“You’ll see. Just be careful, and don’t take any chances at getting caught. Once that’s taken care of you’ve also got your own bit of deception to pull off. I need you to make it look like I’m still visiting the hall now and then, so no one wonders why you’re still around. But the truth is that Mara needs a place to stay, so you’ll be bringing her meals and doing whatever you can to help her out. I’ve also got a long shopping list I want you to take care of. I’m not going to be able to go straight home after this, and I don’t want to end up camping in the middle of some remote wilderness with nothing but the shirt on my back.”
“Where are you going to go?” Mara asked.
“Alanna and I are still looking at our options. We might hide out on another continent for a couple of weeks, or we might do something less obvious than that. I just need to make sure that if one of the Aesir checks up on the situation in Kozalin they don’t find any sign of my presence.”
Mara frowned. “So you’re just going to let the girls think you’re dead?”
“They won’t even think that’s a possibility unless some agent of the Aesir tells them, and I don’t think they’re going to take a message like that at face value,” I said. “Besides, I have a way to send them secret messages. I just need to stay away long enough for the battles here to heat up a bit more.”
“If this plan works that won’t take very long,” Mara said. “Rounding up a bunch of escaped prisoners will keep the gods too busy to strike back against dad’s beachhead. So we’ll get more troops here faster, and the whole invasion schedule will probably get moved up. I bet it won’t even be a week before the first big battle happens.”
“I suppose it isn’t a disaster if they learn of your return at that point,” Aphrodite said. “No one is going to be too shocked if an Atlantean wizard turns out to have a way to cheat death.”
“Exactly,” I said. “I just don’t want them to drag me back to Asgard and interrogate me about it. So it’s all a matter of timing. Speaking of which, Mara, you’ve seen the armies of both sides in this thing. How do you see the siege of Asgard going?”
“Siege isn’t really the right word for it. Asgard’s walls are big, but we’ve got a bunch of monsters who could knock them down. So the fortifications are mostly just going to shelter the civilians from getting swarmed by Hel’s army. The Aesir will have to use those gates of theirs to march out and meet our heavy hitters in the field, to keep them away from the walls.”
I nodded along. “That makes sense. How big is Hel’s army, anyway? Considering how long she’s been building it I figured she must have millions of undead.”
“Millions? Hah! Daniel, the einherjar have that many men, and they only take heroes. Try billions.”
I choked. “What?”
“She gets practically everyone who dies in all of Europe, North Africa or the western part of Asia, Daniel. Ever since dad was bound she’s been drafting everyone who knows anything about fighting into her army, and tapping the rest for the power to give them corporeal forms. She’s got a couple billion zombie infantry, and maybe a hundred million elites like the guys you fought in Kozalin. The einherjar are tough, but they’re going to get swarmed if they try to stand and fight.”
“I’ll say. What about the frost giants?”
“They have to eat, so it’s not as easy to get a lot of them in one place. But there are thousands of giant clans, and most of them can muster a few hundred fighters. The big ones have thousands, and they knew this was coming. They’ve got whole glaciers that were hollowed out to make warehouses for frozen supplies, they just have to move it where they need it. I figure we’ll keep getting fresh hosts of twenty or fifty thousand giants marching in from Jotunheim every few days for as long as this goes on. Same deal with the fire giants, too. Of course, dad will need to keep them on opposite sides of the field from each other.”
“Hmm. So, you’ve basically got an unlimited supply of troops, and Odin has a smaller force that gets all its casualties replaced every evening. Which means he wants to drag out the opening phase of the battle for as long as possible, and keep breaking your expeditionary forces so he can deplete your supply of elite troops. But once you can get past that phase every battle is going to be some of his forces gating out into the middle of a giant zombie swarm to try and take out a high-priority target.”
“Until we get some heavy hitters up to the city walls, and start tearing them down,” Mara said. “Then the zombies can swarm the defenders, and once they reach Valhalla they can burn the Halls and put a stop to the daily resurrections.”
