Exiled: (Phoebe Meadows Book Three)

by Amanda Carlson

  “Your mother didn’t tell me you were visiting.” Her eyes widened as she took in my full Valkyrie regalia.

  “It’s actually a surprise,” I answered, improvising. “Let me introduce you to my…um, boyfriend.” I extended my hand toward Fen, who was just out of her line of sight behind the barn, beckoning him to join me. “We…just arrived a short time ago, but I couldn’t wait to show him around.” I tried to infuse my response with excitement. “We’re actually in town to rehearse,” I added, “for a…play we’re doing.”

  “Oh.” Tracy half sighed, relieved that I had an explanation for why we were dressed so strangely. When Fen reluctantly joined me, grabbing my hand, Tracy’s eyes widened even more as she swallowed. “Oh.”

  We made our way toward her. I wasn’t getting out of this without a proper introduction. “This is my boyfriend, Fen Lokinsen.” Fen tightened his grip on my hand to tell me exactly what he thought of his new name. I tried to keep a straight face.

  Tracy extended her hand, switching her basket to her left arm. “It’s very nice to meet you…Fen, did you say?”

  Fen nodded as he shook Tracy’s hand. “Yes, it’s a family name,” he said with a hint of humor. “It’s nice to meet you. This is a lovely farm.”

  Tracy blushed. For a woman in her fifties, Tracy looked fabulous, not a day older than forty-five. She dropped her hand and stepped back, visibly flustered. “Are you from Australia? Your accent is wonderful. You don’t hear an Australian accent much around here. I’ve always wanted to visit, but Max thinks it’s too far.”

  “I lived in Australia in my early years,” Fen replied smoothly. “But I’ve been living in New York for a long while now. That’s where Phoebe and I met.”

  I patted Fen’s arm, adding, “Yes, we met…at the theater in New York, where I’m living. We were both auditioning for the same…play.”

  “That’s nice. New York is another place I’d love to visit. I just have to convince Max. He’s not a traveler, that man.” She clucked, glancing over her shoulder. “I’m rambling. Would you to like to join me inside? I have lemonade and fresh muffins.” She glanced up at the sky. “It’s going to be another hot day, which is unusual for us in September.”

  “No,” I said hastily. “I mean, we don’t want to intrude. Plus, my parents don’t know we’re here yet. We were just on our way to surprise them.”

  Tracy smiled. “They will be thrilled! They’ve missed you. I’m happy I was able to see you first.” She opened her arms to give me a hug. “You’ve grown into a beautiful woman, Phoebe.” I embraced her, because that’s what you did in the rural Midwest. “I’m sure your parents are wildly proud of you. Feel free to come back to the farm anytime you’d like. We’re happy to have you.”

  “Will do, Tracy.” I pivoted toward the road, guiding Fen. “So glad we had a chance to catch up.”

  As we hurried down the driveway, she called, “Do you need a ride into town? I don’t see your vehicle.”

  “We’re fine,” I said over my shoulder. “We parked down the way a bit. We didn’t want to intrude.” Under my breath, I whispered, “How in the heck did we get here? And what are we going to do? Now that Tracy knows we’re here, we have no choice but to go see my parents. They’ll never forgive me if they find out I was in town and didn’t stop by.” Fen began to laugh. I slapped him in the chest. “You’re not helping! This is serious. How am I going to explain that I was halfway around the world with Sam a few days ago, and now I’m here, looking like I look, with you? They’re never going to buy it.” I shook my head. “It’s not going to happen.”

  “Oh, they’ll buy it, all right.” Fen chuckled as he slung his arm around my shoulders, tugging me close, planting a kiss on the top of my head. “Valkyrie, I can’t believe you think this is more dire than escaping Helheim in a fight for our lives. This is a vacation, and I plan to thoroughly enjoy it before we have to…head back to Australia.” He laughed, tossing his head back, as we emerged onto the road.

  He had a point. This wasn’t Helheim.

