“Yes, but they are slow and cannot fit into all the areas we can. If you free me, I can show you. We can easily outrun them.”
“What kind of weapons do you have stashed?” My body was aching for my swords. I would have to find my weapon once I was out.
“Several broadswords, one spear, and some rope.”
That sounded promising. “How long until the wee hours?”
“It will be a while.”
I sat down on the cot, my back against the wall. I wasn’t sure if waiting was the right thing, but I could use some rest. “Okay, let me know when it gets close.”
“Sure thing,” she answered. “My name is Willa, and I am happy to serve you. Your mother is a wonderful woman.”
My heart constricted. The only thing I knew about my mother for sure was that she had green eyes. My fingers drummed the top of my thigh. I’d been so close to freeing her. It was infuriating that her rescue had come so close, only to be snatched away.
My eyelids felt heavy. Relaxing for five minutes was probably a good idea. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d slept. Valkyries didn’t need sleep like humans did, but they did require some to recharge. I’d been gone from the Valkyrie stronghold for only half a day at the most, but it felt like years.
As my eyes drooped, my mind wandered to Fen, like it always did when I had a moment to spare. I missed him like crazy. What I wanted most in the world was for him to forgive me. I tried to make myself comfortable on the cot, fidgeting with the hem of my tunic. “Please, please understand,” I whispered. “I had no other choice. I had to go. Even though I haven’t been successful, I would still choose the same path.” I propped my arm under my head, curling my legs under my body. I wondered what Ingrid and Rae were doing right now. Were they trying to get the battle unit here? I wondered what Tyr and Sam were up to. I wondered if Tyr would be happy I sprang our brother Baldur. I bet he would be. Or maybe he would sigh in that particular way of his and calmly explain the reasons why it hadn’t been a good idea.
I knew nothing of the gods, what their rules were, or how they lived. I could only go by my own code—a life where everybody gets to choose for themselves. What my mother had said about Frigg being angry had me worried, and I desperately hoped Baldur was going to be okay. I would be gutted if anything happened to him.
“Huggie, why did you send me here?” I lamented. “I’m too young and inexperienced to do this on my own. You should’ve known that. Anya would be a better choice, and that’s saying something.”
I could worry about all this forever, but it wasn’t going to change my situation. I needed to sleep and recharge.
After a moment, my eyes slid shut.
* * *
The ground shook, and I leaped off of the bed.
“Whoa.” I grabbed on to the wall to steady myself. My cell was pitch black. When did that happen? I pounded on the wall. “Willa! Are you there? Is it the wee hours?” I hadn’t been out for very long.
No response.
I tried again. “Willa! What’s going on?” The ground had shaken before, but this was bigger, with much more force.
I couldn’t see, so I put my hands out in front of me and ran toward the door. When my palms smacked into the cool wood, I rammed my fists against it. “What’s going on? Can anyone hear me? Let me out of here!” The ground shook again, and cracks rent open in the floor beneath me. I heard shouts and feet running by. Most of the footsteps sounded heavy, so they were likely trolls. “Is anyone out there?”
“Quiet, little birdie,” a booming voice growled on the other side. “You don’t want me to come in there.” I recognized the voice. If I was right, it was the leader of the trolls. The one who’d started the fight with Junnal earlier, but I couldn’t be sure.
“What’s going on? I hear a lot of pandemonium,” I said, blatantly ignoring his command for me to be quiet. “It’s dark in here. Is the power out?” The ground shook again, and this time rocks poured from the ceiling like hail. I grabbed Gram from my waistband. It was time to take action.
“Nothing out here to concern yourself with.”
Bull. Concerning myself was a top priority.
I took a few steps back and brought my arm up, yanking back my tunic. The old wound had already healed. The perks of being a Valkyrie. I inserted the tip of Gram into my forearm without flinching.
My body welcomed it.
I closed my eyes and concentrated on the energy the dagger was amplifying. Blood trembled in my veins, and I began to glow, which was even more apparent in the dark. I looked like a human jack-o’-lantern.
I didn’t have a better plan than blowing the door off its hinges. It was the only way out. Obviously, something was up, as the guards were in a frenzy. That could mean one of two things. The Norns had come back. Or help was here. I hoped it was the latter. I had no idea what happened to Willa, but I couldn’t worry about that now.
“Prepare for lift-off,” I intoned as I angled my open palm toward the door. I had no idea if I had enough juice to accomplish this, but I was about to see.
Power shot out of my body in a thick stream, hitting the door smack in the middle. A loud burst of energy followed. The kickback tossed me off-balance, but I caught myself before I fell on my backside.
I paced forward as the smoke settled, eager to see my handiwork. “What the heck?”
The door was intact.
There was a ring of charred black in a perfect circle, slightly smoking, but other than that, it had held. I’d been so sure my power would free me from this place!
I holstered Gram in my waistband, frustrated.
Laughter filtered through the door. “What? You don’t think we make these doors and cells Valkyrie proof? Keep trying, little birdie. We have all day.”
Disgruntled, I went to the wall separating me from Willa and pounded my fists on it. “Are you in there? What’s going on?”
I was still glowing, so I could see.
