Master of Umbra (The Valhalla Series)

by Poppet

  I shove my hand at Ewan's face, “What was that all about? He was just weird.”

  Laughing outrageously, Ewan gives me a spontaneous hug, crushing me to him when he drops the surprise, “He's the original undead. You'd call him a vampire today. In the good old days the berserkers fed on the blood of the battlefield. We drank blood before battle, bit our adversaries apart, devouring their blood as the slain fell, fueling our rage with the hot spoils of war. He is one of the original fathers of our kind, often considered as faeries.”

  Wiping my hand on his shoulder, I'm feeling squeamish, “Gross! You let a vampire lick my hand and taste my blood? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

  Ewan's mirth vanishes, releasing me to stare solemnity at me, “He has vowed to protect you. Make no mistake Deliah, there is nothing I won't do to ensure you come out the other side of tonight unharmed.”

  “And you trust him?”

  He glowers, setting his gaze back in the direction of his home island, “With my life, and now yours.”

  “What is a draugr, exactly?”

  “Guardians of the land, and of our kin. They came before us and shall remain here long after we cross to Asgard. We may call on them only in times of severe strife. They are our ancestors who stay behind for the Frost giants still here. Now come, Finfolkaheem awaits. We must reach it before the sun reaches the heat of morning.”

  Planting his sword at my feet, we're funneled in a whirlpool through Odin's eye, across the water, directly onto the soft verdant meadow beside a palace.

  I'm beginning to believe in fairytales.

  Chapter 25

  Much I have travelled, much have I tried out,

  much have I tested the Powers;

  ~ Vafþrúðnismál

  Deliah:

  “And now where are we?” I ask.

  Ewan takes my hand again, urgently pulling me behind him up the pearlescent steps. “This is my homeland. I was born here.”

  Rushing us across an opulent hall, resplendent with ingrained radiance, the 'home' seems like a vision of heaven. Bright sunshine streams through the lofty windows, while eagles wings etched in shimmering metals embellish the doorways. It makes me think that the original angels were perhaps eagles.

  The balustrade and thresholds seem to have been plaited in intricate patterns out of marble and bone.

  Hearing my inner monologue, Ewan speaks as he hurries us up another flight of lavish steps, “They are Odin's girls, the ones recalled as angels are the valkyrie. They have the swords of Asgard, they fly across the despairing planes, gathering the spirits and spiriting them home. They are his meyjar and their only role is to reclaim the disavowed. Their name literally means, fallen catchers. They catch the fallen in their final breath.”

  Stepping into a warm room of polished tortoiseshell, gossamer drapes flag into the room at the open windows, their colors morphing constantly in psychedelic undulation.

  A lady turns to watch us, her musculature pronounced in her flimsy gown, long white hair trailing the floor behind her.

  “Ewan?”

  Ewan halts abruptly, grinning at her, opening his arms wide, “Hlaðguðr! Come give your bastard brother a hug.”

  Hlaðguðr?

  She glances my way and her eyes have no pupils or irises. They are flat white with an opaque glimmer in the center, a pinprick of light shining out of her ashen eyelashes. Stepping into Ewan's hug, she lifts him off the floor, cracking his bones.

  She's clearly stronger than a wooly mammoth crossbred with a manatee. Holeee shit. I hope she doesn't want to hug me too.

  Her laugh is seraphic, reverberating.

  Releasing Ewan, she offers him a cup, “I couldn't resist. Drink to heal.”

  He guzzles the potion, bones snapping back, sounding like a pantomime of ghoulish laughter.

  “Hlaðguðr this is Deliah. Deliah, this is Hlaðguðr.”

  She nods my way, “Welcome to Finfolkaheem. What brings you to our sanctuary?”

  Ewan sits down on the plush armchair facing the exotic breeze from the windows, answering in my stead, “One guess. The mountain fell, Leug has stirred, he set Eagle against Raven and Raven against Eagle in mortal combat, and now we must ride into winter's swords and bring down the wrath of our grandmother on the one who fed from her lips and her hips without conscience.”

  Hlaðguðr smiles, “You should have been a skald.”

