City of Assassins

by Farah Cook

  We reach the border outside the city and I catch a glimpse of Slotsplads. The turrets and towers are collapsing to the ground. A thick white cloud rises. It curls its way into the gray sky. She’s out there, Yggdrasil. If I don’t feed her the runes she entrusted me with she’ll wither. The Nine Worlds will fall into darkness. We’ll be left with motes of dust smudging our minds. The decision will not be easy.

  We’ve been speeding on the road for a while, and I am beginning to feel tired. The City of Skies is long behind us. Part of me doesn’t know what to believe. The glory of the West has turned into ruins. Is Lord Nourusa causing all of this? Has our world fallen into the hands of evil? After Arres I understand what evil is and it terrifies me. The ashen souls of my ancestors. The murder in the Emperor’s eyes as he ordered the killing of his children so that he could live. I snatch in the cold air, and it freezes my lungs. Ahead of us the road through the forest is becoming narrower as the trees are arching in on us.

  Where are we? Frederick tells me it’s a hideout, away from the city. But is it safe? I fear what’s going to happen when I’m faced with Magnus. I didn’t betray him intentionally. Yes, I formed an alliance with Frederick, trusted him with the weapons instead of returning to the towers or reporting anything back. I have no intention of fulfilling my purpose as assassin. Sure, that makes me a traitor. But I’d rather be an outlaw on the run than succumb to the rule Robert never wanted to be part of. He knew power and greed is all the Goths care about. Magnus is no different. He has his duties to carry out, and I have mine.

  Frederick slows down and turns left down a long and winding road by the side of the forest. It leads us deep into private property. We stop at a silver gate of a large yellow mansion. Frederick dismounts from the motorcycle and opens a small silver box next to the gate and presses in a long digit number that pops up in a bright red color. Seconds later, the iron gate creaks open. We drive into the main square. He stops a hundred meters from the main entrance and kills the engine.

  The bright full moon is bathing in the cold starless night sky. The large trees around the manor look as if they’re pale shades of ghosts. The water in the majestic fountain in front of the house is frozen. A deadly silence surrounds us. As we trail up to the front door he takes off his helmet and glares at me.

  “We should be safe here,” he says. “The estate has been deserted for at least a decade.”

  “What is this place?” I say. “Why have we come here?”

  “This manor belonged to my grandfather,” says Frederick. “I spent some of my childhood here, and it’s the only place I could think of as a hideout for us. It’s far from the city on the outskirts of the woods. No one will come looking for us here.”

  “No one lives inside the house?”

  “The caretakers used to,” says Frederick. “But they’ve left.”

  “How do you know?”

  “I came to the estate after leaving Arres and found the place empty.”

  “Is this where you are keeping the weapons hidden?” I ask impatiently.

  “Yes.” He’s silent. I sense a trail of thought stinging his mind. I decide to say nothing. We glare at one another.

  Frederick takes my hand, and we continue to walk up to the main entrance of the grand mansion. Our feet crunch the snow covered gravel. I step carefully onto the steps. Two huge lion sculptures are majestically resting on each side. He pulls out a key to unlock the large wooden door. We step inside, and it’s as dark and cold as a tomb.

  “Hello?” says Frederick. Only his own echo calls back. “Is anyone here?” He peers at me. I shrug.

  “Let’s go inside.” He tightens his grip around my hand, and we walk into a grand entrance with a swirling marble staircase in the middle. Dirt and red brown leaves lay scattered around. Hanging above our heads is a large crystal chandelier, which decorates the vaulted ceiling. Frederick flicks the switch and the light sparks to life devouring the gloom.

  The walls hold old portraits and paintings of lords and ladies. Their expressions are stern and cold just like the house. In the mirrored walls, two shadows appear that I don’t recognize. One belongs to me, and the other is Frederick’s reflection. Sweat soaks underneath my black leather attire as I walk closer to the mirror examining myself. My hair is matted and lifeless, my face pale. Dark circles are visible underneath my eyes. How can this be me? I stare at Frederick’s image. His hair is raven black. Mystery is drawn on his unshaven face. The circles under his eyes are a dark purple. We look aged and ugly.