No response.
They must have moved her.
The ground shook again, and pebbles rained down. I had to think of another way to get out of here. It was clear something was out there and the elves were panicking. But whoever they’d placed in front of my door was not worried. Trolls must not care what happened here as long as they got paid.
I paced back to the door, placing my palms inside the black ring I’d just created. It was warm to the touch. It was definitely Valkyrie proof. I had to try a different tactic. “So, it looks like you’ve recovered from that thrashing my friend gave you. What’d it take you? An hour? Maybe a few? You were out cold when I saw you last. I bet the bump on your head is killing you. The elves must frown on their pet trolls getting their asses handed to them down here. I’m surprised you still have a job.”
A growl sounded before the troll said, “Keep your mouth running, and I’ll come in there and shut it for you.”
That’s exactly what I want, buddy.
I smiled. “What happens when a troll gets fired? Do you go home with your tail between your legs? I’m assuming you have a tail, but it’s just a guess. Is it even possible to get other work once you get canned from a place like this? I bet you’d be a laughingstock of your kind if anyone found out. Makes it tough to get any future dates. I’m certain your females much prefer a big strong alpha male, not a wimpy baby who gets thrashed by a Jotun half-breed.”
There was a roar, and the handle on the door rattled.
Well, that didn’t take very long.
Satisfied my baiting had done the trick, I backed up, readying myself. I wasn’t going to be able to physically best the troll without my weapon, but I could hit him with my power and try to get away.
A set of keys chimed as I pulled Gram out of my waistband, holding the dagger steady above my arm. The key engaged, and then all was quiet. Instead of the door bursting open, outside angry shouts volleyed back and forth, and something large smashed against the wood.
I had no idea what was going on, but whatever i
t was, it was violent. If there was going to be more than one adversary, I had to make sure I had the advantage. I glanced around the room.
There was only one option.
Rushing over to the cot, I plucked up the only blanket and ripped off a long piece. I slipped Gram inside my sleeve and pricked myself then tied the fabric like a tourniquet around my forearm so it stayed in place, tight against my body.
The dagger amplified me immediately, and I began to glow more brightly.
Finally, the key turned in the lock, and there was a pop.
With a loud creak, the door began to swing open.
I held my breath and hoped my energy would be enough to fell this troll. He was huge, almost the same size as Junnal.
But instead of the troll, something else stood in its place.
It took me a second to realize what I was seeing.
I dropped my hands. “Fen!”
19
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I raced headlong into his arms. I’d honestly never been so excited to see anybody in my entire life. To my great relief, he welcomed me, dropping his sword to his side to give me a one-armed embrace as I peppered kisses along his neck. “How did you get here?” I was breathless. “How did you find me?”
He kept me close, not letting me go, his arm firmly around me, his face hard to read. “I arrived by Yggdrasil. I refused to leave the cillar after you left. After a while, the raven finally divulged that the portal would open for me at an undetermined time, so I stayed until it did.”
“Was your arrival what shook the mountain?” I asked, glancing around. The place was in shambles. Rocks and debris were scattered all over. Some of the columns had cracked. The troll I’d made angry lay off to the side, unconscious.
“No,” he answered. “A short time after I arrived, I felt the same quakes. I believe the Valkyries have stormed another entrance, but I can’t be certain. The raven told me to tell no other of my plans, and I kept my promise.”
“How did you know I was here?” The mountain network was vast.
“I didn’t. I came through the main entrance, and to my surprise there were very few elves around, and the ones who were in attendance were in a fright. As luck would have it, I ran into a group leading a prisoner away. I freed her, and she is the one who helped me.”
Movement came from my right as a small, slim figure stepped out from behind a column rife with cracks. She stood no higher than my shoulder. She had long brown hair, softly pointed ears, and large eyes.
Otherwise, she looked mostly human.
She gave me a tentative smile. “You must be Willa,” I said as I stepped reluctantly out of Fen’s grasp, loosening Gram from my arm. Fen hadn’t commented on my glow. I would fill him in later.
“Yes, I am Willa,” she replied, her eyes cast downward. “The elves came to move me right before the wee hours began. I’m sorry I was not there for you.”
“It’s not your fault, and you led Fen here, so I’m grateful.” I turned to my gallant boyfriend, who seemed to have forgiven me. “We have to find my mother, Baldur, Junnal, and Callan and get out of here.”
Fen quirked his gaze at me. “The god of light resides here?”
“He does, and you probably already know he’s my brother.” I smiled. “He’s been helping me. His mother sent him here against his will to protect him from a fated death, but he made up his own mind to be free, so I broke him out of his cell.”
Fen said, “I know his story well. I was not aware he was here.”
“I can lead you to where your mother was last jailed,” Willa said. “I am unsure if she still occupies that cell or not, but if she isn’t there, I believe we can find her.”
“That sounds good,” I said. “She is supposed to be taken by the skogs, and I pray they haven’t moved her yet. First things first. I need my weapon. Do you know where the elves would have stashed it?” I sensed Gundren close by, and as I appraised the area for a likely location, the ground shook again. Other than the troll out cold there was no one else around. “Why are there no elves here? They should be swarming.”
