I leveled my swords at her heart.
Or where it would be if she had one.
Unleashing my energy would take one shake of my sword. “If the gods sentence me to death for this, it will be worth it.” I let it go, and lightning rushed forward, slamming like an arrow into Skuld’s chest.
She spread her arms wide as her body shook with the force.
Her tinkling laughter contradicted the physical impact, and as I watched, her glamour flickered like lights during a storm, flashing us her putrid visage like an old film reel.
She was a horror.
“You cannot kill me, bastard child,” Skuld spat, her body gyrating with the impact. “Your sustenance comes from the tree, and however potent, Yggdrasil would not turn on me.”
My stomach roiled as her frail, gray body exposed itself again and again. Maybe the tree wouldn’t turn on her, but it was doing a good job of showing us who she really was.
But Skuld had been wrong too many times already, and I wasn’t going to take her word for it. I continued to blast her, relishing in her deterioration. When this was over, there would be nothing more than a wretched half-baked skeleton in her place, if I had any say about it.
I gritted my teeth, trying to keep my focus, my stores depleting quickly. “I can do this all day,” I lied. “You will succumb sooner rather than later.”
“Never!” she declared, her voice hoarse, her skeletal frame crashing to its knees.
“Cease this nonsense!” Verdandi commanded. “As my sister said, you cannot harm us.” She held something in her hand and waved it in front of me. “If you do not stop, I will end your life right here.”
“So now you’re going to kill me?” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm, coated in anger. “I thought murdering me was a copout. If you kill me now, I won’t get the torture I deserve .” My body felt like it had run several marathons, but it was worth it to see Skuld falter and collapse.
I knew she’d been bluffing.
With sadness, I realized there was no possible way I had enough energy to finish the job. The Norns were definitely stronger than the energy I had stored inside me right now. But I took solace in the fact that that might not always be the case.
There would be another time.
As Verdandi moved closer, I saw she held a short dagger in her hand. She brought it out in front of her and took aim. Right at my chest. But just before she could launch it, her head whipped back, pain washing over her haggard features.
The dagger fell from her grip, landing on the ground with a soft clatter as she clutched her head with both hands.
I was so surprised that I nearly lost my concentration and broke the flow I had on Skuld.
Verdandi staggered like a drunk, shaking her head, trying to clear it. After a moment, she stopped, standing rigidly still. Slowly, her jaundiced eyes raked the group, malice pulsing. Her gaze landed to my left. “It was you,” she accused, her voice harsh. “How dare you try to kill me, you little imp? Do you know who I am ?” She began to move toward Willa. “I will spill your blood and eat your heart!”
The mixed elf had tried to kill a Norn to save my life!
I couldn’t let Verdandi harm her, even if it meant giving up on Skuld.
Skuld gave a strangled laugh. “I know which you will choose. I have already seen it. You are weak and useless. You will never be strong enough to be a great Valkyrie! Go on, save the girl. Get it over with.”
Verdandi grabbed Willa, and the mixed elf screamed. Sam pounded her chain-mail fists against Verdandi and cried, “Leave her alone, you wicked witch!”
I pivoted, breaking my connection with Skuld smoothly. “Get out of the way, Sam!” I shouted as my vastly depleted energy hit Verdandi.
I only had enough juice for one lash.
It turned out I didn’t have to worry about Sam, because Tyr was already there. He scooped my friend up, settling her securely behind him as he drew his weapons on Verdandi. Fen was close behind.
To my utter satisfaction, even though I barely had any energy left, Verdandi dropped, and Willa stumbled backward. Fen, like the valiant protector I knew him to be, stood in front of the mixed elf, guarding her, ready to shift.
A perfunctory laugh interrupted the scene, and I dropped my arms.
Skuld was on all fours. Her dress, if you could call it that, hung in ribbons around her body, smoking. She was trying in vain to recover her glamour, but it wasn’t happening. Her head was half bald, the other half containing only a few thin wisps of gray hair. The skin on her face peeled in a gag-worthy way. Her eyes were bloodshot. “As I predicted, you chose wrong.” Her same singsong voice sounded so completely wrong coming out of that frightening body. “Not that you would’ve won this battle, but it shows your true merit is lacking.”
