by Linsey Hall
But the eagle had been at the bottom of the tree!
He was supposed to be at the top.
I grinned. “I might just have some juicy gossip for you.”
Ratatoskr’s eyes brightened. “Really? About what?” He shook his finger at me. “It had better be good, now.”
“Oh, it’ll blow your mind.”
“What is it?” He leaned forward, whiskers twitching.
“Have you been down to the bottom of the tree today?”
“Not in a week, no. It’s a long way.”
I grinned. “This morning, I saw Níðhöggr and the eagle sitting together.”
The squirrel reared back. “You didn’t!”
“I did. The eagle didn’t want to be seen, though. She hopped back behind the snake when she saw me.”
“Impossible! The eagle never flies down. I pass the gossip down.”
“I know. You make them fight, right? Spreading tales between the two.”
“Not tales! The truth! Gossip that I believe to be true.”
Cade chuckled low in his throat. I tried not to laugh, myself. The squirrel was like an old busybody at church.
“Well, the eagle decided to fly down for herself today. I bet you haven’t seen her either.”
The truth glinted in his eyes. “Curses! I knew something was afoot.” He stomped his big back foot and wrung his paws together. This was definitely juicy gossip—Ratatoskr was eating this up. “I must go investigate! This requires a firsthand look.”
“Hang on!” I held out my hands. “You promised! You have to take us up the tree to the next realm.”
Ratatoskr scowled.
“You’re a gossip, Ratatoskr, but you have honor.”
He scowled deeper, his teeth more prominent.
“Take us, or I’ll convince Níðhöggr to sue you for slander. That’s what the Icelandic poet Snorri Sturluson wrote about you, you know—that you spread slanderous gossip.”
“Sue me for slander? What’s that?”
“It’s really bad. They’ll take all your magical nuts.” I pointed to the little pile that glowed at his feet.
He gasped. “He wouldn’t!”
“He would. I’d help him. So keep your word, and take us up the tree. You’re fast. I bet a strong squirrel like you could be back down at the base of the tree to spy on Níðhöggr and the eagle in no time.”
He puffed up his chest. “I could. And you’re right—my honor depends on it.”
“Thank you.”
He bowed, then picked up his magical nuts and shoved them into his cheeks. I stifled a chuckle. They glowed inside, making him look a little bit angelic, despite his gossipy hobby. Face puffy, he crouched low so we could climb onto his back.
Cade and I scrambled up. Ratatoskr’s fur was warm and coarse. Mayhem hovered at our side, and Ratatoskr took off up the tree trunk, scaling the massive ash tree like a pro.
I clung tightly to his fur, muscles burning. My still-healing cuts didn’t help matters, either.
“There’s no way in hell I’m looking down,” I muttered.
“I would advise against it,” Cade said.
“We’re hiiiigh up.” Ratatoskr’s voice was garbled due to the nuts. “If you fall…splat!”
“Thanks, Ratatoskr.” I buried my face in his fur.
Cade chuckled beside me.
This was going to be a long ride.
It felt like hours later that Ratatoskr stopped on a branch. I tumbled off him, aching all over. For a moment, I lay on the bark, staring up at the sky.
Somewhere along the way, Mayhem had disappeared. I hoped that meant we were out of danger.
“This is the level of the realm of the Valkyrie,” Ratatoskr said. “My honor is intact. Now I am off to determine the truth of your words!”
I leaned up to say goodbye, but he was already scampering off, his bushy tail disappearing over the edge of the branch.
I struggled to my feet to join Cade.
“Never thought I’d ride a giant squirrel,” Cade said.
“Life comes at you fast.”
“That it does.” He turned and started toward the trunk of the tree.
I followed.
It quickly became evident that the entrance to the Valkyrie realm wasn’t in the trunk, as the entrance to the Dark Elves world had been. I pulled the compass stone from my pocket and stared at it.
When the needle stopped spinning, it pointed out into thin air, right over the edge of the tree limb.
I dropped my head back and groaned. “You have to be kidding.”
“Over the edge?” Cade asked.
“According to this thing.”
I walked toward the edge of the limb, which took a solid ten minutes since the thing was so big. Carefully, I leaned over.
Below, the air shimmered black.
A portal.
“We have to jump into it.” My stomach turned at the thought.
“And if we’re wrong?”
“Splat.” I shook my head. “Just like Ratatoskr said.”
“That’s bad news.”
I dug into my bag for the scroll, then unfurled it and searched for confirmation that I should jump off the tallest tree in the universe. “Yep, the scroll confirms that we have to jump.”
I shoved it back in my bag, and the stone went into my pocket for easy access.
Cade held out his hand.
I smiled at him, knowing my grin had a slightly worried tinge to it, and gripped his hand. His warmth and strength sent a shot of comfort through me, one that was followed quickly by a shiver.
In the middle of a quest, it’d be a bad idea to think about how attractive Cade was. About how much I wanted him.
But if I had to jump off a giant tree, I was going to take whatever distraction I could get.
“Ready?” Cade asked.
“Oh yeah. Psyched.”
He chuckled. Then stepped forward.
