Joshua III

by T. G. Ayer

  Kristina eyed him carefully. “If you mean the Bifrost? No. If you mean what we are about to encounter? Maybe.”

  “Care to elaborate?” Joshua said, his tone stern.

  The valkyrie sighed. “We’re headed to New Zealand.”

  Joshua tried to keep his eyes open when he and Kristina stepped onto the Bifrost, but for a second he failed. In that moment, Joshua saw the bridge between realms and was surprised at its plain, almost unassuming nature.

  “I’d have thought it would have been a tad bit more impressive,” Joshua said as he and Kristina materialized in a forest of stunning green.

  “What? The forest? Of course it’s stunning. It’s Aoteroa,” Kristina waved her hand around at the fern fronds and trees that rose so high the branches were almost invisible.

  The strange, musical call of birds rang around Joshua and he stilled for a moment, listening to the sounds of the forest.

  Kristina slapped him on the shoulder. “Come on. Beautiful yes, but we gotta move. This isn’t going to be easy.”

  Joshua shrugged. “Yeah, I got the memo. Grab a body from the grave and bring it to Valhalla?”

  “Not exactly,” said the valkyrie as she walked slowly to the edge of the treeline and pulled aside a large tree frond. As she did so, Joshua caught sight of an unusual building resembling the longhouses in the village below Odin’s castle, the low structure with its red wood, carved in a swirling fernlike pattern.

  “What does not exactly mean…exactly?” Murmured Joshua as he took in the wide lawns and the narrow path leading up to the porch of the lawn roofed building.

  “In the Maori tradition, the dead are treated with utmost respect. We’ve waited the respectful number of days in order to respect the traditions of this whanau.”

  “Whanau?”

  “Family or tribe, if you will.” Kristina nodded at the building. “This is a marae. The equivalent of a temple. Holy ground.”

  Joshua nodded and walked alongside the valkyrie as she strode toward the carved red pillars inscribed with stylized human images. Kristin rounded the building and led the way to a small graveyard beyond.

  Swallowing hard, Joshua slowed to a stop beside the valkyrie who had approached a grave and was currently crouched beside it.

  “Is this it?” Joshua asked. When Kristin merely nodded, he said, “I’m beginning to wonder if we’re going to have to dig him out.”

  “Her,” muttered Kristin as she boosted back to her feet and let out a low groan.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “She’s not here.”

  “Er…that’s unexpected.”

  “More than unexpected. We’re going to have to find out where she is. The brief I got was that Aroha would be here, but maybe we got the dates wrong. She’d not been buried as yet.”

  “Where could she be?”

  Kristin shook her head. “Not sure, but this isn’t a good sign,” she said as she pointed to a black sludge that glistened like an oil stain. The substance stained the grass all along the edge of the previously prepared grave for Aroha.

  “What the hell is that?”

  “Something that is very, very bad.”

  “Yeah?” asked Joshua. “And what about the fact that our warrior is missing altogether.”

  “That’s even worse than very bad.”

  Chapter 9

  Joshua and Kristina returned to Asgard, but the relief at surviving the trip on the Bifrost was somewhat diluted by the fact that they’d returned empty-handed, and with a report of a strange black gloop.

  The pair entered the Great Hall, breathless from having run at fun tilt. As they stepped into the throng of warriors, they came to a halt, the air of tension filling the enormous space like a cloud of darkness.

  Joshua drew closer to the warriors, threading his way closer to the front of the throng, positioning himself close enough to hear the All-Father’s words as he spoke to Fenrir who was only just closing in on the dais.

  “Back so soon, Fenrir?” asked Odin, leaning forward while the raven—Munin or Hugin, few could tell which—shifted to regain his balance, long talons digging into the god’s dark cloak.

  Fen’s body was taut as he bowed to Odin. “We have news that is both upsetting and confusing, my lord.” Joshua had the feeling that Fenrir was about to corroborate what they’d found in New Zealand.

  “What is it, Fenrir?” asked Odin, brow furrowing with concern. Even Odin appreciated that Fen was greatly trouble. “Why are you all back, and without your new einherjar?”