“I chose right,” I stated with certainty, my body on the verge of collapse. I struggled to hide my need to gasp for air. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand. I would bet the farm you’ve never loved a single thing in your entire, wretched life. I stopped because there will be other chances to engage in battle with you, but not another chance to save a life. I regret nothing.”
Skuld staggered to stand. Her shredded dress revealed more than I ever wanted to see. “There will be zero more chances to engage, as we are finished here. We have done our part. Everything will play out as I’ve seen it, and you will be tossed into a dark realm where you will linger, gasping for life, destined to live the rest of your days in exile. It is the sweetest fate for you.” Her glamour began to stitch back together. Her hair filled in first, then bit by bit, her dress repaired itself, until she stood before us the complete Disney princess again. She appeared proud of herself and no worse for the wear.
I swallowed, biting back bile, knowing that I could do no more today, and even if I could, it wouldn’t bring Baldur back. Fen came to stand next to me, his presence calming.
“We shall see what happens,” I said. “I don’t put much stock in anything you say. There has to be a way to help my brother, and after that’s done, I will defeat you once and for all. I won’t rest until that day comes.”
“There is no way to help the god of light. He will perish, and you will pay.” Skuld beckoned Verdandi, who struggled to stand after my blow, Tyr’s arsenal still aimed at her.
“Don’t forget your dagger, Verdi,” I mocked. “You might need it someday soon.”
“You haven’t won, bastard,” Verdandi answered, bending to pick up the weapon. “Your pain is just beginning, and we will delight in it from afar.”
The sisters joined hands, backing toward the oak tree. Skuld had an evil smile playing on her lips. The Norns were certain of their victory.
But I had other plans.
As they vanished from sight, noises erupted from inside the mountain. The elves had regrouped and were coming.
“It’s time for us to skedaddle,” Ingrid said. “The natives are getting restless. Invaldi is likely up and around, furious about being bested. It took time to gather more spells, but they’re ready now.”
My mother wore a serene expression. I walked over and grabbed her hand as we started moving quickly toward Yggdrasil. “It’s going to be okay,” I told her as she gripped my palm tightly. “I don’t know much about these worlds, and nothing about Asgard or the gods who live there, but what I do know is that nothing is set in stone. The Norns have proven that a few times already. We’ll figure it out.”
She nodded, a thin smile forming. Her chestnut hair swayed as she moved. “I had just hoped for more time together,” she said, sadness at the forefront. “They were not lying about Frigg. She is a powerful goddess and will be devastated at the loss of her son. She will blame you. And even if all the Valkyries banded together, it would not be enough to defeat her.”
“Maybe Yggdrasil has helped Baldur?” I said, hopeful.
We increased our pace to a run, the elf chatter getting increasingly louder. Tyr was behind us with Sam and Willa. Sam’s clanking was enough to alert all the elves in t
his realm to our location. I slowed so she could catch up. “Sam, start taking that suit off. You’re making too much noise.” I had to stifle a laugh.
It was dangerous, not funny, but she looked so cute.
“Do you know how much engineering went into this?”
“We’ll make you a new one. Just hurry up about it.”
She sighed. “I supposed I can’t be responsible for an elf attack.” She dropped her helmet first, followed by her armbands.
“Were those old gutters?” I glanced behind as we ran.
“I used what I had,” she answered. “No critiquing. You get a shiny new breastplate, and I get gutters, that’s the way this works. I had to convince the big guy I was protected so he would bring me along.”
“There’s no way that Tyr thought that getup would save you,” I pointed out as she undid what sounded like Velcro, and her leg shields, made from corrugated metal, dropped to the ground.
“That may be true,” she admitted. “But I followed his orders. He said I had to have something between my body and a weapon. He didn’t specify. This was my answer. But”—she giggled—“you should’ve seen his face when he saw me. He’s all about honoring his word and stuff, so he couldn’t say no.”
