“Why would they need that?”
“It seems they wanted to send someone into the Nine Worlds. We just don’t know for what.”
“To get something that they think will destroy me, of course.”
“And is there something that can do that?”
“I doubt it, but why risk it?”
“Perhaps we should get you back to Helheim.”
“Oh, no, no, no.” Gullveig smiled. “Not when things are just getting interesting.”
* * *
Vig grabbed several Norwegian beers from his fridge and walked out to his porch. He handed the bottles to Jace, Eriksen, and Kera before sitting down in a chair. Brodie Hawaii moved over to lie next to his feet.
Jace, sitting on the porch stairs with Eriksen behind her rubbing her shoulders, softly asked, “Does anyone else feel—”
“Panicked?”
“Terrified?”
“A little hungry?”
They turned to Vig.
“I can’t be the only one who’s hungry.”
“Actually, I was going to say nauseous.” Jace studied the label on her beer. “I’ve sent my best friend to her death. We’re planning to directly challenge the Carrion. And the world’s probably going to end.”
“You didn’t send Erin to her death,” Kera replied. “I did. It’s been my decision to move forward. If this ends badly . . . it’s all on me.”
Jace looked over her shoulder to debate the point, but Vig held up one finger to silently ask her to wait. A few seconds later, Kera got up and went back into the house, Brodie Hawaii following behind her.
“She went to throw up,” Vig explained to the couple’s apparent confusion. “But don’t worry. She vomits, then she’s ready for anything.”
Eriksen pointed at where the dog had been lying down “And Brodie went with her because . . . ?”
“Hold her hair back.” When the couple only stared, “That was a joke, but I have been told by my brothers that I’m not good with those.”
“But you tried,” Jace sweetly cheered. “And that’s what counts.”
A few minutes later, a paler Kera walked out of the house. “Sorry about that.”
Vig reached out and caught her arm, tugging her over until she sat on his lap. “It’s going to be fine,” he told her, stroking her hair. “It’s all moving forward just like it needs to. The rest is up to Erin.”
“And Stieg Engstrom,” Eriksen added. “Of all the Ravens, Stieg Engstrom is in the Nine Worlds . . .” He winced. “Now I feel nauseous.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Stieg woke up swinging, cold-cocking the man who had been standing over him. Dropping his feet on the floor, he looked around. The walls were stone and he knew he was in a castle. He looked down at the man he’d hit and quickly realized he wasn’t a man at all but a light elf.
Stieg also noticed that there was no Erin. He didn’t like that they’d been separated.
Standing, he took a moment to make sure he could move without passing out. He felt strong, his fingers briefly touching the spot near the top of his head that had been sewn up. He’d gotten that wound after he’d gone through the door and hit the ground. He’d guess a jagged rock had done the job. But he was already healing, and he was now more worried about Erin.
Stieg reached down and grabbed the elf.
Catlike eyes snapped open and the elf began to fight, but Stieg quickly yanked him up and wrapped his arm around the elf’s throat. He held the elf in front of him like a shield with enough pressure to ensure his hostage knew that with one move he could snap his neck like so much kindling.
The elf raised his hands in supplication and Stieg began walking, forcing the elf to go with him. Stieg didn’t speak. He had nothing to say. Besides, words tended to ease others and that was the last thing he wanted. At least until he found Erin.
He made the elf open the thick wooden door and they entered the torch-lit hallway. Stieg stopped and checked each room, but he was growing more frustrated with every second he couldn’t find her. Seeing a small elf child standing at the end of the hall, her hair in multiple braids, her narrow eyes curious, he was forced to stop.
“You’re looking for her, aren’t you?” the child asked.
Stieg nodded.
“This way.” She led him into a circular corridor.
Over the railing, he could look straight down. Surprised, he realized they were in a tower. He’d always heard that the light elves created their homes out of trees and rocks. A stone castle didn’t seem their style, as Rolf would say.