“This will be the greatest battle since the fall of Atlantis,” Alanna said. “I don’t envy you your place in the line of battle, Mara, but I do wish that I could watch.”
“I’m sure it will be very exciting,” Aphrodite agreed. “I’m surprised you don’t plan to take part, Daniel. Think of the glory you could win.”
“There is no glory in war,” I said firmly. “At best it’s a grim necessity. You just enjoy watching hotheaded fools beat on each other for your amusement.”
“True,” she admitted, with an unrepentant grin. “I suppose watching you fight would be boring, anyway. Too many explosions, not enough bare muscle getting all sweaty in the sun.”
I snorted. “Yeah. And on that note, let’s get this done. I want to be back in the Spire before the Lightbringers can organize some last-ditch attempt to take me out here in the city.”
Mara and Aphrodite left soon afterwards, off to carefully drop a few words in the right ears. I sat down to write that shopping list for Fiona and Caitlyn, while they took care of the dishes and Alanna stood watch.
Let’s see, now. What were we going to need? Alanna’s trees would be in a dry, arid environment, so we’d need shade and light clothing if we spent time camping out near one. But that would mean letting the twins know one of Alanna’s bigger secrets, and after that comment to Aphrodite I suddenly wasn’t sure how much I could trust them. I’d been assuming they’d be grateful enough to have some loyalty once I got them back to Midgard, but now that didn’t seem like such a smart assumption. When I asked the Hall for all the scheming and manipulation talent it could provide, how much of that had come from the kind of woman who uses every man in her life as a disposable source of goodies?
Yeah, it might be better to limit how much they found out.
Regardless of that, having some arctic survival gear on hand would also be wise. It was all too likely that we’d end up spending some time in Europe before I could go home, for one reason or another. I was also going to need to report in to Hecate once I got out of this mess, and she might well have a mission or two for me. I could think of several things I might want to get done while I was out and about, and there were probably other opportunities she’d know about.
Assuming I made it. I wasn’t sure what my odds were, but I didn’t really like them. This plan had way too many moving parts for comfort.
I was working on contingency plans when Caitlyn poked her head in the room. “Master? That einherjar you met before is back for another visit. He says he has a message for you.”
“Great. Now what?”
My confusion lasted until I reached the sitting room, and found Nat Legap waiting nervously with his hat in his hands.
“Ah, so that’s who she meant. What brings you here today, Nat?”
“The prince drafted me to play messenger again, lord wizard. Not that I’m supposed to be under him, but a man like that has ways of getting what he wants, if you know what I mean.”
“I do. He’s been trying that with me, too, but I can only be pushed so far. I suppose he wants another meeting, then? Or has he found something else to threaten me with?”
“A meeting, milord. But, ah, I’m in a bit of a hard place here. He was dead set on convincing you to come, but I can’t help feeling something ain’t right about it. He was particular about the time, and there’s this shifty fellow he’s been talking to what don’t belong here.”
“Really? A man who isn’t an einherjar?”
“They say he’s a merchant, milord. Some kind of world wanderer what trades with other worlds. But I can’t think what the prince might want with a man like that.”
“I can. There are foreign assassins after me.”
Nat thought about it for a moment, and scowled. “That ain’t right. I might have died early, but my squad mates are all from Kozalin. I’ve heard the tales about how you fought off the zombies and ape men, and saved the city more than once. And now he’s helping some foreign bastard murder you?”
“Yeah, I didn’t think he’d go that far either. But don’t let on that you know, or he’ll think he needs to shut you up somehow. When is this meeting supposed to be?”
“Tonight, milord. At the sunset bell.”
“Well, I’m not going to be there. Tell him I said that I’m almost finished with my work for the Allfather, and I’m going to be busy with that for the next few days. After I finish I’ll be leaving Asgard, so I won’t have time for his problems.”
“That will put a bee in his bonnet,” Nat said. “I’ll do that, milord, and best of luck to you. Um, are you really going back to Midgard soon? I’ve never heard tell of a man coming back from Valhalla.”
