Chapter Four
Stephan
" W e caught two more Forsaken near the Portal," Garrison says, dropping his ímun-laukr on the table beside me. "Goddamn things don't die easy, do they?"
I grunt, shoveling stew into my mouth. Nothing that deserves killing ever does die easy. But Garrison knows that just as well as I do. He spent just as long in the military as I did.
He plops down in the chair beside me, groaning. "Jesus. I ache like a motherfucker."
"That's because your old ass should be in bed still," I mutter. Not long ago, he was nearly killed by the Forsaken. He spent weeks in the hospital before he finally said to hell with it and checked himself out. He's still walking with a limp most days, but the grizzled old bastard refuses to take it easy. He's up with the sun every day, barking orders at the Blooded like a drill sergeant.
He narrows his eyes at me, scratching his beard with his middle finger.
I chuckle and go back to my stew, flicking my gaze around the Mess Hall in search of Kara. If she came to dinner tonight, I haven't seen her yet. She's been avoiding me since I kissed her in the hall the day before yesterday. If she sees me coming, she immediately heads in the opposite direction. It's starting to piss me off.
Unfortunately, there's been too much to do to track her stubborn ass down and fix it. Every few hours, another Forsaken scout shows up. We've been scouring Asgard, trying to catch them before they make it to the Bifrost. It'd help if we had the Valkyrie backing us up, but we're not that desperate. Or that stupid. The last thing we need to do is risk sending them back through the Portal. They're safest here.
So we pick the Forsaken off in ones and twos, and then wait for the next one or two to show up. It's a helluva way to fight a war. I'm not entirely sure what they're after, but they've wasted a full two dozen trying to get it at this point.
They have to know they aren't getting through the Bifrost. We've got warriors guarding both sides. We've got them stationed all over Asgard and Valhalla. Hell, we still have them back in Eitr, as an extra measure of precaution.
And still, the Forsaken keep sending their scouts into Asgard.
It's been an irritating couple of days.
For the Valkyrie, too. They spent most of yesterday and today at the Portal, sending flows of Light into it, trying to work out how their ancestors used it to move beyond the Veil. Judging by the defeat in their gazes when they left today, they're no closer than they were.
The Fae are no help on that front. The Valkyrie guarded that secret so closely no one but the Valkyrie knew how it worked. To keep the knowledge from the Forsaken, they guarded their secrets with their lives. And what they knew died with them. All the Fae can tell the sisters is that only the Valkyrie were able to travel beyond the Veil, and they used the Bifrost to get there.
I drop my spoon into my empty bowl, pushing it away from me, and glance around the Mess Hall again. Kara still hasn't shown up. Tori, Abigail, and their mates are at the next table. Reaper cuddles his pregnant mate and glowers at anyone who gets near her.
I'm not sure exactly when she told him the truth, but he definitely knows. He's been pricklier than ever about her safety the last couple of days. So has Damrion. Neither of them wants her working with her sisters, but they were quickly overruled by the other Valkyrie. Reaper isn't happy about it, but the Valkyrie rule around here. No one tells them no, particularly when all five of them are united on the same side of an issue. They need Tori. As much as Reaper and Damrion would prefer to keep her out of harm's way for the sake of the Fae child she carries…none of us have that luxury right now, her least of all.
This war can't be won with four Valkyrie. It can't be won with three. It'll take all five, exactly like the Prophecy demanded. They were sent for a reason. Each has a role to play. Every day, those roles become a little clearer, a little more defined, even if the path forward doesn't.
Rissa is their heart. She nurtures and guides the other Valkyrie. Marion is their blade, the greatest weapon they have. Abigail is their soul, able to See more clearly than anyone ever has. Tori is the Guardian, able to Heal wounds that were previously fatal. And Kara, sweet little Kara, is balance. She walks between worlds, able to communicate with animals in a way no one has in millennia.
