by Kate O'Hearn
Quinn’s face contorted with rage. “I’m going to kill him!”
“Get in line,” Kai said darkly. “I grew up at the keep in Utgard and I’ve hated Dirian all my life. But now he’s gone too far. He will feel the cut of my blade!”
Maya took a moment to smile as she felt their deep feelings for her little sister. “You can both kill him—but first we have to get there.”
“She’s right,” Sergeant Romin said. “You can do whatever you like to him after we free Vanir-Freyja and Skuld.” He turned his steely eyes toward the troll tied to the chair. “And this guy here knows exactly where they’re holding them.”
He stepped up to the whining troll. “Listen, little buddy, these people mean business. They won’t stop until you tell us where they’re holding the others. If you value your skin, you’d better start talking.”
The troll shook his head. “I know nothing of what you speak. I am a humble troll.”
“Humble?” the sergeant said. “I don’t think so.”
“I am, dead human, I am. . . . I know nothing of the war.”
“Really? And I’m sure you have no idea what we’re talking about.”
The troll nodded. “It’s true. I am innocent. I don’t know Dirian or anyone at the keep. I’ve never even been there.”
“Oh no?” the sergeant said. He reached inside the tattered, ragged shirt of the filthy troll. Hanging on a long, leather cord was a single black feather. The edges were singed and fragile. “And I suppose this isn’t one of Freya’s feathers. . . .”
“Feather?” Kai stormed forward and yanked the cord from around the troll’s neck.
The troll squealed and snatched at the feather. “That’s mine. Give it back!”
“This is Freya’s!” Furious, Kai turned on the troll. “How did you get it?” When the troll said nothing, Kai slapped him across the face with the back of his gloved hand. “Answer me!”
“Kai, stop,” Maya called. She caught hold of his hand before he could strike the troll again. “Torture doesn’t work on trolls. You know that.”
Kai was panting heavily, fighting to contain his rage. “I must try. He’s going to tell us about Freya.”
Maya nodded. “He will—”
“No, I won’t!” the troll squealed. He spat at Kai. “You can kill me and I still won’t speak. The master knows I am loyal.”
“Oh, yes, you will, little troll,” Maya said darkly. “You’ll tell us everything we need to know and more.”
“How?” Quinn said. “Nothing we’ve tried has worked. He doesn’t care if we hurt him or not.”
“Fear of pain isn’t an incentive for them, but I do know a way,” Maya said softly.
“If you do, I’d sure like to know about it,” the sergeant said.
“There is a dangerous weapon here that you didn’t have before. And that will make all the difference.”
“Really?” the soldier said. “Would you care to enlighten us and tell us what it is?”
Maya sighed unhappily. “It’s me. . . .”
* * *
Maya shooed everyone out of the hovel and asked to be left alone with the troll. When they were outside, she walked back to the smelly little creature.
“What will you do to me?” the troll asked fearfully.
“What I must.” Maya retrieved a second chair and placed it before the troll. Turning it front to back, she straddled the chair and sat. She recoiled as the smell of the filthy troll hit her. But she had to focus. She had to do this to get to Freya. “I hate you for making me do this. . . .”
“Do what?”
Maya started to sing.
All Valkyries have the power to charm with their songs. But Maya’s family was unique among the Valkyries and possessed even greater powers than this. No one knew why, and throughout their lives, the family had tried to hide their extra abilities.
Freya had been born with unique black feathers and was the fastest flyer in all of Asgard. Her older sisters were the strongest, most powerful fighters among all the Valkyries.
But Maya had an even more extraordinary power—though it was something she had fought against and tried to suppress all her life. She had been born with striking beauty and great power to enchant. No one could resist her when she turned it on. Until now, she had never used it fully—to her, it was a curse, not a blessing. But to save her sister, she would do anything.
Maya poured all that power into the song to cast a spell over the troll. The troll’s eyes began to glaze over until he couldn’t stop staring at her with complete adoration.
Maya shook her head and rose. She went to the door and called the others in.
