Mimir's Well (The Oracles of Kurnugi Book 3) (16 page)

CHAPTER 32

            
 
T
he giant led them through a network of frozen tunnels. The dim sunlight filtering through the ceiling told Henry that this cavern wasn't just some feature of the land that had frozen over. It was made entirely of ice. As they walked, the light faded. The giant didn't say anything, but once they got deep enough, he lit a large torch. The ice almost seemed to recede from the dancing flames.

              "It's almost like the time we were captured by Valin, isn't it?" Andromeda asked.

              "I don't think Valin would've eaten us, though."

              "Do you think he was serious about that?"

              "I don't think he had a reason to make that up."

              They had to jog to keep up with the giant's long strides as it led them through a number of passageways. A couple of the caverns they passed through had other tunnels leading out. Henry considered trying to use one to escape, but he had no idea where he'd go if he succeeded. For now, at least, the giant king was their greatest hope.

              They walked for hours. Unlike the path leading to the dwarven city of Kerat, which lay under the Nordi Mountains, the way the giant took them on eventually sloped upward. Light shone through the ceiling again and steadily grew brighter. The giant never slowed, and before long, Henry's legs began to burn and the cuts on his stomach reopened. From Andromeda's wheezing beside him, he could tell she wasn't doing much better.

              "How much longer?" Henry asked.

              The giant sniffled. "You tire after such a short walk and yet you expect to defeat the gods?"

              "Unless I've grossly overestimated them, I'm not going to beat them by walking so just answer the question."

              The giant chuckled. "We're nearly there."

              True to his word, they soon rounded a corner. The slope became a little steeper and passed through an opening in the ceiling. The wind howled, carrying the chill from outside that pierced the cloak. Instantly, he moved to Andromeda's side and threw the cloak around her. They huddled together as they came out of the tunnels.

              For the first time since entering this world, there was a clear sky, and the sun reflected so brightly off the snow that Henry had to shield his eyes. A castle stood in the center of a field of blazing white. Frozen towers surrounded a large central spire. Walls of blue ice glimmered in the sunlight. A path of packed snow wound through the landscape. At first, Henry thought it was similar to the other castles he'd seen, but as they came close, he realized just how much bigger it was. It wasn't just scaled up from human size. It was a hundred times the size of the Hreidmar's castle in Nidavellir, a thousand times bigger than King Frederick's palace in Argath. As they neared the towering walls, they could make out the individual bricks of ice. At random, blocks sank into the wall, and by the time they'd reached it, a wide doorway had opened. The giant passed through it without breaking stride. Eager to get indoors, Henry and Andromeda rushed in, thankful for the protection from the elements. It was still cold inside, but it was nothing next to the deathly chill they'd just come out of.

              The ice forming the floor was slippery, but not just because it was ice. It wasn't wet at all, but was perfectly smooth. It felt like walking on glass, and it was just as clear. Henry found himself gazing down into it. Blurry figures sat within, and he focused on one as they passed. His eyes went wide and he took in a sharp breath.

              "Is that a skull?"

              The giant paused and looked down. "Of course. All our enemies rest there. Thrym's throne sits on the skull of Baldur himself, and you walked over Hod's skull when you pass the threshold of this castle. Your skull will join them if Thrym isn't satisfied with what you say."

              "Well that's a pleasant thought."

              Another giant in heavy furs stumbled into their guide. It smelled like it hadn't taken a bath in a month and couldn't seem to keep its balance. The giant leading them didn't bother to ask questions. He just slammed his bone club into the other giant's head. There was a loud thump as it fell to the ground. The sound echoed through the building until Henry was sure the entire castle had heard. The giant spit on his fallen companion as they passed. Henry and Andromeda went around it by a wide margin.

              "Why did you do that?" Henry asked.

              The giant shrugged. "He was in the way."

              He plodded on without saying another word. They rounded a corner and came to a solid wall. The giant banged his club against the wall three times. A few seconds later, a seam appeared, and the wall split. Instantly, all heat was sucked from the air. Someone cried out, and Henry wasn't sure if it was him or Andromeda. He fell to the ground, his lungs burned by the cold air. He looked at his fingers and saw the tips turning black. The
thunk thunk thunk
of giant footsteps moved away from him. Henry was shaking hard and it was all he could do to turn his face in that direction. His eyes couldn't focus and he saw a vague blob of color moving around inside the room that had opened.

              "My king." The giant's voice was perfectly calm.

              "Litr," a raspy voice said. "Why have you brought humans into my hall?"

