by Judith Post
Tyr nodded. "Heid sent giants to Egill's farm to distract us so that she could rush the bridge, but today was just a test. For all of us. She's looking for weak spots."
"And she found some, or Egill would be alive," Freya said. "Hopefully, we've learned from our mistakes."
Donar seemed in the mood to talk, to discuss strategy, but Diana couldn't relax. Einarr and his family were still at their farm. Enough innocent people had died. If she could make anyone safer, she wanted to.
Tyr sensed her restlessness. "We have one more family to fetch," he said. "I'll join you tomorrow, Donar. We'll talk then."
Donar sent Diana an angry scowl, but he couldn't solve every problem with his hammer or strength. She turned on her heel to hurry to Einarr's.
When they finally had the last farm family at the village, she could feel her body relax. It wasn't a perfect solution. Heid would still come with her troops. But having everyone together to protect them would be simpler.
Then she frowned. Was that what Heid wanted? To gather mortals and gods in one place to destroy them? Diana squared her shoulders. Let her try.
Chapter 26
With no outlying farms to protect, the three women decided to stay at the village. Not Diana's idea of comfort, and way too close to Griswold, but they'd be there if Heid attacked, and it would be easier for Diana to teach Asdis and her fellow witches. "We'll start tomorrow," she told them. "But not too early." It had been a long day—again.
Tyr and Jorunda finished helping each and every person get settled wherever they could find room while Diana, Freya, and Inga worked with Ordr and his fellow giants herding livestock to their proper places. Jon and his volunteers worked nonstop to make shelters for the small animals. By the time the last chickens were placed in a thrown- together coop—just tree branches bound together at the top to form a squat teepee, Diana was ready to collapse. Farming, obviously, was more bother than she'd imagined.
"I'm starving," Freya complained. For once, the goddess of love and beauty looked properly frazzled. Her lush, golden hair—sodden with sweat—curled in wisps around her face. Mud smeared her right cheek.
Diana didn't even want to know what she looked like. When she could smell herself, it was a bad sign. "I need a shower."
"A what?" Inga wiped sweat from her brow.
Diana sighed. "I hardly ever use magic for frivolous purposes, but I stink. I'm hot and I'm tired." She chanted a phrase and dark clouds bumped overhead. A soft, warm rain fell, and Diana turned her face up to enjoy it.
"What's wrong with frivolous pleasures?" Freya sank to the ground and lay in the fragrant grasses, letting the gentle raindrops wash over her.
Inga joined the spirit of indulgence. She spread out her arms and twirled in a circle.
The men found them, frolicking happily, their clothes clinging to their torsos. Tyr looked at Diana's white tunic and smiled. "There’s a reason I love tunics."
Jorunda couldn't take his eyes off Inga. With her wet, black hair raked back from her face, the blue tattoo, swirling up toward her temple, was clearly visible. "It matches your eyes," he told her.
Freya huffed. "Look over there. Even Gizurr is drooling. He's besotted with Helga."
A warm spot blossomed in Diana's breast as she saw Gizurr staring at Helga's curveless body as though it were art.
"Men usually look at me that way," Freya complained.
"You're the one who sent us soul mates," Diana told her. "Live with it."
Freya laughed. The clouds parted, and the sun shone down on them. Everyone was refreshed and clean.
The gates parted again, and Olaf's wife led a group of women into the fields, carrying loaves of fresh-baked breads, mounds of smoked herring, and casks of ale. People sat in the grass and passed food from one to another. Diana couldn't remember when she enjoyed such a sense of community. With that realization came a fierce desire to protect these people. She didn't want one, single, solitary person in this meadow to be harmed.
Swift on that thought came another—what she wanted didn't always happen.
By the time they finished eating, drowsiness overcame Diana. She looked at Freya, and her friend looked limp from lack of energy too. Inga leaned against Jorunda's strong shoulder in a contented daze.
Instead of Inga mourning the loss of her marble home, Diana could tell the girl was overjoyed. More time with Jorunda. Diana grumbled, but tried to make the best of it. By the time Hlif led Tyr and the goddesses down a hallway to show Diana and Freya to a spare room in Griswold’s longhouse, Diana was so tired, she thought she could sleep on anything. Until she saw her bed.
