Strangely—and not surprisingly—the water poured and poured from the skin until it filled the bowl to the brim. One more drop and it would have overflowed for sure.
Another magical, water-related miracle.
I wasn’t surprised.
Really, I wasn’t.
I returned to the transfer room, a bodiless god and endless skin of water filling my thoughts. Only to find my weapons and bag gone. Sigrun or Aimee had probably taken them to my room. Happy for the help, I left the transfer room and headed to my quarters.
Chapter 26
The sound of singing greeted me as I entered my room. With her back to me, Turi, her pale cow’s tail brushing the floor behind her as she moved, was busy building a fire even though the weather had warmed. But the heat of the flames comforted me.
Turi looked up as I entered. "Ah, Brynhildr. I came to build the fire as soon as I heard you were back." Turi grinned at me as I sighed and I threw my water skin onto the bed. I unclipped my cloak and sat the spear beside my bed. For a moment, I watched it glint and gleam in the firelight then turned my attention back to Turi, accepting I’d also missed her cheery smile.
"It was quite an adventure." I knew she wouldn’t pry and I wasn’t in the mood to go over everything again.
She didn’t press me for information. As she looked at me, her eyes traced a path up and down my body and her smile disappeared. "I think you need to bathe." She grabbed a fresh dress, pristine white, and shoved it into my arms.
I didn't resist. The thought of soaking in a hot bath was so welcoming right now nothing could make me refuse my Huldra servant. I flinched every time I thought or heard the word. I'd always hated the word "servant." But Turi wasn't subservient in any way. She did her job and did it very well. Probably more an assistant than a servant. Except for when she helped me dress and undress. Then I wasn't exactly sure what to call her.
"Thanks, Turi. A bath sounds wonderful." All she did was nod, accepting my decision. She paused for a moment, then shrieked, the sound ear-piercing in the small room. "What's—?"
"Odin’s wolves…" The word barely made it past her lips as she shuddered, her eyes huge and round, staring at the doorway.
I glanced in the direction of her stare and hid a small smile. Odin's wolves had entered my room after me, each one bearing a raven on his back, both glancing from Turi to me and back again. I laughed. "Don't worry, Turi. Geri, Freki, meet Turi." I couldn’t stop grinning as I made the introductions. "Turi, meet Geri and Freki."
"What are they doing here?" Turi asked, all the while shivering, her eyes round with fear.
"I'm sorry Turi, but they're going to be staying with me. Odin has given them to me for protection." I spoke the words, wondering who was meant to protect whom.
"Here with you?" she croaked.
"Are you afraid of them, Turi?"
"No. Of course not." The Huldra straightened her body, back stiff, neck upright. "Of course not. They are just wolves. They do not frighten me."
I looked at the wolves. "Okay, furballs. You guys better behave and be nice to Turi. Or else." I walked to the door, threw an encouraging smile at Turi then left the room.
My trip to the baths didn't take long, my thoughts flitting from Odin to my upcoming visit with Bal the Surt. Fortunately, I didn't meet anyone on my way to the baths. We'd arrived during the morning sparring sessions and it seemed everyone was busy. It looked like Frigga was running a tight ship in Odin's absence.
The baths were empty. Another blessing. I tossed my clothing and sank into the heated waters of the pool. The sound of running water enveloped me, hundreds of little pipes sluicing water toward the great pool, the constant flow causing little waves to slap against the small semi-circular bathing areas at the water’s edge.
A while later I left the baths, relaxed and a little too sleepy for my liking, although my muscles were thanking me for the release. I headed back to my room and sure enough, on my way there, the odd Warrior or Valkyrie turned and stared and whispered to their companions as they watched me pass.
I smiled and waved to those I recognized from sparring practice or from elsewhere in Asgard, but mostly I just walked as fast as my legs could carry me. By the time I reached my room, I was tense and stressed again, annoyed at myself for allowing them to bug me.
I flung open my room door, startling the wolves, who both rose to their feet, hackles rising, teeth bared. They calmed as soon as they saw me, but not before I realized the room wasn't empty.
Joshua sat on a stool by the fire, my empty bag and weapons at his feet. He shot me a small smile. "Hi." He threw me a wave and got to his feet.
