Freed: (Phoebe Meadows Book 2)

by Carlson, Amanda

  “Are you talking about Tyr?” My half brother had spent many years regretting his decision to trick Fen, his ward and student, into being sent away. He had paid dearly, ending up with a facial scar and losing a hand.

  Yes, and Leela . Their testimony will have an impact on the end result of getting a shortened sentence.

  My mother would stand up for Fen, just like that?

  I hadn’t thought about it one way or another, but it made me happy that Huggie thought she would. “How long do I have before I go to Asgard?”

  In normal circumstances, it would be immediately, but as I said, Odin is prepared. The summons will be for you to arrive a week from now. Once it arrives, you must leave immediately.

  I nodded. I was relieved to know I had a week to prepare. Trepidation ran through my barely glowing body, and I blew out a breath. “Okay. I appreciate you coming to let me know. Is there anything else you can share before you leave?”

  Only that not many could achieve what you did in Svartalfheim. Not only did you free your brother, but you brought your mother home. The Valkyries have tried in vain for twenty-four years to do the same. Your ingenuity and strength will make you a strong shieldmaiden in no time. You must have faith and keep training.

  “I didn’t do that alone. I had help, and I was expecting Invaldi and the elves to be much more powerful than they were.”

  The dark elves are capable of being fierce warriors, but they were expecting a war, not a lone Valkyrie. They let their guard down and paid for it in the end. Invaldi will demand his retribution.

  “Figures,” I said. “Nothing is simple in these realms.”

  Huggie flapped his giant wings, half in the room, half outside. The sun had set, darkness beginning to fall. I will leave you now.

  “Will I see you in Asgard?”

  Yes. I will be there .

  He jumped off the ledge, soaring into the air. I got up and walked to the opening, watching him disappear, blending seamlessly into the night sky like a dark angel.

  I turned.

  Fen stood in the doorway, arms crossed, shoulder casually against the jamb. His face was unreadable, but his presence was welcome.

  Without a word, I walked into his arms.

  30

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  ____________

  M y head lay against Fen’s shoulder. I was content for the first time in a long while. Our lovemaking had been frantic at first, need and grief intermixing, but ended in quiet passion, both of us needing to feel the other. We hadn’t spoken about anything of substance yet.

  My fingers made lazy circles on his chest. “We can’t avoid talking forever,” I said. “But just so you know, it was extremely hard to leave without telling you. Huggie said if I waited, it would be bad, and I trusted him. I would’ve done anything to get my mother back. I hope you can forgive me.”

  “I will not lie,” Fen answered. “It was difficult seeing you go. I felt betrayed for a time, then I understood that you did what you had to do. I would’ve done the same. Waiting was the hardest part. I did not leave the portal until it opened.”

  I snuggled even closer. “I knew it would be hard. If you had left me like that, I would’ve felt betrayed, too. But I’m glad you understand.” I settled a kiss on his pec, enjoying his musky scent. “If I hadn’t found Baldur early on, I couldn’t have done much. Callan, too. Junnal was amazing. Speaking of the giant, have you seen him?” As far as I knew, Junnal hadn’t come back to the stronghold. “He told me he would ride the cillar back.”

  “I have not seen the Jotun, but that does not mean he is in danger. We will search for him in the morning.”

  “I haven’t seen Callan either, but I’m assuming he came back with Baldur and the Valkyries. I should’ve seen to Willa’s needs tonight, since I was the one who insisted she come with us, but I just couldn’t think of anything but Baldur.” Tears pooled in my eyes. “This entire thing is so messed up. Huggie told me we would meet as a group to discuss plans before I’m summoned to Asgard.”

  “I overheard your portion of the conversation,” Fen said quietly. “We will both be exiled to Helheim.”

  I glanced at him, trying to get a read on his features. But as ever, Fen kept his emotions close to the vest. “You’re not shocked? That’s big news.”

  “It was just a matter of time before the gods caught up with me. I broke out of Muspelheim, with your help, but I’m still a wanted man. They will not let me off so easily. There are worse places for me to be exiled, and I would never let you go without me anyway.”

