It was so loud that the rafters shook and ice crystals cascaded down on top of them. Alex pulled Ellewen and Sasha towards himself to protect them from the icy shards raining down.
"Sven was part of the agreement. He is also still alive. It is forbidden for you to keep any live being here in this realm. It is a land for the dead."
"Oh just get on with it," she muttered moodily, brushing ice from her dress.
Odin glared at her for a long time and then turned towards Sleipnir. He caressed the horse's soft, velvety grey nose and whispered something in his ear. Sleipnir focused his chocolate brown eyes on Odin and nuzzled his head against his long red beard. Odin turned to Hel again.
"Hel, is there no other way? Sleipnir is the finest horse in all the Nine Worlds; there is no other like him. Is there anything else I can grant you?"
"Ha, I knew you couldn't do it. You weak, feeble excuse for a god. Baldur, do you see that? Your father thinks more of his horse than his favourite son," she cried out.
Her look of triumph turned to shock when Odin suddenly pulled a dagger from his waist and slashed it deeply across Sleipnir's throat. The horse's eyes widened with pain and he staggered forward, falling first to his knees and then rolling slowly over onto his side. The red blood pulsed from the deep wound and pooled around his head, soaking into Odin's cloak as he cradled the horse's head in his lap.
"It is done," said Odin stonily. "Release my son or face my wrath."
Alex looked over towards Hel. She was standing frozen to the spot and was trembling. He couldn't decide if it was shock that Odin had done it or fear of the retribution. She looked over towards Baldur, who was grinning broadly and composed herself.
"I see I was wrong. I accept your sacrifice Allfather and in return I release your son and his wife to the lands of the living."
Odin raised a dark red eyebrow.
"Yes, Sven too," she snapped.
Sven gave a little whoop of joy and ran over to Sasha and gave her legs a big hug.
"I knew you loved me really. How about a kiss?" he said, winking at her.
Sasha laughed, kissed the top of his head and then pushed him away. "That's your lot cheeky."
"What? That's the type of kiss my grandma gives me," he sulked.
"Yeah well, if I were as ugly as you, my grandma wouldn't kiss me on the face either," joked Alex, punching him on the shoulder gently.
Baldur walked over briskly, holding Nanna's hand tightly and knelt at Odin's feet. Odin rested Sleipnir's head gently on the ground and stood up. He grasped Baldur's shoulders and raised him up and drew him into a tight hug.
"My son," said Odin quietly.
'Father," whispered Baldur.
They stood still for a few moments and then drew apart to study each other.
"You look grey son. A bit of sunlight and fresh air will fix that," he said, thumping him heartily on the back.
"I've forgotten what the sun looks like and fresh air. Oh Nanna, finally," said Baldur excitedly, picking her up and swinging her around in a circle.
She laughed and hugged Sasha to her chest when he finally put her down. "Finally, we can be a family," she cried.
"Let's get out of here," said Sasha, her eyes shining with excitement.
Baldur grasped Odin's forearm. "Father, I'm sorry about Sleipnir. He was the finest horse in the Nine Worlds."
Odin looked over at Sleipnir. The blood, which had pooled around his head was steaming. "He still is," he said, looking fondly down on his horse.
"No Odin, he was the finest horse. Now he is food for Niddhogg. He will certainly enjoy this little treat," said Hel, her voice drenched in malice.
Odin looked at Hel and chuckled. "Oh Hel, you really are a nasty piece of work. I have to correct you though. Sleipnir really still is the finest horse in the Nine Worlds."
"Well if you are referring to his spirit, then ok, I don't have any other dead horses of his quality I guess."
"Oh, he's not dead, he's sleeping."
"Odin, he is dead. Look, half his blood has soaked into my floor. He is definitely dead. His spirit this moment will be crossing over Modgud's bridge, seeking entrance to my realm," she said spitefully.
Odin, roared with laughter and everyone looked at him completely confused. Alex decided that the loss of his horse must have sent him over the edge. Oh great, he thought to himself, the most powerful being in the Nine Worlds has lost his marbles. This was not going to end well.
