by S. T. Bende
“I don’t think that’s a good idea. I—hold on.” Tyr leaned out of the frame. “Repeat that, Henrik. I can’t hear when you’re both talking at once.”
Henrik’s low tenor murmured incoherently from somewhere offscreen.
“I see,” Tyr growled.
Henrik’s face popped up on my wrist. “Give ’em Helheim, sötnos.”
“Right back at you!” I caught Henrik’s grin before Tyr wrenched his arm away.
“Brynn.” Tyr frowned. “I’ll take that team you offered after all. Henrik just got a tip that the boat’s more heavily guarded than we believed. Apparently, we’re going to need the best crew you can give us.”
“That’s why I called you! Freya and I think a battalion of jotuns are heading your way.”
“Jotuns I can handle. But those airborne aviary assassins?” Tyr shook his head. “Krugers are a different ballgame. Wait. Freya’s with you?”
“We’re in the V.C. war room.”
“Bring her in,” Tyr barked. I pinched my fingertips together and pulled his image up to hologram mode.
“I’m here.” Freya moved to my side.
“Freya.” Tyr stared into the screen. The brief flicker of emotion behind his game face caused his eyes to shift from grey–blue to almost navy. “Are you back?”
Three words. So much pressure. Without moving my head, I diverted my attention to my friend. Freya stood calmly, hands clasped, carrying herself with every ounce of the poise I’d admired from the first day I met her. Now she pulled her shoulders back, lifted her chin, and met Tyr’s gaze. “I am.”
“On both counts or just one?” Tyr pressed.
Freya’s determined gaze said it all. Thank gods.
“Good. Take back command of the valkyries, and send Brynn to me. I’m going to need her.”
Freya glanced at me. “Is that okay with you?”
“Yes,” I squeaked.
Freya nodded. “Then consider it done.”
Air escaped my lips in a rush, and without thinking, I threw my arms around my friend. “Good. Because this job is hard.”
“You were doing great,” Freya assured. “I wouldn’t have trusted anyone else to lead our fighters. And with everything that’s going down, well…it may be time for the valkyries to have two high commanders.”
My heart pounded in my chest. Was Freya asking me to be her equal? To co-lead Asgard’s elite female squadron? Did I even want to do that?
“Discuss it later,” Tyr barked. “Brynn, get here with that team. Freya, do your Love thing on Jotunheim. You have my coordinates?”
“I do. And I will. Stay safe,” Freya urged. “And take care of our family.”
“You know I will,” Tyr said gruffly. His hologram flickered and disappeared.
“Well, then.” Freya turned to me. “You know what to do.”
“My reserve team is on standby in the stables.” I clasped Freya’s hands. “You sure you’re up to this? That…darkness—sorry, I don’t know what else to call it. It’s really gone?”
“It’s really gone,” Freya confirmed. “Go. Help our boys. Don’t let Tyr do anything stupid.”
I squeezed Freya’s fingertips before turning on one heel, my cape billowing in my wake. “Like I’ve ever been able to stop him. Oh!” I paused with one hand on the door handle. “Svetana said something about a golden boar and a magic ship—any chance you can send those with me?”
Freya’s pale skin lightened a shade. “Gullinbursti and Skidbladnir? I’ll retrieve them and have them sent to you. Go, quickly.”
“Aye, aye.” I saluted my friend before storming through the door. My movements earned a gasp from a furrow-browed Svetana.
“General Aksel!” She jumped up from the temporary post she’d erected outside the war room. “Where are you going?”
“I’m taking a team to Jotunheim. Freya’s in command, now.” I rested one hand on the hilt of my rapier as I hurried toward the staircase. Svetana jogged to catch up. “Run the same interference for Freya that you did for me. Don’t let anyone in that war room.”
“Yes, General.” Svetana stopped at the top of the stairs and called after me, “Please be careful.”
“Always am.”
With one last nod, I charged the rest of the way down the stairs and across the main floor of the V.C. I took the southeastern exit, running the short distance toward the stables. I was halfway there when a glittering white oval appeared directly in my path. I ripped my rapier from its sheath, preparing to attack whatever stepped out of the portal. But a blue-and-silver-clad leg broke through the shimmering white plane, followed by the torso, arms, and head of a sword-wielding valkyrie. She carried a young girl on her back.
