As the dark magic came hurling at me, I crossed my swords in front of my body, bowing my head. Gathering my energy, I called it forward, infusing it into Gundren.
The clash was intense.
Dark magic hit my weapons with incredible force, spreading like fire into my arms and throughout my entire body. I knew if I let go of the swords, I wouldn’t have a chance.
The power of the dark magic threatened to disarm me, but I held firm.
After what felt like an eternity, but was probably only seconds, my swords began to shake, my fists trembling as I struggled to hold on. I focused on the magic that had just infused me, pulling it from my body and settling it back into the swords.
Gundren began to glow green.
The same color as the dark magic.
My eyes landed squarely on Invaldi, and even from this distance, I could see a mixture of disbelief and hatred on his face.
I leveled my swords and shook my wrists, releasing the magic that had gathered inside. Large green ribbons raced toward the elf leader.
“You will not succeed! Dark magic cannot hurt me—” Invaldi was tossed backward, his body smashing solidly against the cave wall.
Green sparks of light glittered around his body for a few moments, then faded.
He didn’t rise.
The magic probably wasn’t going to do him any long-term damage, but the force of it hitting him was another matter.
“Phoebe, that was amazing! Excellent swordplay. Now it’s time to get out of here,” Ingrid said, hurrying up to me. “We skedaddle before the elfman wakes up and his minions come back.”
My body felt strangely light, like I could float off this boulder, but energized at the same time. I turned, searching for my mother, surprised to see the Valkyries fanned out above me. Billie nodded, giving me a small smile. The other Valkyries looked fairly impressed, their faces showing appreciation for my newfound skill.
Except for one.
Anya had her hands on her hips, a tight look on her face. Thankfully, she chose to stay quiet.
Fen morphed back to human and planted a kiss on the top of my head. “Your prowess is stellar, Valkyrie. I knew you had it in you to do great things. But your aunt is right, we must use this advantage to get out. I suggest heading up to the main stairwell, through the great hall, and back to Yggdrasil.”
I sheathed my still-green-glowing swords. “That sounds good to me, as long as Callan can make it.”
“The whage is alive,” Baldur commented, lifting an unconscious Callan in his arms.
I rushed over, settling my hands on the whage’s chest and arms. “Callan, are you all right?”
Callan didn’t reply, but Baldur did. “I think the guy’s just worn out. Who knew the old man had it in him? I’ve never seen such a thing in all my years. Even a god would have a hard time mesmerizing an entire room. It’s a wonder he was ever trapped here in the first place! They must’ve kept him unconscious for a long while, enough so he was lacking substantial energy when he awoke.”
My eyebrows quirked. “He doesn’t seem so old anymore. Look.” I met my brother’s startled gaze. “His hair is shorter and decidedly darker, so is his beard. I’ve been noticing it for a while, but wasn’t believing what I was seeing. I blasted him with a ton of energy, and I think it’s made him younger. Are you okay to carry him to Yggdrasil?”
“Of course,” Baldur said. “This white elf helped save our lives. I would carry him to eternity and back. Plus, he can’t weigh more than a few pounds.” Baldur chuckled as he moved his arms, with Callan settled in them, up and down. “Lead the way.”
There was a bellow, and I glanced down to see Junnal pacing toward Invaldi, who hadn’t moved, with a raised club.
A frantic shout came from Rae. “Do not harm the elf! If you do, we would all stand trial, and that is something we don’t need right now. We stormed this realm uninvited. Just guard the elf and make sure he doesn’t rise again.”
My mother came up beside me. “Wonderful job, Phoebe. I have never seen a Valkyrie harness magic like you just did. I’m in awe. I look forward to seeing more. But we must head out. I believe there’s a big tunnel behind where Invaldi lies that we can access.”
I climbed down the rocks after Leela. We were almost to the floor when I remembered one thing. I turned around, calling, “Willa! It’s safe to come out now. Come down here!”
No response.
Where was she? I tried again. “Willa! You can come out now.”