“It’s easier when you aren’t dead,” I said. “Besides, wizards break a lot of rules. Why?”
“Well, I was just thinking, if you don’t mind breaking rules and such, and it ain’t too much trouble, maybe you could see your way to, ah, pass on this little note?”
He pulled a creased and folded envelope from his belt pouch, and clutched it in both hands.
“Is that for your wife?” I asked, astonished.
“Aye, milord. I just wanted her to know I ain’t no zombie in Hel’s army, so she won’t worry. But I warned her not to come here, just like you said. You were right about that one. There’s a guy in my band what I knew back in Kozalin, and his girl came through the door a couple days ago. He don’t seem to mind how she acts now, but I’d hate to see my Aina like that.”
I took the envelop. It clinked as he handed it over, and I raised an eyebrow.
“You’re sending her money?”
“Just a bit of mortal silver I managed to scrounge up, milord. It ain’t much, but it’s what I can do.”
“You’re in Valhalla, neck deep in horny wenches, trying to train up to fight all the forces of evil, and you’re still worried about taking care of your wife?”
He shrugged. “I know it’s till death do us part, but it ain’t easy to let go.”
“You’re a good man, Nat. I’ll make sure she gets it.”
Chapter 23
They came for me an hour before sunrise.
I’d been up all night again, rounding out the collection of magical gadgets I was relying on to make this whole plan work. But this time I was also using flesh magic to banish my fatigue, so I was fresh and ready for action.
I’d knocked off work a few minutes earlier to check my perimeter alarms, since this was one of the more likely times for a surprise attack. The detection ward I’d thrown up around the Sunspire didn’t register a thing, but that wasn’t much of a surprise. It was a conventional sort of security magic, and I’d be shocked if the Lightbringers didn’t have a counter for it.
The tiny cameras I’d hidden near the top of the spire were another story. I’d already known almost enough about light magic to make a magic eye, and Alanna had been happy to fill in the gaps in my knowledge. Then I’d figured out how to warp the detection part of the enchantment so it picked up infrared instead of visible light.
Apparently the wizards of Egypt didn’t know that much about physics, because now I could see three warm silhouettes creeping across the landscape towards the tower.
I re-checked my defensive measures as I watched them approach. I wanted as few prying eyes as possible watching this fight, so I was planning to have it inside the Spire. That would be dangerous for both sides, since so many things in here could go haywire if they were damaged. But I’d had time to make sure I was well protected against the most likely possibilities, and I was hoping to use the terrain to my advantage.
Of course, I at this point I was starting to think the only reason the Spire still existed was so the Lightbringers could use it as bait for Atlantean wizards. I’d found two more of those traps as I prepared for this fight, and who knew how many more there were? From their point of view I was standing in a trap they’d prepared ages ago, where their activities would be conveniently hidden from the gods of Asgard.
In a few minutes we’d find out whose preparations were better. But before that, there was another puzzle I was hoping to see resolved. I’d known perfectly well that Gustav’s attempts at security wouldn’t make any difference, just like the ward. My hope was that seeing a series of reasonable defenses that they could penetrate would keep the assassins from wondering too much about what new and unexpected surprises I might have in store.
But their next challenge was Aphrodite.
She’d grumbled quite a bit when I put her on sentry duty, instead of letting her continue playing with Alanna in the dryad’s bower. But Alanna had convinced her to put some effort into it, and now there was a copy of her lounging around at each of the half dozen locations where one could easily enter the Spire. Several of the aspects Alanna had unbound had to do with perception, so sneaking past her without being spotted would be quite a feat.
Apparently they weren’t even going to try. The lead assassin faded into view near one of the more accessible entrances, revealed by a hidden camera I hadn’t told Aphrodite about. He said something in a language that I guessed was probably Ancient Greek, and bowed.
Aphrodite laughed, and replied in the same language. Then she made a sweeping gesture towards the entrance, and ostentatiously went back to staring off into the distance.
