Helena pointed. “On yours, it’s the buckle.”
Zaria felt it with her fingers and felt a resistance. She thought about unbuckling her shoes and the straps slipped from their latches. Her shoes fell to the floor and transformed into their clunky shape.
“Do mine next,” Christoffer demanded, putting his feet in Zaria’s lap.
She laughed and pushed them off her. She studied his hiking boots, looking for the bit of resistance. She found it where the laces knotted. She touched the knot with her finger, picturing them untying themselves. Her magic made it happen and his shoes came loose. He pulled them off and wiggled his toes in delight.
“Ah,” he said. “That’s so much better.”
Zaria did Filip’s next, using her magic to undo his laces as well. He shucked off his sneakers and stood there in his socks. As they reverted back to their original forms, the light faded from them and Helena gathered all the pairs and stashed them under the sofa.
“Do you need to worry about where those are placed?” Aleks asked.
“Not at all,” she said. “What dragon would want another pair down here? It does them no good. Shall we go?”
Zaria moved to collect the plates. Helena stayed her. “Leave them, I’ll take care of them later.”
***
The first thing Zaria noticed when she and her friends came to the bridge’s watchtower was Geirr’s absence. Only a single, dirty shoe lay on the ground. She stopped walking and Christoffer plowed into her, knocking them both to the ground.
“Zaria,” he huffed, annoyed. “What’s the matter with you?” He helped her up.
“Geirr. He’s not here,” she said, running up to the archway. She looked inside. Their friend wasn’t anywhere to be seen.
“What happened to him?” Aleks asked, joining them.
“He’s perfectly safe,” Helena said. “He’ll be on the other side.”
“Oh,” he said. “Did you do that? Free him?”
She shook her head. “Yes and no. I wasn’t aware of the dilemma until he rescued himself. He’s the one that told me where you were heading, but I was ambushed by Egil before I made it to you.”
“How’d he get free? He didn’t undo the lock, did he?”
Helena laughed. “No, no. I’ll let him tell you, when you find him.”
“Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s go get him,” Filip said, and they ran down the bridge, their bare feet making quick, sharp, sounds on the planks.
As they went, the heavy mist began to fade, peeling back like layers of a sheer chiffon dress. Zaria could see the water again, shining like so many diamonds under the morning sun. Returning to the mainland was effortless. One second they were on the bridge, the next, they sailed through the other guard tower and entered into a celebration already in progress.
Laughter and shrieking, of the happy kind, had replaced the shouts and sounds of fighting. Zaria looked on in amazement. The camp, which had been practically dismantled in the fight, was clean and set up as a giant ring around the center, where all the festivities were being held. A bonfire blazed high and hot, encouraging everyone to roast meat and marshmallows on sticks.
Dwarves were drinking and clanking mugs of cider with elves, taking turns reciting poetry which taunted their drinking partners and boasted of their battle prowess. Trolls, dwarves, and ellefolken were setting up a series of games along the perimeter with spots marked out for wrestling, archery, and tug-o-war. The commotion was unparalleled to anything Zaria had witnessed before of these groups.
Giants were merrily conducting an impromptu band, comprised of members from every group. Zaria listened as she and her friends wound their way through the festivities, looking for Geirr. The rousing series of triumphant tunes was accompanied by an all-elf choir.
The music inspired such camaraderie of spirit that the unlikeliest of pairs could be seen dancing together around the bonfire. Even Silje and Kafirr were putting on quite a show, whirling round and round in the middle of the other revelers.
“This is amazing,” Christoffer said as Edevart and Frida twirled out of the crowd, laughing and falling into each other.
“But how come the dwarves are here?” Aleks asked, frowning. “They attacked everyone and yet, they’re treated as friends.”
“King Flein appeared with his army from Jerndor and stopped his son’s coup,” Edevart shouted. “The Malmdor dwarves and Floki are trussed up somewhere.”
Frida smiled and waved. “Hello, children! Did you see the woods? They’re beautiful! Hector did it!”
They twirled away, disappearing again into the throng of dancers. Zaria looked over at Henrik. “How are you feeling?”
He smiled warmly at her, only his eyes showing strain. “I’ll be all right. I’m just tired, but that will fade in time.”
“You’ll always be welcome in the Under Realm,” Helena said. “Your father would love to see you as I am sure you would like to see him. Ah, I see Geirr.”
“Where?” asked Filip. “I don’t see him.”
“Your friend is over there holding court.”
And indeed he was. A gaggle of ellefolken and elvish girls cooed and sighed, as he told them how he outsmarted Olaf and the golden shoes. They could just hear snippets of his tale as it carried over the merry crowd.
“When Olaf found me, I thought for sure I was dead –”
The crowd around him gasped.
“I saw his golden shoe and had an idea –”
“What did you do?” asked one of the girls.
“Kicked him over the bridge –”
“You didn’t!” another exclaimed.
Geirr nodded. “His shoe was just out of reach –”
“That’s when I found him,” Helena said to them in an aside. “I removed the shoe that trapped him in the Under Realm, but he’d already defeated Olaf on his own. I sent him back to tell Silje and Kafirr about the dragon brothers. To warn them that Olaf would come from the water.”