“He said you threatened to harm yourself.”
“Oh, yeah, that, too,” she said, dropping her chest plate, which was made of what looked like a garbage can lid. “I said I’d jump in the river and sink like an anchor with all this on. Worked like a charm.”
“You have no shame,” I told her.
“Nope, none. But I’m in Svartalfheim. Not every girl can say that.” She glanced at the dingy forest of trees with weeping branches. “But once is enough. No need to make a return visit.”
“Agreed.” We slowed, Yggdrasil up ahead. We managed to stay in front of the elf pack, which was a relief.
“We go two by two,” Ingrid ordered as we stopped in front of the tree. “No time to waste. Let’s go. Phoebe and Fen, Tyr and Sam, Leela and Willa. Billie and I go last.”
I grabbed on to Fen’s hand. “We will be home soon, Valkyrie.”
“I can’t wait.” As we launched ourselves into Yggdrasil, I realized I had no idea how to navigate where we are going, so I simply closed my eyes and trusted I would get where I needed to be.
28
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T he tree shot us out at the Valkyrie stronghold. I rolled twice and was up, Fen ahead of me. We immediately took off toward the main living area. He grabbed my hand as we raced down the pathway.
“Let’s head to the infirmary,” I said. Infirmary was a “light” word for what the Valkyries considered a mending room. Shieldmaidens didn’t get sick and didn’t get hurt very often, and when they did, they healed quickly. In the stronghold, they had what equated to a space that held a few bandages for deep cuts that took more time to heal, and not much else.
We came around the last bend before the main living area, and Fen pulled up short. I stopped myself in time. They hadn’t made it to the infirmary.
Baldur was laid out on a blanket in the middle of the Park. I rushed forward, my heart hammering in my chest.
He wasn’t moving.
The Valkyries who stood closest to him parted as Fen and I entered the area. Nobody was going to complain that men were in here now, as this was an exception nobody wanted to give. The vibe was somber. Many of the Valkyries had their heads bowed.
I knelt next to my newfound brother, cradling his head in my lap, resting a palm on his chest. Fen stood behind me. Yggdrasil had energized me, refueling me with potent energy.
It had sadly not done the same for Baldur.
Blood from the wound had spread, covering his entire chest, staining it a deep crimson red. The evil dart was still visible. His breathing was shallow, but he was still alive. Still fighting.
Tears pooled at the corners of my eyes, threatening to cloud my vision completely. If I hadn’t freed him, he would still be alive.
Baldur coughed as he opened his eyes. Even on the verge of death, he still smiled. “I know what you’re thinking, sister. But you are wrong. This was not your fault. Leaving my cell was my choice. I’ve been fated to die for longer than I can remember being not fated to die.” He chuckled, which ended with a racking cough. I steadied my palm over his sternum, hoping to give him some comfort. “I’ve known this day would come sooner or later. My mother thought to protect me, first by gathering promises from every living thing in all the realms that they would not harm me, then by keeping me prisoner. But that was no life. It wasn’t even a half life. Since you freed me, I’ve had more satisfaction and adventure than I’ve had in the last hundred or so years. I would not exchange it for anything.” He reached for my hand, grasping it. “My death will be hard for you to accept, but you are strong. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Who knows? Maybe I will enjoy my time in Hel.” He struggled for breath, blood trickling from between his lips. “I’ve never been to that particular realm, and some say it’s not so bad.” He tried to laugh, but no sound come out.
I had never watched anyone die before. It was gut-wrenching.
My heart beat erratically, sorrow sweeping through my body like a tide of unbearable loss.
I closed my eyes for a brief moment and tried to gather myself. “If I hadn’t arrived in Svartalfheim, you’d still be alive.” My voice was thick as I choked back a sob. “I don’t regret freeing you, but I hate this outcome. I’m not afraid to face your mother. I will take whatever punishment she metes out. But if I could somehow change this, I would, even if it meant coming back to get you later. Or staying in Svartalfheim longer.”
