Dead Chaos (A Valkyrie Novel - Book 3)(32)

Turi nodded and grinned at me, her cheery smile putting a similar one on my face.

But before I could launch into the details of my message, a knock sounded at the door. Turi hurried to answer it and ushered Sigrun and Aimee inside.

"Good morning, lazybones." Aimee smiled and sank into the furs at my feet. "We're ready to leave, and here you are still idling in bed."

I wanted to defend myself but ended up yawning and stretching instead.

"Do you need to rest more, Bryn?" Sigrun frowned.

"No, not at all." I swung my legs out of the furs and Turi rushed to me, clearly wanting to help although I wasn't sure with what. She stood there, looking a little lost until I waved her off. "I just want to have a quick bath before I get dressed. I'll meet you guys in the transfer room."

"Will do. Ready when you are." Aimee turned to leave, and Sigrun hurried after her.

"Oh, does Joshua know we are leaving this morning?" I blushed as I asked the question, knowing they would notice but unable to do anything about it.

"Yes, Bryn, he knows." Aimee shook her head and winked. "I'm not sure how you two lovebirds even stay apart from each other."

Before I could respond, Sigrun spoke. "Stop teasing Bryn. What she has with Joshua is special. It is not anything to make fun of."

"Awww, Sigrun, I didn't mean anything by it. I was just teasing her." Aimee raised her hands in mock terror.

Seeing the seriousness of Sigrun's expression, I intervened. "Sigrun, she really was only teasing. And I don't mind at all."

"Are you sure, Bryn? It did not seem appropriate," Sigrun asked. Behind her Aimee rolled her eyes and grinned.

"You're far too serious, Sigrun. You need to loosen up a bit." I laughed.

"Yes. You need to loosen up." Aimee grabbed the Valkyrie by the arm and led her to the door. "And we need to leave Bryn to bathe and dress before we go find a great big horn." They left my room, their chattering voices echoing down the hall.









Chapter 29




Refreshed after my hot bath, dressed in my armor, and laden with weapons, I hurried out of the room. The wolves followed close on my heels, whining as I walked off. They were still piqued. When they began to growl, I turned, about to scold when I saw Geri, whom I only knew now because of his little grey beard, remaining at my room door.

"What is it?" I asked, striding back, a little impatient with the delay. When I followed Geri's gaze, I had to swallow a nice little swearword. Gungnir. I'd almost left Odin's spear behind. Shaking my head, I grabbed the weapon and left the room at a jog.

"Thanks, Furbag," I said as I passed the pair of wolves, secretly extremely grateful. A fluttering up above made me smile. I'd almost forgotten Hugin and Munin. But when I looked up, only one bird accompanied us.

"Hey, Blackbird. Where’s your brother?" I flung the question as I walked, secretly wanting to identify the bird as I couldn’t tell them apart even if my life depended upon it.

"Munin has decided to remain with Frigga. He sends his apologies and assures you no disrespect. We both thought it would be a good idea to have one of us remain behind just in case the All-Father returns."

"No disrespect taken at all, Hugin. I quite agree. Good plan." I grinned, glad it was Hugin. Not that I had a problem with his twin. It was just that Hugin and I knew each other. Perhaps I could even think of him as a friend.

I hurried to the transfer room with the wolves and Hugin in tow, just the clickety-clack of nails on the stone floor and the flap-flap of wings to confirm their presence.

My heart raced a bit, the thought of encountering Bal again making me a little nervous. But it wasn't as if I had much of a choice. Gjallerhorn awaited and the Norns had given their instruction. Who was I to do otherwise?

Eager glances met mine as I entered the transfer room, and this time, my heart did a different kind of racing at the sight of Joshua. He smiled and winked at me, which only made my heart trip faster. I longed to go over to him, let him envelope me in his arms. Longed to feel the touch of his lips on mine. His gaze held mine and heat began to build in the pit of my stomach.

One of the wolves bumped against my knee, and curled himself around my legs. I blinked, pulling myself out of my silly, infatuated daydreams.

What the hell is wrong with you, Bryn? Get your head in the game.

I stalked to the group, still furious with myself and hoping nobody had picked up on my emotional upheaval. Nobody except Joshua, who kept his gaze on mine, an intense expression darkening his eyes. I could feel the intensity flow off his body from where I stood, at least five feet away.

