Heroes (Eirik Book 2) (37 page)

“Mine too,” Hayden said from the back. “It’s overwhelming.”

“Hopefully, you two can find a thread of her energy once we leave the forest. Trudy, if you want me to carry you—”

“I was just kidding. If Celestia can walk, so can I.” She hugged Celestia’s arm. “I hate Jötunheim. Always have.”

“But you’re part Jötun,” Celestia said.

“And part Dwarf. What’s your point?”

“Self-hatred,” Celestia retorted. “I swear, if you pinch me, I’ll push you in the bushes, where I saw something slither past. I’m sure it’s a snake.”

Trudy laughed. “Considering you hate scaly things, except one, I’ll pull you with me and laugh as you scream.”

Someone chuckled at their exchange. Ahead, moonbeams broke through the canopy and lit the undergrowth as the tree became more spaced out. Footpaths became visible. A wolf howled directly ahead and more followed. Celestia and Trudy shuffled closer, one of them grabbing my cloak.

Everyone pulled out their weapons. Hayden held an artavus, and Trudy had her scepter. Zack had a dagger, but Celestia was weaponless. But then again, she was a powerful Witch. As for me,
Gunnlögi
often leapt into my hand faster than any of the Grimnirs could draw their swords.

I inched closer to Karle. From the sounds of the howls, he was leading us straight to the wolves. We were putting a lot of trust in the guy. He might have an agenda, for all we knew. Heck, he might even be working for my grandmother.

Rustling sounds came from around us, and Grimnirs closed ranks, forming a tighter circle around us as though they’d planned on how to react in case of an attack. With their backs to us, they readied their weapons. Karle noticed what was happening and stopped.

“Do not attack,” he warned us.

“Then tell them to show themselves,” Rhys shot back.

“Come out, guys,” Karle called. Silence. “Olea,” he yelled.

There was a whoosh from above, then a crash as a white dragon tore through the canopy, taking down several trees. She landed in front of us. Great entrance. The kid never did anything normal. The wolves decided to make their appearances, too. These weren’t your regular wolves. They were huge, like Garm, and towered over us. The Grimnirs’ circle tightened.

“Holy shit!” Zack said.

“Welcome, Eirik Baldurson of Hel’s Hall, and my dear brother,” Olea said. “Father is waiting for you in the hall.”

“What did you do, Olea?” Karle asked.

“I didn’t tell Papa you left,” she snapped. “The guards did. I told you not to use the forest. The northern cavern would have been better, but did you listen to me? No. I’m just your annoying little sister who doesn’t know anything.”

Karle groaned. “You know why I didn’t use the caves.”

“Yeah, well. Now you are in trouble and it’s not my fault. Escort them,” she ordered, then shot upward, her wings tight against her body. The moment she cleared the opening she’d created in the canopy, she spread her wings, whipped them, and took off.

The trees she’d knocked down lifted from the ground and locked on to the trunks, and not necessarily the ones they’d split from. Broken pieces reached for each other until the trees were whole again, except they weren’t straight. Bumps in the sections that had broken and reformed gave them weird shapes. No wonder the trees had gnarled trunks.

One of the wolves walked to the front and barked, “Follow me.”

The Grimnirs stayed close to us since the rest of the wolf pack marched beside them. We reached a roaring river and walked alongside it before it veered left while we continued on straight.

“They’re never this organized,” Karle whispered. “This is to impress you-know-who.”

My grandmother. “I’m impressed too.”

He chuckled. “Don’t be. Had your guys attacked, you would have slaughtered them. They are fat and lazy, and their fighting techniques are terrible. Olea is a better fighter than most of them. But now that Chieftess is back, we hope she can train them.”

To join her army or guard the clan? As we got closer to the edge of the forest and trees became sparse, I found my grandmother’s scent, but it was faint. She’d better be here. We reached a clearing and entered a wide, dirt road leading to the village.

