Redeemer (Night War Saga Book 3)

by Leia Stone

  And nothing. We just needed to find the piece of Gud Morder and call down the Bifrost before the dragons got here. Easy peasy.

  The onslaught of arrows from behind the knoll slowed, then stopped completely. Malena popped her head over the dune to announce, “It’s clear!” before charging forward to help her commander take out the remaining attackers. The rest of the warriors charged after her, and I had no doubt the night elves would be little more than a memory before I could say goodnight, elves.

  “Is the piece close?” Tore asked.

  I quickly turned my attention to my armor. It emitted a slow vibration, which picked up as I expanded my awareness to the low hill just ahead. Bingo.

  “I think it’s over there,” I said.

  “Then go,” Tore urged. “Grab it and we can get out of here.”

  He didn’t have to ask me twice. I raced over the small black hill, skidding to a stop as I realized the knoll wasn’t a knoll at all. It was a bluff. One that led to a shallow outcropping buffered by sharp rocks. And on the other side of the rocks was a hundred-foot drop that led to an icy, raging river.

  I tilted my head back and screamed in frustration. “Why? Why can’t it ever be what it looks like? I swear I sensed a light energy that felt exactly like—”

  “Like that?” Tore came up behind me and pointed to the glowing light on the other side of the river. My jaw dropped to my chest. Down below, nestled in the rocks on the far bank, was the glowing shard of Gud Morder.

  “Oh, you have got to be kidding me.” I pounded my fists at my sides, crying out as I punched my still-tender arrow wound. “Ouch! Oh, fine. We’re going to have to jump.”

  “We’re what now?” Greta’s wide eyes made it clear she thought I’d lost my mind. Since my sanity ship had sailed long ago, I just shrugged and turned to Tore. He stared at me as if I’d sprouted a second head.

  I got it. I was crazy. But the sooner everyone got on board with that, the sooner we could all move on to our never-ending task of saving the realms.

  “Listen, the dragons are getting closer, and the last piece of Gud Morder is right there. The only way to end all of this is to get that thing back to the safe house so we can fuse it and go after Nott. I’m jumping. Are you coming or not?”

  Tore’s gaze locked onto mine. With a reluctant sigh, he took my hand and turned to our team. “Mack, Medisjons, protect Greta and hold off the dragons. Allie and I will retrieve the piece and Bifrost out. Get back home as soon as you can.”

  “No.” Elo shook his head. “We stick together. Astrid’s team has probably already defeated their attack party, so Sar will escort Greta back to the Asgardians and they can Bifrost her home. We are here to protect Allie. We’re jumping with you.”

  My heart swelled at Elo’s declaration, and tears pricked at the backs of my eyelids. “Thank you,” I whispered. No two ways about it, I was a very lucky girl to have so many friends who cared so much about me.

  “Fine.” Tore nodded. “But the dragons are nearly here, and odds are high Nott’s not far behind. We jump on three.”

  “Stay safe, Greta,” I called as Sar led her over the bluff.

  “You too,” she called back. Once she was out of sight, I returned my attention to Tore, Mack, and my four god-brothers.

  “One,” I said. Dear Universe, please don’t let me break my back when I land. Okay? “Two.” Also, please don’t let me freeze to death in that river. Thanks. “Three! Arugh!”

  Tore jumped at the final count. Since his hand was wrapped tightly around mine, he pulled me over the edge with him. I prayed that the water was deep enough for me to not impale myself on rocky sediment. Or worse, on straight-up rocks. Cold wind cut through me, chilling my body as I fell. By the time I dropped into the water I was already freezing, so full body submersion was uncomfortable but not overwhelming. I released Tore’s hand as my mouth opened, a relieved exhale sending bubbles through the water. But a sharp stab to my back promptly ended my celebration.

  It would be death by rock impalement after all. Awesome.

  Pain shot through my body, pulling me under as I clawed my way toward the light. My head broke the surface of the water and I gulped in lungsful of air, my centers surging with relief as each successive god-brother surfaced around me. Mack rose first, then Han, Jin, Elo, and Dor. And finally, after a slow eternity, my favorite protector paddled to my side.

  “Tore.” I coughed. “You’re okay.”

  “What about you?” He studied me carefully while he treaded water. “This water isn’t very deep. You hit anything?”

