by T. G. Ayer
I nodded, pleased that she'd come to that conclusion without having to be convinced. "And now you feel you are ready to fight?"
She shrugged. "Maybe not ready, but I am willing. If you know what I mean." She glanced up at my face and gave me a sheepish grin.
"I know exactly what you mean. And sometimes I feel exactly the same way."
She frowned. "Even now?" she asked, watching my face.
"Even now," I said, exhaling slowly. Her words was so apt for how I felt.
During our conversation, many of the team had already used the Bifrost and departed. Joshua and Aimee waved good-bye as they stepped onto the bridge, and then in a swirl of shimmering light, they were gone.
I beckoned for Siri to follow, but before I could move to the entrance to the bridge, the sound of swishing fabric and hurried footsteps caught our attention. Siri and I turned to see Frigga enter the room, scan the floor, and hurry toward me.
Immediately, my heart clenched tight as fear scraped new wounds into my already battered soul. "What's wrong? Is it Fen?" I didn't care that my fear was blatantly obvious in my voice.
Frigga shook her head and gave me a soft smile. "No, my dear. And I do apologize for frightening you, but I needed to tell you something before you left."
I walked toward the goddess, leaving Siri to chat with Turi.
As we reached the opposite side of the fire, Odin's queen turned to me. "Brynhildr, you have a power now that will enable you to go wherever you wish without the use of the Bifrost. It is a power that no other god possesses."
I glanced at the golden spear in my hand, then back at Frigga. "You mean Gungnir?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
She nodded. "I only just realized you don't know how to call the bridge to you. Forgive me, my dear."
I shrugged, and honestly I didn't mind. "I would have asked when I needed to use it."
"And what if it were too late then?" she asked, her face showing her worry. "No, I should have told you earlier, but I was very distracted with Fenrir and Thor."
I wanted to say I understood, but I got the feeling it wouldn't matter what I said. Frigga was fighting her own inner battles and there wasn't a thing I could do to help her.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
I decided to just get it over with fast. Clearing my throat, I asked, "So how does this thing work?"
Frigga took a deep breath, as if the simple question had reinvigorated her somehow. She met my gaze, then placed her fingers on top of my hand that was wrapped around the spear.
"You have to hold on to the spear and think of the place you want to go. It works much the same as the Bifrost because when Gungnir was fashioned, Heimdall made the Bifrost appear in the middle of the gold. As a result, the spear was formed with access to the bridge within the gold. Odin was able to open the entrance by stamping the spear on the ground three times. He believed it was a combination of the power of the trinity of action and the desire to access the bridge that invoked the spear to heed the call and open the Bifrost. Of course, the only trick to the use of the spear is that you will need to picture the place you want to go to very well. Odin believed you needed to have been to the place before using the normal way, or you needed to have a talent for picturing places in your head."
I nodded, although I wasn't entirely sure if I possessed any of that kind of talent. "Okay, I guess I will have to try." When the goddess gave me a satisfied look, I glanced through the flames of the fire and back at Siri, who stood on the opposite side of the room. "But I have to get Siri to New York HQ first."
"No, you don't," Frigga said, touching my arm, a lilt of excitement in her voice. I glanced at her, my eyebrows raised in question. "Gungnir allows you to take a companion. That is how Odin travels around with his wolves and those ragged birds of his."
I laughed, feeling buoyed by this new knowledge. "I was about to ask you how his sidekicks traveled."
Frigga smiled and said, "I believe Odin was able to take one god with him at a time. And when he took someone with him, he always left his animal companions behind."
"So one god or two wolves plus two birds. How many warriors or Valkyries?"
Frigga shook her head. "I'm sorry. I'm not going to guess at that. It would be easy to assume two normal people for one god, but I truly do not know."
"And I'm not about to risk anyone's life by testing that theory," I said with a grin. "I'll limit myself to one person, thanks."
The goddess looked a little relieved now that she'd passed on the information. "So will you try to get to New York without using the Bifrost?" she asked, her eyes watching me expectantly. She watched me the way a mother watched her child about to ride a bike for the first time--tense, nervous, proud, and excited. And my heart warmed just knowing she held me in such high regard.
I nodded and couldn't deny that I was excited and nervous too. The very ability to move around from place to place without using the Bifrost presented an ease of travel I looked forward to. Especially knowing the Bifrost to New York HQ entered the city a few blocks down from Number Forty Wall Street, behind a battered blue dumpster in a smelly alleyway.
We both moved together, circling the fire and returning to Siri. She watched us warily. "What's going on?" she asked slowly and carefully.
I cleared my throat and figured the best approach was straightforward. "Frigga has told me how to use Gungnir to get to New York, but it will be my first try. It's up to you if you want to come with me or if you want to wait for someone to come fetch you."
"I've used the Bifrost before," said Siri, sounding a little put out.
But I waved my hand. "No, that's not what I mean. The Bifrost touches down in an alley a good walk from HQ. I could give you directions, but I figured sending someone for you would save time." She seemed to digest the information and spent a moment considering it. I cleared my throat again. "Or you could come with me and we'll arrive right inside HQ within seconds."