Not that I would call it a village. It was a sprawling town with tall houses with jagged roofs visible above the high wall surrounding it. Torches lit the massive gate. In the background were hulking mountains and more trees. A large body of water reflected the moon to our far left.

“I feel it. Do you?” Celestia asked as we got closer to the gate.

“Yes,” Hayden said. “It is stronger to our right.”

I looked to our right and searched for her scent. It was still faint, but the moon lit what looked like a castle at the top of a hill. I couldn’t tell whether it was inside the town wall or not. Yellow lights flickered at its windows then disappeared.

“What’s that, Karle?” I pointed at the castle.

“Your grandmother’s hall—Járnvid.”

The light at the window, the scent, and the energy the girls picked up could not be wrong. I wanted to follow my nose and find the orphans now, but the gates opened to reveal a crowd. They carried torches even though poles with crystal lights lined the street.

“Giants,” Zack said as more Jötnar joined the ones lining the street running through the center of their town. They followed us, most of them shifting from their giant forms to regular size.

“He’s here,” some of them called out. I guessed they’d expected us, or someone who’d been at the party recognized me.

“Who is he?” the ones who didn’t know asked.

“Hela’s son.”

Karle continued to follow the Jötun wolf, his chest puffed out. The Grimnirs had sheathed their weapons but remained vigilant, the tension thick. I wondered if they’d follow the list my father had sent. I had a feeling they’d go berserk with very little provocation.

Word of our visit spread fast, and by the time we reached the building in the middle of the town, a crowd had gathered in the courtyard and along the giant steps leading to the hall. More of them kept coming, some in wolf form, others as Jötnar.

Karle led us inside the great hall. Huge pillars supported the ceiling and animal fur covered the floor around the chief’s chair, where Skavnir—Karle’s father—sat. A large, red tapestry with runic circles around a lone wolf hung behind his chair. More red and gold wolf decor covered the walls with a few gray or black and white thrown in to break the harsh colors. One tapestry in particular stood out. It had a blend of Ironwood Forest and a wolf’s face.

“Baldurson!” Skavnir stood, shifted to normal size, and bowed. “Welcome to the Wolf Clan of Ironwood Forest.” His eyes fell on Celestia and Hayden, and a broad grin broke on his face. “And you brought more visitors from Midgard. Welcome.” His eyes narrowed when he reached Trudy. “Our little rooster returns home. We thank the gods. And who is this one?” he asked, studying Zack. “He’s not one of us.”

I knew what he meant. Zack didn’t have the bite. “He’s a guest from Midgard, too.”

“Then he’s welcome to our home.” His eyes swept the Grimnirs, and his smile slipped. “There’s no need for weapons, Grimnirs. You are among friends here.” He waved forward the people pouring into the hall. They all shifted to normal size. “Come inside. Tonight we drink and feast and dance. Without Baldurson, Chieftess Angrboda would not be home and the orphans would still be lost.”

His people brought in long tables and benches, while others carried barrels of mead and platters of food. It was as though they’d known we’d be arriving. If my grandmother had foreseen our arrival, she could be gone.

“And where is my dearest grandmother, Chief Skavnir? I was hoping to visit with her.”

“She took the children to her hall to rest, but she said to take good care of you until she joins us.”

Or the food and festivities could be a distraction.

Echo exchanged a look with Rhys. Then they glanced at me. I gave them a brief nod, and they both turned. Echo started for the door with Syn and Nara behind him while Rhys paused to whisper something to Ranger and Daiku before following. The Jötnar gathered in the hall parted ways for them to pass.

“Where are they going?” Chief Skavnir asked. “The celebration is just starting.”

“They’ll be back. You know reapers. Always collecting souls.”

“But no one in my village is sick or dying,” Chief Skavnir protested.

“Some of the orphans from Midgard are gravely ill and won’t last the night. That’s why they are here. I’m just observing the process and learning how things are done.” Celestia and Hayden looked at me with wide eyes. I hadn’t planned to say that, but it was as good an explanation as any for our presence here. I took the seat with a clear view of the door. I’d know the second Echo or Rhys returned.

