Dead Chaos (A Valkyrie Novel - Book 3)(36)

I shook my head. "And we can't risk staying put and getting caught either. Hugin, how far are we from Steinn’s entrance?"

"We are not using Steinn's entrance."

"But I thought he was our only way out of Muspellheim." I frowned, confused. The last time Aidan and I were here, our only way out had been the Nidhogg’s entrance to the Bifrost.

"Muspellheim is divided into two levels. The upper level belongs to Steinn and the Nidhogg. We are currently in the tunnels of the Surt’s level of this realm." That was interesting, and probably information we could have used on entering Muspell, but this was Hugin and to be expected. I decided not to fuss —we were nearly out of here anyway. "We are not far." The bird’s confidence made me feel a tiny bit better.

"Could you fly ahead and check the tunnels out? Perhaps you could find another place for us to hide just in case."

Hugin flew off without a word. Every moment he was gone felt like an hour. Nobody spoke, making the silence thicker and more suffocating. I felt so impotent. So useless waiting around for a bird to save me. But we did have Hugin and his skills at our disposal, why shouldn’t we use them? We had the horn. We were almost free.

Hugin returned in a rush of feathers, followed closely by the thunder of more boot steps. He made it into the tunnel just before a band of giants marched up the tunnel toward the cavern.

"Once the guards have passed, we are safe but only for a few minutes. You must hurry."

"Let's go." I didn’t waste time, just grabbed the cloak and followed Hugin, running at breakneck speed after the dark bundle of flapping feathers.

We ran. Tunnel after tunnel sped by, lungs burning with the effort of the sprint. At last, Hugin flew into a little alcove, more like a small dent in the wall most likely caused by a rock fall. We huddled together, Sigrun hugging Gjallerhorn close, the wolves flanking us, almost standing guard.

We were packed together tightly like sardines in a matchbox. I threw the cloak over us as Hugin flew off again. The wolves disappeared into nothing as I covered us with the Tarnkappe. Beneath the cloak our breathing was all I could hear as we waited in silence, listening hard to the tunnels.

Hugin flew back moments later. "The Bifrost is close. You can run straight for it now. Don’t waste time. Just go through as each of you gets there."

I crushed the cloak to me, giving Sigrun and the horn a quick glance before speeding off after Hugin. Then I hung back, deciding to allow the team to race ahead of me. I kept an eye on the tunnel behind me, praying we'd leave without getting caught, but happy to be the one to protect the group just in case. The team headed around a corner and I followed. Just ahead, Hugin stopped and perched on a ledge.

"Go." I waved Aimee and Sigrun off. They hesitated only a moment, but when I glared at them, Sigrun nodded and stepped onto the Bifrost. A second later, she was gone. Joshua and I reached the spot together, the wolves waiting for us expectantly. Then Aimee disappeared just after passing the torch to Joshua.

I turned to Odin’s faithful companions. "Go, you two. What are you waiting for?"

"They are waiting for you, Bryn. They will not leave without you," Hugin informed me.

"Fine. Let’s go before they give up their lives to protect me." I huffed and stepped toward the Bifrost with Joshua and the wolves.

Somehow it seemed we might make it in and out of Muspell without losing more than a few drops of blood from my head.









Chapter 33




I took once last look behind me and the ground began to shake and dust rained from the stone roof.

"Hurry. Someone's coming." I urged Joshua and the wolves, hoping we could get away without meeting whoever was coming thundering down the tunnel.

My heart thwacked against my ribs as I slipped my hand into my satchel. The first thing I felt was the ball-and-chain. Appropriate to say the least. A figure appeared in the shadowy distance of the far end of the tunnel.

Bal.

He roared his anger and I yelled at Joshua to leave. A glance back and I watched Joshua and the wolves to go, taking the light with them. Bal ran faster and I stepped into his path.

He held his sword straight in front of him, his flaming eyes appearing almost crazed as he sped toward me. "You dare to enter my realm and steal from me?" His voice raged, echoing around me, threatening to bring walls of stone down on our heads. A flame appeared on the tip of his sword, flickering like a newly lit candle. And then the entire blade was aflame. He was too close for me to jump onto the bridge. The entrance would remain open long enough for Bal to follow me right into Asgard.

I couldn’t let that happen.