My mother grasped my hand. In a low voice, she murmured, “I believe she was taken.”
I arched back. “What do you mean taken? By who?” My stomach dropped. She had told us she would be killed on sight. “She can’t be gone.”
“Possibly the elves that we disarmed near the chute woke up?” Leela said. “It’s hard to know. Others could’ve found their way to that tunnel as well.”
“Well, we’re going to have to find her!” I cried. “She risked a lot to help us, and I promised to take her home. I intend to keep my word.”
“Phoebe, I know you care about her well-being, and I do, too,” my mother said. “She has served me well for many years. But we can’t risk the lives of all of those here for one. It’s not our way. She is not one of us. She knew the risks.”
I shook my head. “I don’t accept that. She took risks because she felt she owed my father. And leaving her here is not my way. I made a deal to help her, and I’m not going to go back on it. In my world, we value all lives equally. In Wisconsin, my parents taught me to keep your promises and look out for those in need. Willa needs our help, and she’s going to get it.”
My mother appeared resigned. “We will look for her up top. She is no longer down here.”
She was right. The elves who took her wouldn’t have stuck around. There was a large tunnel off to the side that led to the main staircase Junnal and I had been on before.
“It doesn’t surprise me that you’d be selfish,” Anya huffed in an irritated tone as we walked. “I’m not going to let you put the rest of us in jeopardy for an elf .” She spat the word elf like it was diseased.
I stopped, reaching over my shoulder to draw a sword. Anya took two steps back as I brought it in front of her face. I was done. “No one is asking you to stay, Anya, so please feel free to head home. Helping the elf is optional . I wouldn’t expect you to know what the word honor means anyway. But when I make a pledge, I uphold it.” Watching my rival flinch back was rewarding.
I was about to say more when a hand on my arm stopped me.
Ingrid leaned into me, muttering, “Your glow is bordering on sun outputs, kid. No need to get all riled up.” She addressed the group. “Whoever wants to stay and help Phoebe is free to do so. All others can go home. We will treat this like any mission—it’s your choice to participate. But we make the decision upstairs. Staying down here is pure stupidity. I’m not waiting for Invaldi to wake up.”
“Ingrid’s right,” Rae added. “We discuss up top, where we’re that much closer to home.”
I sheathed my sword without a second glance at Anya and followed the group.
We passed Invaldi, where Junnal stood sentinel.
The elf leader was still out cold, but I could see his legs and arms beginning to twitch. When he awoke, he would be beyond angry. He would seek retribution at all costs. This wasn’t going to be the last we’d see of him.
I gave the Jotun a quick hug.
“Stay…here,” Junnal said. “Not…wake up. My watch.”
I nodded. “We appreciate that. Give us an hour and we should be good. Will you be able to get home safely?”
He nodded his huge head.
“Are you going to ride the cillar?” He nodded again. What couldn’t this giant troll do? “Will you return to the Valkyrie stronghold? Or are you going home?”
“Stronghold.”
It was good enough for me. I nodded. “Once we have Willa, we will head back there as well.” I prayed there were no other issues.
“I’ll see you then.”
Not one second later, the ground shook beneath us.
Something else was on its way in.
Figured.
24
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T he ground rattled again as the barometric pressure in the cavern dropped.
“Something’s on its way!” Rae shouted. “Everyone move!”
We all took off, heading to the main staircase. It was big enough for two Valkyries at a time. All eight shieldmaidens were in the lead. I ran behind my mother and Ingrid, Fen just behind me. Baldur, carrying Callan easily, barely breaking a sweat, bringing up the rear. The white elf looked to be coming around, but he was still weak.
The Valkyries had their weapons out.
I had no idea what would be waiting for us in the main hall. “Fen,” I called over my shoulder. “If an elf gets close enough, let’s grab it. It may be able to give us information on where they’re keeping Willa.” I refused to think that she could already be dead. There was too much chaos happening. They couldn’t kill her without Invaldi’s consent, right? My hope was they’d taken her back to the same cell area we’d been in when we first met. At least that would be easy enough to find once we got to the main hall.