  “I am a skald, but I have no respite for frivolous pursuits. Too many rely on me to guide them.”

  I feel like a spare part. Maybe Ewan should have taken this journey alone.

  Overhearing me he leans over, snatches me by the arm and hauls me down onto his propped thigh, circling his arms around me, the severity of his voice humming my chest when he rests me against his, “Tell grandfather, at high moon we convene in the dale of darkness. I expect my kindred finfolk to be there to ensure justice is served once and for all.”

  The almighty woman nods, rubbing her hands together and blowing a message out the window off her butterflied palms, to be taken to their recipient in the numinous ether.

  “When are you coming home for good?” she asks, turning back to Ewan, affection turning her beauty into breathtaking.

  It makes me drowsy to listen to her voice. It depletes my will to live.

  “When I am done. And Hlaðguðr, I am not yet done,” says Ewan, standing with me in his arms, carrying me away from the mysterious lady, past others who have gathered in the stairwell, out into the sleek day with its glimmers of light rippling its magic across the sky.

  I experience the sensation of us moving, but still feel too strange, like I'm tripping bad and ready for the afterlife nap. A grotesque orgy of creatures flitter past my vision, making me blink away the illusions. This place is fey.

  The wind gushes over the membranes in my ears and in the next moment we're encapsulated in absolute pitch darkness.

  “We're home, sweetheart.”

  “Okay,” I mumble, the world feeling too heavy to lift my head.

  I've always been a nyctophiliac, finding refuge in the darkness of night, and it soothes my anxiety to be back in the black caves of Ewan's home.

  Laying me down on his bed, a purring terrorist brushes warm fur against my cheek, whiskers tickling my nose.

  “Deliah, are you alright my angel?”

  “Mmmm.”

  “I apologize, it was thoughtless of me to expose you to the sister realm before you are strong enough. We have months of preparation ahead while you take on the wings of Hræsvelgr, becoming invincible and indomitable. My sister can drain your resistance, it makes transitioning to Asgard easier. Fuck! Not my finest hour. Forgive me? Hmm poppet?”

  “What's Rasfelgir?” I mumble, swishing a pokey tail away from my eye, curling onto my side to stare at Ewan's thigh propped next to my body where he sits, stroking my kitty into flirting circles back to his hand, happy claws nicking the linen.

  “Odin's eagle, our forefather. He overseas all. The mighty Hræsvelgr is top of the food chain in our world.” He pats my leg, “Why don't you have a nap while I rustle the boys up for a decent fight?”

  “Okay,” I mutter, snuggling, reaching out to touch him, only to see my hand missing from the end of my arm. “Holy fuck!” I peg upright, vertigo spitting random images at me while I try to focus on my missing appendage.

  “Sorry about that, both the finfolk and draugr can make themselves invisible. As will I be when I rage onto the battlefield tonight. Leug will be lucky if he sees me advancing. Don't fret about it, it'll wane after the clash.”

  “Who is this Leug you keep referring to?”

  “It's the original name for Loki. The world knows him today as Loki, but to quell one's adversary one must first know his true name.” He sidles over me, dipping his head down to lick salacious temptation into my mouth, his hand moving to cradle my head, his breath agitated, betraying desire.

  Lifted and shifted, a thick thigh worms between mine, my 'husband' flicking an errant
thumb pad over my right nipple, “Tonight is ours. I will be coming home to you because I've waited forever to find the lost eagle who is my sworn destiny. You're mine, Liah. All mine, and I need to make you all mine in a thousand ways, starting with your earlobes and ending with your toes.”

  Kissed so hard the pillow behind my head swallow my ears, his nibble on my lip, gyrating his hips so that solid anticipation rubs into my crotch, his tongue skates across mine, and collectively it effectively wipes my worries off the board and into the surrender pile of fallen pawns.

  A throat clears but Ewan ignores it, pillaging my mouth, mashing my lips, tracing a trail of devotion down my neck, then pulling away just enough to plant a finger on my lips, “Shhh.”

  Removing his anchoring weight off me, he twists, getting off the bed, bulleting me into a sitting position with an aching throb in my underwear when he says, “Gunn...”