We checked our weapons and stood ready to depart with the wolves waiting patiently at my heels. I gripped Odin's staff, feeling the weight of its safekeeping on me. What was the point of having the staff and the wolves when all I was worried about was keeping them safe from harm? When the time came would I be able to fight with Gungnir or would I be too terrified it would snap in half and the All-Father would be furious with me?

Hugin landed on my shoulder in a rush of feathers and curling talons. Good thing he always had a way of gripping onto me without hurting.

Just before we left, I nudged Aimee. "Get one of the torches. I have no idea where we will arrive or if we’ll have light in the tunnels. Better we go with our own light just in case."

Hugin took that moment to enlighten me. "Brynhildr, I will take you to the entrance in which we arrived on our last visit to Muspell."

"Thanks, Hugin." I peered up at him and met glossy-black, enigmatic eyes.

Aimee hurried over to the wall and lifted a burning torchlight off the metal hook, then joined the team again with a swift nod. We rode the Bifrost and just as I'd expected, arrived within a darkened stone passage, not a light in sight.

The torch cast a warm glow on the black, jagged walls of the stone tunnels. Not a good idea to be within these passageways if you suffered from claustrophobia. Even I felt like the breath was being dragged out of my lungs, was sure the walls were closing in on me. I felt the weight of the tunnels press down on me and gritted my teeth. I’d been here before. I preferred not to behave like a fragile, over-emotional teen.

Hugin launched himself off my shoulder and flew off down the tunnel. I nodded at Aimee. "This way." I began to walk with her beside me holding up the torch. The route seemed familiar, as if I experienced a sort of déjà vu. It took a while, but we eventually ended up at the entrance to the small cavern in which I'd first met Bal the Surt.

The space sat empty, not a giant guard in sight.

"Now what?" I muttered to myself, eyes on the entrance on the other side of the cavern.

"What is the matter?" Sigrun spoke softly beside me. Even she was tense and felt the need to lower her voice. Something certainly didn't feel right.

"This is the entrance to Muspell. It should have been guarded. If not by Bal then by some other fire giant. It's odd that they would leave the entrance to their realm unattended."

"Do you think they know you’re coming?" Aimee shifted into my line of sight, her face twisted with worry.

"I don't think so. Besides, who would tell them we were coming?"

"Only one person I know who knew about this and he was conveniently unavailable to make this trip," Aimee said coldly. Her opinion of Aidan had just sunk to the lowest of lows.

"I don't think he would betray us, Aimee. Maybe you should cut him some slack." I spoke kindly, but didn’t hold her gaze for too long. Aidan was a long way off from redeeming himself.

"Just because you feel sorry for him it doesn't mean I have to. How do we really know where his loyalties lie? Maybe he finally wanted to join the paternal line of his family."

"I think his absence today is more because of his mother and sister than anything else. Besides, we haven't been betrayed, so let's not borrow trouble."

"Fine, but I can't say that I trust him. I'll deal with him myself if he ever so much as looks at you wrong." I smiled at the vehemence in her voice. Aimee, the weak and meek, had transformed into a kickass spitfire of a Warrior. I was truly proud.

Hugin landed on my shoulder again and spoke in my ear. "Brynhildr, there is not much choice left. We have to follow the path into Muspell if we are to retrieve Gjallerhorn. It may well be a trap, but we do not have a choice." His voice was still as deep and Barry White as ever. It never failed to amaze me.

I nodded at the bird, who took off again to show us the way. "Come on, guys. Let's get going. Just be careful." I followed Hugin across the cavern toward the doorway that led into the bowels of Muspell. We approached slowly. Joshua ducked his head into the tunnel beyond for a quick check.

"All clear," he whispered, his warm breath bathing my cheek. A heated tangle ran along my spine and I said a few bad words in the silence in my head.

Neither the time nor the place, Bryn.

I motioned for everyone to move ahead and we entered the tunnel, glad for the help of the torch. My satchel weighed heavy on my shoulder and the staff glinted in the dull light, reminding me I had a special weapon at my disposal.

We took a left turn, avoiding the route to Steinn and his part of Muspell. As much as I would’ve loved Steinn's help right now, I was certain the Norns hadn't meant for us to involve anyone else in our quest. We moved slowly down the tunnel, hugging the walls. It didn't bode well at all. We had no idea where we were going.