  “Yeah, but I’m fine. Let’s just get out of here,” I urged.

  “Are you all right to swim, Allie?” Mack asked. Droplets hung from his thick beard.

  “Yep. Let’s go.” I paddled toward the shore, following the light blue pulse of the final piece of Gud Morder. I clawed my way onto the rocky ground, Tore and my god-brothers close behind, and I shook the water from my hair as I climbed unsteadily to my feet. I scanned the sky, flinching as I realized how close the dragons were. And was that . . . oh, come on. Couldn’t we catch a break?

  “Guys.” I pointed to the sky. “Nott’s on one of the dragons.”

  “Skit,” Tore swore.

  “Allie, call Scarlet,” Mack urged. “If we’re going to have to fight Nott, we’ll need every conceivable advantage.”

  “Do it,” Tore commanded. I knew he meant business.

  My fingers fumbled with my satchel, and I hurriedly withdrew the golden horn, placing it to my lips and unleashing a big blow. The deep, resonant tone rang out, and I pocketed the horn before climbing up the bank toward the glowing blue light of Gud Morder.

  “We’ll stave off the night goddess,” Mack offered. He nodded at his brothers, and they each drew a sword before moving protectively around me.

  “Go, Allie,” Elo urged. And I didn’t waste another second.

  I turned to focus on the piece. It was embedded between the rocks, dusted with black ash but still glowing like a small star. I drew the Liv into my palm, intending to wrap my whip around the piece and extract it from the rock. But just as I moved to crack the rope, a hollow laugh echoed along the river. I spun around to find Nott dive bombing into the gorge atop a murderous-looking black dragon. I cracked my whip at the river, and Nott’s dragon reeled backward, flapping his wings to expose his expansive belly. Mack quickly sheathed his sword, drawing his crossbow and firing a series of arrows at the reptile’s exposed flesh. The dragon roared, but remained airborne.

  Crap.

  “Allie, just get the piece,” Tore called. “We’ll hold Nott off.”

  With a nod, I dove for Gud Morder. When pulling on its twin blades proved useless, I dug at the rocks that held it in place. A surge of light energy formed around me, and a glance over my shoulder let me know that my god-brothers had once-again erected their protective shield. I pawed frantically at the rocks until my raw fingertips wrapped around the cool metal of my weapon. I yanked it free, relishing the way its powerful vibrations coursed between my hands.

  “I have it!” I cried.

  Fear doused my excitement the second I spun around.

  My god-brothers fought valiantly against the half-dozen night elves who leapt from the second dragon’s back. Elo and Han each took on three elves, while Dor and Jin fired arrows at the flying reptile now circling overhead. Nott had leapt from her dragon, and was locked in a fierce fight with Tore and Mack. Her sickening energy had lightened infinitesimally, and . . . I squinted as I studied her harrowed appearance. Had her once black eyes changed? I looked closer, until I saw that her left eye was no longer black, but a haunting blue. And the hair above her left brow now hosted a streak of white.

  The piece of Gud Morder pulsed in my palm at the same time my armor sent a warm wave up to my necklace. It felt as if the pieces were working in tandem, producing a soothing balm to ebb the anxiety coursing through me. Without the extra stress, my mind cleared, and a thought came to me in a flash. This was
what had happened when Tore killed Nott’s bird. It had brought a piece of lightness to her physical body . . . though whether that extended to her black soul, I couldn’t possibly know.

  Nott tumbled backward as Tore planted a firm kick to her chest. “Call the Bifrost,” he called. And I hurriedly followed his command.

  “Heimdall,” I cried. “The Bifrost!”

  While I stared at the sky, Dor and Jin felled one of the dragons. The creature spiraled to the ground, landing in the river with enough force to send an enormous wave launching at the far shore. They turned their arrows on Nott’s beast, quickly killing it and sending a second wave coursing along the riverbed when it dropped. They joined their brothers in battling the night elves, while Tore and Mack raced to my side, ready to escort me and the weapon piece to safety. “Heimdall?” I called again, but no rainbow shot from the sky. Huh?

  “Heimdall, send down the Bifrost!” Tore commanded. We waited a beat, but nothing happened.

  Nothing . . . until Nott let out a gleeful cackle.

