by Farah Cook
With my right hand, I pull out the arrow. Almost instantly my neck repairs itself. I heal fast, but this is exceptional healing. The branches from my tattoo travel across my neck, and wrap around the wound firmly like bandage. The tree of life just saved me from being killed.
I should have known that Maja is a snake who would turn her arrow at me.
“That’s impossible!” roars Maja. “This can’t be…” She tilts the bow and is about to set free another arrow as I turn to face her.
I take out my sword from its sheath and swing it hard so it strikes her throat and her. Maja’s head flies off, and lands somewhere in the crowd. Her body jerks to the ground landing between my feet.
I’ve done it and her blood bathes my silver sword.
K-yal makes a slow move and slips down into the pit. He gets handed Maja’s head and walks over to me. His strong eye shows fear and worry.
“Who are you?” he asks. I take Maja’s head from his clutches.
“I’m Nora Hunt. I’m the deadliest Viking assassin in the Triangle. Spread the word.”
20
BACK IN SLOTSPLADS Karen opened her eyes, and when I see her I long for the love she never gave me as a child. The love she had to hide. Her eyes are watery, and she holds out her arms to me. When I fall into her embrace I feel united with my own blood and rejoice in her unconditional love. She is not perfect, but she’s my mom.
“You saved me, and broke the death curse,” she says. “Nora, my daughter.”
“No, you were the one who saved me,” I can’t get myself to say ‘mom’. Perhaps she’ll always just be Karen to me. I release myself from her arms and turn to watch the sun break into the gray skies. There’s one more thing I have to do, before I embark on my journey to City of Vikings, I tell myself.
“What must you do?” asks Karen worriedly. “Don’t do anything foolish, Nora. You’ve killed Maja – clean your mind of everything else.”
Has she detected what it is? Frederick, Frederick, Frederick. Like a ticking time bomb his name is about to explode on my tongue, but it is not him I have to see.
“You shouldn’t worry,” I say and smile. Karen’s eyes grow wide with fear. “Isn’t that why you and Robert sent me to the East? So, you could live a worry-free life.”
“What nonsense!” she says and frowns. “We sent you to the East—”
“So, I could be free?” I say. “I am free, from everything. So, stop worrying about me.”
By now the Sovereign Republic knows who I am – and soon will everyone else in the Triangle when the news from Zenghis spreads. I walk toward the door and grab the handle. A wave of change washes over me. Yes, I have changed. Perhaps killing someone does things to the mind, and I have to start seeing myself as the world sees me – the Empire’s Viking assassin.
“Nora?” she screams. “Where are you going?”
I lift the sack dangling from my fingers. The door opens and Magnus enters. His eyes widen when he sees the sack clutched in my hand.
“What in the name of Odin is that?” he asks. “Wait, don’t tell me…”
“This,” I say and spin the sack, “is a present for Lord Wilhelm.”
“By the gods don’t tell me you’ve carried—” he looks horrified while stealing looks at Karen.
“Maja’s head?” I say in a high-pitched voice. “Yes, yes I have.” I walk out slamming the door behind me.
White shutters swing lightly in the cold morning wind. When I climb up the slippery back wall of the granite stone house, thanks to the summer rain and furious wind carried by the nearby ocean no one sees me slithering into Lord Wilhelm’s mansion. I’m in Knightsyving, which is the wealthy neighborhood east of Slotsplads, sealed from the eyes of the poor and suffering in the dirty parts of the city.
I’ve climbed three stories up and it feels like an early autumn when I turn and look out from the windowsill. The rain slashes against my dripping frame. The leaves fold into the ground, in different shades of brown, yellow and red. Perhaps it really is autumn after all.
I close the window behind me to block out the bashing of the sea against the shore and draw my hood close to hide my face to help me dissolve into the dark corridor. Controlled, I move my body inch by inch into the shadows and press myself into an alcove at the thud of a metal spiral staircase.
The floorboards beneath me are wet and my footprints visible. The wind blows the window open and the shutters bash back and forth in the stormy morning wind. Hobbling toward the window is a young male servant. He’s half asleep and yawning.
