by Kate O'Hearn
Verdandi nodded. “And I know all that is current. I know you came here to engage the Vanir in this struggle, but it will take more than your word and certainly more time than you have to get them on your side. Their distrust of the Aesir runs too deep.”
“So what do we do?” Archie said.
“We put aside our old resentments and work together to free Skuld. It’s the only way.” Quinn turned to Verdandi. “Where are they holding your sister?”
“She is being held in a keep in the desert in Muspelheim,” the younger woman said.
Freya gasped and Orus cawed.
“What?” Archie said. “Where’s Muspelheim?”
“It’s the realm of the fire giants.”
“The fire giants?” Archie choked. “The same guys we saw at the Ten Realms Challenge? The ones always on fire?”
“That’s them,” Freya said.
“Muspelheim is the most dangerous of all the realms,” Orus cawed. “We’ll be killed!”
“It is,” Urd agreed. “Your journey will be fraught with danger, and you will be risking your lives. If Skuld is doing Dirian’s bidding, should you be killed, I fear you will not rise again.”
Freya nodded. “I’m sure Dirian would love to kill me for good if he got the chance.”
“Me too,” Archie said. “Remember, I nearly cut his hand off.”
“He will kill all of us if he learns of our intention to free Skuld,” Quinn said.
“We should free Loki,” Freya suggested. “He could help us.”
“No way!” Archie cried. “Gee, how do we know he’s not working for Dirian? That bringing us here wasn’t just a distraction to get us out of the way?”
Urd shook her head. “Your suspicion of Loki is justified. He has done many bad things in the past. But I can assure you, this time his intentions are genuine. He is on the side of peace and was not leading you to harm in bringing you here.”
Verdandi nodded. “Unfortunately, the Vanir do not trust him any more than you do. He is now suffering at their hands.”
“If he’s innocent, we must save him,” Freya said.
Verdandi shook her head. “No, child. You must go to free Skuld. Whether Loki survives his ordeal or not will make little difference if Dirian gains control of all the realms. Urd and I will present ourselves to the Vanir Elders and explain what has happened. We will plead for Loki’s life. But your quest is set. You must leave here now.”
* * *
Freya had no reason not to trust the Norns. They were renowned for never taking sides—they were observers of all, but never became personally involved. Since Dirian had taken their youngest sister, they had been drawn into the fight. Freya just hoped it wasn’t too late.
They sat in the small clearing as Quinn pulled out several maps, drawn up on a roughly woven fabric. The first and largest map was a detailed picture of Yggdrasil, the Cosmic World Tree. There were circles drawn on the tree to show each of the Nine Realms and their placement within the branches of the Great Tree. At the top was Asgard and Valhalla. Midgard appeared beneath it. Below and to the left of Midgard was Vanaheim, and then along the bottom from left to right was Jotunheim, realm of the frost giants; Helheim, realm of the ancient dead; Nidavellir, the realm of the dwarfs; and then Svartalfheim, realm of the Dark Elves. Finally, on the far right, was Muspelheim—realm of the fire giants.
Quinn pointed to Muspelheim. “This is where we must go. We can travel through all the lower realms to get there.”
Freya looked at the map and shook her head. “It will be too dangerous for us to journey through all those realms, especially while we’re at war. Look, the best way is for us to go back through the tunnel we took to get here, and return to Midgard. Then we can find the secret tunnel that will take us directly to Muspelheim. It will cut out all those other realms.”
“What are these tunnels?” Quinn said.
“The roots of Yggdrasil,” Freya said. “That’s how we got here.”
Quinn looked at the two Norns. “Is this true? Do the roots of Yggdrasil connect all the realms?”
Urd nodded. “They have existed since the beginning of time. But very few know of them. Most believe them to be a myth.”
“It’s no myth,” Archie said. “We used one to get here. Loki thinks the giants will use them to get to Earth and then take other tunnels leading up to Asgard. It’s kind of like a weird game of snakes and ladders. You arrive through one tunnel and head up through another.”
“Loki is correct. The giants have already started using them,” Verdandi said. “They are in Midgard now, making their way up.”