              "They claim to be enemies of the gods. I thought they might give you some amusement."

              "Really?" The giant king drew out the word. It would've sent shivers down Henry's spine if he hadn't already been shaking. "What are their names?"

              The giant hesitated. "I don't know. I didn't think to ask."

              "Sloppy, Litr. Very sloppy. Well, mortals, what are your names?"

              The cold receded to a level similar to outside. His vision cleared and Henry tried to get up. He was still shaking and his arms couldn't seem to support his weight. Andromeda was barely moving, and he crawled over to her and covered her with his cloak. She stirred but didn't rise.

              "What weak beings these mortals are," the king said.

              The temperature shot up so fast Henry almost expected the floor to melt, but of course it didn't. It was only warm in comparison to the bitter cold that had filled the hall. Now, it seemed to be within the limits of the cloak. It was still a struggle to rise, but he managed it, making sure to keep Andromeda protected as well.

              The giant king looked like a blue skinned human, if humans grew to be thirty feet tall. He had a long, pointed nose and beady white eyes. His beardless face was smooth, and his hair looked like spikes of ice. He reminded Henry of the Jack Frost character he'd seen in some Christmas movie, and his mind flashed back to when he'd first entered Kurnugi when Virgil had said they were near the home of the ruler of winter. He couldn't help but wonder if he was close to that spot.

              "I'm Henry Alexander Gideon." His breath steamed in the freezing air.

              "Hmm, I have heard of such a mortal," the giant king said.

              "Yeah, I'm getting used to that. Does what you've heard tell you that Idun wants me dead?"

              "It does indeed. It also says you led an army intending to storm Asgard itself, and that you brought strange gods as your allies."

              "Then Heimdall threw me off the bridge, and I ended up here," Henry said. "You're well informed."

              "Excuse me, Lord Thrym," Andromeda said. "Is that battle still going on?"

              The giant king glanced at her then turned back to Henry. "So far as I know, your army is still there. It's no easy thing to defeat an army with so many dwarves while they defend a mountain. They can't win though."

              "Not without help."

              "Henry no, we can't unleash these..." her eyes darted to Thrym, and when she spoke, her voice was so soft even Henry could barely hear her. "We can't send these
things
to Midgard."

              "Why should I care if one mortal army lives or dies?"

              "I'm not asking you to care about our army," Henry said. "I'm asking you to care about the one we're fighting. If the gods win, they'll be even more powerful than ever."

              The king leaned forward on his throne. "And what do you propose to do about that?"

              "Send me to Asgard so I can deal with this threat."

              Thrym laughed. "Tell me, boy, in the fight that saw you thrown off Bifrost, how many gods were you fighting?"

              "One," Henry said. "Just Heimdall."

              The giant gave him a level look. "One. You couldn't even defeat one, and you want to attack the heart of their realm."

              "With respect, Lord Thrym," Andromeda said, "the gods fear Master Henry. Maybe he can kill them. Maybe he can't, but in either case, you risk nothing by letting us go."

              "Unless the gods see this as an attack. I've no desire for open war with Asgard just yet."

              "Asgard is engaged in a war on..." Andromeda thought for a second before shrugging. "I have no idea how many fronts. They're attacking every world they can reach. They won't be eager to start one with you too. You don't actually have to help us. You just have to not kill us."

              "An interesting proposition. Asgard already counts you as an enemy, and there would be nothing odd about you attacking them." He tapped his finger against his chin. "Yet your chances for success would be much better with my help than without it, and I would gain a powerful ally."

              "We don't want to lead an army of frost giants into Asgard," Henry said.

              "No, that would be a trifle obvious, wouldn't it? I was thinking of something else. You are unarmed."

              "My sword was broken when I fell, and Andromeda's was lost."

              "He tried to attack me with this."

              Litr opened his hand. The broken hilt looked like a toy. Henry's face reddened when the king laughed.

              "Did he now? Let me see that." The giant walked over to his king and deposited the broken weapon in his outstretched hand. Thrym turned it over in his hand a couple of times. "Yes, I believe I can work with this."

              He closed his eyes and a blue nimbus surrounded the hilt. A few seconds later, what remained of the blade collapsed to dust. Thrym's breath began to steam, and that steam swirled around the hilt.

              "What..."

              Henry's words caught in his throat as a new blade began to grow out of the hilt. Unlike the steel grey of Hephaestus' weapon, this one was ice blue and mildly translucent. The blade was straight and looked paper-thin. After a few seconds, the giant king opened his eyes and idly tossed the weapon at Henry. The blade sank a foot into the floor. Henry just stared at it.