"Thank you for your hospitality and everything you've done today." It was rote, good manners, and Hlif eyed her suspiciously.
"What's wrong?" the old woman asked.
"Diana has no use for our sleeping benches," Tyr said. "She'd probably rather curl up in the community garden on the soft ground."
The soil was thin in Norse lands. Diana wasn't sure it would be much better.
Hlif crossed her arms on her chest. Diana wouldn't want to be the servant who made her angry. "No goddess is sleeping on the ground in our village. What do you need?"
"You've already done enough. I'm fine." Diana meant it. Hlif had exceeded any expectations she had.
"Don't worry about Diana," Tyr said. "I'll make her a mattress." He gave a naughty grin. "Unless she'd rather share my bed."
"At Olaf, the blacksmith's shop? With his apprentice? I don't think so."
That reminded Diana. "Has he made the shields?"
"I haven't had a chance to ask him. Want to come with me? We can gather things for a proper bed while we're at it." Tyr crooked his elbow for her, and she slid her arm through his. If she was going to move any of her limbs, she needed support.
"Don't overtire her," Hlif scolded. "The girl's nearly exhausted."
Girl? Diana couldn’t remember the last time she’d been called that. But from Hlif, with her gray hair and deep wrinkles, it was acceptable.
Tyr gave a quick bow. "Yes, ma'am. We're in your debt." When Hlif raised a brow in disapproval, Tyr ignored it. He didn't hurry on their walk through the village. The air grew milder at the end of the day, and people were settling down to rest. When they reached Olaf's shop, the dwarf came out to greet them. He carried two shields. "One for Jorunda and one for Jon. Brandr and I have started two more."
Tyr studied the craftsmanship of the shields, perfectly balanced. "You've outdone yourself, Olaf. These are fit for gods."
"It's an honor to serve you." Olaf nodded toward his shed. "Brandr feels the same way."
Tyr lifted both shields onto his back, then disappeared into the work shed to gather furs from the bench he slept on. When he returned, Diana laughed at him. He'd draped the furs over the shields. "You look like a pack mule," she told him.
"It leaves my hand free." He reached for Diana's and held it on their walk back to Griswold's. They found the chieftain in the great hall while his warriors reported to him. He held a horn of ale and drank while he listened. When Tyr entered with Diana, his eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.
Which bothered the chieftain more? Diana wondered. That she was staying in his house or that he couldn't have one of Olaf's shields?
Tyr dropped the furs to the floor and slung the shields forward. "Olaf and Brandr worked long hours to make these. Both are infused with dwarf magic." Tyr handed one to Jorunda and one to Jon. Two younger men, tall and strapping, came forward at Jorunda's nod to claim the shields the warriors no longer needed.
"Metal is precious," Jon explained to Diana. "These men use wooden shields covered with leather. Now, they'll have ours. We all benefit from Olaf's gift."
"I say we test them." Griswold's voice boomed loudly. "We can go outdoors and have the witch shoot energy at you."
Tyr frowned. "It's late. Diana's worked all day. The tests can wait till morning."
"If the witch tires that easily…." Griswold shrugged.
Diana knew he
was goading her, but she didn't care. "I'd like to know how strong they are too."
Tyr scowled at the chieftain, but Diana turned toward the door. "Let's try them out."
Everyone followed them into the courtyard. Jorunda held his shield in front of him nervously. "You won't give me your full blast, will you?"
"No, but Heid will."
"Start small," Inga called. "We've seen your powers."
Diana pulled energy from the earth, felt it shoot through her heels and body and out her palm. It hit Jorunda's shield with a narrow blast. The warrior staggered backwards, but the energy bounced upward and disappeared.
"That was a small blast?" Jon asked, watching Jorunda roll his shoulders to loosen them.
"You could have hurt him," Inga complained.
"I can summon much more. You know that." Diana stretched, relaxing her muscles. "The shields won't help you defeat Heid, but they should help you survive her."
The clump of younger warriors shifted nervously.