  “Heimdall had a bit of an accident. Your Bifrost operator fell on his sword.” Nott’s eyes gleamed with unbridled evil while panic rose in my centers, drowning me in a fresh wave of fear.

  We were stuck on Svartalfheim with Nott and her night elves. We had no way of getting home to assemble the final pieces of Gud Morder. And, in all likelihood, we had no way of surviving whatever came next. I said a silent goodbye to my mother, my home, and my life. Because I was going to die in Svartalfheim.

  And there was very little I could do about it.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  “IF YOU KILLED HEIMDALL, I’ll rip whatever’s left of your soul straight out of your chest and hand it over to Hel myself.” Fire blazed in Tore’s eyes as he stalked closer to the night goddess. He was livid. His reaction was far more appropriate than the sheer, unadulterated terror I was rocking. Way to be brave, Allie. Crushing it.

  “His guards intervened before I could destroy him completely—those who survived, that is,” Nott tutted. “But I did ensure Heimdall won’t be manning the Bifrost any time soon. And until your Alfödr finds a replacement, it looks like you’re staying here with me. Let’s have some fun, shall we?”

  Nott threw her hand in the air, and a long black rope cracked overhead. It lashed forward, sucking the light from the protective, blue shield and leaving me totally exposed. But instead of striking at me, Nott sent the rope flying toward the Mack Pack instead. It wrapped around Dor, Han and Jin in one swipe, binding them to each other with a horrifying swirl of darkness. Crap. The dark whip was back, and it meant all kinds of business.

  “Let them go, Nott,” I warned. Tore stepped quickly in front of me. He crouched low, seemingly ready to jump on Nott’s back and perform the aforementioned soul-ripping. He let out a menacing growl.

  “I’ll make you a trade,” Nott sneered. “One of your light elf friends for the piece of the sword.”

  “Hand them all over, unharmed, and you have a deal.” I didn’t hesitate—not even for a second. It might take us some time, but we’d figure out a way to get the last piece of Gud Morder back. My god-brothers weren’t as easily replaceable.

  “That wasn’t my offer.” Nott twisted her wrist, and a surge of black energy shot from her empty hand to create a second whip.

  What the ungodly hell? Nott had two dark whips?

  Tore lunged at Nott while I cracked my own whip, ready to take her on. Elo stepped in quickly, taking Tore’s place as my shield. Nott took one look at me and grinned. She lashed out with her second whip, heavy sparks remaining in its wake, before striking Elo in the chest. What? No. No! Elo’s head rolled backward, and his eyelids fluttered rapidly. He let out an anguished cry before dropping to his knees at my feet.

  “No!” I screamed. A lead ball dropped into my heart, carrying with it an anguish so deep I wondered if the darkness had once again found its way inside of me. I fell to the ground, making sure to keep my own whip active while cradling Elo in my other arm. “Please, stay with me,” I begged. “Please stay alive.”

  “Elo!” Dor, Han and Jin strained against their ropes, but they couldn’t break free. Elo’s breathing hitched, spluttered, then stopped completely as his torso lurched forward. I gently lowered him to the ground, placing his cheek carefully against the ashy soot of the Svartalfheim riverbank. I was unable to move, unable to breathe. My god-brothers’ faces whitened and their knees buckled. The will to fight seemed to leave their bodies. That shift must have marked me as the greater threat because Nott focused her attention on me, pulling both of her dark whips to her as the Medisjon brothers fell to their knees beside the river. They didn’t move, just wept freely as they stared at their sibling’s lifeless body.

  Anger took heartbreak’s place as I watched my god-brothers grieve. Nott would pay for taking Elo from us. She would pay real freaking hard. But before I could deal with her, I had to help Elo. With a surge of power, I transformed the Liv into a thick ball and pushed it into Elo’s chest. But nothing happened. Elo was gone. No, he wasn’t. I drew up another Liv ball and pushed it into him, then a third, and a fourth. But the Mack Pack had been irreparably broken. I couldn’t save Elo.

  Which meant I had to destroy Nott. It was the least I could do.

  Tore and Mack stalked toward Nott from either side. She paid them no mind, keeping her steely gaze focused squarely on me.

  “What will it be, Allie?” Nott seethed. “Give me the piece, or watch another one of them die?”

