"It works, just no Wi-Fi," he said with a wink.
"But... electricity? Power?"
"Oh, I got a few extra batteries charged at NY HQ while I was there. It sure helps having spreadsheets at hand to extrapolate this data." He waved a hand at my table. A table you could barely see anymore, seeing as it was plastered with paperwork.
I bit my lip. "Damn. If only I'd thought of it. Would have saved me tons of time."
"Well, we can't expect you to come up with all the ideas." When I snorted, he said, "And this wasn't even my idea."
"Whose idea was it?" I asked, curious.
"Aidan, of course. The guy's a complete geek. So does not match his biker image," he said dryly.
I laughed. "Says the petrol head who looks nothing like a petrol head."
"Okay, I see your point," he said, laughing.
Before I could respond, a sound at the door caught my ear, and I turned to see who'd come to visit. My doorway seemed to have a high traffic flow of late.
And the last person in the world I'd expected to see framed in that doorway was Tyra, the dragon matriarch, mother to the king of all the dragons, Steinn. Today she wore a floor-length dress of dull-gold silk brocade, with a deep-red paisley pattern so finely weaved into the fabric I could only see it when she moved and the light shone a certain way. She looked queenly and very elegant, her face as pale as the last time I'd seen her.
She was not alone. Beside her stood a golden-haired young girl a little younger than me, and as I stared, I felt like I'd seen her somewhere before. My perusal was interrupted as Tyra walked toward me and held out her pale hand.
"Hello, my dear Brynhildr. How have you been?" She was smiling, her golden eyes sparkling, and for all her haughty bearing, she seemed genuinely interested in my welfare. I wasn't surprised. My first meeting with this strong, stern woman hadn't been the easiest, as she'd faced me then with cold eyes and an even colder heart. But finding the elixir that saved her granddaughter's life had changed her whole attitude toward me. And now I had a powerful dragon to call if I ever needed the help.
"I've been okay." I was being honest more so because Tyra had always had the ability to see right through me. I was beginning to think I was a bit of an open book when it came to my feelings.
"I know, dear. I am truly sorry. Losing a loved one is never easy. Trust me, I know how that feels." She sighed, then glanced at the girl beside her. "Here, let me introduce you to Siri."
"Siri?" I asked, shocked. I stared at the girl, who, beside her grandmother, did not look in the least bit queenly.
"Yes, she does look different when she is alive, doesn't she? At least she's finally filled out those cheeks and put some meat on those bones." Tyra studied the girl with the possessive adoration of the typical grandmother.
"Grandmother," the girl snapped. "I am right here, you know. I can hear you." She sniffed, clearly annoyed at being spoken about rather than to. I could understand.
"Oh, no need to get your scales in a knot, child. You'll have plenty of time to get to know Bryn." Tyra waved a hand at Siri, whose cheeks reddened. The girl did fall back into silence, though, clearly smart enough to chose her battles. She glanced at me, then rolled her golden eyes, making me choke back my laughter.
"She rolled her eyes, didn't she?" asked Tyra, her expression smug. I smiled, Siri huffed, and Tyra just laughed. "I've always said I have eyes in the back of my head."
"Grandmother, the only eyes you have are those all-seeing golden ones that have the weird habit of blinking at the wrong times," Siri spoke, then clamped her mouth shut and folded her arms.
Tyra gave a bark of laughter, then said, "I am sorry for the short visit, dear child, but I will be back soon. I must return to Muspell immediately. That son of mine needs me to take over the reins before he leaves for Asgard."
"Steinn's coming here?" I asked, perhaps a little too eagerly. I would not have minded seeing him again.
"I believe he thinks it is his duty. He has sworn fealty to Odin and to Asgard." Tyra's voice was emotionless as she spoke, and I knew the knowledge was hard on her. Then she sighed. "Unfortunately, there is little I can do to change that stubborn boy's mind. And now I've come to hand my grandchild into your care." The old dragon's golden eyes narrowed as she studied me. "Do not fret. In times of war, I cannot hold a single person responsible for my flesh and blood. Both father and daughter have chosen their paths and they must both do as they see fit. My only request of you, Valkyrie, is that you ensure she is trained to be as strong and powerful as she can possibly be."