“What?” Archie cried. “No, they can’t be. It’s too soon!”
“I do not lie, child,” Verdandi said. “I tell only what I see. It is happening right now. Frost and fire giants are entering Midgard as we speak. They are bringing their allies—the Dark Elves, dwarfs, and trolls—with them.” Verdandi closed her eyes and lifted her head, as though she were focusing on something very distant. When she opened them, her face revealed great sadness. “Midgard forces are trying to fight them, but they stand no chance.”
“What about Thor?” Freya cried. “He’s in Midgard right now. So are the Dark Searchers who are standing against Dirian. What about my mother and sisters? Can you see them?”
Verdandi shook her head. “Fear for our sister is distracting me. I cannot see them.”
A stone settled in Freya’s stomach. Had the giants killed her family and those fighting for Asgard?
“We have to go back!” she cried, getting to her feet.
“Wait,” Quinn said. He searched in his pouch and pulled out a blank, woven parchment and quill and handed them to the Norns. “If you know of these tunnels, please, show us where they are. Freya says she can lead us back to Midgard. When we get there, how do we find the passage to Muspelheim?”
Verdandi hesitated for a moment. “These are sacred tunnels, meant to be kept secret.”
Urd nodded. “Show them. The secret is out.”
Verdandi started to draw on the parchment. Freya immediately recognized the continents of Earth. The Norn put a small dot on the map. “This is the only root that will take you to Muspelheim. And when you have our sister, you must go back to Midgard and take this tunnel to get you straight up to Asgard. This is an especially secret root that only we, the Norns, use. No others know of it. But it is the fastest way to Asgard and Odin’s protection of our sister.”
Freya looked at the map and frowned. “What about a root from Muspelheim directly to Asgard? Surely that would be faster.”
Urd nodded. “Indeed it would. But that tunnel will be filled with Dirian’s servants. You must keep Skuld safe and away from them.”
Verdandi nodded. “Once Skuld is free, Dirian will lose his power to keep his enemies dead. Then, when you set the giants against each other, the war will end.”
“So we know our plan,” Quinn said. He rose to his feet and tucked the precious map in his bag. “Let’s get going. We don’t have a moment to waste.”
12
BY THE TIME THEY LEFT, the sun was high and hot in the brilliant blue sky. Freya hated leaving the two Norns in the jungle, looking so vulnerable and alone, but Urd insisted they go. She said rescuing Skuld must be their only priority.
Freya, Archie, and Quinn took off, heading in the direction of the tunnel where the security team had first captured them. As before, they remained close to the canopy of leaves to help hide their presence.
Despite the teeming life around them, Freya’s senses were in overdrive as she reached out to feel for any Vanir fighters in the area. When they were just over halfway back to the mountain, she felt the presence of others.
“Quinn, they’re coming!” she cried. “Get down!”
Freya heard Quinn call something back, but with little time to waste, she tucked in her wings and dived headfirst down into the dense carpet of trees. She clenched her eyes as thick branches and vines bit into her skin and the wings on her back
. Archie cried out as the same branches scratched his face and arms.
When they pulled free of the trees and reached the ground, they heard Quinn calling. A moment later he landed beside them without a scratch. “Are you deaf? I told you to wait. . . .”
Moments later, three young winged warriors landed. Two had the same dragonfly wings as Quinn, while the other was the butterfly girl she had noticed earlier, with the black wings and big blue dots. Freya searched for a weapon. But even before she reached for a thick branch, invisible hands wrapped around her and held her tight.
“Freya, stop!” Quinn said. “They’re with me!”
“Freya, help me!” Orus cawed. The raven was high in the trees overhead and trapped in a tangle of vines.
The young girl with the butterfly wings floated up and freed the raven from the tangle. “You’re all right,” she cooed softly, stroking his feathers. “We’re not going to harm you.”
She released him, and Orus flew to Freya’s shoulder.
“These are my friends,” Quinn said, releasing his grip on Freya. “That’s Parsi, Skyrian, and Switch. Everyone, this is Freya and Archie.”
“And Orus,” the raven said.