              "Take it," the king said.

              Henry put his hand on the hilt, half expecting it to be cold. Instead, warmth suffused him. The sword came out of the ground easily. It was much lighter than it had been before. He swung it experimentally. The sword felt like an extension of his arm. He felt strong. With this, he could do anything.

              "This won't melt, will it?"

              "Oh no. It can stand temperatures far hotter than those that would melt steel. It'll also protect you from this land. I doubt it's the equal of the blade you had, but it's more than enough to accomplish your task."

              "And what task it that?" Henry asked as he swung it a few more times. It felt natural in his hands. The way light gleamed off the blade mesmerized him.

              "With this, you can slay the gods."

CHAPTER 33

            
 
"
L
itr, kill them," the king said.

              "What?" Henry cried out.

              The giant roared and thundered toward them. Its club came crashing down, and Henry rolled out of the way just as it smashed into the ground. Chunks of ice went flying, and a frozen sheet fell from the ceiling and shattered on the ground. The giant lurched at him, and Henry dove between its legs, slashing with his sword. The blade sliced across the top of the giant's boot, but didn't go deep enough to wound him.

              "What are you doing?" Henry shouted, but the giant king just stared impassively while his underling attacked.

              Litr's club tore through the air toward Andromeda, but she was moving too fast and ducked under it. Henry leapt at the giant. He swung high, and his blade cut into the back of the Litr's knee. Blue blood sprayed out, steaming as it landed on the ice. The smell of rotten fish almost made Henry gag. Litr cried out and stumbled. He launched a meaty fist at Henry, but Henry raised the frozen blade and allowed the giant to impale itself. Litr drew back and screamed something that Henry could only assume was a curse in the language of the giants. Andromeda had retreated to the door that had sealed itself again.

              "I thought you were going to help us," Henry shouted.

              "Litr, if that human is still alive in thirty seconds, I'll have your head."

              The giant swung wildly at Henry. He danced out of the way and slashed at the club, lopping off three feet of it. The lighter weight threw Litr off balance, and he stepped on his wounded leg a little too hard. He tripped over his own feet and crumbled to the ground. Henry rushed over to him and put his sword on the giant's neck. The giant froze, though Henry could see fear in his eyes as he looked at the king. Suddenly, this creature seemed like a sad and pathetic thing.

              "What's going on here?" Henry asked.

              "You failed, Litr," Thrym said, shaking his head. "Very disappointing."

              "No, my king," Litr stammered. "Forgive me. I underestimated him. That sword..."

              "Sword or no, he is only a mortal."

              "No!"

              He screamed. The ground under him writhed, and a thin tendril formed from the ice and wrapped itself around the giant's torso. Heedless of the blade still at his neck, Litr struggled against it, but though it was no thicker than Henry's little finger, it was apparently strong enough to hold its prisoner. Henry could only gape. The giant flailed but other tendrils reached up and held him prone. Slowly, he began to sink into the ground. Frozen tears fell from his cheeks. A few seconds later, he'd vanished. The ice where he'd lain looked as solid as ever. Even the cracks from his attacks were gone.

              "What happened to him?" Henry asked.

              "His skull will join those beneath us."

              "I thought that was only for your enemies."

              The giant king shrugged. "Weakness is as great a threat as anything else. That is enemy enough for me."

              "But why did you order him to attack in the first place?"

              "As I said, weakness will not serve me. If you're going to go into Asgard bearing a frozen blade, I intend to see you have at least a chance of success."

              "You mean it was a test?"

              "Of course."

              "What if I had failed?"

              "Then your skull and your friend's would be the ones beneath my throne room."

              Henry tried not to look afraid. "Then we're done? You'll help us?"

              "I'll send someone to guide you to Asgard."

              "We haven't had good luck travelling outside through your realm."

              "The sword will protect you."

              "What about Andromeda?" Henry asked.

              The giant king shrugged. He reached into his chair, and his hand sunk in like it didn't exist. When he brought it out again, he held a small crystal hanging on a frozen chain. He tossed it to Andromeda. She caught it and dangled the crystal by its chain. It seemed to glow with a faint inner light.

              "That will melt as soon as you leave Jotunheim, but it'll keep you from freezing while you're here."

              "Thank you," Andromeda said.

              "Thank me by succeeding or at least by dying without revealing your connection to me."

              "We'll see what we can do about that." Henry said.