  Fen cleared his throat and stepped closer to the dais. “The Orange County retrieval was a failure. The einherjar was…dead.” Though Joshua was unable to see Fen’s expression, he knew the warrior’s face would be twisted with concern.

  Odin stilled, the hollows of his face darkening. “Dead?” Odin, though concerned, did seem shocked at the revelation. If Joshua had to guess, he’d have said the All-Father had known what Fen was about to say and was grieving.

  “He was covered in a black slime. I was unable to identify what the substance was but I have brought back a sample. Perhaps after testing we can ascertain what it is?” offered Fen, although the tone of his voice didn’t appear to inspire confidence in anyone. Odin included. Fen cleared his throat again, “We encountered an additional concern. The glow of the warriors…this particular einherjar wore no such glow. At the point of retrieval he should have been glowing like a flame, there was not even a glimmer.”

  Odin remained silent for a moment, as though taking time to formulate his response. Joshua knew exactly what the god was feeling.

  Before Odin could speak, Mika moved through the gathered crowd and said, “It was much the same in Dublin, my lord. Their body was retrieved from its resting place—a cemetery north of the city, only dead for ten days. But we encountered the same black substance coating the warrior.”

  “And the glow?” asked Odin, dread edging the question.

  Mika shook her head. “No glow. Nothing at all.”

  “This is strange and very unusual,” said the All-Father, his gaze skimming the rest of the gathered teams. “Fenrir, what do you think is happening to our Warriors?”

  Fen shook his head. “Whatever it is, we need to find out. And soon. We cannot afford to lose even one Warrior,” the Ulrf general said, the vibration in his voice making it clear that the circumstances more than troubled him.

  Mika looked up at her father, Joshua only able to see her profile. He wished he’d been able to get closer, curious as all heck to see her expression. Then he took a breath, wondering not for the first time if he was making a very serious mistake.

  Odin’s voice drew Joshua out of his musing. “Very well. I—” The All-Father’s words were cut off as one of the ravens on his shoulder bent close. The bird’s feathers shimmered in the torchlight, as he leaned to Odin’s ear. The god remained still, then began to question the bird, his words too soft for Joshua to hear from where he stood behind the crush.

  Then the raven surged into the air and swooped out of the Great Hall, a smudge of fleeing darkness. As he soared across the hall, a feather dislodged from his outstretched wing, spinning and twirling as it descended. Right onto Bryn’s open palm.

  Joshua hid a smile as a few warriors and valkyries around Bryn shared glances, curious, surprised, impressed, and a little envious.

  But the warriors in the hall were, in the next moment, distracted from their surprise at the fall of the raven’s feather as the All-Father surged from his throne, the air around him gusting as though he were the force that generated a tornado.

  Odin waved a hand at the gathered warriors, either calling for them to follow, or bidding them farewell. But at the last moment the All-Father caught Joshua’s eye.

  Without a thought, Joshua rushed after the god, leaving dozens of confused warriors behind.

  “What’s going on?” asked Aimee as she caught up with Joshua. “The All-Father looked at me funny.” Aimee’s voice was filled with concern an
d Joshua knew what she was feeling. He’d felt that way the first time Odin had looked at him funny.

  Joshua sent her a comforting grin. “Something is definitely wrong and it has something to do with us. But I doubt it’s trouble.” He glanced up ahead, spotting a pair of red-bronze wings gliding behind Odin. “See, even Bryn’s joined the caravan.”

  As they rushed through the halls, Joshua’s gut tightened.

  “Joshua?” said Aimee as they took a corner in the direction that Joshua was dreading. “You know where we’re going?”

  Joshua swallowed and shook his head. “Don’t borrow trouble. Let’s see what’s going on first.”

  But Joshua had already borrowed the trouble. In fact, he now held it close to his heart as they drew ever close to Brody’s room. The route was familiar enough to him and Aimee, and when they took the last left turn at an intersection of halls up ahead, Joshua knew it had to do with Brody.

  Odin slowed up ahead at an open door on the left and paused before entering Brody’s room. The god, along with Bryn, entered the room, the soft sounds of crying filtering to Joshua and Aimee.