I counted down. On three, we leapt off the tree. My stomach jumped into my throat as I fell, wind whistling in my hair. I barely managed to bite back a scream.
When the portal sucked us in, we slowed abruptly, then crashed to the ground.
Sprawled on soft grass, I shook my head to regain my vision.
“You all right?” Cade asked.
“Yeah.” I sat up next to him.
All around us, mountains soared, their peaks tipped white. The valley was covered in green grass, with a large river roaring nearby. Wildflowers speckled the ground, and the sun shone brightly in the clear blue sky.
“Whoa,” I breathed.
“Looks like Norway in the spring.”
“Never been.” But now I wanted to. I stood, my legs shaking and muscles aching. “I really hope we don’t have to fight anything here. I’m just about out of juice.”
Cade wrapped an arm around my waist, supporting me. I stiffened, not liking the insinuation that I wasn’t tough enough to stand on my own. Then I relaxed.
I actually liked leaning into Cade. And I liked him.
What was the big deal if I accepted a little help?
Especially from him.
I leaned into him and dug the stone from my pocket. The needle spun, finally pointing us down the valley.
“That way.”
We started walking. Every step was pain.
When the sound of hoofbeats broke the quiet, I stiffened and turned.
Two white horses galloped up to us, each without a rider. Silver wings flared off their back, and they wore matching silver leather saddles and bridles. When they stopped in front of us, they whinnied.
I held out a hand, and one snuffled my palm.
“Hi, guys,” I said.
Both horses bent their heads and their front knees, a clear gesture that we should get on.
“Should we?” Cade asked.
“Yes.” I felt it in my chest. We were almost there, and I’d read about the mounts of the Valkyrie. “I’m not much of a horse rider, but these guys will take us
where we want to go.”
I climbed onto the nearest horse. It was a bit awkward to get around the wings, but I managed. As soon as I was seated, the horse took off, trotting down the valley. At least it didn’t fly. I didn’t know what to do with the reins or my feet, but as long as we weren’t in the air, this ride couldn’t go too terribly wrong.
The horse seemed to know where it was going, and it carried me in the direction the compass stone had been pointing.
Cade’s mount joined my own, and we trotted down the valley, following the stream. Though I was glad to be going faster, and with an official escort and everything, the bouncing was pretty freaking painful.
Riding sure wasn’t easy.
When the buildings came into view ahead, my heart began to thunder.
This was it.
Answers.
The setting sun gleamed on the long, low buildings. Viking longhouses, built of wood with green turf roofs. They were scattered all over the valley. As we neared, I noticed a training field where Valkyrie fought with various weapons.
The women were everywhere. All of them had wings, and most wore armor. Some rode horses like my own, while others fought with axe or sword.
We were only a hundred yards away when one of them peeled off from the group, directing her mount toward us. The horse’s coat gleamed black, while her wings shined gold. Chainmail protected the Valkyrie to the knees, and a metal helmet concealed most of her blond hair. Her wings were gold like those of her horse.
A huge grin split her face when she was close enough to make out my features.
“Bree Blackwood! Finally. We have waited for you for ages.”
My heart thundered, a thousand emotions battling inside me. Someone as powerful as this Valkyrie had waited for me? It made sense, I supposed, since the gods had given me pieces of their power. But it didn’t feel like I should be that person.
But I was.
Now I just had to earn it.
“Hi.” I waved.
Ah, crap. I should have said something more formal.
The Valkyrie nodded, then looked to Cade.
He briefly bowed his head. “I am Cade.”
“Belatucadros,” the Valkyrie said.
He winced at the use of his true, godly name. “Aye.”
She smiled. “I am Sigrún. Come. You must be famished and in need of rest.” Her gaze traveled over our blood-soaked clothes. “And a bath.”
“That would be amazing.” I directed my horse to walk alongside hers. Actually, who was I kidding? My horse did that all on its own.
“Was your journey difficult?” Sigrún asked.
“Moderate,” I said.
“I suppose you have many questions.”
“That’s the truth.” I studied the many longhouses and the women who moved between them. Most had stopped their training for the evening. “This isn’t quite what I expected, given what I read about the Valkyrie. Don’t you live at Valhalla, serving the warriors mead?”
Sigrún threw her head back and laughed. “They would wish it were so.”
I grinned. “Good. That sounded crap to me anyway.”
“I agree. It is male fantasy, spun by the poets of Midgard.” She shook her head, clearly unimpressed. “They would have us strolling the fields of battle amongst the slain, wearing white dresses and choosing the most valiant and serving them mead for eternity. No. We do choose the most valiant—or we did. But we rode our war horses into battle, fighting alongside them. Ensuring that our choices went to Valhalla—no matter what it took.”
“What do you do now that there are no more Viking warriors or wars?”
“We fight on the front lines of Hel, holding back the monsters who would try to escape and incite Ragnarok.”
“The end of the world.” I’d read about it.
“Precisely.” She pointed toward the training field, where the last of the warriors were leaving. “We train the new Valkyrie there. Then they go to fight.”
“New Valkyrie?”