  “Who are we?” I say touching my face. “This is not us.” When I glance at Frederick, he doesn’t look like the reflection in the mirror. He shoots me a peculiar glance as if afraid to say what I need to hear. “Why do we appear different than what we are?”

  “You don’t know, do you?” he says softly.

  “Know what?”

  “What I am about to tell you is going to shock you.”

  “Nothing you can say will shock me.” As the words leave my mouth I feel my heart sink into the pit of my stomach. “Maybe just a little.”

  “Arres has partly aged us. But the signs are not entirely visible. They are from the past, and we are in the future. And that’s not all.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I went to see someone, when I saw what you see now in the mirror.”

  “Who did you see?”

  “That doesn’t matter,” he says. “I’ve discovered that time travel is dangerous. What we did could have killed us, even trapped us. We have been lucky.”

  “I don’t understand. What do you mean partly aged? What else is causing this illusion?”

  “Follow me.” he says.

  I walk behind him into the living room. There’s a sofa in front of a wood burning fireplace with a limestone mantel. He set’s fire to the logs. The wind seeps through the windows, howling like a midnight wolf. The storm rattles the windowpanes. Thunder strikes. The cracking burning fire from the hearth fills the empty vacuum between us. I sit down and stretch my fingers feeling the warmth from the flames. I gaze at him. There is a disappointment in his eyes and a fear that I don’t recognize.

  “While you were in Trinzantine killing the Emperor” Frederick pulls out a blanket. “I came out here in hiding.” He unfolds the blanket and reveals the weapons. The sword, the spear, the axe, the shield.

  “You kept the weapons safe.” I say relieved to see them. I tilt my head. There’s more on his mind. I get a feeling I won’t like what he’s about to tell me.

  “You were right.” he says.

  “About what?”

  “The weapons are—”

  I clasp my hands over my mouth. “Please don’t.” I take a deep breath as if it was my last. “Karen, she tried to tell me just before she died—”

  “Nora! The weapons have to be destroyed. They are cruel, and desire only to kill. They don’t manifest good or bad. We’ll have no use of them, unless we see ourselves as dark monsters, killing ruthlessly to win over our enemy. They’ll corrupt our soul. The more we use them, the more evil will spread in our veins like venom. The change in our appearance is not just from the time travel. It is also from the weapons. If we hold onto them, use their power; we will become those images we saw, or something worse. Faceless shadows. We need to destroy them before they destroy us.”

  “No!” I say. “Do you know what we—”

  “Yes! I was there with you. It’s not an easy decision, but we have to destroy the weapons. Do you understand? We must!”

  I swallow hard. My eyes don’t leave his sight.

  “How are we going to do that?”

  “The fires of Helheim, where they were forged. They can only be destroyed there.”

  “You’re asking me to use the runes.” I say.

  “What seems to be the trouble with that?”

  “Nothing…”

  “Don’t lie to me,” he grabs hold of my shoulders. “What did you have in mind?”

  “I made a decision,” I s
ay. “To let Yggdrasil wither. See her roots rot and die.”

  “Why?” he shouts. “Have you lost your mind?”

  “It’s the only way we can stop all the evil from spreading. Without the Nine Worlds there will be no war to fight, no battle to win. This is just the beginning.”

  “You have gone splitting mad. Is this some revenge against your mother?” says Frederick. “Because war is upon us. Nothing will stop Nourusa or our dynasties from hunting us down. We cannot use the weapons as a means of defense. Only if we desire to become the evil we set out to fight. So we should destroy them and use our alliances to win this war.”

  “Then what?”

  “The Nine Worlds await where every outcast, every race, and every creature has its place. Together, we can create a new world, in Midgard.”

  “Try to understand, Frederick, the only way to win is using the weapons—”

  “I don’t believe you!” he yells. “I trusted you. If I’d known you would make such an asinine decision, I wouldn’t have let Mina give her life for you. Your parents are dead. You’re wanted by Magnus. My father has put all his forces in place to find you. Nora, I can no longer protect you if you go on.”