  The door shut on the sound and one of the warriors up ahead took a position in front of the door, guarding entry.

  “Let us pass, Frederick,” Joshua said, his tone urgent, no time for pleasantries.

  The blond einherjar lifted a brow. “The All-Father is busy. You enter when he allows it.”

  “The All-Father told us to come,” Aimee snapped, thrusting herself in front of Joshua.

  “Really?” Frederick smirked. “Just because he told us to follow him, doesn’t mean you were given a special invitation to enter the room.”

  Joshua bit back the words that hovered on the edge of his tongue. There was no need to make a bad situation any worse. “Look. Odin told us to come. This room belongs to a friend of ours. He’s family, and if something is wrong, we deserve to know.”

  Aimee folded her arms and glared at the stubborn warrior. “Which is why the All-Father told us to come with him. Chances are, his summons to follow him was misinterpreted. He was likely calling Joshua and myself and not the entire hall.”

  Frederick snorted. “Not surprised you people give yourself airs and graces.” He muttered just as the door opened and a pretty redheaded huldra rushed out, her eyes red, her cheeks blotchy and glistening with tears.

  “Nerid?” asked Aimee, reaching for the girl who hovered in front of the door, as though unsure what to do with herself.

  The huldra glanced up and her eyes brightened for a nanosecond before filling with tears again. She hiccupped, then brushed at the falling tears before gripping to her brown linen skirts tightly.

  “Nerid, what’s going on? Are you okay?”

  Nerid shook her head. “It’s Brody. He’s…he’s gone. He’s nowhere to be found.”

  Joshua blinked

  He found both Aimee and smug Frederick mirroring his shock.

  “Where could he have gone?” whispered Aimee as tears began to fall from her eyes. She wiped them away angrily, then glared around her.

  Frederick was shaking his head. “He can’t go far. We’ll find him.” Then the warrior smirked. “Abandoning one’s duties in Asgard isn’t something that is taken lightly. He will be found. That much I can assure you.”

  “What did you say?” Joshua growled, stepping close to Frederick. “Brody would never abandon his duty. If he’s gone, then he’s in trouble. That much I can assure you.”

  The einherjar blinked slowly, opened his mouth to speak, then closed it slowly. He straightened, his lips forming a thin line as he stood aside and allowed them to enter the room.

  Aimee threw him a nasty glare, but tears had begun to fall again, her fear overpowering her fury. Still, Joshua suspected that Aimee would deal with the warrior eventually, and he hoped he’d be there to witness it. But even his own amusement couldn’t mask the shock he was feeling.

  Aimee shoved the door open and rushed inside, Joshua close on her heels. Bryn looked up, her eyes wide. And it hit Joshua that perhaps Bryn didn’t know who was missing. Brody had been transferred to a different room after she’d gone off to Midgard.

  Odin’s expression was pained, grief shadowing his eyes as he turned to look at Bryn.

  “Brody is missing,” said the All-Father, his tone comforting, the way a father would speak to a crying child.

  Bryn’s expression went blank and Joshua’s heart bled for her. She’d just been through a tragic loss, one that was possibly permanent, and now Brody was taken from her too.

  Pain flickered across Bryn’s eyes and she stumbled. Joshua stepped forward, reaching for her arms to steady her, but she paid no attention, almost as though she felt nothing.

  Before Joshua could consider attempting to comfort her, the air beside him simmered and Frigga appeared. The goddess threw a kind smile at Joshua and then reached for Bryn’s hands.

  Joshua let Bryn go and took a step back as Frigga gave her a terribly sad smile. “My dear child. It may sound terrible to say this, but you really have no time to waste with tears and sadness.”

  Frigga glanced up at Joshua and without a word, both he and Aimee left the room. The pair entered the hallway, surprised to see the place empty.

  “We have work to do, my children,” said Odin from behind the pair. Aimee let out a soft squeak, and Joshua hoped the god hadn’t seen him startle.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Brody didn’t run away, my lord.”

  Both Aimee and Joshua spoke simultaneously and Odin reached for them, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. Light shimmered around them and they vanished from the corridor outside of Brody’s room, materializing in Odin’s Great Hall.