“Thank heavens,” Tina said. “I thought I was going to melt out there. Being dead isn’t much fun when you can still sweat!”
“Well?” Skye said. “We heard you singing—what happened?”
Maya was disgusted with herself. “The troll will answer our questions now.”
Kai stepped up to the chair holding the troll. “So, now, troll, you’ll give us some answers.”
The troll looked at Maya and smiled. “Will I?”
Maya nodded. “Yes, you will. You will answer truthfully, or I will be very displeased.”
“No, no, please don’t be angry at me,” the troll whined. “Ask me anything. I swear I will tell all. . . .”
28
AS THE SUN PASSED DIRECTLY overhead, the temperature in the hovel became almost unbearable. Maya stood at the small window, watching the waves of heat rolling over the sand like malevolent living things searching for something to devour. Nothing could survive in that lifeless, cruel desert.
They spent all morning interrogating the troll. He didn’t hesitate to tell them everything he knew. They untied him from the chair, and Skye magically produced a quill and paper, and the troll was instructed to draw up plans of the interior of the keep.
Nothing was omitted. By the time the troll had finished, they had the full layout of the keep, including the location of Vanir-Freyja’s cell in the lower dungeon and Archie’s cell on the next level.
The troll went on to tell them that he had seen Freya face Dirian and had personally witnessed him cut off Freya’s wings. She was now Dirian’s prized possession and was chained in the War Room across from Skuld.
At this point, Kai slammed his fist down on the only table in the room and shattered it to pieces. “I swear he’s going to suffer for that.”
Quinn nodded. “I will be there with you when he pays.”
Maya faced the troll. “If Freya is his prized possession, what are the orders regarding her?”
The troll stared at her adoringly. His voice became dreamy. “No one is to touch or harm her. It is death to anyone who does.”
“Good,” Maya said.
“Good?” Kai cried. “Didn’t you hear what Dirian did to her?”
“Of course I heard,” she snapped. Her sister was hurt, the war was raging, and the heat in the small hovel was unbearable—seeing the loving expression on the troll’s face only exacerbated her already foul mood. “But didn’t you hear what he said? No one is to touch her. That means if we free her, no one can go against her. Freya is safe. Yes, she’s suffering. Yes, she’s broken—but she’s safe!”
Kai and Maya glared at each other for a moment. Finally Kai nodded. “You’re right. As much as I hate what he’s done to her, Dirian’s hatred of Freya will protect her from the others.” He turned back to the troll. “You, tell us about all the entrances into the keep—those known and used and those that are hidden.”
“Why would they need hidden entrances when they have a large desert out there to protect them?” Quinn asked.
“Because fire giants are immune to the heat of the desert,” Kai explained. “And like the frost giants, they can be unpredictable and dangerous. In fact, the keep in Utgard had many secret ways in. They were used as emergency escapes in case the frost giants ever attacked. Dirian may be many things, but he’s not stupid. This is the fire g
iants’ realm. He wouldn’t have built the keep without a hidden way out—especially now that he’s wingless.”
“So,” Kai barked at the troll. “Tell us how to get in.”
Within moments they were staring at the map the troll had drawn. Indeed, there were two hidden tunnels that had been built. One entrance sprang from the lowest level in the keep, crossed the desert deep beneath the deadly burning sands, and exited in the Great City. The other was on the dungeon level and also ran under the desert. It exited through a hidden door in the floor of the hovel—directly beneath their feet.
“Of course,” the sergeant said, slapping his forehead. “Why didn’t I think of that? This stinky little critter couldn’t have walked through that desert on those stubby legs. It would have killed him before he made it three steps from the keep!”
“We all should have thought about that,” Quinn said.
“It doesn’t matter now,” Skye said. “We know about the tunnels. So let’s get ready to go before this war destroys all our realms!”
* * *
After the troll revealed the entrance to the tunnel, they drew up a plan. Again, they would split into two groups. Maya, Skye, and Tina would access the dungeon to free Vanir-Freyja while the troll would lead Kai, Quinn, and the remaining soldiers to Archie’s cell and then make their way up into the War Room to free Freya and Skuld.