With that, Tyra reached for my shoulder, pulled me into a tight hug, and turned on her heel to face her granddaughter. She cupped the girl's cheek and said, "I do so wish you weren't so stubborn. But you get it from my son, I know. It's in that dragon blood of yours." She sighed, then drew Siri into a hug. As she squeezed her, she said, "Make all of Nidhogg proud, my princess." She withdrew, and I could have sworn I saw the gleam of a golden tear on her cheek, but when I looked again, it was gone. I must have been mistaken.
"Don't worry, Grandmother. I can take care of myself. I've been doing well enough on my own until you called me home." There was a slight rebuke to the girl's tone that piqued my curiosity further.
"Siri, you know we had to call everyone home when the horn was blown."
"But I told you and Father already. I am not ready to be dragon queen. This whole royalty thing is getting old."
"Is that why you chose to come to Asgard?" Tyra's expression seemed a little hurt by Siri's words, but she hid it well. Besides, the girl didn't seem interested in how the old woman felt.
Siri nodded, then raised her eyebrows almost in a challenge. "I'd rather be fighting than making little dragons to add to the line of the Nidhogg."
That made Tyra burst into laughter. "Oh, Siri. You are too much sometimes. Who in the world told you such a thing? Making little dragons indeed."
Siri looked at her feet as pink bloomed on her cheeks. "Nobody. But that's what being Nidhogg royalty means, doesn't it?"
"My dear girl. Did we force your father to take another wife after you and your mother left? Did anyone force me to take another husband after Grandfather was killed?" The girl shook her head and remained silent. "Well, then. That should tell you something, silly girl. You follow your heart to find love." Then she gave a huge sigh and looked over her shoulder at me. "But nothing will happen in life or love until we have this war resolved. Ragnarok is now the main concern for us all. So work hard and do whatever Bryn asks."
Siri's face now filled with worry. "I will, Grandmother. I promise."
With a quick nod, Tyra disappeared in a whirlwind of golden dust.
As soon as she was gone, the girl turned to me and said, "I will work hard. Just tell me what you need me to do."
I gave her an encouraging smile, remembering what it was like to be a newbie, remembering things said and done by Sigrun all those months ago. "Why don't we work together? I'll get someone to organize quarters and armor for you. And weapons as well." As I spoke, I looked around, belatedly realizing Joshua had remained so silent during Tyra's visit that I'd forgotten to introduce him. He gave me a wave as my gaze settled on him. "Oh, I'm sorry. I should have introduced you."
"That's no problem. There was a lot going on there as far as I could see." He grinned and winked.
"But I wanted her to meet you," I said with a sigh. "Oh, never mind. Hopefully we'll get another chance." Then I turned to Siri and introduced the two of them.
Joshua got to his feet and said, "Don't worry. I'll get Siri sorted. Should be back in a tick." He bent to kiss my cheek, and I flushed. I liked the attention he gave me these days, especially since he no longer cared who saw us together.
"Thank you, Bryn," said Siri, giving me a wide-eyed stare and jerking her head at Joshua. She seemed impressed by him, and I colored a little as they headed for the door.
"My pleasure, and we need to talk. I want to know everything about you," I called out as she disappeared into the hallway with Joshua in tow.
I sat in Joshua's seat and pulled the laptop toward me, then spent the next few minutes staring at the spreadsheet. I began to formulate a plan, when again a noise at the door disturbed me.
I looked up to find half a dozen men occupying the war room.
Not men.
Frost giants.
CHAPTER SEVEN
They came in human form, but my ability to see through glamor seemed to have been dialed up in the last few weeks, and I was able to see right through them the instant I looked up. My body tensed and my hand went straight for my sword, but the first Jotunn held out his palm as if to stop me. I blinked as two images warred within my sight. His human form was tall, dark-haired, not unlike Fen in stature and coloring. Even his hair hung to his shoulders in an unruly mess. But his frost giant form was less easy on my senses. Or my eyes for that matter.
Light-grey eyes sparkled like shards of glass in the sunlight, his snow-white hair standing out above his head in dangerously sharp spikes. And the pale blue of his complexion reminded me of the skin of a frozen corpse.
"I apologize for coming unannounced," he said, his voice a low rumble. "I should have anticipated that being from Jotunheim, we would not be the most welcome." He inclined his head a fraction but maintained eye contact. He was smart.