Dead Embers(11)

"Excuse me," he croaked as he rose from his seat. "I have to . . ." He made his getaway, not bothering to finish the thought, leaving Fen, Mika and I to stare after him.

Fen shrugged. "Bryn, I have not told you who your Ulfr is yet." He glanced at Mika, and they shared an odd look.

I held my tongue, knowing that if I opened my mouth I'd no doubt say something I couldn't retract. My anger with Fen tested my self-control.

He seemed to understand, giving me a tiny nod. "Mika will be your Ulfr," he said softly.

Mika's eyebrows shot in the air, her surprise way too obvious. "But you said—"

Fen cut her off with a wave of his hand. "I have changed my mind."

Mika scowled. "You do realize that means you will be Joshua's Ulfr?"

Fen bristled at her dry, disrespectful tone, and I laughed so loud I almost choked as I hurried to swallow the last sip of my divine drink.

"You and Joshua?" I asked, not even bothering to swallow my giggle.

Fen looked puzzled. His brow wrinkled as he asked, "What? Why is that a problem?"

Mika and I exchanges incredulous stares, both shaking our heads. For a while, I forgot my anger.

"You have some work to do then, Fen," I remarked. "You wouldn't want poor old Joshua to get nervous and slice you in two by accident, would you?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Joshua is a tiny bit afraid of you, Fen." It had been on the tip of my tongue to refer to Fen as the big bad wolf, but again I had the good sense to shut up.

Fen shrugged. "Fear can be a useful tool for a Warrior," he said, rising and dismissing us with a single stern nod. "So can rest. I suggest you get some. We will start our mission at dawn."

I raised my eyebrows, unsure how Joshua's fear of Fen would make him a better Warrior. I ignored the temptation to voice my thoughts.

An insidious chill crept down my spine. When it came to being a better warrior, I was pretty sure there was one thing I had over the rest of the team.

A strange brand of unadulterated rage.





Chapter 11




A loud knock roused me from a deep sleep—a Huldra with an urgent summons from old One-Eye. In the thick of night, I hurried to Odin's Hall to find the All-Father awaiting our arrival. But no Fen. There Odin sat, looking minuscule on the large seat of his throne: an old, one-eyed man, hunched over his hand-carved cane—the simple, unassuming form in which the god usually appeared. Guess he liked to look nondescript. Better than scaring the shizzles out of us in his true gigantic form.

Odin leaned against the marble arm, his head slightly tilted as he concentrated on the huge black raven on his shoulder. Hugin or Munin; I had no idea. Both identical birds represented thought and memory, bringing the knowledge of the world to Odin himself, as he watched over the realms from Asgard. What news had the bird brought today to cause that worried furrow in Odin's brow?

"What's going on?" I whispered to Sigrun, who wore an equally urgent scowl on her face.

"We have just returned with the most recent locations. And as Fen is still in Midgard, the All-Father will give us our individual Retrievals."

"What? Why didn't Fen come back?" It didn't make sense at all.

"I do not know. Perhaps the All-Father will explain." Sigrun gave my arm a reassuring squeeze before she turned to the dais and waited patiently for Odin to speak.

I nodded to myself and joined the rest of the Valkyries and Warriors and Ulfr before the dais. Even after months in Asgard, I still never failed to scan this room with reverent awe. Everywhere the eye met wood, all carved in the intricate, snaking patterns of the old Norse tradition. High, carved ceilings crested above countless fat pillars, but the most remarkable sight decorated the far end of the hall: two enormous thrones topping the raised wooden dais, where Odin now waited.

"Sigrun, my dear, please hand these out." Odin gave her a stack of papers. She glanced down at them and looked startled and a little confused, and for a brief instant met my eye. Then she began to move around the room passing out papers to the gathered teams.

She stopped next to me and handed me the last paper.

"Bryn, on this mission Fenrir will be your partner," said Sigrun, her smooth forehead marred by a frown. I swallowed a groan, not looking forward to the prospect of spending time with Fen; he was my least favorite person in the world right now.

"Oh? Not Mika? And didn't you just say Fen is still in Midgard?"

Sigrun nodded. "It does seem strange, does it not?" After a short pause she shrugged, "We will find out soon enough."

"So where are we off to this time?" I steered the conversation away from the topic of Fen, not wanting to remind her of my anger with the love of her life. She always felt the need to be helpful, and I preferred she stay out of my fight. I intended to deal with Fen all by myself.