Though their weapons were checked and rechecked, Quinn also issued daggers to the soldiers in case their weapons failed in the harsh Muspelheim climate. Once those were secured, they started down the stone steps into the tunnel. The air became much cooler, and everyone breathed a great sigh of relief.
The tunnel was wider than Yggdrasil’s roots. Kai stepped forward and opened his blazing white wings. “It’s wide enough for the Dark Searchers to fly through. We must be on our guard. They might try to engage us down here.”
“And we’ll be ready,” Skye said.
Quinn and Skye cast a spell to lift them off the ground and carry them swiftly through the long, torch-lit tunnel. Eventually the tunnel slanted up and Maya began to feel a dark presence. “Be careful, everyone,” she whispered softly. “There are Dark Searchers in there. I didn’t realize just how many followed Dirian, but it’s got to be at least forty.”
“Forty?” one of the soldiers cried. “I saw the Dark Searchers on Earth—they’re unstoppable!”
“Quiet!” Sergeant Romin ordered. “What did you expect? That we’d just stroll in and take the keep without opposition? We’re in for the fight of our lives. And each of us must realize that there’s a strong possibility we won’t be coming out again.”
“But we’re already dead,” Tina said.
“True,” Maya hushed. “But your body can be killed again. So we must all be on our guard.”
“This is what we signed up for,” the sergeant reminded them, “so let’s get moving.”
Before they separated, Maya gave the troll his final orders. “Remember, you will do everything Kai and Quinn tell you to. Then, when you find Freya, you will keep her safe. Do you understand?”
The troll nodded. “As you command.”
Maya said to her brother, “I emptied his mind and altered his loyalties. He is to serve our side now. But be careful in there.”
“You too,” Kai said.
They approached the hidden entrance to the keep. It was a thick stone arch, supporting the weight of the keep far above. Built into the arch were two tall doors, cut of the same stone.
As Quinn used his magic to open the doors, Kai turned back to Maya and whispered, “Remember, the moment you free Vanir-Freyja, get her out of here and go back to Midgard. Don’t wait for us.” His eyes settled on Skye. “I want you to use your strongest magic to seal these doors after you leave here.”
“But you’ll be trapped.”
“Yes,” Kai acknowledged. “And so will the Dark Searchers. They won’t be able to follow you through this tunnel, and the other one will take them only to the Great City. It’s too hot for them to fly after you when the sun’s out. It will give you time to escape.”
“What about you?” Maya said.
“We’ll free Freya, Skuld, and Archie, and then Quinn will open the doors again. But even if we don’t make it out, Vanir-Freyja is the most significant hostage.”
Reluctantly, Maya nodded her head. Vanir-Freyja was the most important part of their mission. She would have to trust Kai and Quinn to save her younger sister.
The moment Quinn raised his hands and cast his spell, the two heavy stone doors swung open and a blast of hot, dry air blew into their faces. Powerful evil emanated from deep inside the red stone keep, causing Maya to shiver despite the heat. Freya was trapped in there with it. Maya also sensed a presence older than she’d ever felt before: Vanir-Freyja.
They entered the secret passage and followed the low tunnel to a crossroads. “That way goes to the tunnel beneath the dungeon.” The troll pointed and then turned his filthy finger in the opposite direction. “The stairs going up into the keep are that way.”
Maya nodded to her brother a final time as he and his team drew their weapons and disappeared down a dark, arched corridor. She motioned for Skye and Tina to keep low and follow her as they walked in the opposite direction.
Senses on full alert, Maya freed her sword and padded softly down the dimly lit corridor. She held up her hand as she neared the first bend. “There are two Dark Elves and a dwarf just ahead,” she whispered.
They paused and listened to the slurred voices of the Dark Elves mumbling before one called out loudly, “Where have you been? We’ve been waiting ages. . . .”
