Great. Always a catch, isn’t there?

  Thor continued, ignoring the scowl on my face. "Huld made one mistake. She had poisoned the king's grog, but dwarfs are notoriously hard to kill. He fought back, but in his weakened state he could not defend himself against the queen's sword. She drew blood several times, allowing it to mix with the black sand of the realm. After the battle, she melted the sand in the intense heat of the forge, making it malleable, and formed it into an exquisite crystal goblet."

  "Why would she do such a thing?"

  "We cannot claim to understand the mind of the queen. Perhaps it was a way to show her strength. What we do know is that the queen uses the goblet as a message to anyone who would dare to challenge her reign."

  "How does she do that? What kind of power can a goblet have?" I narrowed my eyes at the beautiful god, hoping he'd get to the point sometime soon.

  "Huld uses the goblet as a reminder to her subjects of her status and her power. All her subjects know what the goblet is made from. And the queen regularly performs a ceremonial drinking from the goblet." Thor paused, and I could have sworn the silence was only for dramatic effect. "Little does she realize that every time she sips a liquid from the goblet, she sips at her husband's power. And King Brokk . . . well, the King of Swartelfheim's power is not something one should mess with. When you meet her you will see what the dark power has done to Queen Huld. Some say she is deserving of her punishment."

  The god removed his hand, and I almost did a double take. The tingly warmth of his palm had been on my shoulder all this time, and I hadn't noticed?

  "You must retrieve the goblet, and you must kill the queen." He paused, rubbing his chin, and added, "If you are able to, I suggest you decapitate. Dwarfs are strong and fast-healing, and their tunnels are extensive. You may need to walk far to bring her body to the sun."

  "I don't have a choice in the matter, then?" My words clanged the sound of my own death knell.

  Thor glanced at my face, his blond hair glinting in the torchlight, while shadows deepened the hollows of his jaw and the sympathy in his eyes. "No, Bryn, unfortunately in this instance there is no choice. The goblet is kept in the queen's chamber. It will be nearly impossible to steal it and escape the realm without her learning who you are. Once she knows you have taken her treasure, if she does not die, she will track you down and kill you. Dwarfs, whether male or female, are innately vengeful creatures. And you do not want the wrath of the queen to be upon you."

  I crossed my arms. "Fine, then. I'll do what I have to." I spoke the words almost angrily, not entirely sure I'd go through with it. When had I become an assassin for hire? When the time came, surely I’d find a way to avoid the whole head-chopping, killing situation. But I kept my thoughts to myself.

  "Good." He fiddled with something at his waist, but then he thrust his empty arms out toward me. I was beginning to think that Thor was a little soft in the head. "There is something you will need." Thor held his arms higher, offering them to me. I frowned. Was the god Thor offering me a 'cuddle moment' after telling me to kill some evil queen? Or was he taking the Mickey out of me? I didn't dare to question his actions though.

  My arms tensed, and I was just about to hug him back, a little afraid of offending him by brushing him off. But then he laughed, as if my confusion were somehow amusing. I should have been angry, but I was way more relieved. I'd been a breath away from making a darned fool of myself in front of a god.

  Thor moved an arm, flicked a finger somewhere above his other arm . . . and then there it was, appearing as if out of thin air. A beautiful black cloak, as glossy as a pool of liquid night, lay draped over his hands.

  "You will need this to get past the guards."

  "Guards? You mean the sons of the queen?"

  Thor nodded. "They work on a rotation schedule, relieving each other every few hours or providing backup in case of emergency. You will need to use this to get inside." He held the cloak out, just inches from me, the light now throwing pools of gloss into the dark fabric.

  "What is it?" I hesitated, still unsure exactly what it was for. Beautiful, glossy black cloak, yes, but how would it help me hide from the dwarfs?

  "This is Tarnkappe, the Cloak of Darkness. It has been used many times in the past, for many reasons. I think this is a situation that demands its services."

  I took the sweeping cloak, bracing against its solid weight in my hands. For a simple garment, it was pretty darned heavy. A spurt of hysterical laughter surged through me, and though I tamped it down, I just couldn't control the giggle that sprang out of my mouth. What the hell was this? A magic show?