  “Huggie says Odin thought this might happen, and there may be a way to save Baldur. From what I understood, your sister will be a tough nut to crack.”

  “I have not seen my sister since we were children, but we have the same blood running through our veins.” He shrugged. “It has to count for something.” He tightened his hold on me. “I will not let anything happen to you, shieldmaiden. I swear it. We will fight together and survive.”

  “I know we will.” I believed that. I had to. “But I won’t hold you to the keeping-me-safe part. Helheim sounds rough. And as you’ve just witnessed, I’m not without skills. I hope we can bring our weapons, because if they send us to such a wretched place without them, it will be terrible. Huggie also said we can speak at your hearing as character witnesses, to try to convince them that you are good and don’t deserve to be exiled forever. The raven said my mother knows information about Baldur’s destiny, and we’re going to have to find a way to convince your sister to let him go.”

  “As I said, I’m not familiar with the underworld or how it works, but if there is a way to do it, we will find it. Have no fear. The god of light is loved by all, and that alone will help our quest.”

  “Did you know him in Asgard? All those years ago?”

  “Our paths crossed a few times. He did not go out of his way to help me, but he was also one who treated me with civility. He is Tyr’s half brother, so we were together during celebrations, but mostly he was on his ship. He loved that boat.” His voice sounded wistful.

  “We have to make sure he gets to captain it again. In the meantime, Tyr will watch over it.”

  Fen pressed his lips to the top of my head. “We will, Valkyrie.”

  * * *

  It was after dawn, the sun just slicing over the horizon. We were gathered in a room I’d never seen before. It was carved out of limestone, like everything else in the stronghold, but it was deep within the mesa and had no windows, which afforded more privacy.

  We sat at a long conference table surrounded by ten chairs, enough to hold Fen, Tyr, Ingrid, Rae, and my mother.

  “So that’s all the bird told you?” Ingrid asked. “That Frigg is going to exile you to Helheim, but there’s a chance you can save Baldur while you’re there? That’s good news mixed with bad.” She glanced at Fen. “Then Odin’s planning to send Fenrir to Helheim separately, without Frigg’s knowledge, but before he does, we have to vouch for his character?”

  “That’s pretty much it,” I answered. “It’s imperative that we vouch for him, so if we save Baldur, Fen has a chance to finally be free. I’m not leaving that realm without him.” I peered around at the group, meeting each person’s gaze. “Fen and I fight together, and we leave together. And since we don’t want to spend the rest of our lives on the run, if we can make a good case for Fen in the beginning, I’m hoping Odin will listen to reason.” Anticipation fluttered in my chest. It was crazy to think I was going to meet my real father, an actual god, in just a few days. Even though we had gathered to discuss plans, it didn’t feel like there would ever be enough preparation to get me ready for that.

  Sensing my anxiety, Fen reached under the table and settled his hand on my thigh. I flashed him a smile. We had talked into the night about everything we could think of, but I’d woken up still carrying grief and sadness for Baldur.

  “What happens to Fenrir is not Odin’s decision alone,” Tyr said. “But he will have the
last say. I will stand up for you, there is no question. I owe you no less. It has been many years since I’ve last seen my father, but as the god of war, I should be able to help your cause. After all, I was your mentor and keeper.” He winked. “My word should still hold sway.”

  “I accept your offer to stand and pledge. And though I credit you as a mentor, you were a terrible keeper. I believe that’s why we are all sitting here today,” Fen said, grinning.

  “That may be so,” Tyr agreed.

  “Huggie also told me that Leela would have knowledge of Baldur’s prophecy,” I said, glancing at my mother, who sat to my right looking radiant and lovely, even in the early dawn hours. She was freshly showered and adorned in the standard Valkyrie regalia. Her breastplate was polished, and a beautiful bow, with arrows, was attached to her back. I looked forward to seeing her use it later today. She didn’t appear older than thirty-five, if that. It was weird to think my mother would seem my contemporary in the eyes of many.