“Yes, of course—and Orus,” Quinn corrected.
The girl who had freed Orus stepped closer to Archie. “If it’s easier, you can just call me Skye.”
“I’m Archie,” Archie stuttered awkwardly. “Everyone just calls me, er, Archie. I’m from Earth—I mean Midgard.”
Skye blushed lightly and her butterfly wings fluttered. Her black eyes sparkled. “I’ve never met a human before. You have no wings?”
“Nope. Humans don’t.” Then he added, “But yours are really cool.”
Switch nodded to Freya. “We know something is happening that the Elders aren’t telling us.”
“It’s worse than we imagined,” Quinn reported. He, Freya, and Archie explained what they knew. “We must free Skuld,” he continued. “Nothing else matters if she remains a prisoner of Dirian.”
“I never liked what I heard about the Dark Searchers,” Parsi said. “They’re all feathered Aesir scum!”
“Don’t blame the Aesir for this!” Freya shot. “We’re in more danger than you are.”
“Why shouldn’t I blame you? A Dark Searcher started this war,” the tall dragonfly boy spat.
Freya’s hands balled into fists as she advanced on the tall boy. “My brother is a Dark Searcher, and in case you hadn’t noticed, I have feathers!” Freya opened her wings threateningly. “So take that back, Vanir, before I make you!”
“What are you going to do, Valkyrie, reap me? Turn me into a slave, like this dead human?”
“Hey, I’m no slave!” Archie cried. He stood beside Freya and faced down the troublemaker. “It’s called friendship and loyalty. Something I’m sure you know nothing about!”
“Enough!” Quinn cried.
Freya wouldn’t back down. She poked her finger into Parsi’s chest. “Listen, bug boy, it’s not our fault that Dirian’s insane. He’s working against all of us.”
Parsi looked at his friends. “That’s so typical of the Aesir, ready to use violence first.”
“You wanna see violence?” Archie said as he raised his fist. “Keep going after Gee like that and I’ll show you what humans can do!”
Skye stepped between them. “Everyone calm down! Fighting among ourselves isn’t helping.” She looked back at Quinn. “We know what the problem is, so how do we solve it?”
“First, we stop accusing each other. Then we free Skuld. After that, Freya has a plan that the Norns said would work. We’re going to turn the giant kings against each other.”
“We?” Archie said. “After your guys just blamed us for everything? You still expect us to work together?”
“We must,” Quinn said. “This war will involve all the realms. The Vanir can’t avoid it, no matter what the Elders say. Only together will we stand a chance of stopping Ragnarök.”
Freya nodded. “Quinn’s right. Unless we put our old resentments aside, we don’t stand a chance.” She turned to Parsi. “I’m willing to try if you are.”
Parsi nodded reluctantly. “I’m in.” He paused, and a slight smile came to his lips. “As long as you don’t call me ‘bug boy’ again.”
“Fine, just as long as you stop insulting my feathers,” Freya said.
“Agreed,” Quinn said. “Here’s our plan.” He pointed to his two dragonfly-winged friends. “You two will go to the Norns and make sure they get safely to the village. You must make the Elders release Loki and convince them what will happen if we don’t side with Asgard.”
“What about me?” Skye asked.
“You’re coming with us to Muspelheim.”
“Are you sure about that?” Archie asked. “It’s going to be very dangerous.”
“Yes, and . . . ?” Skye prodded. “Don’t you think I’m a warrior or brave enough?”
Archie blushed. “Of course you’re brave enough, but, um . . . I mean, that’s not what I mean. Look at you. You—you’re so—so delicate. Your wings look like they can be damaged very easily.”
Skye smiled, and Freya could see it had a devastating effect on Archie. “Don’t worry about me, Archie. I am quite capable of taking care of myself.”
Quinn nodded. “She is. In fact, Skye’s got more magic than the rest of us.”
“I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings . . . ,” Archie stuttered.
Freya watched her friend and smiled. In all their time together, she’d never seen Archie this flustered.
“I can’t believe what I’m seeing,” Orus whispered in her ear. “Look at him! Archie is tongue-tied around her.”
