He rose up and made his way to the cell door, glancing both ways down the hall before he motioned Meghan out.
“Show me where you saw the elves.”
The bright elves in the cell all looked worse for wear, but they brightened when they saw Jord and Meghan coming toward them down the hall.
Jord’s expression darkened. “Did any escape?”
“I don’t think so.” One of the elves, a female, answered. “Linden fell in the second hall. Burton took command, but they took him down shortly thereafter.”
Jord was trying all the keys in the lock, but none of them seemed to be working.
“Go, Jord.” The woman was insistent. “Our end draws near, but you have a chance.”
Jord scanned the area, obviously searching for more keys or a way to extract the elves.
“I will not leave you behind,” Jord turned to Meghan. “Megingjörð, be reasonable.”
Ah, a responsible request at last. But I shall miss your wonderful waist, Meghan Larson.
As Meghan reached for the belt she felt a click and the belt buckle came undone. Jord reached out and she handed the belt to him.
“I’ll need the gloves as well.” Meghan took them off.
Jord approached the cell with the belt around his waist, the gloves on his hands. He gripped two of the bars and pulled. Meghan could see his muscles straining, but slowly the bars gave way, coming out of the floor and bending up toward the ceiling. Meghan saw the elves breathe a sigh of relief as they squeezed through the opening into the hall.
The bright elf woman offered Jord her hand. “Never have I been so happy to see you, Jord Thorson.”
Jord accepted her hand. “Now we get out of here. All of us.”
Chapter 10
There is more to her than meets the eye. Jord considered the woman beside him.
Much more. The belt’s voice boomed in his head. It was the first time in his life he’d ever heard Megingjörð’s voice.
Oh, so now you’ll talk to me. He could almost feel the belt’s distain.
Now that you are not some young snot, sneaking into his parent’s closet to play with things not his own.
Jord smiled at the memory. Well, he’d almost gotten away with it.
So what can you tell me about her?
Jord wanted to know all about Meghan. She’d lit a fire in his gut he couldn’t extinguish.
I have said all I know. The rest is hidden from me.
Jord wondered if the belt wasn’t just holding back, or if it was just as frustrated with the damned prophecy as he was.
They’d managed to escape Nokkurra without any further incident. The place was all but deserted. The one dark elf they’d managed to capture and interrogate told them all the troops were sent to Utgard Keep in Jotunheim. Jord’s father had been taken with them.
Jord looked at the gloves on his hands and the belt around his waist. At least when he found his father, and he would find his father, he could give him back these prized possessions.
They left the dark elf captive in the hands of the bright elves who planned to make their way back to Alfheim once the rest of their companions returned from their scouting missions.
“We will be needed for the assault on Asgaard now. We will fight beside you again there.” There was no hint of recrimination as the elves said their goodbyes. Still, Jord felt a full measure of guilt for all the bright elves that died following him.
He called upon the goat-drawn chariot, and he and Meghan flew toward a portal that would bring them back to Midgaard. This portal was in the southern hills, where the chill winds did not blow as harsh.
Up in the hills they came upon a cave entrance Jord was familiar with. Hidden for decades from the dark elves the cave served as an entrance to one of the lower shafts in the Soudan Underground Mine, in northern Minnesota. To be safe, he probably should have put the chariot away and walked, but Jord did not want to waste the time. Being winter, the tourist attraction was more or less closed anyway and there was little chance anyone would see the goat drawn chariot flying through the caverns.
A bright Minnesota morning greeted them as they burst from the mine. Jord turned east. He wanted to get high enough so as to not be seen from below. Snow covered the ground and there were some dark storm clouds on the western horizon, but the sky above was blue and clear. There were no clouds to get lost in.
He felt weak as a kitten and was barely staying on his feet and needed some rest. The apple’s healing effects only went so far. The strength used to bend the prison bars was all Megingjörð’s. Jorg needed food and a good night’s sleep, then he needed a portal to Jotunheim. Luckily he could get them all at Lutsen.
Jord enjoyed skiing, when he had the time, and found it well worth the investment to have a residence on Eagle Mountain. The cabin was on the upper part of the mountain, and away from the bustling ski resort. Again he was taking a bit of a chance on being seen, but not much of one.
As his cabin came into view, Jord breathed a sigh of relief. No matter how close the world was to ending right then, he needed rest, especially if he was going to face the giants of Jotunheim.
“Nice cabin.” Meghan ran her hand along the porch railing, as he located the rock under which he hid the cabin key. “Is it yours?”
“I’ve spent a lot of time up here over the years, hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. I always admired this place.” Jord opened the door and motioned Meghan in. “When it came up for sale a few years ago, I couldn’t resist.”
More a ski chalet than a cabin, the two-bedroom structure had all the comforts of home. The place was a bit chilly, as he kept the temperature down low when he wasn’t there, but he always had a fire laid, ready to light, in the fireplace.
“I’ll have it warm in here in a jiffy.” Jord lit the fire, and cranked the thermostat. Meghan sat in one of the big, overstuffed leather chairs by the fire and just watched the flames. She looked to be just about on her last legs as well. It had been a rough day for both of them.