He passes by me, rubbing his tired eyes. He shuts the windows, and locks the shutters together. He sees my shadow, and begins to rub his eyes even more. I take a step into the alcove and climb the stairwell, soundless and fast lying flat on my back. I can hear him breathing underneath the steps. He waits a while, and drags his body back to the other end of the hall. The boy didn’t notice my wet footprints, and my shadow may as well be a faint dream in his eyes – lost in the blink of an eye.
I let out a deep breath and roll to my feet. The rain is getting heavier and the weather turns darker. A storm is brewing, and the first sound of thunder rumbles the sky followed by lightning. I’m inside a foyer at the top of the stairs, and to my right there’s a heavy carved wooden door.
The house is large with high ceilings and dark halls, and I follow my faint intuition as to where Lord Wilhelm could be residing, when not in his tall towers in the City of Skies. I grab hold of the gold handle and push the squeaking door lightly. I’m inside someone’s bedroom, and can hear breathing underneath the covers. Each move I make is quiet as a wraith. The storm rages and lightning flashes, illuminating the figure asleep in the bed. Downstairs I hear a thumping as the shutters clack against the wall. The servant boy must be close by and I have to be quick.
I hold my breath from shuddering and lean my back against the wall. My fingers travel to the sheath by my side. I don’t have to do this. But vengeance has left a sweet taste inside my mouth and leaving Lord Wilhelm a tender present this early in the morning will send him a strong message. He’s messing with the wrong girl and, yes, there will be blood.
When another flash of lighting illuminates the sleeping face, it turns and a set of dark blue eyes open to stare pointblank at me. My body freezes and the sack clutched in my hands drops to the floor.
“Nora?” he says, and although he’s the captive of my foolish heart, I lose control of my emotions. His arm is in a cast, and the dark blue and purple bruises on his face faint.
“Frederick,” I whisper and tilt my head formally. I suck in a long breath and sit next to him on the bedside. When his face turns less hostile I let go of my breath in pockets of thin air.
“How are you?” I say as he stares at me like I’m a ghost from his past.
“What are you doing here?” he asks, as I examine his naked upper body, covered in tattoos. He has more now. Around his knuckles and inner arms. Runic writings in black. “Are you really here to see me? Or do you have something else in mind?” Anger boils in this tight voice, as he pulls back the silk cover to swing his legs out. He pushes me so I fall to the ground next to the sack. I stand up quickly and dig my hands into his shoulders and turn him around.
“You know why I am here,” I say. “You never left my thoughts after I saw you at the masquerade ball the other night—” he snorts and turns away from me.
“That’s how you attack your enemies?” he says. “When they’re at their lowest ebb?”
“I don’t see you that way,” I say, “but your dad…”
“What about him?”
“He wants me dead, Frederick.”
“I warned you I cannot protect you once the Sovereign Republic find out who you are.”
“Do you think I am afraid?” I ask. “Unlike you, I don’t have a choice.”
“I know you are fearless,” he says. “Is that why you’ve come to kill me? Because you can’t stomach the thought that I—”
I shake
my head and walk over to him, facing him again. “If I wanted you dead, you’d be dead,” I whisper.
“You’ve changed, Nora,” he says. “Something about you has changed so much.”
Should I tell Frederick myself, or should I wait for the news to reach his ears? What will he think. I don’t know, and I don’t care. He’s the one that has changed – a dark lord waiting to run his dad’s evil realm and destroy the Goth Empire.
Power-hungry and dark Frederick is not what I should love, but I do – and the more I deny and suppress it the stronger the feeling grows. My love is turning into lust and so I turn away from him. I long for his kiss, but it’s not safe to do so.
Frederick takes his black robe from the red velvet chair and ties it around his waist. His broken arm close to his heart, beating in time with the wrath of the wind.
“You are right, Frederick Dahl, I have changed. Some change for the better, and some for the worse, like Maja Gustafson.”