The girl led him into another hallway and to the first door. She pushed it open and Stieg walked in, his hostage still leading the way.
A She-elf gasped in surprise and quickly stepped back from Erin’s prone form. The Crow was stretched out on a stone slab. Stieg moved closer, concerned she wasn’t awake yet. Still holding his elf hostage, he bumped his ass against her hand.
Erin woke up. Swinging. Her fist slammed into the elf’s face and he went down like the Titanic, crumpling in Stieg’s arms.
Stieg dropped him then, since he had no intention of carrying him.
Erin swung her legs over the edge of the slab and shook out her fist. “It’s you. Thank God.” She gazed at him for several seconds, her eyes trying to tell him something. “You all right?”
Stieg nodded but didn’t verbally answer. That seemed to be what Erin was hoping for. He could tell by the small curl of her lips.
When she jumped off the slab, Stieg was ready to catch her if she couldn’t keep herself up, but she landed steady on her feet.
Glancing around, she softly cursed, and asked the She-elf, “My weapons?”
The elf’s head cocked to the side, one brow raised.
“Fine.” Erin looked at Stieg. “Let’s just get out of here.” She grabbed his hand and led him to the door.
The She-elf held the child close to her body, the pair watching them, but saying nothing.
Out in the hallway, Erin took a quick scan of her surroundings before spotting the stairs and heading that way. Down they went. Several floors until they reached the bottom.
Another quick scan and Erin started off again, still holding onto Stieg.
“My friends!” a female voice cheered.
Erin looked directly at Stieg and, again, he felt the warning in her eyes. He gave a small, brisk nod, and she turned to face whatever was behind them.
* * *
The She-elf glowed like the goddamn sun and Erin wished she would turn it off. It was making her eyes hurt.
Warmly, her smile bright and open, the She-elf said, “I am so glad you are both all right. We were very worried when my soldiers brought you back here.” She moved closer, an entourage of elf men and women behind her. She wore a simple gold crown that resembled the twisted branches of an ancient tree and her gold and white gown reminded Erin of medieval tapestries. “My name is Princess Uathach and I am ruler here. And please know that you are both welcome, my new friends.”
Erin attempted to size the princess up quickly, but she was short on time. She didn’t have the luxury to find out too much about her. “Princess?” Erin looked down at what she wore. “I can’t . . . I mean . . . look at me!” She scrunched up her nose. “I can’t meet a princess looking like this.”
“Oh, my dearest girl.” The princess took Erin’s hand in both of hers. Warm hands. Warm smile. “Don’t worry about that. It’s not like you came here for a proper presentation . . . um . . . ?”
“Erin. I’m Erin. This is my companion Stieg. Say hello, Stieg.”
Stieg grunted, his apparently slow-witted focus examining everything around him but the princess. He was perfect, catching on quicker than she’d thought he would.
“I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you saved him,” Erin went on. “I was simply too weak to do anything at the time.”
“It was our pleasure.” The princess put her arm around Erin’s shoulders and led her away from what Erin
had assumed was an exit, moving her deeper into the castle. “I have to say, we so rarely get . . .”
“Outsiders?”
“Humans. Not like we used to. Especially ones like yourselves.” She gave Erin a hug. “A Valkyrie. We haven’t had a Valkyrie here in a century. Perhaps more.”
Uh-oh. A Valkyrie?
They thought Erin Amsel of German-Jewish descent was a Valkyrie? Wow, she’d never wished Betty had been around more in her life. Her mentor would be loving every second of this.
Since they seemed so excited by the prospect, Erin ran with it; Odin’s words about the lack of love for Crows in the other Worlds still playing in her head. It was a risk, but probably a better one than revealing her true source of power.
And Erin did enjoy game playing, so it wasn’t like she had a moral issue with any of it.
The princess led them into a giant hall. Several pit fires heated the room, and lit torches on the walls made it bright. Yet none of it seemed to fit the princess and her woodland motif. Her jewelry. Her hair. Her crown. She should be deep in some woods somewhere, not trapped behind black stone.
