After the Fire (After the Fire: Book the First)

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After the Fire (After the Fire: Book the First) Page 10

by J. L. Murray


  “Oh,” said Fin. “Well I'm sure it was an accident.”

  “It was not an accident,” she said forcefully, making Fin turn to look at her. She was breathing heavily, her chest heaving. “It wasn't an accident. I did it on purpose. And then they began building the box.”

  “What did he do to you?” said Fin quietly. He knew better than to touch her, especially when she was like this. He hadn't seen such emotion from her since they had met. Her nostrils were flared and her wet hair hung around her face like heavy ropes. She was once again the wild woman that he had first seen in the glade.

  She pursed her lips and shook her head, looking to the wolf, who in turn turned her gold eyes on Fin. Fin looked back to Eleni. “They said I shouldn't have hurt him,” she said. “That he was just learning to be a man. But I told him that if he tried to hurt me again, I would hurt him back. He laughed at me. But the next time...” she trailed off, staring into the darkness of the forest.

  Fin felt he couldn't move. Eleni was opening up to him. She looked at him, and he could feel the energy coming from her. He could feel the grief from where he stood, two arm-lengths away. The grief, and a lot of anger.

  “Eleni,” he said. “You were only a child.”

  “Yes,” said Eleni, her voice thick. Fin didn't think it was possible for this woman to cry. She was strong and powerful and seemingly impervious to anything the world could throw at her. And yet, here she was. She carried her pain around with her just like everyone else. She had to be strong because she had so much more pain than everyone else. Fin couldn't fathom how much agony she felt. Made a prisoner in her own village, losing her mother, and being assaulted by a young man. It was unacceptable. He wanted to put his arms around her, to accompany her to the West Islands, where she would never be hurt again, to take care of her. She would never allow that. So he would listen, and ensure that no one ever hurt her again. Not that they would have much of a chance against her now.

  Fin looked away while she composed herself. After a while she spoke again. “I burned it off. All of it. I took away his manhood. I made him less than a woman. Rastin never forgot.”

  Fin swallowed. There was much he wanted to say to her. “I'm glad he's dead,” said Fin.

  “Rastin?” said Eleni. “Yes, I am happy as well. His seed was rotten.”

  “I mean the son,” said Fin. “What was his name?”

  “Tarbus?” said Eleni. “He is not dead.”

  Fin frowned. “Was he not in the village when the Reivers came?”

  “No one has seen Tarbus for many years,” said Eleni. “He left without telling anyone the following summer. No one saw him go. And he has never returned that I know of.” She spat on the ground.

  “So he's probably alive, then,” said Fin. “That's good.”

  Eleni looked sharply at him. “What is good about that?”

  Fin looked at her, her pale skin luminescent in the pitch darkness. “Because then I have a chance of finding him,” he said. “And killing him myself.”

  She stared at him for a moment, then she nodded. “We should go back,” she said.

  “You lead, I'll follow,” said Fin. And as Eleni walked by him, her hand brushed against his own.

  They walked in comfortable silence, the wolf panting at Eleni's side. They were nearly back to camp when the wolf's ears perked up. The animal stopped, and Eleni stopped with her, as though they were one.

  “What is it?” whispered Fin.

  “A noise,” said Eleni. “What is that? Badger?”

  Fin listened, then smiled. “No,” he said. “That is someone crying.”

  “Oh,” said Eleni, looking disappointed.

  “Come,” said Fin. “Let's go see.”

  They followed the sound of sobs, the trees thinning out in front of them. There was something in the air. Something wet that had never quite left the air since the frigid creek. There was the smell of snow to the air. Even stronger than it had been.

  They finally came to the source of the sound. A terrified-looking girl that Fin recognized from the camp.

  “Iren,” said Eleni, approaching her. “What are you doing?”

  “I'm sorry,” Iren blubbered. “I tried to follow you, but I lost you right away. And now I'm lost and I don't know how to get back.”

  “Eleni,” said Fin. Eleni turned to look at him. Fin nodded to the girl. “She's carrying a bow.”

  Eleni looked at the girl's hand. She looked back at Fin. “What of it?”