“I’ll admit,” Christoffer shouted to Zaria, “I would have liked to have a go at that river-troll for kidnapping me.”
“I be deeply sorry about that,” the troll said, turning to face them from where he’d been hidden along the water’s edge. “I remember myself now,” he sighed. “Too late, of course. I not be entirely sure how I be free of Koll, but I am glad to be.”
“My daughter destroyed him, old friend,” Helena said. “I’ll tell you and the others more about it at a war council later. For now, I am glad to see you’re back with us.”
“I miss my river,” he said, waving his hand over the Gjöll, watching as knives floated by. “That be how Koll turned me.”
“Yes,” Helena said, resting a comforting hand on his shoulder as the music changed. “But, if what Zaria did to Koll can be replicated, we might be able to rid ourselves of all the dragons. When we do, your river will be returned to you.”
“That would be nice,” Olaf said, his ears perking up. “Would you be interested in a dance?”
“That would be lovely,” Helena said, and the old troll bowed. She curtseyed and away they went.
Aleks shook his head and laughed. “That’s an odd couple.”
“What next?” Henrik asked them, as they watched the dancers.
“Well,” Filip said slowly, looking around. “I foresee us battling it out at the games over there.”
“Tomorrow is soon enough to figure out how to get back to Grams’ place,” Aleks added.
“Don’t forget to call her on the mirror,” Zaria said. “She won’t be pleased, if you forget.”
He nodded. “Then, I guess, after Grams, it’s back to school.”
“Ugh, school,” Christoffer complained. “It’s going to be so boring after this.”
“Cheer up, mate,” Filip said, laughing. “We’ll still have the stargazer.”
“True,” he said. “And Zaria will still have her powers.”
“You can make us more cake,” Aleks told her. She gave him a shove. �
��What about you, Henrik? What will you be doing?”
He shrugged. “I suppose there’s the war council next, but after that, I don’t know. How about going to school with you all? That could be an adventure, too.”
“A very big adventure,” Zaria agreed, and with a little bit of magic, she sent out a shower of golden sparkles over the scene.
“Watching all this, I feel like this was always where we were supposed to end up,” Henrik said, watching them rain down. “A fait accompli.”
“Don’t you mean a fête accompli?” asked Christoffer, laughingly. “This is a party after all. What are we waiting for? Let’s go join it!”
As they ran over to join Geirr, Zaria paused and looked back at the entrance to the Gjallarbrú. A niggling feeling in the back of her mind told her she’d forgotten something. She thought back to the battle and couldn’t pinpoint what it was. They had defeated Koll and his brother Egil. All was as it should be. She brushed the feeling aside and turned back around.
“Wait for me!” she called out, her braids flying out behind her as she raced after her friends.
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Thanks for Reading
Thank you for reading the third book in the Zaria Fierce Series. If you enjoyed Zaria Fierce and the Dragon Keeper’s Golden Shoes, please share it with your friends, family, coworkers, and strangers. Let your local library know how much you loved the trilogy. Tell Hollywood. But most of all consider writing a review on Amazon, Audible, or Goodreads to help other readers discover Zaria Fierce so they can join her on her journey into the depths of magical Norway. May you have many more fabulous reading adventures! Speaking of which…
Coming Soon
Aleks Mickelsen and the Twice-Lost Fairy Well
First Aleks’ mom loses the car keys, which he finds in the fridge, and then Christoffer forgets how to get to his house. On the surface it doesn’t seem so bad, but events become more disturbing as the day progresses. Something strange is happening in Norway and Aleks Mickelsen is the only one who can stop it. Too bad for us, the last thing he wants is another adventure.
Get a sneak peek of this new follow-up trilogy to Zaria Fierce at: http://keiragillett.com/book/twice-lost-fairy-well/
Coming Soon
The Adventures of Lemon Peel and Ant
Volume 1: The Starry Messenger
Lemon Peel was minding her own business, playing in her tree-house fort, when a drone crashed through the side wall and a sticky boy in a funny black rubber suit spilled out from inside a hidden hatch. He said his name was – well, Lemon only understood “Ant” – and that he must deliver an urgent message to Earth’s leaders. It had something to do with the planet’s existence being at risk and sinister shadowy figures hunting him across the space-time continuum. Lemon’s not sure what to make of him, but if he’s an alien, she’d eat her best Sunday hat.
Get a sneak peek of this new and exciting trilogy by Keira Gillett at: http://keiragillett.com/book/starry-messenger/
About the Author: Keira Gillett
Keira Gillett is a technical publications librarian by day and an author by night. She graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts in Drawing and Painting. From an early age her mother instilled a love of the written word, as such she has always been an avid reader. It was only a matter of time before she shared that love with others. She’s excited to introduce Zaria Fierce to the world.
Find her at http://keiragillett.com/
About the Artist: Eoghan Kerrigan
Eoghan Kerrigan is an illustrator from Kildare, Ireland who draws primarily fantasy characters and creatures. He studied illustration in Ballyfermot College of Further Education and has produced work for various independent projects. He has two cats and a soft spot for trolls.
Find him at http://eoghankerrigan.blogspot.ie/
Zaria Fierce and the Dragon Keeper's Golden Shoes Page 18