  "I see you find me amusing?" Thor grinned as if he really did share my mirth.

  "No, it's not that." I shook my head. I had to look away from him to gather my tangled thoughts. It was all so impossible, so improbable. And yet it was all so real. I stared out into the mesmerizing distance, where miniature mountain peaks lay covered in a loving layer of winter white.

  "I see. Brynhildr, all this—Asgard, the wings, losing your beloved—it must not be easy. There is a lot to digest," Thor said, his voice soft and easily snatched by a passing breeze.

  I managed an automatic nod, a bit out of my depth with an actual god attempting to help make me feel better, but still very touched that he bothered at all. In the greater scheme of things, I wasn't all that important. The approaching great war of Ragnarok reduced most problems to minor ones in the face of the greatest battle ever, a battle that would bring the world to its end.

  "I didn't mean to laugh. It's just that . . . Asgard, Valhalla, Ulfr, everything . . . even the whole Valkyrie thing has been a lot to absorb. And this cloak . . ." A sigh escaped my lips. I ran my fingers over the silky darkness. "It just made me realize how easily I've accepted everything that should have been ridiculous and unbelievable and impossible."

  Thor's grin widened. "It comes easily to those who are made for Asgard," he said. Then the smile disappeared, replaced by a somber, grey scowl. "You will need to take extra care, Brynhildr. This journey you are taking is one that guarantees danger. Your life may be at stake many times, and there is one piece of advice that is paramount."

  Thor placed his hands on my shoulders with a gentle intensity that forced me to look up at him. An alarming urgency filled his next words. "Do not trust anyone. And I mean anyone."

  I frowned, confused and worried. How could I not trust anyone? To begin with, I wasn't the most trusting person, but considering the importance of my impending assassination attempt, surely I'd need help. Which would mean I'd have to place my trust in someone. I shrugged Thor's hands off my shoulder, and he released me with just the merest hint of a raised golden eyebrow. "So does that include you?" I demanded. "You've just told me to penetrate the home of the queen of the dwarfs and kill her. Maybe it's you I shouldn't trust. Maybe I should be questioning your motives." I narrowed my eyes and waited, more than annoyed with his contrary advice.

  "You are a very wise person, Valkyrie Brynhildr." Thor stepped back and nodded his approval. "I do not want you to allow anyone to control or direct your decisions. Neither should you allow yourself to be betrayed. Do what you need to do, but take the greatest care with whom you keep close."

  I cradled the cloak close to my chest. Thor grinned once again, then bent at the waist, executing a small bow. He left me alone on the balcony.

  The sky had begun to darken, a deep sea blue escaping into the inky darkness of night. In the distance, the aurora borealis swirled and twisted in the sky, heralding the mortal death of Odin's newest Warriors, the courageous dead who lived again to serve the All-Father.

  I sent a twisted prayer for their souls to remain safe until they reached the safety of Valhalla.

  Chapter 25

  Thor's footsteps echoed as he retreated, leaving me with just the gloaming sky and the thoughts of murder and dead kings for company.

  I retreated from the balcony soon enough, morbid contemplation and icy night urging me back into Odin's Great Hall. I slowed my steps as I passed through the now-silent hall, savoring the peace of the ancient room. Sigrun, Mika and the others were nowhere to be seen. Flickering torchlight reflected against the gigantic carved doors at the far end of the hall, filtering in from the passageways.

  A sudden grumble disturbed the silence, startling me. I did a double take, eyes stabbing the shadowed corners of the huge room. Then I laughed out loud as the rumble of my empty stomach came again, this time louder and more insistent. Now that I was back in Asgard, my appetite had returned with a vengeance.

  But first, I hurried to my room to hide the cloak, preferring not to have to explain to anyone why I was in possession of such a rare magical object. A large wooden sword box sat beside my bed, given to me by Njall when he'd bestowed me with the sword of the legendary Valkyrie Brunhilde. I traced the ancient runic writings and the intertwining branch designs smothering the polished wood, and smiled. Njall, with his generous hugs and his honesty, had been one of the highlights of my first few days in Asgard. When he looked at me, his eyes held no judgment, no expectation. He liked me for me, and I liked that very much.