“What are you doing?” Celestia asked, taking the first seat to my right. I got a chair covered with fur while they sat on a bench. Someone had thrown furs on it, too. Trudy sat beside Celestia and leaned in to catch my answer.

I stroked her cheek so our hosts might think I was just being affectionate. “Playing a part, until the others return with news.” I planted a kiss on her temple. “Don’t drink or eat anything until Trudy confirms our host is as naïve as he sounds and is not an accomplice to whatever devious plan Granny has concocted. Tell her I need an answer ASAP.” A stricken look flashed in Celestia eyes, and I couldn’t help reassuring her further. I tilted her chin, stole a kiss, and didn’t break the contact until I heard her heartbeat stop spiking with panic.

She stared at me with such utter confusion that I wanted to kiss her again. But annoyance crept in, and she pinched my thigh under the table.

Okay, my tigress was back.

Grinning, I picked up the goblet of mead, ignored the stares, and toasted Skavnir, who sat at the other end of the table. His people, presumably officials, had joined us, including the sister I’d spoken with during the party in Eljudnir.

“To Chief Skavnir, may your wine cellar and your food pantries always be full.”

~*~

CELESTIA

I was still reeling from Eirik’s kiss. How could he do that in front of all these people? Worse, he was the center of attention, so everything he did and said was of interest to everyone. The woman seated across from me smiled knowingly and winked. I wanted to kill him. He had no shame at all.

“That was hot,” Trudy whispered from my other side, and I remembered I was supposed to give her a message.

“He wants to know if our host is lying or working with his grandmother.”

Trudy frowned and nodded reluctantly. “I don’t like doing this.”

“He really needs to know before we can touch their food or drink anything. Tell Hayden and…” My cousin was already guzzling the mead and attacking a plate piled high with meat and bread. The same with Daiku and Ranger. “Just tell Hayden.”

“Fine. I’ll scan all of them.”

I sighed, watching Zack. He ate when nervous, and he had plenty to be nervous about. His first time in another realm and he’d encountered giant wolves in a forest that had to be the nexus of magic, met a bratty dragon girl, and was now eating food that might be laced with something to render us all unconscious.

Hayden was still in a daze after Marguerite’s revelations. Every time I tried to make eye contact, she looked away. I wasn’t sure whether she was mad because of what Marguerite had said or because she believed her insane ranting and felt guilty. I refused to believe Tammy worked for Eirik’s evil grandmother and deliberately marked me.

I picked up the goblet, brought it to my lips, and pretended to drink from it, but I didn’t fool the woman seated across from me.

“Why aren’t you eating, dear?” she asked, her voice gentle. With her graying hair and wise eyes, she reminded me of Grams.

“I’m not hungry. I guess I’m too nervous,” I fibbed.

She chuckled. “The other orphans said the same thing when they first got here, but it turned out our food is a bit spicy for them. Would you like some fruit? We fed your friends fruit, bread, and apple juice for two days. Now they’re doing better. Having the older orphans helped.”

“I’m really not hungry. Just water, thank you.” The woman waved to someone to pour me water.

“You met my mother?” Hayden asked.

“Which one was your mother, dear? There were two older women and an older man with the children, and I don’t recall one as pretty as you.”

Hayden described Tammy, and the woman nodded.

“Tamsin,” the woman said. “Of course. I remember her as a little girl, before she was taken from us.”

“My mother lived here?” Hayden asked.

“Only until she was around seven. Then she was taken. That was nearly two hundred years ago.” Hayden’s face paled, and tears rushed to her eyes. I felt her pain. How many more things had Tammy hidden from her? Her mother’s obsession with coming back made sense now. Jötunheim had been her home.

I tried to catch Hayden’s eyes, but she blinked the tears and started asking the woman more questions about her mother and where she’d come from. Most orphans came from all over the place, according to the woman.