Frederick falls onto the bed and shrugs. “What have you done to her, Nora?” The gloom in his dark ocean eyes is visible. He looks at the sack. “You didn’t—”
“I did to her what she had set out to do to me.”
“Cold-hearted—”
“Don’t talk about a cold heart, Frederick,” I nearly shout. “My heart was never cold, and it seems like a strange thing to say, but you know—”
I hesitate for a while, and take a deep breath, and look into those beautiful blue eyes of his. I’m bound to Frederick whether I like it or not.
“What do I know?” he asks.
“I love you, Frederick.”
His haunted eyes deepen into mine. The color in his iris cools and turns sapphire. He takes my hand into his, and outside the storm settles for a while. Small rays of light peek innocently into the room, drawing strings of light across the floorboards.
“What are we going to do now?” he asks, and his worried face opens up a world of possibilities. I glide my fingers over his strong chest marked with Viking tattoos. How far will love push us? Or is it what we cannot have that we desire?
“I don’t know, Frederick,” I say. “I just know that I can’t stop thinking about you. You are always on my mind.” My heart feels weak when I look at him. He’s escaped death, and the scars on his body are still fresh like wounds.
“What happened to you?”
“Nora, whatever you do. Do not go near the Shadow Forest.”
“What’s in there, Frederick?” He looks away. I take his hand into mine and kiss him softly. He pushes my chin up. “You know I have to make that journey.”
“My dad knows,” he says carefully. “He’s read my thoughts and is determined to—”
Frederick’s face turns pale and he hides me behind his back. The front door to his bedroom slams open to reveal Lord Wilhelm and next to him the servant boy. I should have known – he must have seen the wet footsteps when he went back again to close the shutters.
“You!” shouts Lord Wilhelm in a corroded voice. He whispers something in old Norse, and stretches his hand toward me. My senses deceive me, and before my eyes everything turns black.
“No! Father, please,” I hear Frederick shout. The storm lashes into the bedroom and throws me against the wall. Lord Wilhelm’s eyes are furious and scarlet. Yggdrasil moves her branches, writhing across my chest so it feels tight. She shows me runes that spill on my tongue. Every rune is a barrier to protect me against Lord Wilhelm’s evil spell.
Lord Wilhelm chokes and grabs his throat as my whispers turn into loud screams. Every single window in Frederick’s room breaks. Shards of glass scatter on the floor. I walk to Lord Wilhelm who is gasping for air and drag him across the floor by his collar. The glass scratches underneath his body. He tries to grab hold of something and nothing except chunks of glass scrape against his hands.
He’s a tall man, and I hear Frederick yell at me to let go of him. His voice is bitter and confused, and I can’t blame him. But I have to do what I came here for. I reach into the sack and pull out Maja’s head, bouncing it before his eyes – the stiff and rotten flesh thuds against him vulgarly. He doesn’t speak and instead gives me an evil look when I press Maja’s head against his skin.
Frederick straightens his spine, turning his head in disgust. The servant boy stands shivering in the doorway, staring at me and then runs away.
“It was easy to kill her,” I say. “Next time don’t send someone of ours to do your dirty work.” The nerves in Lord Wilhelm’s throat tightens.
“Who are you?” he asks, his face red with anger.
“I’m Nora Hunt. Daughter of Robert and Karen Hunt. Protector and servant of the only true empire – Goth. Cross me again, I will do to you what I did to Maja.” I toss her head so it lands between Lord Wilhelm’s feet.
“You’re a wild savage from the East,” he says scornfully. “You know nothing about our ways.” He laughs so suddenly, dismissing any fear I may have thought he felt. Jeers of a man that is the father of the boy I am in love with. The sword from my sheath flies into my hand. The pommel firmly grounded in my palm. I lay it on his neck. This is it. I could end all evil here.
“Don’t, Nora!” pleads Frederick.
“You’re a Viking assassin?” says Lord Wilhelm as his face swings around to stare at me. “Of course, you are. I should have seen this coming. The only reason you were chosen was because your father left his duties behind. He was a coward.”