  “Ewan,” responds faster than a torpedo rocketing through water. “What the hell do you think you're doing?”

  Ewan smiles, lazily, his eyes half-mast, “Kissing my woman, what does it look like?”

  Gunn looks at his hand, then back at Ewan in a haze of disbelief, “Why? Why did you erase it? Why order me to fulfill my duty if you intended to rob me of it when I finally made the vow?”

  Ewan pounces across the space between them, punching Gunn so hard the man staggers back, blood spurting from his imploded nose, “The next time you handfast you would do well to remember it is a choice. You gave Deliah no choice, you gave her an order, and lest you fucking forget it I'm the only man in these halls with the privilege to give orders! Are we fucking clear?!”

  Gunn reacts, slamming his elbow into Ewan's face, and before I know it both of them are scuffling on the ground, delivering blows that would paralyze me permanently if I was in their position.

  Bella lets out a low growl, doing the limpet mine scurry as she hightails it out of Ewan's quarters while the maniacs punctuate each others faces with bruising and blood.

  Swallowing thickly, I can hardly breathe with the apprehension and trauma clenching my insides, frozen in horror and shame.

  I did this. I turned friends against each other. I've ruined everything.

  Ewan is lying on top of Gunn, craning his neck off the floor, the veins cording out in wires surrounding steel, wrestled with Ewan's thick arm snagged around his neck, lifting Gunn's head in my direction, impaling my guilty conscience with those deep gray eyes of anguish.

  He's giving me the tormented stare I grew accustomed to, which for a brief moment was replaced with a softness I didn't think he owned, but now it's vanquished because I screwed up.

  Regret strips me of reason, so upset that I've caused these best friends to clash, when they both saved me from Dias, they both empowered me to defend myself, they both sought to keep me safe, and this is how I repay them?

  Slipping off the bed, I run, fleeing the scene of the crime and the consequences of my selfish actions, screeching into my room just long enough to grab my cell phone and emergency bag with a stash of money and my documents.

  I owe Lara a call anyhow.

  Arrabella pokes a wary head out from under my bed, and tears blossom and shed their petals down my face when I lift my furry baby into my arms, burying my nose in her soft fur, sobbing, “I'm sorry Bella. You'll be safe and happy here. I love you.”

  Hugging her tight, I put her down next to her food, emptying out the catnip drops, wishing I could flee with her, but this time it's on the fly and I'm unprepared.

  Snatching up my bag, I run, knowing of only one other exit aside from Ewan's private one. Streaming through the hallways with the stealth they've taught me, my body becoming invisible even to my own eyes, I sprint toward my escape, away from the havoc I created.

  I've lived in homes where conflict causes more hurt than harmony, and I refuse to ever cause that kind of misery.

  They can both be single, and happy.

  This is what happens when for one day you let your heart win. People get hurt. If you love you would do anything to save them that pain, of being caught in the middle, of having to choose. I made it easy, I chose for them. This way no one wins and the friends can hopefully reclaim their previous dynamic.

  *

  Ewan:

  Rammed and somersaulted, I laugh out loud in my exuberance, the discharging of pent violence a salve on my stressed mind.

  Gunn smirks at me, smashing my cheek with his knuckles again, for good measure, laughing with me before offering me his hand, hauling me upright.

  “Shit, Frijda is going to whip us for delivering another bloodied set of laundry to her door.”

  Gunn shrugs, he doesn't care until he gets laundry duty. His smirk is remorseful, “You're right. I owe your adopted damsel an apology.”

  Gesturing to the bed, I grin, “She's there, go ahead.”

  “I don't see her,” he shakes his head, slapping my shoulder as I stand next to him, wiping blood on his sleeve when he swipes under his nose.

  Grinning at my second in command, we have a brotherly hug, “Glad we worked this out.”

  He nods, “Me too. Anyway, I came to tell you the Raven Shadows are in the guest wing awaiting your instructions. It would be good form to officially welcome them and take possession of your trees.”

  “He brought them?” I laugh. “In Macala's shoes I'd have told me to go get fucked.”