Siri looked at me, then snapped her gaze to Frigga, the movement sending her golden hair rippling along her shoulders. When she glanced back at me, she looked determined. "Of course, I'd prefer coming with you. As long we don't get killed in the process."
Frigga laughed at the dragon princess' words. "I do not think you will be killed. Worst case scenario, you will end up in a different location. You'll just have to summon the Bifrost and go to the nearest entrance."
Siri made a face. "I can think of a worse worst case scenario."
"Which is?" I asked, unable to stop myself from smiling.
"Inside a block of concrete, which equals dead. At the bottom of the Mariana Trench, which equals more than dead. Give me a minute. I'll be able to come up with more."
Both Frigga and I burst out laughing and Siri was forced to grin.
"You ready to go?" I asked. "First time may be the charm."
"Not if you consider my luck," Siri muttered, but she moved closer to me. "So what do I do? Hold on and click my heels three times?"
I snorted. "No, Dorothy. Just hold on to my arm," I said, laughing. She definitely made me smile more than most people.
Frigga watched, smoothing the front of her silk gown, her expression a combination of concern and a little pride. "Just picture the place from the last time you were there," she said. It was totally unnecessary, but I figured she needed to say something to make herself stay calm. I closed my eyes, gripping the spear tighter in my fist. "Oh, and just so you know, it only works for those who have Odin's blood running in their veins. So nobody but you can use the spear."
My eyelids shot open at her words. Did she have to tell me that the moment I was preparing to use the spear? What if they were all wrong and I didn't have Odin's blood running in my veins?
"So what happens if someone does try to use it and they aren't part of Odin's bloodline?" I asked, already fearing the answer.
"Oh, you should not worry about it. But if you want to know, the user will be turned to stone and only Odin can change them back to normal."
"Brynhildr," Frigga admonished me, her voice rising with disapproval. "Do not tell me you doubt Odin is your father." I looked away and remained silent. How could I deny it when it was true? I'd always doubted and now I had to face my doubts. Then I lifted my eyes and stared at her sadly. "Come now, Brynhildr. Do you really think the All-Father would have claimed you if you were not his child?"
I shook my head. "Maybe he is just mistaken. What if he is mistaken and I do use the spear? What happens then, if I'm turned to stone?"
For a moment, Frigga seemed lost for words. Then she huffed, "Don't be silly, my dear. Of course Odin is not mistaken. This is just the reason he reminded me to tell you how to use it. Do you really think he sent me here so I could help you turn yourself into a pretty statue?"
I sighed. "What if he believes it, truly believes it, but it's not true? Even gods can be wrong." My voice was small, no longer a warrior, no longer a powerful Valkyrie.
Just a girl filled with doubts.
And finally, the goddess was stuck for words too. She shook her head sadly. "I am sorry, child. We all know you are his blood. How can you not feel it in your heart?"
"I want to. I truly do. But something inside just doesn't want to let me." I shook my head, then watched the goddess as she stared at me. Her face was a myriad of emotions: sorrow, fear, disappointment. All the things I wouldn't want her to feel if those emotions were connected to me. And in that moment, I made a decision. Perhaps it was high time I began to trust in them. I sighed and the breath left my lungs until they was empty, and when I inhaled again, I tried to infuse my breath with positivity and self-esteem and above all, belief in who I was.
Siri stood beside me the entire time. She'd dropped her hand from my arm when Frigga had mentioned stone, and it dawned on me that I was taking a passenger with me. And despite every drop of belief I could gather, what if I turned her to stone too?
I glanced at Siri, then back at Frigga, who immediately understood what I was thinking. "No, Brynhildr," she said. "Nothing will happen to the passenger. If the user is turned to stone, the passenger will survive simply because they are not in contact with the spear. So no matter what, Siri is safe."
I bobbed my head up then down, the movement more a short series of jerks. "Okay, then. Let's get this show on the road."
"Are you sure, Bryn?" Siri asked softly, her eyes filled with concern.
I nodded. "It's about time I faced my fear, and though most people only face them in their minds, I face it in reality. And there's nothing I can do to change that. Believe me, these past months have proved it well enough." And with those words, I felt a little more determined. I decided I should trust in Odin, and despite the fear of putting my life in someone else's hands, I was compelled to try.
"Ready, Siri?" I asked, injecting a little nonchalance into my voice.
"Ready," she said with a small curve of her lips. She didn't have anything to fear, yet she was still afraid for me. In that moment, I liked her even more.
Then I gripped the staff, stamped it three times on the ground, and closed my eyes, this time determined to succeed. This was it.
Go hard or die trying.
I pictured the glassed-in reception area of the New York HQ offices. The gold lettering on the doors that said Heimar International Intelligence Agency. The peach fabric on the walls, the pale cream couches, and even the blond receptionist's desk.
I felt a pull on my fingers, as if some kind of force were trying to swallow me alive. My heart rate spiked. What if it was just my fingers turning to stone? Then I pushed the thought out of my head and concentrated on the image of the reception area.