"Come on Sleipnir, you've had enough of a rest. It's time we got back to Asgard. I'm in the mood for a feast to welcome my son home."
Odin clicked his fingers and Sleipnir suddenly opened his eyes. Everyone gasped in shock and stepped forward.
"Give him room," said Odin, happily.
They stepped back again and Sleipnir shook his head. The wound had completely healed. He got his front legs underneath his body and pushed up into a standing position. He shook his head again shaking out his mane, snorted and nuzzled Odin's hand.
"Ha, I was right after all. You couldn't bear to part with your beloved pet, not even for your son," hissed Hel, triumphantly.
"But Hel, I did. You saw me sacrifice him and you clearly stated you accepted the sacrifice. The deal was struck and you have to honour it," smirked Odin.
"Trickery! This is not acceptable, you tricked me," she shouted angrily.
"Oh, I've learned a thing or two from your father over the years," he sniggered. "Sleipnir loves his apples, don't you fella? Especially the gold variety."
He caressed Sleipnir's silky, grey nose and rubbed his ears.
"Time to go home, my brave one. I'm sure Iduna won't mind giving you another one."
Suddenly the hall filled with a piercing scream. Hel was stamping her foot like a petulant child and pulling at her hair.
"I won't allow it," she screamed. "No one has ever tricked me."
"Well they have now," said Baldur, laughing. "Honour your promise and send us to Asgard."
"Never!" she yelled.
Hel stepped off the dais and ran to the doors. She gripped the handle and dragged the heavy doors open by herself.
"Cowards, arise and avenge me and I shall set you free," she called out to the heads buried in the ground.
They all looked at her in surprise.
"Come on, I release you from your bonds," she shouted at them. "Avenge me and you shall be free. Kill these tricksters and feed me their blood," she screamed.
The buried men struggled against their earthly prison. After a few moments of wriggling, they managed to free their hands and claw their way out of the mud. Their bodies were decayed and rotting flesh hung off them in strips. The ones at the bottom of the hill staggered towards the top. Alex reckoned there were about a hundred of them. Hel laughed and waved a hand above her head.
"I arm you," she shouted.
Swords suddenly appeared in their hands and they surged forwards towards the doors to the palace. Odin lifted his spear and pointed it at the door. It slammed shut just before the dead warriors reached the threshold and the hall reverberated as the warriors flung themselves against the doors.
"Laesa," shouted Ellewen, pointing at the door. "I've locked the door, but it won't last long," she said.
Odin turned around and swept his spear around the room. Hel's guards crumpled to the floor as the spear pointed at them. Very soon they were standing alone with just the noise of the thumping at the door and the screech of Hel's fury.
"We won't have long," said Baldur, gathering a sword from a fallen guard. "She's very powerful, she'll break through the Volva's locking spell in no time."
"How do we get out of here?" asked Alex looking around. "Come on, you're gods, can't you do something?"
The door started to bulge inwards as though a force field were trying to break through it.
"You're a god too boy, can't you do something?" Odin raised an eyebrow at Alex.
"Hey I'm just a demi give me a break."
"Sasha, it would be really u
seful if you could come into your powers right now," said Baldur. "We're going to need all the help we can get."
"I don't feel anything, sorry," she cried helplessly.
She ran over to another of the felled guards and took his sword.
"Sasha no," cried Nanna.
"Mum, get behind us. We can handle this. Two gods, two demis and a Volva against a hundred dead warriors. We got this," she grinned.
"That's my girl," said Baldur, proudly, squeezing her shoulder.
"And a dwarf," said Sven, dragging a sword across the hall from another guard.
It was too heavy for him and he could barely lift it.
"Here," said Odin, tossing him his long knife. "That's more your size."
Sven dropped the sword and caught the knife with one hand. "That's better," he grinned, examining the knife.
"Yeah you can stab them in the ankles," laughed Alex.
He drew his sword and held it out in front of him towards the doors. He still had no idea how to use it properly. He was just hoping one of them would impale itself on the sharp blade.