Jord rummaged in his cupboards and found two cans of beef stew. Just the thing. In minutes he had the cans opened and dumped into a pot on the stove. Jord didn’t consider himself much of a cook, but he was excellent at heating things up.
“Wine?” He pulled a red from his wine rack. It was an excellent local wine, a smooth blend of Marechal Foch and Marquette grapes he’d developed a taste for.
“I’d love some.” Meghan accepted the glass of wine. She closed her eyes as she settled back and took her first sip. “Mmmm. Good stuff.”
As the stew simmered and the cabin began to warm, Jord began to relax. It had been touch and go there for a while. Death was something the gods lived with on a daily basis. Many of the gods and bright elves had died in their constant battles with the dark elves and giants. Just because the gods could live forever, didn’t mean they would, especially now that they were mythical. Protecting the mortals of Midgaard was a dangerous business.
Looking at Meghan, Jord began to realize just how important it was. These mortals, their lives so fragile, their time so short, were really remarkable—this one in particular. She’d saved his life and he wasn’t about to forget that. The things she’d been through the past two days, well, they were things mortals only faced in their worst dreams, or in the pages of a fantasy novel.
He poured her more wine and dished up the hot stew. They sat in front of the fire, quietly eating. Jord couldn’t keep his eyes off her. Even as tired and disheveled as she was, she was beautiful.
Meghan cocked her head to the side again and scrunched up her face. “So, how old are you?” It wasn’t the question he expected, but she’d obviously been thinking about it a while.
Jord laughed. “I stopped counting birthdays a couple of centuries ago, but I was born in the year 1597.”<
br />
“Over four hundred years old.” There was amusement and wonder in her voice.
“An old man by mortal standards, but in Asgaard I’m still considered a kid. Too young to have gotten into any of the old legends, like my siblings.”
Meghan sighed, then she yawned. “I don’t know if this is all getting easier or harder to take in, but I do know I could really use a hot shower and about a hundred hours of sleep.”
“I think we both could.” Jord pointed Meghan toward one of the back bedrooms. Both bedrooms had their own attached baths, which made it convenient. “Val and my sister Thrud both use the cabin on occasion, so you’ll probably find some of their stuff in there. Help yourself to whatever you can find.”
Jord got up and went to his room. Rummaging through the dresser he found one of his old T-shirts. It was worn, but clean.
“Here’s something you can sleep in, if you want.” He tossed the shirt to her, then picked up the empty dishes and took them to the kitchen sink, as Meghan made her way toward the second bedroom.
He rinsed out the dishes and set them to dry, then headed for his own room. He could hear the shower running in the other room, and for just a moment, could imagine the water streaming through her hair and rushing down those luscious curves. He felt himself harden.
“Stop it!” But he couldn’t stop. In his mind he could clearly visualize all the things he wanted to do to her. What was it about this woman that affected him so? Somehow she’d worked her way into his very soul. It looked like it would be a cold shower for Jord now.
Meghan awoke confused. The smell of sulfur and smoke almost made her gag. Her eyes stung as she forced them open. She felt the weight on her wrists and ankles before she even saw the heavy manacles and chains that shackled her.
She was underground, in a large cavern. Huge fires burned casting a dim light throughout the cave. In the flickering light she saw people, dressed in rags and shackled like her, shuffling around. How had she gotten here? Where was Jord?
“Up, slave.” The low, commanding voice came from her right. “Rest time is over.”
The speaker was over ten-feet tall. The ugly creature was vaguely man like, and completely covered in thick hair—a stone giant, with a whip in its huge, misshapen hands. Her body rose on its own, as if it knew the creature would have no problem applying the whip to her, given any resistance.
She ached and, despite having just risen from sleep, felt exhausted. Her stomach growled, as if it hadn’t seen food in days. How long had it been since she’d eaten beef stew with Jord in front of the fire at his cabin? This was all so confusing, but somehow she knew she had to keep moving. Her life depended on it.
She shuffled down a passageway to where a man was hacking at the side of the cavern wall with a pick-axe, and she automatically started to pick up the rocks he dislodged. She placed the heavy ore in a cart off to the side. It was as if she knew this was her job and her body was performing its duties on its own.
The man beside her cleared his throat, then muttered under his breath. “The machine of war is greased with our blood and sweat.”
He was met with a smack of the big creatures whip. “No talking. Work.”
Meghan felt the presence before she saw it. A chill ran up her spine. Something evil, something terrifying, was approaching.
“You fall behind.” The new voice was low, almost a growl.
“These slaves are worthless, Lord Fenrir.” said the stone giant, cracking his whip.
“Perhaps they lack the proper motivation.”
Meghan risked a glance. The great wolf must have been over twenty feet tall. Its red eyes blazed, reflecting the fires of the cavern. There was hatred and death in those eyes. The icy aura of evil the creature exuded filled her with fear and loathing. The wolf was staring down, right at her.
The great wolf roared “Work harder, slaves or you’ll all end up like this worthless wretch.”