“Of course.” She pointed to a section of houses on the left. I noticed a few men milling about, also dressed in armor and looking battle worn. “That is where the mated Valkyrie live. Sometimes, little Valkyrie are born.” She pointed to the other side of the compound, where more longhouses sat. “The unmated Valkyrie live there.”
As we rode between the buildings, Valkyrie turned to look at us. They smiled, whispering amongst themselves and pointing.
I felt like a celebrity. It was kinda cool, since these women were total badasses, their armor and wings glinting in the light of the setting sun.
“This place is amazing,” I said.
“We like it very much. And we’re very glad that you are here. I know that you have many questions, but you should rest first. Gain your strength for the trial ahead.”
“Trial?”
“It’s not easy to anchor one’s magic. DragonGods bear a heavy load.” She stopped her mount, and mine halted. She turned to me. “But I know you can manage. You are worthy, Bree Blackwood.”
Her dark gaze pinned me, serious. Suddenly, it was hard to breathe. Whether it was the weight of her expectations or the awesome knowledge that this real-life freaking Valkyrie believed in me, I couldn’t tell. But I managed to draw breath.
“Thank you,” I said.
“No, thank you. DragonGods are born for a purpose. You will serve yours, but it won’t be easy.”
All right, that part made me a little nervous, but I shoved it away and focused on our amazing surroundings. I’d only come here once, and I wanted to take it all in.
Sigrún started her mount again. Cade and I followed. She led us to a longhouse on the outskirts of the village, then dismounted.
“You can spend the night here. Recuperate. In the morning, we will convene with the Council of the Valkyrie, and you will have your answers.”
I climbed off—more like slid ungracefully—and followed her into the longhouse. It was warm and cozy inside, a long room with a fire burning in the middle. Wicker walls separated what I assumed to be a sleeping chamber, and a young woman looked up from the hearth.
She smiled. “You’re here!”
Sigrún gestured to her. “Bree and Cade, this is Herja. She will help you get settled.”
“Hi.” I nodded to Herja, then turned to Sigrún. “Thank you again.”
“Of course. Now, I must go get out of this armor. It’s been a long day. Until tomorrow.”
I waved goodbye, then turned to Herja, who was already bustling to the side of the longhouse. Her dress was simple and her dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. Though she wasn’t dressed like a warrior, she had the bearing and stride of one. I had a feeling that everyone here was a warrior, no matter what their day job was.
“This is amazing,” Cade said.
“I know, right?” I couldn’t believe I was somehow part of this amazing compound of badass warrior women.
Herja hurried back, her arms loaded with a tray of food. The sight of the roasted meat and bread and wine and some kind of root vegetable made my stomach growl.
“You should eat.” Herja’s dark eyes gleamed happily. “It is a long journey here from Midgard, I know.”
“Thank you.” I sat on the bench by the fire, enjoying the warmth, and dug into the food, filling my bowl with a bit of everything.
“Once you’ve eaten and drunk, you may follow the path out the back door. It will lead you to your private bathing pond.” She grinned. “It’s geothermal, so it’s warm.”
“That sounds amazing.” Every inch of me ached. Now that we were away from threats, I could use the last of my power to heal myself and then recoup overnight. But I also needed a bath like nobody’s business.
“I will leave you.” Herja pointed to the far side of the longhouse. “There is more food and mead over there.”
We repeated our thanks, and she left.
“Mead?” I sipped from my goblet, then nearly gagged at the heavy, sweet taste and pressed my lips
together to keep from spitting it out. “Oh, that’s mead. Not wine.”
“Interesting, isn’t it?”
“I’d kill for a cosmo.” Hesitantly, I sipped at the weird liquid, growing used to it.
Okay, this wasn’t so bad. After a day like today, I’d drink pretty much anything.
The sudden quiet and comfort was nice. We ate in companionable silence, both too hungry to talk. The food was savory and delicious, and the mead quickly went to my head. I set down my silver cup and plate, not wanting to overdo it.
“I’m ready for that bath.” I stood.
“You go first.”
“Come on, there may be two places to bathe.”
Cade hesitated for the briefest moment, then nodded and stood. We left the longhouse, stepping into the cool night, and walked down the path. Trees dotted the way, providing shelter from the view of the village.
When I reached the bathing area, I gasped. Moonlight glittered on a steaming natural pool, set right in the middle of the trees. Towels sat on a large rock, along with folded piles of clothes. I inspected them, realizing that they were replicas of what we wore.
I turned to Cade. “This is too cool.”
“Aye.” He nodded to the pool. “You can go first.”
“It’s fine. There’s enough steam that we won’t be able to see each other.”
I almost slapped my hand over my mouth. Had I really just said that? Suggested that we get in the pool together? Naked?
Chapter Seven
“That sounds a bit dangerous.”
“Don’t worry about me, Cade. I know how to say no.”
A devastatingly sexy smile stretched across his face. “All right, then. You get in first.”
He turned his back.
Quickly, I stripped out of my clothes. My cuts still burned, so I took a few moments to envision them closing. My healing magic surged, and the wounds knit themselves fully back together.
I slipped into the water, groaning at the welcome heat that relaxed my muscles, then looked down. Yep, the steam and darkness concealed anything interesting.
I turned away from Cade. “You can get in.”