“Mariana.” I exhaled sharply. “Gods, you scared me to death. The children…are they…”
“We got every single one of them.” Mariana reached up to pat the girl’s head, then moved out of the way of the portal. “Keep moving, everyone. We’re nearly there.”
Towheaded twins climbed out of the oval, their little hands clasped tightly together. They were followed by three crimson-haired boys who looked similar enough that they must have been brothers, and two olive-skinned girls who clung tightly to a valkyrie’s leg. One after another, the children and the warriors came through the portal. There were so many of them. And they were so young—so innocent. Soot smudged their faces, and their clothes were dirty and torn, but thankfully, they showed no sign of physical harm. Their time in the dark realm had to have been an absolute nightmare—Svartalfheim had long ago extinguished all sources of love, joy, and light. Odin only knew what they’d seen…and how long it would take their little psyches to recover.
“Where are you taking them?” I murmured to Mariana.
“We’ll find an empty conference room in the V.C. and try to keep them calm while we contact their parents. Hopefully, a few of the contemplatives can come down and ease their anxiety.” Mariana waited until the very last valkyrie had passed through before tapping the top of the white oval. It closed in on itself, dropping to the ground as a thin, silver ball.
I bent down to pick it up, then handed it to my lieutenant general. “Ask the contemplatives to send Mia Ahlström downstairs to help the children. She’s one of our Unifiers, and she’ll be able to help them in ways the others can’t. She has a huge heart, and a very unique approach to…difficult situations.”
Mariana saluted. “Thank you, General.”
“Thank you.” I rested my fingertips on her shoulder. “For looking out for those who are weaker than us. For helping those who need our protection most of all.”
“It is truly my honor.”
I blinked back a tear as I looked into the eyes of the tiny Asgardian on Mariana’s back. Thank gods she was safe and sound…for now.
Back to work, Aksel. A lot of lives are depending on you.
Right.
“Freya’s upstairs in the war room.” I sheathed my sword. “She’s handling ops while I assist War in Jotunheim. If you need me, she’ll know how to reach me.”
“Be safe,” Mariana urged. “It sounds like things are heating up quickly in the icy realm.”
“You have no idea,” I muttered. “If things go south, I’ll call on your team for backup. But until then, I want your girls looking after the children. Odin forbid anything comes for them here…” I shuddered. “They’ve been through enough.”
“Agreed. We’ll remain on standby.” Mariana tapped the communication device on her wrist. “And we will ensure no further harm comes to our young.”
I nodded to the rest of Mariana’s team, and smiled softly at the children. I was tremendously grateful that they were home, safe and sound.
With one more tight nod, I resumed my trek. Inside the stables, five white pegasuses stood ready to mount, each with an armed valkyrie at its side. The warriors’ eyes widened as they registered my presence, but they quickly regained their composure.
“General Aksel.” The senior member of the team r
aised her hand to her forehead in salute.
“We’re going into battle. War needs backup on Jotunheim.” I scanned the stable for my familiar silver-maned pegasus, but Fang was nowhere to be found. With a frown, I drew a deep breath and bellowed, “I need my horse!”
“I’m so sorry.” A breathless girl emerged from one of the stalls. She was young—definitely one of our newer recruits—and even shorter than me. “Freya’s never left the valkyrie compound during a skirmish, and since you’re in charge we thought it would be okay to let Fang graze. I’ll retrieve her for you.”
“No need.” I brought my fingers to my lips and let out a piercing whistle. The stable hand winced. “Fang!”
Seconds later, my enormous pegasus swooped into the stable in a blur of white wings and glittery silver hooves. Her long mane had been woven into her favorite intricate braids, and her tail swished happily as she landed at my side.
“There you are! Ready to get to work?”
Fang whinnied, rubbing her head against my arm until I reached up to scratch the happy spot at the top of her head.