  “The weapons were meant to protect us,” I say. “Did you forget why we set out on this journey, Frederick? We’ll destroy them in Helheim soon after defeating our enemy.”

  I hold him close and feel his heart beat next to mine. He pulls away, but I follow him. His face is an unreadable map. His body, a quiet storm.

  “They might help us defeat them,” he says. “But be aware of the curse they carry. Evil comes from using them. Don’t tell me you don’t feel it running through your veins. What happened at the City of Assassins? Did you not ruthlessly kill your ancestors and their army? Did it not make you feel invincible? Does your blood not crave for more? You can make a choice and break free from the assassin’s spell. Don’t let it do to you what it did to your ancestors. You’ll wake up one day begging someone to set you free. But it will be too late. You will have to live with all the lives you’ve taken.”

  “I’ll live,” I say.

  Frederick walks to the window. The black night is cold and windy. I hear the trees swaying. But it’s not because of the wind. It’s something else. A loud familiar sound, hovering over the roof.

  “What is that?” I say.

  Frederick turns. He grabs me, folds the weapons together and yanks me out of the room. We run through the corridor and tumble down the stairs entering a dark cellar. He holds a torch in his hand, and guides me through a long tunnel.

  “They’re here. They’ve found us.”

  “Frederick, is Helena with them?”

  “She’s with Magnus.”

  “No.” I stop and bend over. My hands spread across my knees. “How could she?”

  “Orkeney has agreed to help Jarl to hunt us down.”

  “How do you know all this?” I say.

  “Andreas.”

  “What else did he say?”

  “Hildebrand was found dead in his secret library. His corpse was rotten like he’d been there for months. Neck slit from ear to ear.”

  “And the books? He had all sort of spell books, ancient secrets.”

  “All burned to the grounds. Every map, every clue.”

  “Who would do that?”

  “My father,” says Frederick. “He takes orders from Nourusa now.”

  “Have you seen your dad since getting back here?”

  “He figured out I was back and had me tailed. But I have my ways around him. ”

  “Frederick.” I stop and he turns around. “We can’t keep running. We need to use the weapons. The sooner we do. The safer we’ll be.”

  “Do you know what you’re asking? Do you want to become the queen of darkness?”

  “No, together we will make sure Midgard is peaceful.”

  “You’re suggesting I should kill my own father, destroy my dynasty.”

  “If you don’t, they will not hesitate. Would you rather that?”

  “Let’s get out of here first then decide.” He pulls me along.

  We reach the end of the tunnel. Frederick pushes the door at the end open. We pass through to the backyard. I can still hear the helicopter. Sharp light sheds across the mansion’s roof. He beckons for me to follow. We hide in the shadows.

  Frederick slips into the garage. He motions for me to follow. At least a dozen odd cars are in sight. He pulls out the keys and presses a button. We sneak into a small silver car, with beige leather seats. He starts the soundless engine and drives the car out. At the main gate, armed men seal the entrance. There’s no mistake. It’s Rognvald raiders.

  “Hold on tight,” says Frederick as he puts the car into gear. The blood drains from my face when I see the tall, lanky shadow standing at the gate. Under a black cowl red blazing eyes shoot at me. There’s no mistaking who that is. My heart twitches. Pain paralyzes my limbs. I hold my breath as Frederick drives the car at full speed in their direction. There’s a loud crash, and my head bounces against the side of the car. I lose consciousness.

  23

  Home

  DAYLIGHT PINCHES MY eyes. When I peer out of the window I notice the car is floating on water next to a gray deserted beach. Seagulls cackle loudly, and one lands on the hood of the car. It crawls forward and starts poking the mirror with its beak. Then it flies away fanning the sky with its white wings. A mist circles above the water. It continues past the bay like ghostly smoke curling into the forest. This place looks familiar. I’ve been here before.

  I look over my shoulder and find Frederick fast asleep as if he has no worries. I shake him gently. He opens his eyes just a little and catches a glimpse of me.

  “You are awake,” he says.

  “How did you get us here?”