I stood fast. At least Gjallerhorn was safe from Bal and Loki. And everyone else had gone through except for Hugin and myself.

I drew the ball-and-chain. Holding on to the chain, I began to spin it slowly, a little envious of Bal's ability to draw a flame to his weapon. A trill of fear ran through me. I would prefer to avoid hand-to-hand combat with a fire giant in this confined space.

I blinked as an idea flitting into my head. Grinning, I spun the ball-and-chain faster and faster until it gave off a dull whirr. When Bal was way too close for comfort, maybe ten feet away, I let the ball-and-chain loose, watched it spin away, and fly at the giant. I'd thrown it low and was satisfied when the ball hit Bal in the ankle. The chain spun around to tie both his feet together. That would stop him long enough for me to escape and for the Bifrost to close safely behind me.

He roared his anger as he fell, his eyes filled with fury and flame. He was down. Out was a question I was about to answer. Bal flung his sword at me just as he hit the ground. The angle was strange, the blade quivering as it came at me. I spun fast and dove for the Bifrost. I'd been too sure of myself. Good thing his aim was off. I felt the tip of blade slice my upper arm and fly past to crash into the wall to my left.

A searing pain spliced my arm, but I was safely on the bridge and out of Bal’s reach.

As the Bifrost closed behind me the last thing I heard was the furious roar of the Surt.



I stumbled off the Bifrost into the transfer room, and my heart thumped against my sternum so hard it felt like the bone was about to shatter. I sighed, relieved and a little unsettled. Bal had gotten too close too fast and he’d managed to injure me pretty well even with his faulty aim. Blood had seeped from the slit in my arm and soaked into my shirt and coat.

The team was waiting, worried expressions twisting their features as I appeared in a rush, out of breath and bloodied.

"What happened? What took you so long?" Joshua came to me, lifting my hand off the wound. His face clouded with worry. "How the hell did this happen? We were only gone a few seconds."

"Bal." The word came out a little rushed as I swam in a melee of emotions. Adrenalin, relief, and a touch of spinning attraction for this incredibly caring man. "He came at me just after you left."

Joshua growled. "Damn it. I shouldn’t have left you."

I smiled at the thought he simply wanted to keep me safe. "It's fine. I stopped him." I quickly ran through my run-in with Bal but none of them seemed too thrilled even though I'd managed to escape with my life. "What's wrong? I'm alive aren't I?"

"We shouldn’t have left you." Aimee shook her head. "We should have waited."

"No. You had the horn and had to get it out of there. Why should we have risked all our lives and the horn when I was clearly able to get out of there myself?"

"Not without damaging yourself. That wound is not a small matter." Sigrun scowled.

"I'll get it seen to. As soon as we get the horn to Frigga for safekeeping." They looked like they were about to argue. "I'm not going to delay getting the horn to safety just because of a stupid sword wound. Now let’s go."

They didn't say anything, but I could see they were all fighting the urge to refuse. I left them to ponder their indecision, took the horn from a startled Sigrun, and marched out of the transfer room. I headed for Odin's hall, pleasantly surprised to see Fen speaking to Frigga. The lines and the shadow of sadness on the goddess’s face only served to remind me how much I myself missed the All-Father too.

Ulfr and goddess paused in mid-conversation as I hurried to them. Footsteps came up behind me, making me smile. My team had decided to come with me. Frigga's eyes widened at the sight of my burden. She left the dais, hair flying as she sped to me, her face awash with happiness.

"Brynhildr, you did it. You brought Gjallerhorn home." Frigga's gaze embraced the horn while her fingers trailed its cool surface. I handed it over and grinned.

"My lady, I'm happy to say we succeeded. And now that the horn is safe we are ready to go bring home Heimdall."

Frigga nodded. "You know where he is?"

"As far as we know, he is in Jotunnheim. The Norns told us he was being held in the Tower of Mord. So we have to find him when we get there." I frowned. "Has there been any progress in finding the All-Father?"

Frigga's eyes clouded as she shook her head. "Sometimes I can feel him with me. I do think he is sometimes here with me. "

I nodded. "I think he is. He tried to explain where he was, but one thing was clear. He can visit us but not in corporeal form."

"So you believe he knows what is happening? You think he knows we have Gjallerhorn?"