  Joshua’s stomach turned as his body solidified again, and he swayed as though the feeling of solid ground beneath his feet had sent him off balance. Beside him, Aimee let out a soft squeak and the All-Father chuckled in response.

  “I apologize child. Perhaps I should have warned you. My mind is a little preoccupied though…which is my only excuse.”

  Joshua’s eyes widened. The All-Father had no reason to apologize to a warrior, and yet the god’s demeanor wasn’t surprising. Odin had been possessed of a deep caring for his warriors, treating one and all as though they were his children.

  The god chuckled again as Joshua and Aimee stared, neither able to find the best response. He beckoned them to follow as he stepped up onto the dais, then waved a hand toward the entrance to the Great Hall.

  Joshua swallowed, sharing a stunned glanced with Aimee as the pair obeyed and trailed Odin to his great throne. They waited, both a little awkward as the god took his seat, shoulders bowed as though a great and heavy burdened weighed upon his shoulders.

  Odin let out a sigh and leaned to the side of his giant throne, resting his elbow on the carved stone armrest. “I’m well aware that Brody would not have run away of his own accord. I know of Brody’s dedication to Asgard. I know, too, that there is more to his disappearance than someone running off in rebellion against an unwanted responsibility.”

  Aimee nodded while Joshua’s own shoulders curved.

  “Take heart, Joshua. We shall find Brody, never fear.”

  “Is there anything we can do, my lord?” Asked Joshua softly.

  “As a matter of fact, yes. Fenrir and I wish for you warriors to prepare for a scout mission to Midgard. Only this one won’t be merely recon and retrieval. You must all be prepared for danger.” Odin paused before shifting his sole gray eye to Joshua’s face. “Your very lives may be on the line during this mission. And perhaps in those that follow.”

  Joshua nodded, then hesitated. He wasn’t sure how to question Odin, afraid it may come across as impertinent.

  Odin smiled, his single eye sparkling. “Out with it, boy.”

  Joshua cleared his throat. “Does the mission have anything to do with Brody’s disappearance.”

  Odin shook his head and smiled kindly at Joshua’s disappointment. “Do
not worry, warrior. I have people investigating Brody’s disappearance. At this juncture, there is nothing else for you to do but wait.”

  “Could Brody somehow have accessed the Bifrost?” asked Aimee softly.

  Odin shook his head. “Not unless he had already been given access. And as far as I know he hadn’t.”

  Joshua let out a defeated sigh. “So someone took him.” After a short pause, Joshua shook his head. “If I didn’t know Loki was in the dungeons, I’d bet he took Brody.”

  Odin stiffened, studying first Joshua’s and then Aimee’s face. Then the god, too, let out a defeated sigh. “Perhaps you do not need protection from the bare truth.” Joshua nodded at Odin’s words and the god’s lips turned up in a shallow smile. “Loki is no longer in the dungeons.”

  The silence within the hall echoed harshly in Joshua’s ears. Aimee gasped and shook her head. “How is that even possible?” she whispered, the note of accusation clear in her voice.

  But Odin took no offense, and instead smiled sadly. “Loki is a god. And all the gods have their secrets. My assumption is he either turned someone in Asgard or he has a magic I am not currently aware of.”

  Joshua’s gut clenched at the mention of a traitor. Could Mika have been the one? Was this the moment to spill the beans, to the All-Father no less? Joshua swallowed hard. No. He couldn’t. He owed it to Fenrir to tell him first. There would be no honor in having someone else tell him.

  Odin tilted his head to the side, watching Joshua all the while, the god’s expression curious. “What is it, einherjar?”

  Joshua shook his head, the movement a short sharp jerk. “Nothing, my lord,” he said, shaking his head. “At least…nothing that I can speak of yet. I…I need to be sure first, before I say anything about it.”

  Odin grunted while Aimee glared at Joshua, jerking her head at Odin as she urged him to tell the All-Father the truth about Mika. But Joshua shook his head hard, staring back at her just as hard.

  “Aimee, my dear child. Joshua is doing what he thinks is best. I trust his judgment. And I believe he will reveal the truth in good time.”