  “I thought you’d be happy.” He opens his eyes fully. There’s a determined twinkle in them. “The car brought us here. It’s fast, and it floats.”

  “So I see. But why did you bring us here?”

  “Because of the gathering.” I give him a pensive stare. “Andreas works as my spy and keeps me informed.” He smiles. “Welcome, Nora Hunt, to the only safe place left in the Triangle.”

  I am not happy. I am fuming. His irony irritates me to the core.

  “What are you talking about? What gathering?”

  “The alliance,” he says. “We need to gather forces to gain peace among the dynasties. They’re coming. All except the seven Veran Viking lords.”

  “Don’t tell me.” I pause. “Are they?”

  “Dead,” he says. “Every one of them.”

  “By the gods—”

  “No,” says Frederick. “By Magnus. He ordered an attacked on the Dome and destroyed an old legacy of the Vikings. One big evil is down. They never wanted peace. Their ethos throughout time has been battle. How they survived under the peace treaty this long is amazing.”

  “I don’t understand. Weapons are not allowed in Triangle, and we swore never to go into war after Ragnarok. Now, everything is lost. This war has been brought to the shores of the East. I can’t watch as my home gets destroyed. We need to find another place for the gathering. We’ll hide in the Forbidden Areas. The border is not far from here—”

  Frederick is in deep thought. He is quiet for a while.

  “Tanya, the leader of the Talent Allocation Institute has formed an alliance with Magnus. They don’t want the war to continue. They want peace. I believe we can reason with them. Find a solution. Magnus knows about the weapons. He wants to destroy them as much as we do.”

  “I betrayed Magnus’s trust,” I say. “He’d not want to cut deals with me.”

  “He has to. After all, you’re the chosen one. You hold the key to the gate. If you can reason with Magnus, I will speak to my father.” There’s a formal tone in Frederick’s voice. I feel as if I am in an official meeting with him.

  “They are on their way here, aren’t they?” I say.

  He nods. �
�Expect them by nightfall.”

  “The only way for this war to end is to learn to live together in peace like we used to. But with Nourusa in charge that’s not going to happen. He’s after Midgard, and I cannot let him have it. I’ll use the weapons against him if I have to. Or I will let Yggdrasil wither.”

  “You can’t, Nora. The consequences of that are dire.”

  “The decision is mine Frederick.”

  “How can you say that? Twice the gods chose your Viking clan. You cannot make a decision against them and every living being in the Triangle.”

  I take a deep breath. I feel lost. Frederick has a point. Maybe we need to speak at the gathering to reach peace. There’s still hope. Helena, Niels, and Magnus will be there. They know me. I can try to reason with them and hope that Magnus decides to forgive me for deserting him and for betraying his trust. He must have known the minute I went into the City of Vikings. He sees everything with Odin’s eye. That’s why he sent me that message. He was testing me.

  “First, we need to get to Blossom Heights,” I say. “I have to speak to Gustav. He’s an old friend of mine. He’ll help us.”

  We drive through the forest. There’s no road, just a mud trail, and hidden swamps and bogs. The fields are dangerous with strange creatures lurking. I spot a Nøkken in the water, and black crows in the trees whispering of our arrival. In the shadows, I see the dead spirits of Draugars. Their swollen and blackened bodies hang like skeletons among the fallen trees. The road is bumpy, uneven. We jolt from side to side. I see more of the Draugars. They are out of their graves and are waiting for the gate to open that leads to the Nine Worlds. Something feels eerie. The creatures appear battered and frightened, as if they’ve been in a war.

  The morning light streams through the tall branches. In places the blue sky shows the black roots of Yggdrasil getting smaller. She wants to descend and spread her roots before it’s too late. I can hear her screams in my ears. She’s calling for me, urging me to the pathway. My back stings, as if full of needles. I miss the tattoo of her sprawled against my skin, tugging me close to the secrets she carried. Instead I carry the runes glowing in my palm. They don’t speak to me, nor do they give me visions. A faint image flickers in my mind. It’s a vision of the long, dwindling pathway. It snakes its way through the forest. It looks more familiar now. It’s the only way to the gate.