  “He's not resilient enough, or hardened. One excursion in the pit with you and that boy was ready to jump at whatever you demanded.”

  I nod, walking him to the threshold to my chambers, saying confidentially, “You sure you don't want to properly apologize to Deliah? It would mean a lot.”

  Sighing, he gives me the look of my best mate being told he can't have another beer because he has to train in the morning.

  Shuffling, he walks to the bed, staring at his feet, “My humble apologies, Deliah. I did not mean to disrespect you. No grudge is held or offense taken. May I have your understanding and compassion for my error?”

  Silence ensues.

  “She must be really pissed,” I tease, walking to join him. “Come on Liah, don't be such a bitch, put the man out of his misery.”

  More silence.

  Gunn whispers, “I don't think she's here. And since when do we assume the woman is a specter?”

  “Since Fornjót blessed her blood with his protection. I need her safe this night. It'll wear off.” I'm tired of her stubborn refusal to speak, reaching down to grab her legs, losing my balance and flopping onto the divan. Reaching around me, it's evident that the lady has left my chambers. “Maybe she's in her own room?” I suggest, hefting off the bed and stomping that way.

  Turning into her cavern with Gunn trailing me, he stares at the world through two puffy slits and a split lip to match my own. Arrabella comes running, her tail up, mewling pitifully. Scooping the ruffian up, I concentrate really hard. It's been three lifetimes since I last tried to commune with the forest's creatures.

  Absently stroking away her distress, I harness Odin's ability, hoping it doesn't fail me now, asking the feline, “Where's your keeper?”

  Butting my chin, giving short purrs, she jumps out of my arms, caterwauling so loud it raises my hackles.

  “Deliah's fucked off. She's taken her stuff and made a run for it.”

  Gunn stares at me aghast, determination rapidly replacing the shocked expression, “I'm your best hunter. Even if she's fucking invisible I can find her. Let me do this for you. It's the least I can do. You have to be the congenial ambassador with the Ravens. You can't go after her now, not with such little time left at our disposal.”

  Sagging, the thrill I was feeling a moment ago completely annihilated, I look at my palm, at the mark of our vow. Why would she leave after making such a promise? How could she just run as if I am a mistake?

  It pisses me off, rage fueling my veins, and I nod to Gunn, “Lock her up when you find her. She won't escape her fate twice.”

  �
��What are you going to do?” he asks, worry inflecting his tone.

  “I'm going to war, son. I'm going to war.”

  I don't wait, stalking off to greet my visitors, to give them their orders. I'm ready to rip Leug apart limb by limb, and this time I will devour the slain, so I know he cannot rise again to taunt us another day.

  Chapter 26

  The rock-crags crash

  the fiends are reeling

  ~ Völuspá

  Macala:

  The brute comes stomping down the tunnel, announcing his arrival before we have eyes on the maniac.

  I nod Arghin to my right, standing side by side with my greatest warrior and his shaggy mop of hair, a mammoth's pelt on his shoulders, worn with pride, designating him as more than just a Raven warrior, but kin to the berserker chief Ewan.

  The monstrous savage strides in, blood all over his clothing, still bleeding from his left eyelid as he sweeps his eagle eyes over my flock.

  Meeting him with my sword in my hand this time, I incline my head while keeping eyes on his every movement, many more of my men concealed in the shadows of his sin black cave, saying to him impassively, “Greetings Chief Ewan.”

  He nods my way, licking a loose flap of skin flat on his knuckle, “Mac, welcome back, and welcome to your kin. I have procured reinforcements for our assault, we are more prepared for this night than Ragnarok.”

  Inhaling my harii power, I step out from my ranks, meeting him as leader to leader, dropping the sack before his scuffed boots, “A token of trust, thundereggs for our attack this night.”

  His split lip bursts into a fresh rivulet with his wide smile, “How thoughtful. It's been many moons since I last got to slash the night with plasma.”

  Gesturing to the saplings we brought as a peace offering for harmony between our respective clans, I say with a firmness I am willing to die for, “Læraðr trees, for the longevity and virility of your men. But I will not enter into combat with you, or trade trees, until my handfast is again at my side. You release your hostage or our agreement is void.”