  “She can be put to death for even touching a weapon.”

  Eleni snorted. “Ridiculous,” she said. “I told her I would help her learn to hunt.”

  “You what?” said Fin. He looked at the girl who was gazing at Eleni with rapture. “Eleni, you have seen how these Reivers treat their women. How could you make such a promise?”

  “Because she does not wish to get married,” said Eleni. “She should have a right to learn to take care of herself. She should have a choice.”

  “Girl,” said Fin. Iren's face turned to him, almost reluctantly. “Do you realize what you're doing? You could be killed or abandoned by your people for this. Is that a choice you're willing to risk?”

  “I'd rather die than marry,” Iren said, her voice clear and earnest. “And I'd rather be thrown out of camp knowing how to hunt than starve quietly with the women. Like my mother.”

  Eleni looked at Fin. “You see? She wants to learn.”

  Fin exhaled through his nose. He narrowed his eyes at the girl, who looked nervous under his gaze. “Fair enough,” he said. “Can you use that bow, or are you just going to hold it all night?”

  Iren smiled broadly.

  “You know how to shoot?” Eleni asked Fin, sounding dubious.

  “Of course I know,” he said. “Everyone knows where I come from. Do you know?”

  “No,” said Eleni defensively. “I don't need a weapon. I am a weapon.”

  “Well, then I will have two students today,” said Fin. He looked at Iren. “Show me what you can do, girl.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Magda longed to add wood to the fire. She shivered under her shawl. She had enough power to hide a roaring bonfire. She would be recovering for days, but it would almost be worth it. She would have done it, if not for what she had seen through Mati's eyes. She could still feel the raven, even now. She could feel the wind surging through his feathers like the wings were her own, could see the tops of the roofs over the village. No, she could stand the cold. She would need her strength.

  She remembered the days when she didn't have to ration her power. She couldn't even call it power any more, but when she and Danai and Anja had been together, they had been feared by all. Even Odin, the all-father, had feared them. Zeus obeyed their every whim. The fire seemed so long ago. In the path of time, it was an eye-blink. But now, to Magda, it seemed they had been separated thousands of years ago. Danai had disappeared first. Anja later. Then they had lost contact. That had never happened before. Not even one day had passed and Magda couldn't feel Danai. It had taken longer with Anja. Three full moons, maybe, and then she had been lost as well. The last place Magda had felt her was here, in this forest.

  She had waited too long to search for her sisters. She kept hoping that if she waited, they would come back to her. They always came back together. But the longer she waited, the weaker she became, until she was nothing but what she was now: A withered old crone who couldn't even stand a little cold.

  Anja had been here, Magda knew that now. Eleni was proof of that. In a way, Eleni had been the catalyst that had separated them in the first place. And Fin had not simply stumbled across Eleni on his way to see Magda. Every shaking leaf has meaning, as Anja would say. Anja wasn't always right, but Magda would wager she was right about that.

  Zaric, though, Magda thought. Eleni. The new goddess. Anja had tried to tell Magda, had said that they had to stop looking for Danai, had to run away, but Magda had dismissed her. She had tried to tell Magda she was the ves
sel, but Magda had thought she was just broken down after the disappearance of Danai. But Anja had been trying to tell her about Eleni.

  The girl would be ruthless. Magda could see that right away in those pale blue eyes that seemed to look straight through everything. She was also fearless. She proved that when she went up against the Reivers. But was she strong enough? Magda had no doubt of her physical abilities. The girl had survived all these years in a forest filled with the vilest of creatures. If the girl had any weakness, it was her untrained mind. She seemed so vulnerable. She wore a hard armor, but she had the heart of a woman. A mortal. She risked everything with the Reivers in order to feed a few hungry children. That wasn't the way of the gods. Or perhaps it was the new way.

  Magda sighed. She needed her sisters. Anja would know what to do. She always did. Magda had to believe that all this was for the best. Being separated from her sisters had been like being cut into pieces, but it would make it all the more sweet when they were finally reunited.

  She heard voices coming from the forest. She did her best to straighten her back, to loosen her grip on her shawl. She had to give some semblance of power, even if she no longer possessed any. But she couldn't help looking surprised when the voices emerged into the clearing.