  Turning the cloak invisible side out, I folded it carefully and placed it in the rich purpled silk that lined the inside of the box. I shut the lid, and though there was no lock, I was pretty sure nobody would dare touch Brunhilde's possessions but me.

  Satisfied the cloak was safe from prying eyes, I set out for the food hall. Hunger clenched my stomach in a twisted fist, urging me on.

  Just the odd flickering torch lit the empty hallways. I'd just rushed past a passage that headed off to my left when an odd sound drew my attention back to it. I hesitated, hunger twisting my gut and urging me onward, but with all the abductions and escapes we'd experienced, it made sense to check. I turned back and stepped softly, heel to toe, heel to toe, until I reached the wall.

  Peeking around the corner, I got the shock of my life. The source of the strange sound gave a low soft laugh and tightened her arms, which were slung around Joshua's neck. He leaned against the stone wall, completely at her mercy. And he seemed to be enjoying the attention. Enjoying it too much, as far as I could see. My stomach twisted again, but this time it felt like a punch in the gut. I blinked and released my grip on my sword hilt, unsure why I felt so off balance.

  It really was cool to see Joshua head over heels with someone, cooler still that his new flame was Mika, who had been firmly at my side all these weeks.

  But as cool as it all was, no way did I want to stick around and watch them make out. A final glance confirmed they were way too busy to notice me. I turned back and went off in search of food.

  I didn't get far. It seemed I'd been spotted after all. Footsteps thudded rapidly behind me, and I popped a glance over my shoulder to see a red-faced Mika racing after me. The hazy form of Joshua lingered in the distance. Clearly, he wasn't eager to find out if I was okay. Knowing Joshua, he'd be far too embarrassed to face me.

  "Bryn, I do apologize. We did not mean for you to see that."

  "That's cool with me, Mika. I know what kissing is all about." I smirked, but my stomach spasmed again, closer to my heart. I thought of Aidan, unconscious and waiting within his poisoned slumber.

  Mika flushed. "So what did Thor say?" she asked. "You were out on the balcony together for a very long time." She sidled up to me and linked her arm with mine, her tone playful.

  Her eyes widened as I gave her a brief rundown, skimming over the existence of the dwarf queen's goblet. Thoughts of my instructions to kill the dwarf queen simmered on the tip of my tongue, but I clamped my jaw shut, recalling Thor's warning. He'd been so clear about not trusting anyone, and here I was already blabbing my mouth off to a girl whom I still hardly knew. Stupid.

  Or was I being silly? This was Fen's daughter. Of course I could trust her. What reason did I have not to? She'd been constantly at my side, saving my ass and protecting me.

  Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed, as if she suspected I held something back. After a brief silence, she said, "Very well, then. Do not leave without me."

  I looked sharply at Mika. "What do you mean?"

  "I mean I am coming with you. Do you really think I will let you go off on such a dangerous mission without protection? Without backup?" She scowled at me, as if I were a little child and needed to be told off for my naiveté.

  Despite her friendly smile, a river of trepidation slid up my spine, sending little warnings shooting off to my brain. Thor had told me not to trust anyone. That really did mean anyone—which meant anyone included Mika. But my friend was offering to come with me, to help me, to be there to protect me. How could I be so ungrateful as to say no?

  And how blessed was I? I actually had people in my life that would go to such lengths to help, to put their lives on the line just for me. Gone were the times when I was so lonely, so adrift, without an anchor to hold to me in place. Here in Asgard I had found happiness and security at last.

  Joshua still lurked in the passage, his face distorted by shadows. I sent him a tiny, annoyed wave. He should have been the one ready to sacrifice himself for me, to come along and protect me. If Joshua had offered, I wouldn't have wasted a second hesitating. I would've jumped at the opportunity. I almost clicked my tongue, annoyed with myself for being annoyed with Joshua. So many things had happened in the last few weeks for both of us—not all of them good.