Tyr strove to reassure them. "When the battle starts, Diana and Freya, along with Asdis' witches, will do their best to fight Heid and what's left of her coven. Hellhounds can't pass the village fence. Wolfbane will keep them out. And no evil magic can pass the rowans. Anyone inside these gates should be safe."
"But what if another shapeshifter lives here?" Inga asked. She worried constantly about the prediction of someone’s being betrayed. There'd been too many attempts on Jorunda's life.
"He'd have been revealed when we passed out wafers," Diana explained.
"The important thing is, the village is protected." Tyr returned to the point he was trying to make. "Donar and I, along with Ordr and his friends, will deal with any giants. I'm sure Heid will have surprises for us, though."
Jon stepped forward. "How can we help you the most?"
"Don't risk your lives on battles you have no hope of winning. Guard the village from everything you can."
Frustration seeped into Jorunda's voice. "Are you telling us to hide behind the wooden fence?"
"Yes."
"But with our shields…."
"Heid can blast you unconscious," Diana said.
"Then why….?"
Diana was ready for his question. "In case one of Heid's witches catches you by surprise outside the village. We don't know how or when Heid will attack. You need to be ready for anything."
Griswold turned to his men. "The village needs you. Every Norse man is required by law to carry a weapon, but how many people know how to use theirs? Einarr's was a pitchfork, for Woden's sake."
Jon bowed his head. "Our duty is to our village."
Griswold eyed the shield Jon carried and grunted. "You're the ones who are protected. You're the ones who must protect us."
Tyr didn't disagree. "We have a plan. We'll stick to it. Our chances are better than they were before."
Griswold scowled at Diana, then turned back to his longhouse. "The sun's sinking. My men need their rest." But the chieftain didn't head to his bedchambers. He met with the warriors around his long, wooden table, drinking and talking.
"He didn't care about my rest," Diana grumbled, as she followed them inside.
Tyr chuckled as he carried his furs to the goddess' chamber. Quietly, so as not to disturb Freya, he pushed two benches together and placed the furs on top. He bent his head and gently kissed Diana. "Ignore Griswold. He's jealous. He wants a shield. Get some rest. Tomorrow, we'll try the runes again. This time, we might get an answer."
“Why? Nothing’s changed.”
Tyr shook his head. “Everything’s different. You and I are truly united. Nothing can stand against us.”
Chapter 27
Diana woke to men cussing. At first, she was disoriented. Her back ached from lying on too hard a surface. Wooden walls surrounded her.
"What in Hel's name?" A man's voice rose in frustration. "The water stinks! It's turned foul."
Was that Jon's voice? Diana pushed herself to her elbow and frowned. Her muscles felt stiff and sore. After hours of sleep, her makeshift bed had proved unworthy. Noir looked up at her from the floor and hissed. When had he gotten here? She thought her familiar would ditch her for the comforts of the marble hut, but he'd come to join her, and he obviously hadn't enjoyed his slumber either.
More men grumbled in another room. The sun was barely above the horizon. Too early. Freya lay, an arm thrown over her head, in deep slumber on the bed opposite her own. Shadow curled at Freya's feet. The damn cat looked as relaxed and peaceful as his mistress. Diana closed her eyes, but the noise continued. Finally, she pulled on her jeans and went to find the cause of the problem. Noir sauntered after her.
When she reached the courtyard, Jon pointed. "Our water's tainted. Heid's polluted it. We won't survive without it."
"Shit." The men stared. Hadn't they heard a god cuss before? She shrugged her shoulders. "What's the source of your water?"
"High in the hills. A stream." Jorunda dipped a wooden cup into the bucket a servant had brought. He handed it to her. She wrinkled her nose and pushed it away. The water was discolored. It smelled strange.
Diana bit back more blasphemy. Damn Heid to Hades! Couldn't the stupid witch ever take a break?
Tyr stalked into the courtyard, glaring at them. "The village well has tainted water too." He looked to Diana.
"What do you want me to do about it?" She wasn't her best in the morning, especially when she stayed up late the night before and slept on wooden benches that felt like rock. "We'll have to follow the stream until we find the cause. If it's magic, I can fix it. If it's not, it's trickier."