“I’m sure she’ll do fine,” Freya said. “Archie, we’re going to face dangers we never imagined before. I for one am happy to have Skye with us. We’re going to need all the help and magic we can get if we hope to save the realms.”
“It is agreed, then,” Quinn said. “Let’s get moving.”
“Wait. I have something for Freya.” Skye reached back between her two large butterfly wings and pulled out Freya’s sword and belt. “I think you might need this.”
“My sword!” Freya cried. “How did you get it?”
“Kreel is my father,” Skye explained. “He had it in our home. He says weapons like this are crude, ugly, unnecessary things. But since we’re not staying in Vanaheim, I thought you might want it back.”
“Thank you.” Freya accepted the sword. “But won’t your father be angry when he finds out what you’ve done?”
Skye nodded. “But saving the realms is more important. He’ll understand when we get back.”
“If we get back,” Orus cawed.
Grateful to have her golden sword back, Freya fastened the belt around her waist and felt instantly better. The Vanir might use magic to defend themselves, but she was still a Valkyrie, raised on the battlefield and trained to use weapons.
“Now, does everyone know what they’re doing?” Quinn asked.
Parsi nodded. “We’ll get the Norns to the Elders and convince them to side with Asgard. Good luck freeing Skuld.”
Quinn raised his hand and used magic to lift them all back up through the dense trees and into the open sky.
“For Vanaheim,” he cried, as the two groups parted on their missions.
“For all the realms!” Freya echoed as she opened her wings and led her team toward the cave.
13
MAYA AND HER FAMILY WERE evacuated to a safe house on the beach along the California coast. Just north of Los Angeles, it was far from where the giants were entering the country.
Standing on the balcony that ran the length of the house, several yards above the sand, Maya gazed out over the Pacific Ocean. The water before them was calm and the beach was empty. But it was an illusion. The world was anything but calm.
Kai stood at her side lost in thought—though his emotions were running wild with concern for Freya.
Hours earlier they had received a call from Vonni to say he and the others had made it safely out of the mountain facility moments before the giants arrived. They were now on the East Coast, near Boston, preparing to engage the enemy. Vonni said there was a steady stream of frost and fire giants coming up from the south.
“Have you felt anything at all from Freya?” Maya asked, breaking the painful silence.
Kai shook his head. “Nothing.” He turned to her, and his ice-blue eyes were filled with worry. “But I’m sure she’s all right.”
Maya nodded, knowing he was trying to convince himself more than her. “Of course she is. Freya is resourceful. It’s the rest of us I’m worried about.”
The television in the lounge behind them droned on—filled with news reports from all over the world, talking about the invasion. Giants, Dark Elves, and a terrifying assortment of other creatures were appearing on every continent.
“There’s Thor!” Mims cried.
Maya and Kai ran back into the house. The large television screen on the wall showed Thor taking on four frost giants at once. Hammer in hand, he was dodging their attempts to kill him while he attacked them with lethal hammer blows.
“I’ve never seen him use Mjölnir like that before,” Maya said. “He’s only ever fought with swords at Valhalla. He’s unstoppable.”
“He’s never had to,” Brundi said. She was sitting on the sofa between Mims and Sarah, who was holding the baby. “Thor is an army unto himself.”
“Thank heavens he’s on our side,” said one of the soldiers assigned to them. “Look at him. He’s minuscule compared to them, but he’s bringing them down.”
“Look, there they are!” Kai cried, pointing at the television. “It’s the Searchers—and there’s Mother!” The camera changed angles and was showing the Dark Searchers and Valkyries fully engaged with the giants. Their blades moved so fast, they couldn’t be followed by the cameras. Though the giants were massive in comparison, by working together, the winged Asgardians were able to bring down two fire giants and were taking on a third.
The report cut away to other battles around the world, and the news wasn’t as encouraging. London was under attack as giants arrived from a tunnel in the Scottish Highlands and left a path of destruction through Edinburgh and all the way down to the south coast. The giants then entered the English Channel to cross to France. From there they stormed through to Germany, where Maya and Kai knew a hidden tunnel led up to Asgard.