“Please, you and your companion sit with me. I know you both must be starving.”
“I could eat. And I know Stieg could eat. He never stops eating.”
The princess laughed, a soft, lilting sound. “Of course. I know how Giant Killers do love their food.”
Erin barely managed to stop herself from hysterically laughing, rolling around on the floor, legs kicking . . . for hours. She couldn’t even look at Stieg, but she wished she could. God! Did she wish she could!
There were all sorts of insults that each Clan couldn’t handle. Protectors hated when they were confused with Ravens. Holde’s Maids got real nasty when they were confused with the Isa. Crows got homicidal when they were referred to as slaves. And nothing, absolutely nothing set Ravens off more than when people assumed they were Giant Killers. Big, dumb, Thor lovers.
The mix-ups didn’t exactly set off any race wars, but they had been known to lead to quite a few historical massacres.
Thankfully, Stieg wasn’t exactly like his brethren. A Raven happily raised among Ravens would immediately lash out at the insult of being called a Giant Killer. But Stieg had spent years on the streets. And, from what Erin could tell, he’d learned fast and early when to let things slide. When to ignore. When to play along. That skill had definitely kept him alive out there on some of the cruelest streets in the States and it was definitely going to help now.
They were seated at the long table at the head of the hall, where two chairs were slightly raised above all the others. The princess took one of those chairs and a male who looked almost exactly like her took the other.
“Erin, this is my brother, Prince Uinseann. Uinseann, this is the Valkyrie I was telling you about.”
“How exciting!” He leaned forward to peer around his sister. “I hope you have been treated exceptionally well, Lady Erin.”
“Very well, thank you.”
She glanced at Stieg and his eyes said it all. Lady Erin? Really?
* * *
The food just kept coming. Giant platters of meats and vegetables. Nothing too weird, which Stieg appreciated. He wasn’t a picky eater but he also didn’t like anything he couldn’t name. A lot of game meats but animals he was acquainted with, which helped. Of course, he didn’t just dive into the food. He waited to make sure the elves ate first. And heartily. Once he felt comfortable that his food wasn’t poisoned, he dove in.
Surprisingly, Erin didn’t hesitate. She ate as soon as the food was in front of her. Drank as soon as they poured the wine. Although she only allowed herself two chalices of the wine before switching to water.
“How come I can understand you?” Erin asked the princess, who appeared truly fascinated with the “Valkyrie.” Heh.
If the Valkyries knew what was going on, they would lose their collective minds. A Crow pretending to be a Valkyrie? Few things could be a bigger affront to them.
“We speak in our language and you speak in yours and the light does the rest.”
Erin took a bite of chicken before admitting, “That makes no sense to me.”
“Of course not. You’re only human.”
“Should I take that as an insult?”
“No, no. Not at all. It’s just the way of things. Being a human, even one blessed by the great Freyja, limits you in ways that the elves can never imagine. But it’s nothing we hold against you.”
“Good to know.” Erin went back to her food, a smile on her face, but Stieg wasn’t fooled. She would file the insult away in that brain of hers, not to be dwelt upon, but never to be forgotten, either.
When dinner was done, musicians made an appearance and there was dancing, more wine, and sweet treats.
Stieg stood against a wall that gave him a clear view of all entrances and a good view of the guards. They didn’t make a terrifying presence, but it was their tendency to disappear in the shadows that concerned him.
The only outsiders at the moment were Erin, a “Valkyrie,” and Stieg a—dry heave—“Giant Killer.” Could they do damage? Absolutely. But only so much. So why the worry?
Then again, the truth was they weren’t a Valkyrie and a Killer. They were a Crow and a Raven. They could do a lot more than so much.
Knowing that—and feeling confident in it—Stieg watched, listened, and learned.
* * *
“So,” the princess finally asked after several hours, “what brings you both here to our lands?”
“A quest, my lady,” Erin said, making sure she sounded as deferential as possible.