Willa answered, “In this land, the greatest threat is always addressed first. Those who are storming the realm will take priority. Our resources are limited, as we have gone hundreds of years without an invasion of any kind. Most of the inhabitants here work with gemstones and metal. They are craftsmen, not guards. We make the finest pieces of weaponry and jewels found in all seven realms. Gods and goddesses clamor for our work, which is always infused with magic. Since the attack has come in the wee hours, it has made it even more difficult. The timing happened well for you, and I would guess it was not by chance.” We likely had Huggie to thank for that.
“You say ‘we,’ but you told me Odin sent you to watch over my mother. So is your allegiance here with the elves? Or to Asgard?”
She paused before answering. “It’s rather complicated. My mother is of Asgard. She lay with an elf and was shunned for it.” Willa’s voice was tight. “My mother had special talents, which were passed down to me. Odin collects the unique. It’s what makes him so powerful.” She beamed. “He realized my talents could be helpful and struck up a friendship. He provided for me when no one else would. I owe much to him, so my allegiance is not to Asgard or to Svartalfheim. It is to Odin alone.”
Her steadfast loyalty impressed me. “You sounded fond of my mother when we spoke before. Was she kind to you?” I asked.
I spotted a blush creeping along her cheek. “Yes, very much so. She has been treated unfairly here, and for that I will see her freed. Follow me, we should hurry. There are several secret passageways that will lead us to her.”
“First, I need my weapon,” I said. “I can’t leave here without it.”
“Try calling to it,” Fen suggested.
“You mean like Tyr does?” My brother could call his weapons, and they flew right to his hand, just like Thor called his hammer. It was incredible to watch. “Do you think that will work for me?” If it did, that would be amazingly cool.
Fen smiled. It was the first emotion he had showed. He was a man of few words, and I wasn’t going to push him right now. “It’s worth a try.”
“Do I have to do anything special?”
“I think wanting them should be sufficient.”
I closed my eyes as I tried to envision Gundren in all its glory. It wasn’t hard. I had already memorized everything about those swords. I pictured the battered leather scabbard, the onyx grips, each rune carved into the hilts. The weapon all but glittered in my mind. I was still glowing when I intoned, “Come to me.” It felt foolish to say it out loud, but I had no idea what else to utter. My eyes flew open. “I felt something!” Excitedly, I focused on my swords and how badly my body ached to feel them in my hands. “Come to me !” I shouted.
A door rattled from across the atrium, and seconds later it burst open.
Gundren flew through the air, landing with a solid thunk in my outstretched palm. My gaze was pure amazement as I ogled my weapon.
“That seemed to do the trick,” Fen said.
“This might be the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me. Sam is going to die when she sees this.”
We both followed Willa. “It’s likely no other Valkyrie has that ability,” Fen said. “You can thank your god genes for bestowing it upon you. Many of Odin’s children can do the same.” I hurried after them, strapping the scabbard on my back. “There will be much you will discover about your abilities in the future. Each immortal is different, and you are still young.”
Willa led us through a door and down a long, high-arched hallway. About halfway down, she set both hands against a solid marble wall. There didn’t appear to be anything there, but at her slightest touch, the stone moved inward with a scraping noise. It rumbled open to reveal a small passage.
“How many secret rock walls are there in this place?” I asked, glancing around, expecting elves to start coming around the co
rner any moment.
“There are quite a few,” she answered. “Likely the elves are using many of them right now. We are like the ants of Midgard, in a sense. There is an entire network of passageways and secret doors.”
“Do you know where they are keeping other prisoners?” I asked. “I’m looking for the one they call a whage—the white elf mage—the god Baldur, and a large giant-troll mix. We can’t leave here without them.”
“I do not,” she replied as she slipped into the passageway and hurried us down a skinny hallway with L-shaped turns. “We can find them once we have your mother. But we must stay away from the guards as much as possible. They possess magic and will be using deadly spells. Here, come this way.” She put her shoulder against another rock wall, and it swung open. Fen and I had to duck into it, as it was elf height. The ceiling was lower, and we were forced to walk with our shoulders rounded. After a few twists and turns, she opened another door that led to a stairway. It was tiny and steep. “Once we are all the way down,” she instructed, “we will emerge at the back of her cell. This is where I bring her food and clothing. If she is still there, we will be fortunate. But it is warded, so only I can enter.”
“The wards will not be an issue,” Fen stated as we trailed after her down the steep staircase. “The shieldmaiden’s weapon will break the ward.”
“If it’s resistant to dark elf magic, it will work,” Willa agreed. The staircase was incredibly long, at least three stories. We were lucky there were torches every fifty feet.
Once we arrived at the bottom, we emerged into another narrow hallway, except this one had a little more headroom. I could stand, but Fen had to bend his neck. Willa rushed in front of us and stopped halfway down, pressing her palms against the wall.
Nothing happened.
“Is it supposed to open right away?” I whispered, coming up behind her.
She glanced at me, worry in her gaze as she nodded. “Yes, it should respond to my touch. Something is wrong.”
Freed: (Phoebe Meadows Book 2) Page 15