“I missed you too,” I whispered into her ear. Fang nudged me joyfully before dropping to one knee so I could climb atop her back. Careful not to trip over the sheathed blade of my rapier, I swung one leg over Fang’s haunches and settled into riding position. She rose to her full ten-foot height, and stepped into place before the line of valkyries.
“Mount up,” I ordered. “The God of War is attempting to destroy the ship Naglfar before it sails for the Bifrost. He’s expecting increased hostilities, and needs our finest warriors to keep him from getting killed. You ladies with me?”
“Always.” The senior member nodded. She clicked her tongue, and her horse stepped forward. Once the other riders were in place, their pegasuses did the same.
“Ride toward the forest in tight formation. I’ll call for the Bifrost to pick us up once we’re on the move.” I nudged Fang with my heels, and she trotted forward. The click of hooves let me know the rest of my team was close behind. Fang took to the sky the minute we’d cleared the stable, her enormous wings flapping fiercely through the crisp Asgardian air. When five pegasuses flanked me, I tilted my head back and shouted, “Heimdall! Bifrost to War!”
The brilliant, multi-hued bridge shot down from the sky, encompassing us in a deafening wind tunnel.
“For Asgard!” I shouted. The rest of my team echoed my cry, and the next thing I knew, I was soaring across the cosmos, trying to ignore the churn in my stomach as I barreled toward Tyr, Henrik, and Forse—the male members of the family I’d chosen. The guys I’d gladly give my life to protect. And the…oh, gods.
My heart dropped as the Bifrost shot me onto an icy field with a perfect view of the dock, the ship, and the horde of monsters moving through the water toward Tyr, Henrik, Forse, and…Odin.
Double gods. Odin’s way too close to the front line.
My friends were in seriously deep skit.
**
“Tyr!” I screamed as the Bifrost spat me into the Jotunheim atmosphere. “Watery incoming! Your two o’clock!”
Fang’s strong wings flapped viciously, closing the distance between us and the enormous ship, Naglfar. My gut churned, whether from fear or Bifrost travel or the stench coming off the watercraft made entirely of the toenails of the dead—ew!—I wasn’t sure. Tightening my grip on Fang’s mane, I lowered my head and nudged her forward with my heels. She dove faster, halving the distance between us and the boat.
Tyr, Henrik, and Forse looked up in surprise as my pegasus and I touched down behind them. Seconds later, five more sets of hooves pounded the wooden boards of the dock as my team landed behind me. We’d made it in time.
Now, to slay all the monsters.
“Dritt, sötnos.” Henrik’s eyes moved slowly along my skintight suit. “You are hot in that outfit.”
“Thanks!”
Henrik’s eyes lingered on my chest for an extra beat before he shook his head. “But weren’t you supposed to come in from the east?”
“I was, but things changed.” I pointed my rapier at the water. “You can’t see them yet, but you’ve got hostiles.”
“No skit,” Tyr growled. He twirled his broadsword as he spoke.
“That’s why they’re here.” Forse jutted his chin at the squadron surrounding Odin.
“Your Grace.” I bowed my head to Asgard’s white-haired, one-eyed ruler, before turning back to Tyr. “Yeah, Odin’s guards can take care of the krugers and sink Naglfar once you get control of it. But can they handle a jurgmat?”
“There’s a jurgmat?” Henrik whipped his head toward the water. “I’ve always wanted to see one. Well, not like this, but—”
“What’s your plan?” Tyr zeroed in on me.
“Me and the girls will take care of the bottom-feeder. The three of you knock out the water-bound attackers who aren’t acid-spewing sea monsters. I saw them change trajectory when I was flying in. Now they’re a hundred meters due west, about a fathom below the surface. Same number so far—three jotuns, three dwarves, two trolls. One air-containment vessel. They’ll be here any minute.”
“Odin!” Tyr called over his shoulder. “Is your team ready for that onslaught of krugers?”
“My guards have debilitated more avian assassins than any team in Asgard.” Odin’s regal nod earned a salute from his warriors.
“Good. Because the first flock is incoming…and I doubt it’s the last.” Tyr jutted his chin at the sky over the ocean, where a group of winged beasts approached. As the krugers drew closer, their sharp talons, blade-lined backs, and leathery, black appendages came into view. The claws atop their wings sparked with electric charges, and I knew that if they made it any closer to the dock, they’d either electrocute or stab us to death. We had to act. Fast.