“If one gets close, consider him caught,” Fen answered.
We rounded yet another level. “How many stories are we talking about here?” Ingrid complained. None of us was out of breath, but we all wanted out. “Leave it to Invaldi to dig into this anthill as deeply as he could.”
Baldur spoke up. “We just passed level seventeen. There are small markings on the columns on each level. They are written in elfish, if you know how to interpret it.”
Ingrid snorted. “I know a little elfish, but not enough to decipher those glyphs at a quick clip. God of Light, how did you end up down here anyway?”
“It’s a long, dense story filled with drama,” he answered. “The bottom line is my mother loves me and was worried about my untimely death, so she made a deal with the elves to keep me safe.” He chuckled. “Meaning she’s paying them untold riches to keep me here, alive but devoid of a life. But that’s all about to change. I’m looking forward to getting back to my ship, Ringhorn, where I can live out my days on the sea. I figure my death will be a lot less likely at sea.”
“And why’s that?” Ingrid asked as we rounded yet another level. “There’s plenty of stuff that can still get you at sea.”
“Yeah,” Baldur answered, “but my mother made a deal with all of them not to harm me. In fact, she made deals with most things in the world. There are only a few things that can fell me. I’ve always told her she shouldn’t worry so much.”
We passed two more levels before another earthquake shook the mountain.
This one was near cataclysmic.
We had to stop and grab on to the walls of the stairwell for support. Something huge was coming, and it was taking its time getting here.
“The elves may have called in reinforcements,” my mother said as we began our climb again. “I’ve been here a long time, and I’ve never felt such a force. It feels like the entire mountain is going to split in half.”
“Let’s hope we’re out of here before that happens.” We were moving fast. “Baldur, which level is this?” I asked as we passed a column.
Fen answered, “Fourteen.”
I peered at Fen as we ran. “I didn’t know you could read elfish,” I said, impressed.
“Shieldmaiden, what I know could fill volumes.”
We rounded four more levels. Once we hit level ten, a few elves lingered in the hallway. Before I could react, Fen passed me, backing them up against the wall. I followed.
I called to the others, “We will be right behind you.”
Rae nodded, and they kept going. My mother and Baldur stopped.
Fen looked like a giant compared to the elves. One said, “You don’t scare us, beast.”
“You think to escape, but we have other plans!” the other squeaked.
Fen grabbed one by the neck, bringing his face close and growling. The elf visibly quaked.
I recognized this one. It was the elf Junnal and I had followed down with the leader. I’d never seen the other elf before. “You fear me enough,” Fen rumbled, “and you are without magic. If you do not answer my questions, they will be the last ones you ever hear.”
The thing gave a squeaky cackle. “I will not answer—”
Fen held it so tightly its response was cut off. The other elf backed against a wall. Fen leveled his gaze at it. This one wore regular clothing, unlike the other, which wore a guard uniform. “Is this elf your kin? Do you care for him?” Fen asked. The elf looked uncertain. Apparently, that was enough for Fen. “If you do not answer my questions, I will rip his head from his body. And you will have to go home and explain to your family what happened. Are we clear?”
The elf nodded once.
The other began to struggle in Fen’s grip, likely trying to tell its pal or family member not to divulge any secrets. But it couldn’t speak, because its trachea was a little tied up. Lanky fingers tore into Fen’s hand to no avail. The demigod did not loosen his grip.
I stepped up to the worried elf, my mother behind me. “This is an easy question to answer,” I said. “There was a mixed elf helping this Valkyrie, Leela, while she was your prisoner.” I gestured to my mother. “This mixed elf has been taken prisoner, and we need to know where she is. As I said, this is a very simple question. Cooperate, and nothing happens to either of you.” I inclined my head knowingly. “But if you don’t, well”—I shot an elbow toward Fen—“the wolf is unpredictable. Your friend will likely lose his head.”