A dwarf’s voice responded, “This barrel is heavy. If you two had stopped drinking long enough, you could have helped me carry it down here. . . .”
The drunken argument continued as Maya looked back at her team. “Tina, don’t use your gun just yet—we don’t want to alarm the keep. Let’s keep it quiet. Skye, you use magic, and I’ll use my sword.”
Skye nodded. The wide-eyed, butterfly-winged Vanir reminded Maya of Freya. She was young, determined, and ready to surrender her life for the protection of others.
With a final nod, the three crept around the corner. Maya pulled in her senses and tried to suppress her powers to mask her presence from the two drunken Dark Elves, but it didn’t work.
The Dark Elves felt her and turned. Maya and Skye had no choice but to charge at them. There was no time for the elves to give alarm or even draw their weapons before Maya cut one down with her blade and Skye obliterated the other with magic.
The dwarf squealed in rage and ran at Maya. Even before he could raise his sword, Tina stopped him with the dagger Quinn had given her.
Maya nodded to the human soldier—acknowledging her ability with the blade.
“This way.” She motioned as she led her team deeper into the keep. Maya followed her senses, taking the sandy trail toward the keep’s most important prisoner. After turning down another, narrower corridor, she stopped and looked up at the ceiling. “Vanir-Freyja is directly above us. Skye, any chance you can cut through the ceiling to get into her cell?”
When Skye nodded, Maya looked at Tina. “Vanir-Freyja is surrounded by female Dark Elves and trolls. More than I can fight with my sword alone. I hate the noise it’s going to make, but you must use your weapon. We’re going to need all your skills as a fighter. After we get Vanir-Freyja, we’ll bring her back down through here and out of the keep the way we came in. Understood?”
“I’m ready,” Tina said.
“Me too,” agreed Skye. “I’ll open a hole above us and lift us up through it. Be prepared—it’s going to happen quickly.”
Skye closed her eyes and started to whisper. Moments later, a large hole appeared in the ceiling and two trolls fell through it. Maya silenced them with her sword before the three of them shot up through the hole.
They arrived in a heavily secured cell. Within a fraction of a second, Maya took in the entire scene. She saw a s
till, shrouded figure lying on the bed against the far wall. At the head of the bed perched a Dark Elf, whispering a spell. Maya’s senses told her the figure on the bed was Vanir-Freyja. The actions of the Dark Elf suggested that she was being kept in a deep sleep by some sort of magical charm.
The rest of the cell was filled with more female Dark Elves, trolls, and dwarfs serving as guards for their ancient, powerful prisoner.
With no time to think, Maya flashed her blade and cut down the Dark Elves charging at her. A loud explosion of gunfire burst to life behind her and echoed through the dungeon level. Tina was taking on the guards outside the cell who were working to get in through the door.
“There are too many!” Tina cried. “Skye, seal the cell door!”
After the final Dark Elf fell to Maya’s blade, Maya ran forward and killed the elf keeping their prisoner asleep. Maya scooped up the ancient Vanir in her arms and was shocked to discover that the wings on Vanir-Freyja’s back were feathered like the Valkyries’ and not insectoid, like most other Vanir.
Maya turned and watched Tina shooting through the bars and taking down guards while Skye used magic to secure the cell doors. Moments later three large Dark Searchers appeared outside the cell and roared at the sight of the intruders.
“Come on!” Maya clutched Vanir-Freyja close and jumped through the hole.
A second later, Skye landed on the sandy ground beside her. She looked up and immediately closed the hole in the ceiling.
“Where’s Tina?”
“The Searcher threw one of his swords at her through the bars,” Skye cried. “She’s dead. They’re sounding the alarm—we have to go!”
For an instant Maya felt conflicted. Freya was still trapped in the keep, but Vanir-Freyja was safe in her arms.
“Please forgive me, Freya,” Maya whispered up to the ceiling.
With Skye by her side, they headed toward the exit.
29
THE ONLY WAY FREYA COULD tell the difference between night and day was through the temperature of the War Room. It was hot at night but stifling during the day.