Meghan stood frozen in terror as the great jaws opened and descended upon her. As the darkness closed around her she felt her body being crushed and pulled apart. Meghan screamed as the darkness of death engulfed her.
Jord woke instantly. The wailing scream still echoed throughout the cabin. A second terrified cry reverberated from the next room followed by uncontrolled weeping. Jord threw off his covers and rushed to Meghan’s room.
“What is it?” He knelt at her bedside.
Meghan’s face was buried in her pillow. Her body shook, as she continued to sob.
“I. . . I ’m sorry.” She was trying to catch her breath. The woman seemed terrified. “Just . . . a nightmare.”
Jord reached out, touching her, rubbing her back. “Tell me about it.”
Jord had seen just how strong a woman Meghan was. What could have terrified her so?
“The wolf . . . so evil.”
It took her ten minutes to calm enough to speak again. Her body continued to shake as she haltingly related her dream.
Not a dream, Jord realized, a vision. The slave pits of Jotunheim. Somehow Meghan had seen through the eyes of some unfortunate slave. Was it a message? What could it mean? Jord wasn’t sure, but it would take some thought.
“Get some sleep.”
Meghan appeared to have calmed. He rose to leave, but Meghan grabbed his hand.
“Stay.” Her eyes pled with him. “Please.”
She rolled over, making room for him in the bed. He slid under the covers and she rolled back into his arms. He held her, feeling her soft body against his, smelling her hair. She snuggled into him as he held her, her breathing easy now. Why this woman? What was it about her? It was so unfair Meghan had been pulled into this nightmare.
Jord had a lot to ponder. What did the dream mean? How were they going to free his father? Could they stop a three-thousand-year-old prophecy from coming true and ending the world as he knew it? He thought back, running over every detail, everything that had happened, everything he knew. Was there something he was missing? Some small detail he was overlooking? It felt like everything was suddenly on his shoulders.
Then he realized Meghan had fallen asleep in his arms. She had the cutest little whistle when she breathed. He brushed the hair away from her face, and in the faint light of the room, just looked at her. He felt lighter. The tension in his shoulders eased as if the weight of the world suddenly lifted, for just a moment. He smiled and kissed her forehead. Settling in, sleep found him quickly. The world would just have to wait.
Chapter 11
Meghan woke to a dreamy set of smoky gray eyes and the warmth of Jord’s embrace.
He smiled at her. “Good morning. Feeling better?”
He felt so wonderful against her, all that taut muscle. His arms were wrapped around her and she could feel his strong heart beating through the thin material of the T-shirt she wore. Had he really held her throughout the night?
She rubbed her cheek against his broad, bare chest. “Yeah, and thank you.”
She couldn’t help herself. She brought her lips to his and kissed him. He was so dreamy, so wonderful—so unattainable.
She felt his erection instantly down below, in reaction to her kiss.
“Sorry.” He actually blushed a bit. “But as I recall it was you that invited a naked man into your bed last night.”
Now it was Meghan’s turn to blush. “I don’t remember ever being so scared.”
Jord gave her a bit of a squeeze. His eyes showed compassion, understanding. “It was more than just a dream. I’m convinced of that.”
His hand brushed her hair back. He ran his thumb down her cheek. His touch was warm, gentle.
It felt so good to be lying here in his arms. “Still, I’m sorry I woke you in the middle of the night. I feel a bit foolish.”
He smiled so broadly, it filled her heart
with warmth. “Don’t be silly. You’re wonderful. Everything you’ve been through the past few days would have put most mortals in an asylum. You have constantly amazed me.”
His hand continued stroking her hair. His erection was still strong against her leg. Could a god really be interested in her, a mortal, in that way?
She took his head in her hands and brought her lips to his once again. His strong arms crushed her to him. He rolled, bringing her under him, as he intensified the kiss. His tongue quested, parting her lips. It was deep, erotic, compelling. When he pulled back they were both breathing heavily.
“I can’t offer you forever.” His intense eyes were sad, but she understood. There could be no commitment, and Jord would go no further without her consent. Meghan never considered herself a one-night-stand sort of woman, but stopping now was not even an option for her. “I’m not asking for more than right now.”
His lips descended upon hers again. There was something raw, a certain unnamed wildness in his kiss. It pulled from her, consumed her, and yet she yearned for more. His lips claimed hers in a way she’d never felt before. When he pulled away, she felt a stark emptiness. But his eyes, those wonderful, intense gray eyes, held her. There was affection there, she could see it, but right now it was overshadowed by hunger and desire.
His musky scent wrapped around her as his lips descended once again to claim her. She couldn’t get enough of him. His body was so hard against hers. She could feel his need.
She ran her hands over his shoulders and down his back, feeling the leathery skin and the tightly corded muscle underneath. Solid and massive, his body radiated power.
Jord’s lips descended to the side of her neck, blazing a hot trail toward her earlobe. His erection pulsed against her and she felt herself grow damp in anticipation.
His hand was questing now, down her side then up, under the flimsy T-shirt she wore, to capture her breast. As he ran the tip of his thumb across her nipple, she felt the electric charge of desire run throughout her body, igniting her core. The raw passion of his touch threatened to consume her.
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