Tyr's temper faded. "I'm sorry. We come to you with every problem. We expect you to work miracles. This is our own doing. We should have dug a proper well. We've relied on the stream, and that can be tampered with."
His apology instantly deflated her snit. Noir went to weave around Tyr's ankles, clearly mollified. Diana shrugged. "You've never had to worry about the water before. Now that you do, let's find the cause and fix it."
"You don't have to come this time. Jorunda, Jon, and I can go."
She stiffened, impatient again. "And if it's a trap? Olaf's shields might protect them, but that's all they can do. I can help you get to the stream and maybe find out what to do about it."
He grinned, catching her off guard. "So you are needed. Sorry."
She loved his grin. When he turned on the charm, he excelled at it, damn it. She raised an eyebrow. "No use standing around talking. People will wake and need water. Let's get moving."
He hesitated.
"What?" It came out snarly. She wasn't the warm, fuzzy type.
"Shoes? Sandals? Something? And you might want to look in a mirror."
She blinked, offended. "What are you saying?"
"Your hair reminds me of the story of Medusa."
That's as far as he got. She glared and turned on her heel. Her faithless cat stayed to make friendly with her enemies. "Heathens!" she hissed on her way to her room. When she looked in a mirror, though, she sighed. How bad could a girl look when she got up in the morning? Chestnut waves matted together at odd angles. Then she remembered. The rain had cleaned her hair, but she'd fallen asleep on it while it was still damp. Not a good thing if your hair bordered on curly. She fought with it for a few minutes, did the best she could, then slipped on her sandals.
When she went to meet Tyr, he smiled. "Morning becomes you."
"Yeah, right. That's why you sent me off to find a comb."
"Hardly. You're exotic with snake-like hair." When she tossed him a dirty look, he said, "I can't tell lies, remember? To me, you're always beautiful."
Noir's yellow eyes slanted her a sly look. The beast was taking Tyr's side.
"Beautiful?" Next to Freya with her golden hair, sky blue eyes, and curves, Diana constantly felt inadequate. Drab. Almost boyish. She shouldn't care, but a thrill of happiness spread through her at his compliment.
"You leave everyone in your dust," Tyr
told her, "wild hair or not. But Freya would never let me hear the end of it if I let her leave Asgaard without looking her best. And she'd have a few pithy words if I didn't warn you too."
Diana could see that. Freya was the goddess of love and beauty, after all. She fell into step beside him. For being totally honest, the man had a way with words. "Sky god, my ass," she fussed. "You should be called the god of lawyers and double talk. I've never heard such a smooth tongue."
He laughed. "Some think it a skill."
"Then some must believe your B.S."
The guards opened the gates and she and Tyr followed the stream across the meadow, Noir at their heels. The filthy feline actually seemed pleased to be with them. He must have enjoyed his own company long enough. The stream meandered in wide curves. They passed the sleeping giants and witches. One young wolf poked its head out of the den. When it saw them, it yawned and disappeared back inside its burrow.
Wings flapped overhead, and Diana looked up to see Peta landing beside them.
"Did you fly Noir and Shadow here?" Diana asked. "I thought you'd hate the village."
The dragon shimmered into a man, and Peta said, "When you and Freya decided to stay, we had no desire to meet a handful of witches by ourselves. Where you go, we go."
Tyr explained about the tainted water, and Peta shrugged. "I'll stay at the village. If this is another distraction, the warriors might need my help. I understood there's nothing of importance at the marble house, right?"
"Not a thing." Diana yawned and rubbed sleep from her eyes. "I feel better with you here, Peta. Thank you."
Noir glared.
"I always miss your company, cat." Sorry, but true. Noir, in all of his moodiness, was usually her constant companion.
He raised his paw and began to lick it.
Diana laughed. "I can't believe a dragon has better manners than my familiar."
"Take care, goddess. Heid is too clever for her own good." Peta flew to the village gates and curled into a ball to sleep. Diana glared at her cat. No wonder he sought her out. He wasn't one for camping.
