, but she felt his mind spinning, thinking and trying to make sense of things. “And Uncle Heidrek? Were they influenced by and then taken by Skáld? And what of all the other leaders?” His voice dropped. “What of you, Vigdis?”
“I am still here, and that’s all that matters right now,” she replied. “As to your kin and so many others, I’m afraid that remains mostly a mystery. All we know with certainty is that it’s connected to Skáld’s Ash, not Níðhöggr’s Ash.”
A chill raced through Emily at the official naming of the trees.
Two trees she feared were going to change their lives forever.
“
And what of the darkness you took out of Emily?” Kage asked, having been quiet up until now. “What was that exactly?”
“It’s hard to explain,” Vigdis said. “Though it appeared evil, it was more like what those from the future would call anti-matter. In reality, it’s the residual energy Níðhöggr gathered from multiple worlds to connect with Emily.”
“Whoa,” Halla whispered, wide-eyed. “I think we should name it like we did the trees...or like you did the trees. Maybe Ancient Matter? I mean all our worlds except this one are pretty damn ancient, yes?”
Davyn frowned at her and shook his head, but Emily didn’t miss the tiniest bit of humor in his eyes. Mostly because he adored Halla.
“Ancient Matter it is,” Emily kicked in, letting everyone know that Halla’s levity was welcome enough. In truth, at this point, it was more than needed. “Let’s just hope I don’t have to experience it again.” Her eyes flickered to Håkon. “Let alone, anyone else.”
“If she does,” Vivienne’s eyes remained trained on Vigdis, “how do we remove it if you’re not around?”
“Carefully,” Vigdis replied. “I only coaxed her dragon back to her, Sven did the rest. Love brought her back.”
“I’d say you did a bit more than that based on the shit you spewed out afterward, darlin’,” Kage drawled.
“Right,” Vivienne echoed as her hand slipped into Kage’s, and she eyed Emily with concern.
“Based on what I felt, I believe that Níðhöggr connecting with Emily now had less to do with his forceful words but more to do with an immunization of sorts,” Vigdis revealed. “By connecting with him, she built up a tolerance. Because of her connection with all of you, that tolerance should transfer to everyone.” She shrugged and flinched. “Not to say it will be a comfortable experience for anyone that has to dispel of it in the future.” She shook her head. “But it’s by no means toxic or connected to the enemy in any way.”
Super. This day just kept getting better and better.
“So what is happening at Mt. Galdhøpiggen?” Kjar asked, unsettled. “Why did Aella not come here?”
“You know better than to ask that. She would never leave the seers behind.” A frown settled on Vigdis’ face. “Nor would I if she hadn’t pestered me relentlessly.” She sighed. “As to what is happening to the mountain, it began shortly before your last communication with her. It began to...change.”
“Change?” Sven said. “How so?”
“Well, for lack of a better word it became normal,” she replied. “No longer protected by ancient seer magic and resistant to ours.” Sadness flickered in her eyes. “It felt as though our home was ripped away from us in an instant. We’ve never felt so vulnerable or lonely.” She rubbed her arms. “That mountain is part of us, as though it’s our very flesh.” She swallowed hard. “Now it is but an empty shell of rock and cave.”
“Did you sense anything when it happened?” Kjar asked. “Anything that might help?”
She shook her head. “It happened soon after we knew Sven and Emily needed to go north. Not just to Skáld’s Ash but to find answers. To find a place that we strongly suspect might have been responsible for draining the mountain of its power.”
“What sort of place could do that?” Emily whispered, dumbfounded. Nothing was more precious and powerful than the Home of Seers outside of the Place of Seers. But then just look at what was happening to that. “Do you think this unknown location is affecting the Place of Seers as well?”
“It would not surprise me,” Vigdis said.
“Our tattoos did not respond well when we approached the Place of Seers,” Sven said. “Even mine.”
“Interesting,” Vigdis murmured, mulling it over. “Perhaps we seers and our magic are an issue for the rival dragons then.” Her frown grew heavier. “It does not bode well that they are able to influence it so effectively.”
“You say that as though they influence it for the same reason,” Sven said. “To get you seers out of the picture.” His mental wheels were spinning away. “Perhaps that’s not the case. Where I think Skáld definitely doesn’t want Sigdir dragons finding sanctuary or safety within your magic, I believe Níðhöggr’s reasons could be less convoluted.”
When Vigdis perked a brow for him to continue, he did.
“Is Níðhöggr’s sole intent not to see his descendants with Sigdirs in order to become more powerful so that they might fight well on his behalf?” he said. “If that’s the case, would he not try to create a point of safety for Sage and her sisters?” He nodded thanks absently to Emily when she handed him a small piece of driftwood, knowing he was ready for it. He always was when he shared his thoughts to this degree. “A point of safety more sustainable and perhaps even connected to his ash in Maine? Because we all know that’s his doing.”