  “This is not a vacation,” I said. “You have to get serious about it for a minute. When Frigg finds out we’re gone, all hell will actually break loose. We’re going to end up paying an even steeper price. They might even kill us and save themselves another trial. Being here has a cost.”

  Fen stopped, his eyes still glinting with amusement. “Shieldmaiden, it’s going to be okay. I assure you.” He was calm and just what I needed. “We’re only going to be here for a few short hours. It’s an unexpected break, and we’re going to enjoy it. We will formulate a plan, get ourselves back to Helheim, and all will be well. You have a special gift, don’t forget. That special gift just bought us some time.”

  “I know, but I can’t help but be worried.” I placed my palm on his chest. It was rock solid under his white tunic. We really did look like a couple of reenactors—but from which bygone era? “Now that we have the jewel, I want this stuff with Hel over with, so we can have a chance at a real life. I don’t want to keep running. Running will land us in trouble.”

  “Your brain got us here,” he said. “It also proves something very powerful.”

  “What? That I’m an idiot?”

  “No, not in the least. It gives us concrete assuredness that Odin has not blocked any of Yggdrasil’s pathways,” he said, “which he has the ability to do. When I was exiled to Muspelheim, everything was locked up tight. I could not escape, even if I’d found an open portal.”

  I bit my lip. “So you’re saying he could have, but he didn’t?” We began to walk down the dusty road. We were about five miles outside of town. “That is significant. That means he purposely left us an escape route.” Once we arrived at the main intersection, I’d have to figure out what to do. Cars would pass, and people would recognize me. There were some places we could cut through, but I couldn’t guarantee we wouldn’t be seen.

  “When did you speak with Odin?” Fen asked.

  “Huggie came to get me the first night we arrived,” I said. “We went through an oak tree, but I’m not sure where we ended up exactly. Odin said it was right outside of Asgard. There was a river—said to be made up of tears, or mythical tears of some kind. The meeting was pretty short, but it was nice to talk to him and to have our first encounter be outside public scrutiny. He said that he tried to give me some safeguards when he struck me. He was kind—but nothing like he was in the courtroom, which he warned me about. He was all business in there.”

  Fen said, “Interesting.”

  I glanced at Fen’s profile. He was deep in thought. I wondered what my parents would think of him. I knew they’d like him—they liked most everyone—but they would be worried as well. Fen was an intense, extremely good-looking, out-of-my-league kind of guy. Not exactly the farm boy they hoped I’d eventually settle down with. I just had to hope they bought my story, whatever story I decided to tell them.

  “What do you think it all means?” I asked. “If Odin gave me the means to escape and left the pathways deliberately open, is that what he wanted me to do? Do you think he’s monitoring the tree?”

  “He very well could be,” Fen answered. “And others could be as well.”

  I clasped Fen’s forearm, stopping our progress. “I can’t believe I forgot to tell you! I mean, we haven’t been together that long, but I should’ve told you right away.”

  “Valkyrie, what is it? You’re worrying me.”

  “Your father was here.” I shook my head. “Not here, in Wisconsin. I mean, he was in Helheim. Well, he wasn’t in Helheim exactly, but he came through in this wavy mirror to talk to Hel.”

  Fen’s expression became stormy. “What did he seek?”

  I gazed at him. “Me.”

  “You? You’re going to have to elaborate, shieldmaiden.”

  “He offered Hel six caskets of gold in exchange for me. He didn’t exactly say what he wanted to do with me, but the intent was clear. I think the Norns put him up to it. It was a good thing Hel wasn’t
interested in his money. Instead, she asked for glamour, which he couldn’t readily produce.”

  Fen raised his eyebrows. “Glamour, you say? I guess that makes sense. My sister has always been self-conscious about her looks.”

  “I mean, you can’t really blame her. Half her body is gnarly and dead. A little glamour would definitely help. It’s something your father takes for granted.”

  “That he does.” Fen nodded. “My father has wreaked much havoc with his ability to cloak himself as another. We must stay vigilant. If Odin is monitoring the tree, Loki could be, too.”