  “Iren,” she rasped. “What...”

  Eleni and Fin exchanged glances. This was something different. Eleni and an Island god. And a powerful one, though he did his best to hide it. Magda focused on the girl. “Iren, what are you doing?” Her gaze fell down to what the girl held in her hand and Magda's mouth fell open just a little. The child was carrying a weapon. Iren didn't meet her eyes.

  Eleni stepped forward, something slung over her shoulder. She heaved it down onto the ground next to the miniscule fire. Magda saw it was a deer, the holes in its neck no doubt from arrows. “She has done more on this night for these people than the men have done their entire lives,” said Eleni.

  “She could be killed for doing this,” said Magda.

  “She knows the risks,” said Eleni.

  “Iren, get to bed before your mother finds you,” said Magda. Iren nodded. “And do something with that weapon before Elek sees you.” Iren ran in the direction of her mother's tent.

  “Magda,” said Fin, sitting next to her. “Surely you can't believe that she shouldn't be able to choose between starving and feeding her family. The girl is a natural. She's been practicing in secret for years. And that rule is ridiculous.”

  Eleni sat next to Fin and said nothing.

  “I'm not arguing with that,” said Magda. “But the girl is not what is important right now. I have been up all night. Something has happened.”

  Fin and Eleni both looked expectantly at her. “What have you seen?” said Fin.

  Magda looked into the fire. “Three. There were three of them,” she said. She shook her head. “There should only be two, but there were three.”

  “Three what?” said Eleni. She was looking intently at Magda.

  “The God-eaters,” said Magda. “I know who they are now. Northerners. Children of a god. Terrible and monstrous.”

  “Northerners?” said Fin.

  “Skoll and Hati,” said Magda. “Wolves, if you can call them that. More powerful than the Reivers by far, and more cunning.”

  “The children of Fenrir,” said Fin. He looked at Eleni. “Fenrir is—”

  “The son of Loki,” said Eleni. She frowned. “I knew that.”

  “Of course you did,” said Magda, giving her a watery smile. “You are a goddess. You probably remember how strong they are, too. Skoll and Hati.”

  “They're huge,” said Eleni.

  “Surely Odin isn't behind this,” said Fin.

  Magda coughed a dry laugh. “I think not. If I am right, Odin is in trouble. And if Odin is in trouble, so are we all.” Magda took a deep breath, filling her lungs with the cold air. She breathed it out in a cloud of vapor. “They are more cunning than the Reivers,” said Magda, “but they have always had help. Compared to us, they are as dull as beasts.”

  “Who is the third, Magda?” said Fin. “Did you see?”

  “Can you think of no one that could be behind such a plot? Someone that can fashion himself to look like others?”

  “No,” said Fin. “It's not possible. He was imprisoned. It cannot be him.”

  “I hope not,” said Magda. “For all our sakes. Because if it is Loki, it has suddenly become the utmost necessity that I find my sisters.”

  “Why?” said Eleni.

  “Because, child,” said Magda. “Loki cannot be bought. He cannot be reasoned with. The only thing he cares about is chaos. He would have great power since...since your death. The only thing that can stop chaos feeding on chaos is the Fates. My sisters and I could stop this in a moment if we were all together.”

  “So he has much to gain in keeping you apart,” said Eleni.

  Magda stared at her. “What did you say?” said Magda.

  “She has quite a point,” said Fin. “If it is him, and we're not sure if it is.”

  “Who else could it be?” said Magda. “He looks exactly like the two brothers. No one else can disguise himself that well. And no one looks like the children of Fenrir. I am sure. It must be him. He is the shape-shifter. He could be anything.” Her eyes fell on the wolf that lay at Eleni's feet. The wolf's golden eyes stared at Magda, as if listening intently. “Loki could be that wolf. He could be either of you. I could be Loki and you would never know.”

  “What do they want?” said Fin. “Why are they in the forest?”

  Magda looked at Eleni again. “They are not in the forest,” she said. “They are at Eleni's old village.” Magda felt an indiscernible shiver travel through their small group, huddled deep in conversation.