  Was Joshua still a little mad at me? Surely he'd gotten over my stupid loss of control during our stupid sword-practice session. We hadn't talked about it since it had happened. I'd just wanted to forget about that strange surge of power that had flooded my muscles, that strange wave of violent power that had taken me over in mind and in body. I'd almost killed him.

  I shook my head, replacing those morbid thoughts with my current problem: the object of Joshua's affections, and an offer I found difficult to refuse, despite Thor's words of warning which still curled in my ears.

  "What is there to think about, Bryn?" she asked, eyes narrowed again, forehead scrunched in a disapproving, almost disappointed frown.

  A twinge of guilt rippled through me. I was being an ungrateful witch. A smile crept across my face. "I'm sorry. Of course you can come with."

  And if Thor disapproved, too bad.

  With the thought of decapitation foremost in my mind, I figured food would be the last thing I wanted. I was wrong. Asgard's food was nothing to sniff at, and all I craved was delicious roast beef and fresh bread.

  After a hearty meal, I headed back to my room to regroup. With armor and weapons readily available, the only thing I seriously lacked was courage. Throwing a last glance around, I tugged the strap on my satchel and threw Thor's gift of invisibility over my arm. Time to get on with it. The evil witch waits for no Valkyrie.

  Mika and I met at the Bifrost entrance, where the warmth of the great fire flitted through the stray strands of our hair. Bellies full, strength and arms replenished, we stood at the entrance to the Bridge of the Gods, ready to walk straight into what legend claimed was pretty much another Hel.

  Swartelfheim. The realm of the dwarf race.

  I smoothed down the lapels of my coat and tightened my belt. Although it wasn't at all necessary, I wore Midgardian clothing over my Glasir Kevlar: dark jeans and a short leather jacket. They gave me a certain comfort I refused to pick apart. I belonged to Asgard, but also to Midgard. Waste of time trying to tear myself apart trying to be something I'm not. I guess I was both.

  I carried the Cloak of Darkness over my arm, carefully concealing it, as Thor had done before he'd revealed to me, sitting there on his arm in plain sight. The cloak's outer layer of invisibility folded around itself, rendering it totally unseen. Unseen, yes, but if someone accidentally brushed against it, the cloak's rich silkiness would give it away. I didn't want to take any chances.

  I hugged the cloak close, watching Mika as she packed her bag full of weapons. When she looked away, I quickly rolled the cloak up and stuffed it into my satchel, then slung that over my shoulder. For some strange reason, I didn't want to reveal all my cards before we left. Probably Thor's warning knocking on my frickin' conscience. I was still worried. I'd agreed to take her along even though Thor had said this was my mission—mine alone. But I guess I could do with the company.

  Mika slipped her satchel onto her shoulder, metal clinking softly inside the leather bag. "Ready?"

  I gave her a sharp, businesslike nod and drew closer to the doorway. The entrance to the Bifrost swirled in the middle of the room, molten ether turning and twisting and waiting for us to enter.

  We stepped in together. I stiffened, holding my body hard against the twisting pull of the bridge as it drew us across realms and across time to our destination. A strange magic lived inside the Bridge of the Gods. Its ability to identify your destination without being told fascinated me no end. Beyond any technology modern Midgard possessed. Wow.

  We reappeared at the foot of a dead tree that towered over us; leafless branches reached overhead like ghostly arms threatening to steal us into the night.

  Disconcerting.

  Chapter 26

  A murky, insipid twilight shrouded our arrival; the strange moon, a thin, hazy sliver, hung low in a burnished sky, furtively peering down on us.

  I stared into the gloom, pulling my jacket close against rude fingers of cold. Vague, shadowy shapes promised a dense forest of wooden-fingered trees ahead, spreading out far into the distance. I swallowed hard, unable to make out an easy path through the menacing black forest. Flicking Mika a beckoning glance, I slipped between thick tree trunks and wended my way through the growing darkness.

  I spent the next few minutes dodging broken branches that I could have sworn reached out to tug at my hair, or weaved and swayed just to hinder my progress. At last, I ducked around the final tree and let go of a breath I hadn't realized I'd held all the while.

 

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