The Lightbringer invoked Ra’s ancient agreement with Zeus, for the destruction of any remaining trace of Atlantis, Alanna said. Aphrodite agreed to honor the treaty, and wished him luck on his mission.
“Well, at least now I know,” I said as I watched the invisible assassins ghost past her. “I figured they’d be in contact with her, since she’s such a useful source of information. It’s too bad she decided to backstab us, but I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Even if I die, she can probably still talk Mara into freeing her.”
True, but I must admit to being disappointed. I had hoped her long trial here might teach her something.
I was about to say something about old dogs and new tricks when Aphrodite pulled out the prototype communicator I’d given her, and pushed the talk button.
“Well, Daniel, your predictions have proven as astute as ever. They just entered the northern breach, and they’re making their way deeper into the Spire as I speak. I hope your preparations prove adequate, for they’ve send a senior team after you.”
It took me a moment to figure out how to respond to that.
“So I see. You didn’t feel like putting up any resistance?”
“Have you mistaken me for one of your battle maniacs, Daniel? I am no war goddess, and I’ve already died quite enough painful deaths for one millennium. Besides, I wouldn’t want to deny you the glorious death that you’ve worked so hard to arrange.”
“You’re all heart, Aphrodite.”
“Aren’t I? Now that my part in this play is done, may I retire from the field of battle? It would be tragic if I stayed too long, and was caught up in your grand finale.”
“Sure. Alanna?”
The steel breastplate covering my chest vanished back into Alanna’s armory for a moment, so she could poke her head out of the wood beneath it and speak.
“Your work here is done, Aphrodite. Make your way unseen to Mara’s side, and we shall join you when we may. And… thank you.”
“What, did you think I would turn on you so easily? When have I ever been so obvious, Alanna? If I ever stab you in the back it will come as a complete surprise.”
“Magnificent bitch,” Alanna replied, with an affectionate smile on her lips. “Go on, then. Run away, and keep your pretty hide intact.”
“Ooh, are you looking to make some fresh marks of your own on my sexy butt? I’ll be waiting for you, Mistress Alanna. Good luck!”
I couldn’t resist the urge to facepalm. “She never stops, does she?”
She would turn being devoured by dragons into some disturbing innuendo, Alanna agreed, switching back to our silent telepathy. Now, tell me again why we must fight these hunters, instead of simply retreating and letting them die in the destruction you have planned?
“Someone will check for signs of a battle,” I said. “The more high-end magic these guys have to use, the more obvious it will be who they were and what they were doing. With any luck this will drive a wedge between Asgard and the Lightbringers, and ensure they don’t cooperate in the future. Besides, I need to see how my new gear stacks up against them.”
I stood, and picked up the staff I’d left leaning against the wall next to my improvised security console. It was constructed from dozens of individual magic items, just like my new cloak and surcoat. An outer shell of tungsten layered with defensive enchantments protected a tube lined with enchanted rings, ready to turn anything passing through them into a hypervelocity projectile. The conjuration rods at the base were set to make fire, water or nickel-iron spheres, with or without the enchantments I’d come up with.
It was by far the most dangerous of my new weapons, powerful enough that I’d have to be careful how I used it inside the spire. But I had other options. My gloves protected the backs of my hands with the same sort of shield array as my cloak, while the palms were set with enchanted disks that would set off attack spells on command. Grinder sat at its usual place on my belt, next to an assortment of little iron balls meant to be used as grenades, and the revolver at my other hip had several new ammunition types.
Hopefully it would be enough.
The magic I’d come up with for relaying a camera view back to a central location was still pretty clunky, and I’d only been able to connect a limited number of them. But the passages that wound through the tower’s mechanisms had a lot of choke points, so I was able to track the progress of the intruders well enough. They obviously had a map of the interior, because they made directly for the soul transfer system. Presumably they were hoping to catch me in the middle of working enchantments, and hit me by surprise.
Thrall (Daniel Black Book 4) Page 33