“Attack!” Odin bellowed. A dozen guards drew bows from their backs and fired at the winged assassins. Two dropped from the sky, their enormous corpses eliciting equally sizeable splashes in the ocean below. Bolts of discharged electricity shot from their claws as their lifeless bodies bobbed to the surface, and I briefly wondered if the force of their charge had managed to kill the jurgmat. Live to dream, Aksel.
“Again!” Odin ordered. With a flash of light, a crimson haired figure emerged in the sky a hundred yards from Odin’s forces. A burst of lightning shot from his hand, and I breathed a bit easier knowing Thor had arrived to assist his father. As the guards fired in tandem with the God of Thunder, I shifted my attention back to Tyr.
“I spotted the jurgmat in the water on my way in. It’s not far off, so I’m taking my girls to the sky for a better vantage point.” I nudged Fang with one heel. “We’ll do what we can to disable it before it reaches you. Will you be okay with the rest of the hostiles?”
“Ja. Thanks, Brynn. You dropped everything to back me up.”
Emotion swelled in my chest, but I tamped it down. Not the time. Instead, I returned Tyr’s nod with a shrug. “What are friends for?”
“Take this.” Henrik stepped forward, a small black cylinder in his palm.
“A basifier? Takk, babe.”
Since the jurgmat’s primary offense was spitting hundred-foot streams of acid, the neutralizing device would come in major handy. Assuming the jurgmat surfaced long enough for us to drop this bomb.
“Be careful.” Henrik closed his hand around mine as he handed off the tech.
“Back at you.” I bent low to brush my lips against my boyfriend’s. A tantalizing shiver danced along my spine as he slipped his tongue into my mouth. But much too quickly, he pulled away, and I was left slightly dizzy, rapier in one hand, and acid-neutralizing device in the other. “I’d better go.”
“We’ll finish that later.” Henrik’s wink sent a pulse of heat straight through me. Oh yes, we will.
“Valkyries, charge!” I slipped the basifier into my collar, and pointed my sword to the north. Fang took off, circling away from the krugers and leading our team over the spot we’d la
st seen the jurgmat. The water was dark below me, but hopefully my Asgardian sight would be strong enough to see through the—
“Arugh!” A shout from behind made me spin around. One of my soldiers tumbled off her pegasus. The animal’s neck wrenched from side to side as it spiraled toward the shore, while the girl’s hands clawed at her face. In the sea below, an enormous, blubbery creature splashed angrily in the water. The jurgmat. I could either kill the beast or save my soldier. There wouldn’t be time for both.
Unless I was fast.
With a cry, I wrenched Fang’s head to the left and altered my course. “Catch her!”
Fang lowered her head and dove. She reached my soldier at the same time I wrenched Henrik’s gift from my collar. When the valkyrie landed atop Fang’s haunches I reached back to steady her with my sword hand, careful not to nick her with the blade. Once her arms were wrapped securely around my waist, I calculated my trajectory and flung the basifier into the gaping jaws of the jurgmat. The black cylinder hit its target, exploding in a wave of sparkling mist the moment it made contact with the acid. Excellent. One less offensive tactic to worry about. Now we just had to dodge the jurgmat’s lightning shots.
Lightning shots…oh, gods. I was well within firing range.
“Fang, get us out of here!” I bellowed.
“We’ll cover you, General.” My team circled above me. Those with bows drew arrows from their backs. They fired on the jurgmat with choreographed precision. The beast let out a fierce groan as it shot a bolt of electricity at me. Skit! The lightning passed just inches from Fang’s right wing. She swung to the left, narrowly dodging a second bolt. And then a third.
By the time I reached my team, the monster had fired off half a dozen bolts. The seventh grazed my thigh, and I yelped as the energy exploded against my leg, anticipating imminent anguish. Whatever the tech team had done to my suit must have been working, because instead of singed flesh, I only felt the beginnings of a raging bruise. The part of my brain not consumed with survival made a note to promote my designers—a two-rank bump, minimum.