He whipped out his knife and began whittling, his eyes on the fire as he continued. “Whatever he created would have to be remarkably powerful which means he would need to get that power from somewhere.” His eyes narrowed. “And my guess is that power source would have to be here on Midgard.” His eyes met Vigdis’, the knife never slowing. “I believe you follow my meaning, yes?”
“You think he’s using Mt. Galdhøpiggen’s power to fuel this new location,” she murmured.
“I think it’s possible,” he replied, his whittling flying along. She knew full well his seer magic was sparking to life as he carved. Not only could he manifest things this way but on rare occasion, find things too. “Does it not make the most sense? If any power were able to protect dragons from Múspellsheimr, it would be that of Vanaheim.”
She nodded slowly as their eyes held. “I believe you might be right, seer.”
Not dragon this time. But then that wasn’t who was helping them right now.
“I agree,” Kjar added, his voice soft and curious as he eyed what Sven had whittled. “And I think you might have just given us a sense of direction, my king.”
Without a doubt he did.
For in his hand was most certainly a place.
One that Emily knew Sven, in his vast travels, had never been.
Chapter Thirteen
“C’MON ALREADY!” EMILY dared before she dove into the ocean and began swimming, her words slipping into his mind. “Besides, we need to get the battle funk off.”
He knew she was trying to take his mind off of everything they had learned and truly appreciated it. But he wondered if this was the time to race and play when he should be sitting and thinking quietly. They were given their usual cave, which was a good place to meditate.
“Sven!” she said into his mind. “Enough already. Seriously!”
How was he to deny her? The gods only knew if Skáld could mark a sea creature to attack her, so caution said he better follow. Having already removed his weapons and boots, he yanked off his jerkin and dove after her. She might be swimming with all her might, but he caught up in no time, chuckling when he reached their tiny rock island before her. It was so small it could probably host two dozen people at most, but they had always enjoyed sitting out here.
“Not fair,” she muttered as he grabbed her hand and pulled her up beside him. “I’ve got more clothes on. They’re weighing me down!”
“You have never beaten me,” he reminded, still grinning as he raked a hand through his wet hair. Usually, she wore a bathing suit—something their twenty-first century women wasted no time implementing into their society—but she didn’t have one here. Though he knew better, he said she could swim without clothing, but she refused. It would be too much for them in her current state. Based on the way her clothing clung to her tempting curves, he would say she was right.
The waves were choppy, crashing over the rock enough to spray them, but the cold water was welcome. Dragons ran hot, so it felt good.
“So how are you doing?” she asked, her wide smile softening as she eyed him. “Really.”
While he knew she already knew how he was doing because she sensed him, Emily had always liked t
o talk things out. She claimed she saw hidden truths in his voiced words and facial expressions that she missed when they communicated telepathically.
“I’m overwhelmed,” he answered honestly. “And worried that I will let my people and kin down...that I will let Sage and her sisters down.”
Her hand slipped into his as she nodded. “You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t worry about those things.” She cocked her head at him. “Though it’s incredibly hard for me to know that you might be more of a threat to the enemy than anyone, I think Níðhöggr chose very wisely. I think if anyone can do this, it’s you.”
“You are prejudiced,” he rebuffed.
“Yeah,” she agreed. “But I’m also right.” She squeezed his hand and searched his eyes. “You can do this Sven. You’ve got a great network of dragons and seers on your side and,” she grinned, “me.” She shrugged. “I might not be the faster swimmer but like Vigdis said, I’m pretty powerful in my own right, and my dragon won’t let anyone near you.”
“And that is what worries me the most,” he said. “I do not like that you’ve been thrown into all this with me. That you have to take on so much while...” He cleared his throat, trying to ignore the scent clinging to her despite the swim. “This is a lot to take on while going into heat for the first time.”
It was hard to know exactly what would happen to her. Where some female dragons experienced very little outside of drawing male dragons, others responded far differently. Those, unfortunately, or fortunately depending on whom you asked, were much more aggressive. Not only did their sex drive became insatiable, but their mood changeable.
“About that...me being in heat,” she murmured, still holding his hand. “We need to talk. I need to make sure you understand some things in case I lose control.”
He nodded that she continue when she hesitated.
“We both know full well that female dragons can be very persuasive when they’re in heat.” Uncomfortable but determined, her eyes met his. “And we both know that my dragon might be half the size of yours, but its magic is more powerful. Which means, no matter how hard you try not to, if my dragon wants yours, you’ll have no choice. Your dragon will comply.”
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