Still, it was strange that Fen had summoned me and not Joshua.

Sigrun's cheery smile returned. "Your location is on the paper, and Fenrir will meet you there."

I scanned the letters on the page. In black, bold type were four words: Orange County, Los Angeles.

Guess I was going to LA.

***

"If you are ready just close your eyes."

I rolled my eyes instead. "Come on, Sigrun, it's the Bifrost. I've done this before."

Been there, done that, put out the fire.

"This time is different. Because we do not have Fen's specific location, only Fen can direct your journey on the Bifrost."

"What? So you mean I just close my eyes and he pulls me through?" My voice raised just the tiniest bit at on the last word.

Sigrun nodded.

I shook my head vigorously. "Nuh uh. No way." Such a scenario put me at Fen's mercy, zipping through the Bifrost, totally blind to where I would end up.

"Stop being a big baby and close your eyes. But if you want Fenrir to chew your hair off then that is fine with me."

I snorted.

"What is wrong?" Sigrun's eyes darkened, annoyed at my amusement at her expense.

"It's bite my head off not chew my hair off," I said, grinning, yet also pleased that my friend was trying to learn my native slang. It meant I could help her get rid of her overly formal way of speaking. Then maybe I could kid around and tease her without being afraid I'd offend her. Besides, being more Midgard-savvy would help her now that she'd be travelling to my world more often.

"Are you ready?" she asked, trying very hard to look stern and hide the gleam in her own eyes. At least she had a sense of humor.

My nerves were a tangled web of worry vines as I prepared for my first time going to Midgard as a full-fledged Valkyrie scout. The muscles in my limbs rippled with tension, and my wings fluttered behind me, echoing my nerves.

Get a grip, Bryn. This was the job they had trained me for, and it meant more than my last trip, chasing across the country on a quest for Freya's amber necklace.

I forced myself to relax and shut my eyes, clearing my mind so Fen could call me to him.

The Bifrost turned my stomach a few times clockwise and then repeated the action in reverse. I knew I shouldn't hate these rides, really I shouldn't. How could a girl complain about a means of travel both scientifically impossible and amazingly enchanting?

My feet hit ground and I tensed, feeling the impact of gravity on my body, wings and armor. I sucked in a cool breath and steadied myself, aware of the darkness surrounding me, aware I had pretty much no idea where the hell I was.

I dropped to my knees, throwing my glamor close around me. Only then did I take a moment to study my surroundings. It never failed to amaze me where in the world the Bifrost opened. I squatted near a litter-clogged stream beneath a bridge that in the cloying darkness seemed heavy and threatening.

The soft gurgle of the water, the rumble of a distant car, and the rustle of leaves shivering in an invisible breeze were the only sounds. I waited, unsure what Fen expected me to do besides remain where I'd landed. I was a sitting duck, so he'd better get his ass to me quickly or he was in for it.

A hand touched my shoulder and ripped a scream from my throat; I twisted and fell flat on my butt.

"Would you like to scream a little louder? I do not think the residents of the state of Hawaii heard you well enough," said Fen, his voice neutral, clear of any emotion, and yet the little twinge to his lips made me suspect he found it amusing to see me fall on my butt.

"Perhaps you should shock me again. You didn't manage to kill me the first time," I snapped, glaring at Fen.

He moved closer, his craggy features hidden by shadows, the bright moon making curves deeper and darker. When he stuck his hand out, I just stared at it. I hated to show weakness by allowing him to help me rise. My anger boiled to the surface, but I tamped it down. No sense becoming a nasty person just because he'd hurt me with his stupid idea that throwing a person off a cliff is simply an awesome way to train them to fly.

If you think I'll fall for that again, you are so wrong, General. I have my eye on you.

After a few moments of staring up at him, I finally gave in and took his hand, allowing him to draw me up, aware he had sufficient strength within his body to carry me, wings and all. Fenrir, the wolf child of Loki: a family history he'd so love to forget. I felt a flash of sympathy somewhere inside me, mostly swallowed up by my anger, though.

After dusting off my coat, I stood, back straight, looking at the thin, oily stream, the dried leaves and dirt floating on its dark surface. This stream reminded me so much of the one back in Craven, the one beside which I'd found Aidan's body, dead for days from a bullet wound in the middle of his forehead.