“What do you mean?” I say. “He served his duty as raider—”
“Ask Lady Hunt and your soon-to-be-Emperor Magnus why they assigned you out of all the other experienced raiders. Do you think this is a big coincidence?”
“I was chosen because I am the last of my kind in the line of Viking assassins.”
“You were chosen because your ancestors were cursed by the gods to kill, just like you are. You are destined to be a slave to the Goth Empire, and there's more.”
“You are a liar,” I scream. “Why should I believe you?”
Wilhelm laughs loudly and gets to his feet, his head raised above me. He looms over me, his red eyes on fire.
“Sooner or later you’ll discover the truth for yourself,” says Lord Wilhelm.
“The Goths carry a dark secret about their past – a secret they’re not telling you.”
I raise my sword, and Frederick grabs my wrist.
“Don’t, Nora,” he says. “I beg you.”
“It’s true,” I say, “blood is thicker than water. You will always be loyal to your own kind.”
“He’s my father,” Frederick drops his head. “I can’t let you do this.”
“Do you believe him?”
“He’s telling the truth, Nora.”
“And your mission?” I say, “was it all just—”
“We only ever wanted—” he looks at my sword.
“Frederick,” says Lord Wilhelm. “Don’t. Let her discover the truth herself.”
“But father…” Lord Wilhelm shakes his head and I see the power he has over Frederick. Perhaps he’s under his spell? Why would Frederick otherwise not resist?
“You see, Miss Hunt,” says Lord Wilhelm with a poisonous resentment, “that’s what makes us strong. Trust, submission and allegiance. The Verans are an old Viking clan, powerful and wise. The Goth Empire broke long ago. Tell Magnus, if he wants to be Emperor, he must learn to be among them first.”
“You are no match for an Emperor,” I say. “You’re a snake.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you’re an assassin for the Empire?” says Frederick. “Do you know what this means?”
“I don’t care what it means.” I say and turn my back on him. “And neither should you.”
Swiftly I stalk out of the room of the granite mansion of Knightsyving. My silver hooded cloak conceals my face, and Lord Wilhelm’s guards don’t stop me as I stride out. The look in their eyes says it all, and they know very well who I am by now. Savage or no savage, the anger marked on my face is a warning.
Stay away – or else.
In the rain, I trudge across the muddy ground leading me far away from the cold walls of Knightsyving. Feelings of defeat momentarily take over and I realize that Frederick cannot leave his life as a Veran. He loves me, I know this now, but what good is his love, if it serves no purpose but his own?
I should have killed Lord Wilhelm when I had the chance. Why didn’t I? The hate and anger in his eyes were not just because I’m Goth. I sense a truth to what he was saying, and a mysterious puzzle about the quest I thought was ahead of me. What did he mean? Am I really cursed to kill just like my ancestors before me? I don’t know, but there’s only one way to find out. What has Karen been hiding from me and why?
21
THE SOUND OF the roaring motorcycle gets louder when I press my foot down on the accelerator as I spin through the wet streets. When I cross Guldborg Bridge, which connects the city to the west, a nostalgic feeling washes over me. The bridge from my first visions where I ride with Frederick is clear inside my head. Perhaps it wasn’t a dream, but a future reality?
In my vision towers are on fire, and flames and smoke surround the West, while Frederick and I ride over Guldborg bridge on my motorcycle. I never could get that vision out of my head. Will the world yet again be doomed?
I kill the engine of the motorcycle and step off. The panoramic view from every angle points me to the city flanked by tall skyscraping towers and buildings. I feel nothing. No sense of belonging. Only an empty vacuum, hollow and black. There’s only one place I have to go to, to seek answers – the City of Vikings.
When I reach Slotsplads I walk briskly through the high vaulted archways of the palace. I lunge for the large door that leads me straight into the Empire’s council. Magnus, Karen, Tene and Tove glare at me with their eyes wide. Their surprise to see me like this should not be so shocking. Members of the senate frown at me like I do not belong.