"Hey. How did you get in without being eaten alive?" I asked, grinning happily to see Joshua again. Yet I felt awkward. The moment felt like it called for a hug, and I, for one, had to admit I'd love a hug from Joshua.
But he hesitated and I hesitated, and the moment was gone.
"They know me. They should know most of the Warriors anyway. Odin brings them with him when he visits Valhalla."
"You know something funny? In all the time I've been in Asgard, I've never once seen them." I shook my head in disbelief as I glanced at the pair of wolves who know sat beside the fire, faces on paws stretched out in front of them. Their eyes flitted from Joshua to me, every so often, but they seemed calm, which was all that mattered. I didn't want them tearing Joshua apart.
Joshua came toward me, eyes filled with concern. "Are you okay?"
I nodded, swallowing hard as the distance between us disappeared.
"You sure? You've been through a lot these past few days. You have to know you can talk to me . . . or even any of the other people in our team."
His words reached deep inside of me, and emotion welled up in my throat. I shook my head and tried to speak. Then I moved to him and hugged him hard. I couldn't help it. My body had done what my heart had wanted, and my mind had no say whatsoever.
His arms were warm around me, his body much warmer. I laid my head on his chest and breathed in. Then, I giggled.
"What is it?"
"When did you get so tall?" I asked as I tipped my head back to get a look at his face. "I remember not so long ago that I was the tallest one in this relationship." He was at least half a foot taller than me now. "And you have muscles . . . and a six pack."
"Hey. I had those before." He laughed and hugged me closer.
"Do you miss home?" I thought back to Aimee’s question the other day.
"Yeah . . . but it doesn't hurt so much anymore," he said. His voice was etched with sadness. And my heart ached for him. For all of us. I missed home too — Ms. Custer and the kids. But it was easier for me to move on. How many times had I needed to move on?
I just hugged him back. Reveled in the feelings running through me as our bodies leaned against each other.
He shifted his weight and looked down between us for my hand and linked his fingers with mine. He looked at me and smiled. Warm fingers tingled, entangled, heated.
His smile disappeared as he pulled me toward him, leaning against the side of the bed, drawing me closer. Shadows played across his face, darkening his eyes and pulling me closer. Closer. Our breath entwined. Closer. Lips touched. More. Sparks sizzled around us and everywhere between us.
What was this? Where had this come from? But even though I questioned it, I still reveled in the intense heat of it. Our lips parted, I pulled away, and stared at Joshua. He stared back and blinked and I managed only one breath before his lips claimed mine again, the heat twisting and spinning around us, on lips and tongues. My hands were tight around his neck while his fingers pressed against my lower back. We couldn’t get any closer if we tried.
Geri, or was it Freki, bumped into my knee, hackles high, teeth bared, staring straight at Joshua.
Stupid animal.
"Right, Furball. You are meant to protect me, but that's taking it a bit too far," I snapped, my heated blood slowly cooling. Our interlude had ended and now reality came barging back into my life. I sat on the bed, a rush of disappointment filling me.
Joshua chuckled. "Poor thing. Don't give him too hard a time, Bryn."
"You'd say differently if that hand of yours was all chewed up by my four-legged bodyguard here." I sniffed.
Joshua leaned closer, ignoring the sudden lift of the wolf’s ears. "Are you complaining? I had the distinct impression you liked where that hand had been."
I blushed, blood rushing to my head and warmth blooming in my belly at the mere thought of where his hand had been and how much I'd liked it. I cleared my throat. "My opinion is really not the subject of this discussion, now is it?" I glanced pointedly at the wolf still standing beside the bed, still at stiff attention.
"Look, Fleabag, I'm not the bad guy here, okay? So back the hell off." Frustration edged Joshua's voice even as he playfully threatened the wolf.
"Sorry, boys. I hate to break up the party, but this girl has a few things to get done today." Joshua and the wolf turned their heads to look at me, both bearing inquiring looks. I glanced at Joshua. "Well, you might as well stay. Unless you have something better to do with your time?"
He shook his head. "I'm here if you need me."
"Okay." I shoved off the bed, feeling slightly bereft as I left the warmth of the furs. I knelt in front of the huge chest that sat at the foot of my bed.