"Here, they come, brace everyone," shouted Baldur.
They were standing in a line in front of the doors. Odin in the middle, Baldur to his right and Alex to his left. Sasha stood next to her father, with Sven beside her. Ellewen was next to Alex. She was the only one without a weapon. She held her hands out and was muttering spells under her breath trying to keep the door closed. Suddenly a blast of energy burst through the doors, making them stagger back a step. The doors burst into flames and the heat was so intense the flames were blue. Alex could feel his skin start to burn and he took a step back with the others. When the flames died down Hel burst through and her dead warriors followed her screaming incoherently, pointing their swords directly at their heads. The warriors streamed past Hel and the first wave fell like sheaths of corn mowed down by a sickle as Odin sliced his spear through the air. The second line of warriors was upon them before Odin could use his spear again and the two sides clashed together noisily. The sound of metal striking metal echoed through the rafters and icicles rained down on them cutting into their flesh.
Alex jabbed his sword at anyone who came within striking range but the warriors kept out of his reach. They all knew the sword in his hand was cursed and they didn't want to die a second death. That would mean being fed to Niddhogg.
Out of the corner of his eye Alex could see Sven darting between the legs of the warriors. He was stabbing his knife right and left, striking at their hamstrings and tripping them up. He ducked and dove away from their wickedly sharp blades and rolled onto the floor to escape them. He looked up at Alex and grinned, then Alex lost sight of him as he disappeared into the mass of bodies.
Alex heard Baldur and Odin roaring with laughter. Odin was striking out with his spear, impaling warrior after warrior, lifting them up and throwing them over his shoulder. Baldur was cutting and slicing at anyone who came within reach. He moved so fast his sword was a blur. One particularly large warrior burst through the ranks and head butted Baldur on the nose. Blood spurted out covering Odin's face. He looked at his son quickly and they both laughed again with the thrill of the fight. Odin struck the large warrior on the cheek with his left fist and Baldur plunged his sword into his stomach and ripped the blade upwards. The warrior roared with pain and sunk to his knees holding his wound. Baldur lifted his right foot and kicked the warrior in the chest hard. He went flying back and crashed into another three warriors.
Suddenly Sasha screamed, "Dad! Watch out."
A dagger was flying through the air aimed straight at Baldur's heart. He couldn't move as they were now packed tightly together. Suddenly a naked warrior threw himself in front of Baldur and the dagger struck him in the back. He fell to the floor and Baldur stabbed the next warrior who had lunged forward towards him.
"Enough!" yelled Odin, throwing another warrior over his shoulder. "You cannot win Hel and these brave warriors do not deserve to be fed to Niddhogg."
Hel screamed in fury. She was standing behind the growing pile of bodies pulling her hair out.
"Never," she screamed. "Never."
She raised her hands towards the ceiling. "I command the Nifs to attend me," she shouted.
A blast of wind roared through the door and a loud piercing howl filled the air.
"We need to get out of here," shouted Sasha.
She was parrying her sword with a broad shouldered warrior. However as soon as the warrior heard the howl, he and all of the other warriors dropped their swords and ran out of the door.
"Cowards!" screeched Hel. "Come back here and fight or I curse you to remain buried forever."
Not one of them listened; they all ran out of the door.
"That's not a good thing right?" asked Alex. "They would prefer to remain buried forever than be in a place with Nifs."
"Yeah, this isn't good," said Sasha, dropping her sword to rest her arm.
The howling was getting louder and the wind continued to blast through the door making their hair whip around their faces. Ellewen came and stood in front of them. She had retreated during the fighting, exhausted from casting the spell on the door. She felt better now and held her hands up to try and seal the door again. She didn't have enough energy though and crumpled to the floor in a heap.
"Ellewen!" cried Alex, moving quickly to her side.
She was out cold.
"Alex, watch out," cried Sasha.
Balls of light came bursting in through the doors and flew around the room above their heads. Pain like nothing he had ever experienced before shot through Alex's head. He cried and clasped his hands to his head, bending over at the waist. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the others do the same.