He gripped my hand tightly. “I do not regret this outcome. It’s my time to go. I feel no fear.” He closed his eyes. “My destiny in Helheim is unknown, but I won’t be alone.” He smiled, his teeth stained red. “The souls who reside down there will have to endure my jokes for a millennium.”
I knew nothing about Helheim. Fen’s sister occupied that realm. Hel, the daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboda, ruled the underworld.
Maybe that meant it wasn’t a true death?
Maybe gods didn’t really die?
I was being ridiculously hopeful, but I needed to grasp on to something. Tears ran freely down my cheeks. “I’m sure you will find a good audience. You are so magnanimous, everyone will be drawn to you the moment you arrive.”
Footsteps headed into the Park. The others were returning. Tyr knelt on the other side of Baldur and grabbed his hand. “Brother, are you in a lot of pain?”
“No,” Baldur answered, his eyes fluttering open, his chest faltering a little more with each breath. “And, trust me, I am one to complain, unlike yourself.” He tilted his head. “You had your face rent open by the jaws of Fenrir and lost your hand, yet I never heard you complain once. In fact, I’ve never seen you in true distress.” He was stalled by a fit of coughing. He managed to continue after a moment, his voice thin. “Is it that pain does not affect you? Or are you just that valiant? I’d love to know. It is my eleventh-hour wish to know your secret.”
Tyr’s voice was gruff, marked by grief. “I feel pain, brother. But I learned at an early age not to show emotion. It is both my greatest asset and my biggest downfall.” He shook his head. “But miracles do happen. I didn’t think at my age, after all I’d been through, I could change my ways. But, lo and behold, I am evolving after an impossibly long time of stagnation.”
“That’s wonderful to hear,” Baldur said, his voice barely audible. “We should all grow and change, learning from our joy and happiness as well as our pain and fear. It is something my mother has not learned yet. I’m tasking you to help our sister, as she will be burdened with blame. You know what is to come. Protect her from my mother’s wrath. I’m hopeful that the combined powers of the god of war and the great wolf will be enough to save her from an unfavorable outcome.”
Tyr nodded. “I will do my best. Lest not forget the V
alkyries, who will stand united behind her. I’ve also been given some knowledge from the raven that will be helpful. Once we are summoned to Asgard, I will appeal to the Council and share that information. If they believe me, which will take time, all will be well.”
Baldur seemed appeased, a slow grin sliding across his lips. “Take care of Ringhorn. She sails true. It’s time for me to leave now. I feel the telltale tug. Be well. I go in love.”
He closed his eyes, his features relaxing. He struggled with one last breath, and as he exhaled, his chest stilled.
His grip went slack.
I inhaled, choking back a sob, bending my head to touch his shoulder while I cried.
He was gone, and there was nothing I could do about it.
After a few minutes, gentle hands gripped my shoulders. “Come, Phoebe.” My mother’s voice was soft and coaxing. “The Valkyries will ready him for transport back to Asgard. He would not want us to mourn for him. He lived a good life.”
I stood reluctantly, not wanting to leave him. What was supposed to happen next? Were we just going to go about our daily lives? Start training again?
My mother led me out of the Park. Everything was foggy with loss.
I turned to her, Fen, Tyr, and Sam coming behind us. I didn’t want to talk about my feelings. I just needed to absorb what had happened. “Am I allowed to be by myself for a while? Is that okay? I need to…process this. I’ve never lost anyone before.” I glanced back at the Park. Seeing Baldur’s lifeless body lying still on the ground was almost too much. “How will he get back to Asgard?”
Tyr answered, “The gods and goddesses will have received word of his death already. Someone from Asgard will come to retrieve him, as is the custom. When gods or goddesses perish, it is felt by others of their same stature.”
I nodded numbly, like I understood, even though I didn’t. “Once he’s back, what happens?”
“It is typical to send a god or goddess off to sea,” Tyr replied. “They are laid on a pyre, and arrows are shot during a ceremony. Once the boat is alight, rose petals are thrown into the bay. It is a send-off of the physical body as well as the soul, to ready the god for the afterlife.”
Freed: (Phoebe Meadows Book 2) Page 22