  After what felt like a long time, Fin spoke. “They've come for Eleni,” he said.

  “Could be,” said Magda. “But you would be a nice prize as well, Alaunus.”

  Eleni had straightened and was exchanging a look with the wolf that Magda didn't understand. There was something wrong about that wolf. Magda didn't think it was Loki. After all, she had just seen him through the raven's eye. Even Loki couldn't travel that fast. But that wolf...she just couldn't put her finger on it.

  “Let me go,” said Eleni.

  “Absolutely not,” said Magda. “Nothing would give them more pleasure. You are strong for a new god, Eleni, but you are still a new god. Untrained, undeveloped. You don't even understand everything that you have inside you. You may be strong enough to kill Skoll and Hati on your own. Maybe. But Loki will be very powerful.”

  “Chaos,” said Fin quietly.

  “The world has crumbled,” said Magda nodding. “We can build it again, make no mistake. We can always start again. But nothing is certain anymore. Nothing makes sense. Loki will feed on that. And if he really is taking the essence of the gods...” Magda trailed off. She looked from Eleni to Fin. “I do not know what to do,” she said, her ancient eyes watering. “For the first time in all of existence, I am lost. I need my sisters. I have no solutions.”

  There was a buzzing at Eleni's throat and something like a spark. Eleni put her hand to the bauble and felt the heat of it, hotter than her own skin. After a moment it stopped. Magda and Fin stared at her.

  “I believe,” said Magda slowly, “that necklace will keep you hidden.” Magda stood and stared at Eleni's neck. “It is strong magic, I can feel it.” Magda's eyes widened as she looked up at Eleni's face. “My sister did not leave you a memento, Eleni. It is meant to keep you safe. You must use it.”

  “What do you mean?” said Fin, rising and looking at the small lump under the collar of Eleni's dress. It glowed like a star. Eleni took a step back, frowning in confusion. “Use it how?” Fin asked Magda.

  “She must flee,” said Magda. “Over the mountains. There is no other way.”

  “I am no coward,” said Eleni. “I will stay and fight.”

  “No, you are not a coward,” said Magda. “But i
f you stay, you are a fool. These monsters have come for you. For Zaric.”

  “Zaric is dead,” said Eleni forcefully. She narrowed her eyes at Magda. “I'm not him. Why should they come for me?”

  “Because you have his power,” said Fin slowly. “And you are young. You won't fight as potently as the old gods.”

  “I fight just as well as any god,” said Eleni. “I have been killing dark creatures since I was a girl. How strong could they be? Even the Reivers fear me.”

  “These three are not Reivers,” said Fin, and his voice was hard. Both women turned to look at him. “Everything I had, they took from me. They took my whole family. We are not new gods. We are powerful island gods. We had shrines all over the West. My family was worshiped and loved. That's power, to be loved. And yet, they were killed all at once. They were fighting together and they died. Do you know how significant that is, Eleni?” He was looking right into Eleni's pale eyes, and Magda almost felt as if she were intruding on something private.

  “No,” said Eleni. She was trying to be bold, but Magda could see she was slightly out of breath.

  “My family had power,” said Fin. “And these three took it. Just took it. It's an abomination. To take a god's power is the single greatest atrocity in the known world. No matter how terrible you deem that god to be, you never take their power. Power is the soul. It must always be allowed to go. Sometimes they come back just as bad. But sometimes...” Fin paused, suddenly at a loss. Magda could see his throat muscles working, trying to get the words out. “Sometimes they come back better than before. But you have to let it happen. There must be balance.”

  “He's right,” said Magda. Fin and Eleni started when she spoke. They both looked at her.

  “Fine,” said Eleni. “I won't try to fight them on my own. But what else can we do?”

  “We can get you out of here,” said Fin. “Take you over the mountains and away from god-eaters, away from Reivers, away from everything.”

  Eleni clenched her jaw. She looked at Magda. “You aren't even sure what this necklace does. Who can say it won't stop working when I leave here? I can do what you think is best. But will it work? Will they stop looking for me if I...run?” she said, spitting the last word with disgust. ”

 

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