Suddenly, I felt lightheaded and off balance, but though I wanted to open my eyes, I didn't.
Only when Siri gasped did I crack my lids open to see we had arrived.
And I was relieved to be alive.
I scanned the room and it remained exactly as it had looked the last time. Even the blond receptionist Betty, generous cleavage and all, sat at her desk. Only this time she was staring at me, mouth hanging open.
Siri's eyes met mine and we both burst out laughing. My hands were shaking and I gripped tighter onto the spear. Now staring at it, I couldn't understand how I'd feared its power, or more importantly, feared Odin's belief in me. I shook the spear out and waited as it slid closed before tucking it into the holster at my shoulders.
The sound of the elevator arriving drew my attention through the glass doors. The doors opened, depositing my team onto our floor. There were double takes all around. Their expressions were priceless.
"How did you...?" asked Aimee, pointing at us and then aiming a finger at the elevator.
Joshua gave me a quizzical look, then shook his head as he pushed the glass door open and walked up to me. "Now do you want to explain how you got here before us or do we line up and shake it out of you?" he asked, laughing, his gorgeous green eyes curious and amused.
"Here's the reason." I pointed a thumb at the spear behind me. "It's how Odin travels through the realms without using the Bifrost."
Aidan snorted. "Does Heimdall know about this?" he asked wryly, and everybody laughed at that.
"Yes, he was the one who imbued the bridge of the gods into the spear for Odin."
"Wow," said Joshua, staring at me. "Did that thing really bring you here?"
All I did was nod. I understood they were all curious, but I'd wasted enough time already and wanted to get moving. "Right, I think we'd better get down to business." I turned on my heel, giving Betty a sharp look before rounding her desk. I pushed open the inner door and slipped inside the office.
We were hit by the low hum of machines, the tapping of keyboards, and the odd voice drifting toward us as someone spoke on the phone or to a cubicle neighbor.
Anyone walking into this office would see nothing other than your standard office environment. Nobody would ever guess this was the hub of information being fed to Asgard, a fabled Norse realm.
I shook my head a little, then walked down the main aisle toward Erik's office. Before we got to it, he was already opening his door, a big grin on his face. He'd clearly been advised of our strange entrance by the ditzy receptionist, what with his mischievous expression.
Erik was tall and slim, his Ethiopian genes showing clearly in his coal-dark skin and high cheekbones. When I got to him, he grabbed my hand and shook it gently but firmly. I was so glad I'd received this man's respect.
"Welcome, Brynhildr. It has been much too long."
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
I shook his hand with equal warmth. "I do think it has been too long, Erik." I smiled as he waved us down the passage toward the large meeting room. Inside, we all took our seats in plush armchairs around a gigantic gleaming oak table. Erik paused outside to speak to a warrior seated at a nearby cubicle. His black hair was closely cropped, marine style, the einherjar gleam giving his dark caramel skin a golden sheen.
The staff of the New York headquarters was made up of a combination of einherjar and Valkyries in various levels of authority. The warrior got to his feet and hurried down the isle as Erik entered the room and closed the door. He strode to the end of the table where stacks of files were grouped and without a word began to pass them down.
I picked mine up and flipped the file open. "Is this the mission location?" I asked, staring at a castle that looked like it belonged in the middle of England somewhere, all gigantic rough stones and moss with towering parapets and rectangular arrow slits dotting the walls.
"Yes, this is the home of Lord Andrew McClellan. He is a scientist and a member of the British parliament. He's been identified as a key player in the sale of a particularly deadly large-scale deployment virus." My blood ran cold at the thought. What was Loki planning? "We have received information that th
is particular virus was chosen for destruction, identified as being far too deadly to remain in use even just for experimentation. How Loki's agents found out about this I have little idea, but in any event, our informant has confirmed that Lord McClellan changed his mind and placed the virus on the international market, asking for bidders. He has also confirmed that the lord's attitude and bearing has changed markedly in recent weeks. He spends little time with his family and has not attended any personal social events."
"His behavior sounds like he's been replaced by a frost giant," I said almost to myself.
"Yes, exactly. Either that or he's being convinced to ensure the sale goes through."
"And we need to find out if he's either replaced or convinced," I said, tapping a finger at the photo of the lord.
His balding hair, round face, and smiling eyes belied a cheerful type of man, and I could easily picture him in a kilt. Now it was likely he was either dead, imprisoned, or being controlled. We needed to get a move on.
"Any reason our London team doesn't want to handle it?"
"Too many recognizable faces. The London team has come into contact with Loki's agents on various occasions."
"I see." I nodded, then pushed back my seat, saying, "Then we should be getting to it."
Erik's response was interrupted by the receptionist, who knocked twice and then entered pushing a low table covered in tablecloths and piled with cups, mugs, plates, an urn, and a multitude of crockery and cutlery. The dark warrior followed her, pushing a second low table, this one filled with finger food: mini hamburgers, small pastries, scones, and tiny little cinnamon buns.
The arrival of the food put pause to my decision to leave as the team rose and headed for the tables.