“A quest! How exciting. A quest for what?”
Measuring her words carefully, Erin replied, “We need to get to Helheim.”
“Land of the Dead? Why would anyone need to go there?” The princess’s smile was almost cruel. Almost. “Hel is no fan of humans, sweet Erin.”
“I am aware of that. But we have no choice. The human world is at risk; she may be our only chance.”
“Well . . . that is terrifying if it’s true. I hope you have some other options.”
“Not at the moment. Sadly, I have no choice. I made a pledge.”
“Of course.” The princess smiled again. “Still, I do hope you and your companion can stay the night. Get some rest.”
Erin returned her smile with one of her own. “That would be wonderful.”
“Excellent!” The princess clapped her hands together. “Musicians! Something we can dance to!”
The music changed and one of the males bowed to the She-elf. She took his hand and they joined the others.
Erin watched them, making sure to keep smiling, gently turning down the few elf males who came to ask her to dance. And as the pleasant evening slowly wound down, Erin knew one thing as well as she knew her own name.
She and Stieg were prisoners.
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
They were led up several flights of stairs, the princess chatting away as they walked. On the fourth floor, they were led down a long hall to bedrooms.
“Here you go. You’ll be able to get a good night’s sleep here, I think.”
Erin walked in first, nodding as a servant lit torches so she could see everything clearly. “Perfect.”
“Oh, excellent! Then rest well, my friends.”
“Thank you, Princess. For everything.”
The princess, her entourage, the servant, and her guards quietly left; the elves never made a sound. Once the door closed behind them, Stieg watched that smile slowly fade from Erin’s face until he saw nothing but the hard Crow who once stabbed him in the leg because he got between her and a demon she was trying to kill.
Her eyes were like sharp glass as she moved to the bed, sitting on it, her legs hanging over the edge.
He opened his mouth to speak, but Erin put her finger to her lips, silencing him. She motioned him over with her hand and he sat beside her. Before he could do or say anything, she jumped to her
feet, walked to the door, and pressed her ear against it. A few seconds later, her nose scrunched up in annoyance.
Guards stood outside the door. Not that Stieg was surprised.
She stalked to the other side of the room and studied the stained glass window. She pushed something in the corner and the window opened.
Stieg watched her crawl outside and followed her, leaning out the window to see what Erin was up to. She stood on the ledge, staring down. He looked down, too, seeing nothing but more soldiers and guards. And archers. Archers who could knock them out of the sky if they tried to fly.
Erin looked up and before he knew it, the woman was climbing up the side of the building. Why? Because she was insane. And yet he followed.
He expected her to go straight to the top, especially since he didn’t see any soldiers hanging over the roof, but she stopped at the top floor window and gazed in. He wondered what she could see. It wasn’t as if it was clear glass. It was beveled. She pried the window open and disappeared inside.
Stieg sighed, wondering what the crazy Crow was up to now, but he followed anyway.
No wonder the odds on Erin Amsel making it back were 100 to 1 in favor of her being dead in the first five minutes.
* * *
She rolled through the window and immediately got to her feet.
The black-and-gold-haired elf inside glanced up from his work, but showed no sign of fear or even surprise. “What do you want?”
Erin pointed. “My weapons, to start.”
Silken black robes swirled around the extremely tall elf as he seemed to glide across the room until he reached the long wood table where her weapons were laid out.
The elf lifted one of her blades, handmade by Vig Rundstöm. “This,” he said, holding the blade by its tip, “is not a Valkyrie weapon. Nor are the runes that you and your companion have burned on your flesh representative of the gods of the Valkyries or Giant Killers. I noticed them when I was dealing with your wounds. Princess Uathach has asked me to translate them.”
“Why can’t she translate runes herself?”
“The Aesir never allowed elves to learn their language. They felt it would be giving them too much power. Instead, we have our own rune language. The few of us who can translate the Aesir runes are usually witches because strong blood-magics are required.”
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