The elf shot nervous glances at all of us. “Um…well…” It wrung its hands.
“It’s okay, you can tell us,” I coaxed. “It’s just one small mixed elf. She is sentenced to death. We will harm no others. Just tell us what we want to know, and we will leave.”
“They took her to the sacrifice stone!” the elf blurted. “She helped our enemy, and the payment is immediate death!”
My heart sped up. “Where is this sacrifice stone?” We had to get to her in time. I was reaching for my sword when my mother’s hand stilled me.
“I have heard of this place before,” she commented. “It is outside the fortress, correct?”
The elf nodded vigorously. “Yes, it lies outside. There is a clearing not far from here. The death of a traitor is never carried out inside our walls. We do not want their stain to remain.”
Of course not, that would be silly.
I needed more specific directions than just “outside.” I leaned in. “Once we leave the mountain, which way do we head? And be quick about it. We have to save a life.”
“Down the path and to the right. It is the only clearing in the dense forest,” it sputtered. “You can’t miss it.”
“You better be right,” I said in my best threatening tone. “If we have to come back here, I will search you out. Your life will be over.”
The elf smiled crudely, flashing broken teeth. “Not before you die. You think you are free, but you are wrong.” The mountain rumbled. The elf gloated. “See? We have many allies, and they are on their way.”
I shot a glance at Fen, who shrugged, appearing unfazed about any threats. With no preamble, he dropped the elf he was holding, and it tumbled to the ground. “They are not allied with gods or demigods, nor with giants. We can handle all the others.”
“Agreed,” my mother said, her voice firm. “But whatever’s coming will be unpleasant and may take time. If we can find Willa and head to Yggdrasil, we have a chance not to engage.”
The sounds of yelling and clashing weapons carried down the stairs.
The Valkyries had encountered a problem.
Engaging was certain. I just hoped the threat was an easy one to defeat. “Let’s go,” I said. “We have to get through whatever’s upstairs and get outside as quickly as we can.” A
s we raced up the stairs, my thoughts were on Willa. I hoped she wasn’t in any pain, and I prayed like crazy we could find her and get back to the tree quickly.
As we sped up, the levels blurred together. Once we reached the top, we rushed down the hallway to find the Valkyries engaged in a full-on battle in the huge atrium with what looked to be some sort of cross between dark elves and dwarves.
The newcomers were armed with sickles and axes. They were heavily bearded, and their hands and legs looked human, albeit stubby. But their eyes and ears looked like dark elves’, overly large and pointy. They were holding their own with the Valkyries.
“Who are they?” I asked as we slid to a stop. I had Gundren out and ready to go. There were at least a hundred of them. The Valkyries were fighting two or three at once. Without waiting for an answer, I said, “Fen, make sure Baldur gets Callan to the door unharmed. We’ll be right behind you after we help the shieldmaidens.” He gave me a look. “I’ll be fine. If we don’t make progress, you can change into your wolf and have at them.” I jumped into the melee, my swords clashing with three at once, my mother right behind me.
Leela brought her broadsword up, and with one slice, she cut down four or five dwarves at once. I didn’t think they were dead, because they were writhing around on the ground, moaning and cursing shieldmaidens with words too colorful to repeat.
Leela fought close as we pushed our way through the crowd. When Gundren encountered a weapon, it sliced and diced it, much to the dismay of any adversary who stood in my way.
“What in the bloody damn billa-a-hoolie is this?” A stunned dwarf inspected the steel ball of his mace, which had been sheered in half.
“That’s my weapon defeating yours,” I told him as I passed.
When we got to the other side of the fight, near the doors that led outside, my mother said, “These are the dwarves of Myrkheim, cousins to the dark elves. They also mine gems and are excellent craftsmen, but they lack magic. They share an alliance with each other, of course, to protect both realms, but are not hard to best. In Myrkheim, they have great numbers, but here there are just a few.”
Freed: (Phoebe Meadows Book 2) Page 19