"Nifs," gasped Baldur. "They're trying to taste our souls. Fall back. Don't let them pin you down or they will eat your soul."
The pain receded slightly and Alex ducked as a ball of light shot past him, narrowly missing his head. The light hovered in the air above him and started to elongate and take form. Alex backed away horrified at the sight which manifested before him. The Nif's face was a bare skull, which had huge eye sockets, which pulsated with white light. It's teeth looked razor sharp as it snapped at the air in front of Alex. It was wearing a long, dirty white gown which was covered in streaks of old brown blood stains and it howled, sending shivers down Alex's back. Suddenly it reared back and then struck out at Alex. It's skeleton hands reaching out, trying to grasp his neck.
Alex felt a surge of pure anger rip through his body. He had really had enough and it was time to finally end this. He swept the sword savagely through the air at the Nif's hands but it just cut through thin air. He summoned energy through his left hand and directed it straight at the Nif's body. The power blasted into the Nif turning it into a thousand sparks of light, which rained down to the floor and disappeared. Alex looked around at the others and saw a Nif had pinned Sasha to the floor. It was just about to sink its sharp teeth into her face when Alex summoned another blast of energy and hit the Nif square on the head. It jerked back stunned. Alex dropped the sword and threw another bolt of energy at it with his right hand. The Nif disappeared immediately in a shower of sparks.
"Hey guys, I've got this," he laughed hysterically.
He shot bolts of energy towards each of the Nif's that were circling around the hall in the air. He hit another one, which was swooping towards Odin but missed the one, which launched itself at Baldur, making him fall to the floor on his back with a crash. Baldur tried to fend off the Nif but it was futile, he was fighting a ghost and his hands just swept through thin air. The Nif had him pinned down and was snapping at his face.
"Alex, do something," shouted Sasha.
Alex, looked around in panic, there were too many of them. One was hovering over Ellewen's prone form and was about to sink his teeth into her and Odin was backed into a corner, swiping his spear uselessly at the Nifs.
"I can't, there're too many," he shouted back at Sasha.
>
"Use the force," she yelled, pointing at his chest.
Alex suddenly realised what he had to do. He put his hands by his sides, closed his eyes and summoned the energy deep inside his body. He could feel the power race through his body and he stored it in his chest. When he felt he could take no more he released it. Streaks of white light poured from the toreshammer on his chest and struck each of the Nif's. They howled in fury and exploded in the air, raining sparks down on their heads. Alex collapsed exhausted and passed out.
Chapter Twelve
Alex groaned and tried to lift his arm to rub his hand over his eyes. It felt like lead and he gave up and let it drop to the side.
"He's awake," said Sasha, hovering over him.
"Sasha," he croaked.
"Alex are you ok?" she asked.
"Yeah, I've no energy but I'm ok. The last thing I remember is you telling me to use the force. Man that was so Obi Wan Kanobi."
"You saved us Alex. The Nifs would have killed us all."
Sasha helped Alex to sit up.
"What about Hel, where is she?" he asked, looking around.
The bodies of the slain warriors were lying in a heap near the doors but there was no sign of Hel.
"She disappeared when you vanquished the Nifs," said Baldur, coming over to help Alex stand up.
His legs felt really wobbly and he held onto Baldur tightly.
"Come, sit over here whilst you regain your strength," said Baldur, leading Alex over to Hel's throne.
He sat down heavily and lay his head back but then jerked upright suddenly alert. "Where's Ellewen, is she ok?"
"I'm ok," she called over.
She was sitting on the edge of the dais with Nanna and Sven. She looked very pale and weak and Sven was covered in blood and gore. He held Odin's dagger loosely in his hand and stared at the dead bodies in front of him.
"I've just got a really bad headache," she grimaced, rubbing her temples.
"You were great," said Alex, smiling at her.
"Yeah, well you were better. You should have seen the look on Odin's face when you blasted those Nifs. I thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head."
Helheim (The Nine Worlds Trilogy Book 2) Page 15