  “Do you think Loki will keep pursuing me?” I asked.

  We began to walk again, arm in arm.

  “I have not had interactions with my father in a long time,” Fen said. “But whatever his motivation to capture you, nothing good would come of it. He would likely toy with you for a while and then hand you over to the highest bidder.”

  “That means we can’t stay here very long. Remaining here would put people I love in danger.” About a mile down the road, a car turned down the lane. I pulled Fen to a stop. “Brace yourself.”

  “For what?”

  “You’re about to meet my parents.”

  25

  __________________________

  ____________

  Less than a minute later, a black Jeep Cherokee pulled up beside us. The driver-side window slid down. “Phoebe?” My mother leaned out, her expression confused, then as I watched, it changed to excitement. “Phoebe! I can’t believe you’re here. Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?” My mother threw the car into park and jumped out.

  I embraced her, holding her tight.

  It was good to see her. I hadn’t realized how much I missed my parents until right this second. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you I was coming, Mom,” I said, pulling back, her face full of streaky tears. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”

  She blotted the back of her sleeve under her eyes. “Well, you sure achieved your mission!” She held me at arm’s length. “But honey, why are you dressed like this? And why are you back at the old farm?”

  “It’s a long story,” I said, directing her back into the car. “How about I tell you about it on the way home?”

  Before she slid into the driver seat, she said, “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your special friend?” She inclined her head toward Fen.

  “Tracy called you, didn’t she?” I chuckled. “I should’ve known no secret was safe in this town.”

  “Well, she was excited that you stopped by and didn’t see a car. She figured the entire town would see you before I did. We’ve become quite good friends the last few years, so don’t be too hard on her. It’s still a wonderful surprise that you’re here.”

  “Mom,” I said, moving back by way of introduction, “this is my boyfriend, Fen.”

  Fen stepped up graciously, leaning forward to shake my mother’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Meadows. I’ve heard much about you.”

  “I…that’s nice.” My mother glanced down at her feet, idly shuffling them, before meeting his gaze again. “I’m glad Phoebe brought you home.” It was clear my mother didn’t know what to think of Fen. I couldn’t blame her, since most days I didn’t know what to think of him. He was just…larger-than-life.

  “I am, too,” he said. “Wisconsin is beautiful.”

  “Have you visited before?”

  “No, never,” he said. “I spent my formative years in Australia and then moved to New York. That’s where I met Phoebe.”

  “Oh, how nice.”

  “Mom, let’s get moving,” I said gently. “We’ll fill you in on the way home.” My mother acquiesced and slammed the door. Fen and I walked around to the other side. He opened it for me as I slid into the front seat, then he got into the back.

  My mom began to turn the car around. “Phoebe, it’s such a surprise that you’re here, since we thought you were traveling. I just talked to your friend Sam on the phone a few days ago. She said you were heading to Southeast Asia.”

  “Oh, yeah,” I said, affecting a lighthearted tone. “I had her call you and tell you that so the surprise would work. If you thought I was in the States, it wouldn’t have been nearly as good.”

  My mom turned onto the main drag and headed toward town. “Well, she was very convincing,” she conceded. “Dad and I believed her hook, line, and sinker. She was naming cities and restaurants you were planning to visit. She was very informative.”

  “Sam is a very talented actress,” I agreed. And a very good friend for covering for me. I made a mental note to thank her profusely later.

  “That doesn’t explain the”—she cleared her throat, trying to be Midwestern nice in front of Fen—“outfits you’re wearing. Are those real swords on your back? And where is your luggage? Did you take the bus in from Madison?”

  Now came the hard part.

  “We checked into the hotel in Branberry,” I told her carefully. “I’m sorry we didn’t come see you first, but Fen and I are practicing for a play we’re both in, and I wanted to take him out to the farm. It was a perfect place to recite our lines. We were going to come see you straight after we went back to change, I promise.”

  It sounded so hokey, she just might buy it.

  “But why would you stay at a hotel in Branberry?” My mother was clearly hurt. “You know that your father and I would want you to stay with us. We hardly ever get to see you.”