  “Hugin is correct,” my mother stated. “News of Baldur’s uncertain future has been widely circulated for many, many years. It has also been misconstrued by some and interpreted in various ways by others, causing several stories to be popular. But I happen to have been in the right place at the right time, with a true seer, in the company of Odin and Frigg when I heard what I believe is the right prediction. We were told that Baldur would indeed die and that he would descend to Helheim, but he would gain favor with Hel, and she would eventually agree to set him free under certain conditions.”

  I sat up straighter. This was exactly what Huggie had said. “What are those conditions?” I prayed they weren’t going to be too extreme.

  “The seer was vague, as they often are, so the interpretation may take a while to decipher,” she said. “But one condition stated that Hel would agree to Baldur’s release if all the gods and goddesses wept for him.”

  My mouth fell open. “That’s it? Weep for him, and he’s free? As in, actual tears?” I asked.

  “I think, in this case, ‘weep’ means they must officially admit that they are sad he is gone and want him back,” my mother said. “Or something a little more obtuse. Weep could mean many things. Once we are in Asgard, I will investigate more. I know where this seer resides and will pay him a visit.”

  Fen made a sound, and I glanced at him. “There will be one holdout. There is always one holdout,” Fen concluded. “Which my sister well knows. By agreeing to something like that, she will ensure that she will keep the god of light by her side until Ragnarok.”

  “Who would be the likely holdout?” I asked. “Baldur is beloved by all.”

  Fen didn’t answer, so Tyr did. “Loki.”

  “But he’s your father.” I sat up in my chair. “Wouldn’t you be able to sway him?” The thought of Baldur’s freedom being blocked by one god made me want to scream.

  Fen’s face was set in hard lines. “I will try my best, of course,” he answered. “But I may have better luck bartering with my sister. Perhaps I can give her something that she desires more than harboring the god of light.”

  Panic settled into my chest. That sounded like it would be a steep cost. “What could she desire more?” I was almost afraid to ask.

  “I know not,” Fen replied. “But she has ruled the underworld for many years without journeying to another realm, so there must be something she covets or misses.”

  What if she asked for a passel of newborn babies to skin alive? Or wanted to rain terror down on Midgard? I cleared my throat. “If she asks for something outrageous, we can’t fulfill it.”

  Fen gave me a long look. Then he nodded once. “Agreed. But then we are destined to reside with Baldur in Helheim forever. Freeing him is our only way out of exile.”

  I desperately hoped that wasn’t true. “We’ve escaped two other realms. I have to believe we can find our way out of Helheim.” We would try, but I wasn’t sure we would succeed. With a whole bunch of gods and goddesses against us, the outlook seemed bleak. “We will have to wait and see what Hel has to say. Does anyone know how long it will take after the verdict for us to be sent away?”

  “Immediately.” Tyr’s voice was tight.

  My mother stood abruptly, her chair scraping on the stone floor. “You will have to excuse me,” she said. “I’m having a difficult time accepting what has happened and need time to think. I waited for years for the day to come when I would be reunited with my daughter, and now she will be ripped away.” Her hand rested on my shoulder, her fingers gripping me tightly. “There must be a way we can help Phoebe escape this fate. I’m going to consult with my confidants in Asgard. I will not give up on her. We only have a few short days to figure out how to change the course of these events. Every second is crucial.” I held on to her hand where it rested on my shoulder. I understood how she felt. We were all still mourning Baldur, and having to deal with this so soon was excruciating.

  The only shining light in all of this was that I might be able to free my good-natured brother from a lengthy stay in Helheim.

  “Good idea. Go see what you can find,” Ingrid said to Leela as she pushed back from the table. “I’m sure your confidants will be loyal to you, even after all these years. See where the Council is at, if they’ve reached a verdict, and what the gossip is leaning toward. It’s time to wrap up this meeting anyway and go train. Phoebe needs to get as much time in as she can. Plus, I want to see what she can do with her energy now that she can harness it.” Ingrid grinned, her hazel eyes sparking with mischief. “That was a hell of a blast you gave Invaldi. I haven’t seen energy flow like that in eons—if ever. I have a couple hay bales with your name on them, and I hope when you’re done, there’s nothing left but smoke and dust.”