  “I said you could have the piece!” I screamed. “Just stop, already!”

  “Hand it over.” Nott’s lips peeled back in a calculated smile.

  “Fine.” I pulled the weapon piece out and shook it in front of her. “Tore can bring it to you. Tore. Come here.”

  My protector moved wordlessly toward me, his hand outstretched. I handed him the piece with a sad smile. “Give this to Nott so nobody else has to die.”

  Tore didn’t speak. He just took the piece in his fingers and stalked angrily toward the night goddess. His stiff shoulders and fisted hands betrayed barely contained rage. Nott held up a palm as he got closer.

  “That’s far enough,” she warned. “I will take it.”

  Tore didn’t have time to react. Nott summoned her dark whip and cracked it at Tore. The rope struck the weapon piece, but somehow failed to wrap around it. The piece landed on the ground in front of Tore, who had dropped to his knees. Was he trying to retrieve it? Or had he been struck?

  A piercing cry ripped from Tore’s lips. He rolled to one side and clutched his stomach, writhing on the ground. Oh God, he’d been hit. The dark waves rolling off his stomach suggested that Nott’s whip had struck one of his lower energy centers. And from the way she was raising her arm—and her weapon—she looked like she intended to do it again.

  No. No more death. Not on my watch. That monster was going to pay for hurting my boyfriend. She was going to pay with her life. I was getting that piece back, and then I was killing her with it, one excruciating Gud Morder jab at a time.

  The Liv flared in my chest, and I hurriedly ran it down to my palm. It only took a second for the light whip to form in my hand—Nott hadn’t even lowered her arm before my whip soared across the space between us, intercepting her dark whip and diverting it from its Tore-bound trajectory. That’s right, Nott. You mess with him, you mess with me.

  Nott snarled when she realized what I’d done. She took a menacing step forward, and a surge of black pulsed through her whip and into mine. The energy sent me reeling backward, and my heel caught on one of the rocks near the edge of the water. As I struggled to right myself, Nott pulled her hand back and sent her second whip flying at me. I dove out of the way, launching myself into the black soot and rolling until I landed a few yards away from Tore. He still groaned, but the blackness at his stomach had lightened several shades. Either he was healing himself, or the Mack Pack was working their magic. They no longer huddled beside their fallen brother; now they stalk
ed stealthily toward Nott, their weapons drawn. If I didn’t disarm her, they sure as hell intended to. But I didn’t want anyone else getting hurt.

  Especially not another one of Elora’s sons.

  I kept my eyes on Nott, not wanting to draw attention to the light elves drawing nearer. “Tore,” I muttered under my breath as I edged closer to him. “Get that piece and get it back to Midgard.”

  “I’m not going anywhere without you.” He stretched his hand out and wrapped his fingers around the piece. “What are you doing?”

  I took a deep cleansing breath and I reached deep inside of myself. I was the daughter of Eir, vessel of the greatest healing energy in all of the realms. I was the keeper of the Liv, and I could do this. I had to.

  Nott cracked her whip at me, but I was ready for her. With a battle cry that was sure to make Astrid proud, I threw my hands upward. An enormous ball of the Liv saturated the space between Nott and me before slamming into her chest with the force of a bullet. Nott flew backward into the river, but she recovered quickly, stroking her way to the bank and lashing out with a fierce snap of her dark whip.

  “Allie, down!” Tore yelled. I pressed myself against the ground, narrowly escaping the crack of Nott’s weapon.

  “And stay down!” Greta’s voice came from across the river. I didn’t bother looking to see where she’d spoken from, just trusted my friend and pressed my cheek to the icy ash surface of the bank. The dark energy of Nott’s whip drew near, sending prickles along my spine and threatening to suck the light from my second through fourth energy centers. The whip hovered along my back, threatening to drain the light—and the life—right out of me. But as I squeezed my eyes shut in anticipation, a deafening boom burst through the gorge, rocking the river, and sending a wave of freezing water over me. I was doused with a freezing, wet blanket—one with blessedly refreshing energy that snuffed the dark whip into the ether. I peeled my eyes open and lifted my head just in time to see Nott climbing angrily from the river, dripping wet. The wave must have submerged her too, its cold jarring her focus enough to save me from energetic annihilation. Thank God.