  “I know,” I said, smoothing out my already smooth leather pants. “But I brought my boyfriend…and I didn’t want it to be uncomfortable for anyone.” My parents were good, God-fearing Midgardians.

  “Well, that’s…all right,” she said, a trace of unease seeping through. “Fen is welcome in our home.”

  “Mom, there’s something else I need to tell you.” I phrased it as carefully as I could.

  My mother’s face was full of concern. She knew my tones well. “What is it?” Her expression said she thought I was pregnant.

  “Fen and I are living together,” I said, then rushed to add, “I really wanted to tell you and Dad, but I didn’t know how.”

  My mother’s mouth opened and shut, her gaze pinned on the road. “I see.”

  “Fen and I started dating before Sam and I left, and right when I got back, Fen’s lease was up. So we decided it would be cheaper to live together. You know New York,” I said airily, waving my hand. “It’s so expensive there. It was easier to consolidate.”

  “Phoebe, honestly, you make it sound like the decision to live together was nothing more than a business transaction,” she said. “You are old enough to do as you like, but cohabitating is a big commitment. It’s nothing you should enter into lightly and certainly not for monetary reasons.”

  “You’re right, and we know it’s a very big deal.” I reached back to hold Fen’s hand. He gave me a comforting squeeze. “Fen and I love each other very much. We didn’t take the decision lightly, I swear.”

  “When exactly did you get back to New York from your long trip abroad?” my mother asked. She was putting the pieces together in her head, and if she scrutinized them, they wouldn’t add up.

  Fen leaned in from the backseat. “I can assure you, Mrs. Meadows, I love your daughter. We would never have entered into anything without adequate thought.” He shot me a knowing look that sent chills racing up my spine. “And Phoebe only got back a few days ago. She’s talked a lot about you, and I knew you missed her. So we decided to fly in at the last moment to surprise you.”

  “Yeah, it was Fen’s idea,” I said, changing the subject as we made our way closer to town. “Where’s Dad? Is he at the store?”

  “You know he is,” my mom said, her temperament changing to happy, as it always did when she talked about my dad. “We’re heading there right now. He’s going to be so surprised to see you!”

  “Mom.” I hesitated, suddenly worried. “Do you think it’s okay if Fen and I go back to the hotel and change first before we surpris
e Dad? I don’t want the town to think I’ve gone insane since I’ve been gone.”

  “But Branberry is thirty miles away,” my mom protested.

  “Yes, but this way we can surprise Dad when he gets home from work. We can be there waiting for him and get to spend some quality time together.”

  We were almost into town.

  “Well, I guess that would be all right,” she conceded. “Where’s your car?”

  “We parked it back on Baker Road,” I said smoothly. “If you let us borrow yours, we can stop and pick it up easily.” Before she had a chance to negate the plan, I added, “This will work perfectly, and you don’t want everybody gossiping about us in our crazy outfits. That would be a big headache. We’ll be back in no time, I promise. We’ll come back to the house and help you get dinner ready. Dad loves surprises. He’s going to get a kick out of this.”

  Instead of heading into the heart of town, my mom turned down a quiet lane a mile from the hardware store. I breathed a sigh of relief. She was heading home.

  “That will work fine,” she said. “But you have to promise me you will hurry back. And I insist you spend the night with us. Your father is not going to want you to head back to Branberry tonight late. So, check out of that hotel and gather your things.”

  I wasn’t getting out of this one. “Okay, that sounds fair.” I leaned over to give her a kiss on the cheek. “I’m happy to be home.”

  That was the truth.

  “But, you and Fen will have to sleep in separate rooms,” she warned. “I don’t want to give your father a heart attack. One surprise at a time.”

  “That’s fine, Mom,” I replied. “We’ll be back before you know it.”

  She pulled the car into the driveway of our small arts and crafts home. I’d missed it. Everything looked so homey. Nice and ordinary. Nothing like anywhere I’d been in the last few months.