  We all stood.

  I was certain we would meet back here again over the next few days. “I’m not sure you’ll get smoke and dust, but I’ll try my best,” I said as I followed my mother out of the room, where we embraced. It felt good to touch her. She radiated positive energy, and my body was hungry for it. “I don’t want you to worry,” I told her. “I know this all seems dire, but I’ll have Fen with me, and we will find a way to get out. I’m confident of that.”

  “Either that, or we will break you out.” She smiled. “The Valkyries will do everything they can to help you, my beautiful daughter.” She stroked the side of my face, and I closed my eyes. “You did not kill Baldur, and I will do my best to make sure everyone in Asgard understands that. We will get through this. And once it’s behind us, our lives can begin in earnest.”

  “I look forward to that.”

  “Now let’s get out there,” Ingrid said, coming up behind us. “The day’s wasting, and we have a hell of a lot of work to do.”

  “Ingrid, it’s barely five o’clock in the morning,” I pointed out. “The day hasn’t even begun yet.”

  “You’re lucky I let you sleep last night, kid,” Ingrid said. “Now let’s get cracking. There are a few hay bales out there that need to learn a lesson.”

  31

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  ____________

  I was heading back to the Park, after walking my mother to her quarters, when I spotted someone in the distance I didn’t recognize. The figure looked male, but I was too far away to tell for sure. Fen and Tyr had gone to gather more weapons, and their silhouettes were much larger, so it wasn’t either of them. The person looked to be practicing with a weapon of some kind, possibly a small sword. His movements were fluid, lithe and agile.

  Valkyries did not allow men in the stronghold, so I couldn’t imagine they’d let anyone in since last night.

  Ingrid was waiting for me, likely impatiently, but I had no choice but to check it out. I approached cautiously, refraining from unsheathing my swords. The person wasn’t moving threateningly. He was minding his own business and training, which was commonplace around here. The person was likely a Valkyrie with her hair up, dressed in regular clothes, or some such thing. But I had to be sure
.

  As I moved closer, my mind shifted to Junnal. The big, lovable troll-giant still wasn’t back yet. It made me uneasy. Fen was going to contact his mother, Angrboda, Queen of Jotunheim, later this morning to see if she had any news. I was cautiously optimistic, since Junnal was so big and strong. But if Invaldi had harmed him in some way, there would be retaliation.

  When I was about fifty yards away, I stopped and squinted.

  I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

  “Callan?”

  The man before me was no older than thirty. He was tall, with a full head of dark hair, handsome, and shirtless. He had the sculpted body of an athlete and no beard. All that identified him were his pointed ears.

  He spun around, smiling widely. “Phoebe! It’s so wonderful to see you.” He walked toward me with a bounce in his step, extending his arms in the universal sign for an embrace.

  I went in for a hug, still not believing who was in front of me. I pulled back, my hands gripping his noticeable biceps. “Callan, what in the world happened to you? You’re going to have to explain this to me. You’re supposed to be an old man.” My eyes did a once-over again. “I mean, I noticed you looking better with each infusion of energy, but I never expected this. You are utterly transformed!”

  He tilted his head back and laughed. It was a soft, masculine sound. “What happened was a hefty dose of Yggdrasil and sunshine.” The sun was just rising over the mesa at that moment. “Blessed sunshine is the healer of all.” He closed his eyes and opened his arms, drinking in the first rays of the morning. “Oh, how I’ve missed your subtle kiss on my skin.”

  He looked free, happy, and rejuvenated.

  “Honestly…this is…” I stammered. So strange? “I had no idea sunlight could make such a difference. It looks like you’ve shed eighty years. I’m stunned.”

  “And I owe it all to you, young Valkyrie.” Surprising me, he dropped to one knee. I panicked for a brief moment, thinking he might ask me to marry him or something crazy.