Individually, they're formidable. Together, they may be unstoppable. We need each of them and their unique gifts. Every warrior here will die to keep them out of the hands of the Forsaken. If we don't…Gods. There will be no saving any of us if we don't. Because that kind of power in their hands is unthinkable.
"Dax," Garrison grunts, his spoon halfway to his mouth.
I glance over my shoulder to see the warrior heading our way, worried lights in his green eyes and his expression stoic. He pulls up a chair beside me, dropping into it.
"Keep the Blooded out of the forest," he says without preamble, glancing between me and Garrison. "Rhistel's warriors spotted a pack of wolves while on patrol today. They seem to be moving closer to us instead of further away."
"Varulv?" Garrison asks, his spoon hovering in midair as he growls the questions.
"Not varulv," I murmur for Dax. "They've been in Valhalla for centuries."
Dax's eyes widen in surprise as he looks at me, but his expression clears quickly. "Kara," he guesses. "She's communicated with them?"
I nod, pitching my voice low to explain, "One of them has been coming to see her for the last several days."
Garrison grunts, but he keeps his opinion to himself. I'm not entirely sure if it's the fact that she can speak with animals that makes him uneasy or the reminder that we're ill-equipped to fight this war we've gotten ourselves into the middle of. But he isn't the only one. Some of the other Blooded react the same way when faced with the power of the Valkyrie.
They'll defend them with their lives because they know in their bones that the Valkyrie are our only hope…it's why they were drawn to seek out the Fae in the first place. But monsters and magic and ancient Prophecy and fiercely powerful woman aren't things they truly understand. They accept it because they must, because they've seen too much to dispute the existence of this world. But that doesn't make facing it any easier.
Garrison accepts it easier than most. He likes each of the Valkyrie. But coming face to face with the extent of their powers still catches him off guard on occasion.
I've never felt that way. I'm not sure why. I think I've felt more comfortable in this world than the human world since the beginning. My whole life, I knew I was training for something, preparing for something. Seeking out the Fae felt like heeding a whisper of wind, the same instinct that drove me for as long as I can remember.
"Tell her to take care," Dax warns me, his voice a soft murmur. "The wolves here are the most dangerous she'll ever meet. Once, they belonged to Odin. They were fierce warriors in their own right, earning their place here just like every man who crossed through the Portal. I imagine the children of their children still possess those same instincts."
"Descended from the Great Ones," I mutter.
"What are you going on about?" Garrison asks, shoveling stew into his mouth.
I wave him off instead of explaining Ing's name, and glance at Dax again. "She'll be safe. I'll keep an eye on her."
A slow smile stretches across the warrior's face. "Two of them, huh?"
I just look at him, my expression level. If he's fishing for information, he isn't going to get it from me. The Fae may not like what's happening between me and Kara, but it's happening regardless. And that's our business. At least for the time being. Eventually, I'll have to tell them, and face whatever consequences they want to dole out. But for now? For this moment? Until I figure out how to complete the bond and ensure she can't be taken from me? Well, until then, my secrets are my own.
Dax clamps a hand down on my shoulder, rising to his feet. "You're a good choice for her, brother. The Norns chose well."
I stare at him, unable to hide my shock.
He chuckles quietly, shaking his head. "Did you think we didn't know?"
"Hoped you didn't," I mutter, not lying.
"We know," he says, shaking his head before he strides off.
I stare after him for a long moment, my mind reeling. The Fae know about the bond. And they aren't going to try to stop it. Jesus. Maybe there is a way forward for me and Kara after all.
My little Valkyrie is not going to be happy.
I grin, amused at the thought of throwing a wrench into whatever plans she's been making to avoid me.
"Hold the fuck on," Garrison growls, pointing his spoon at me suddenly. "You and the Valkyrie? When did this happen?"
I scoop my bowl up from the table, hauling myself to my feet. "You're behind, old man," I mutter, smirking at him. "How about you keep up for a change?"
"How about I shove my ímun-laukr up your a–?"
I throw my head back, laughing as I stride away.
Christ, I'm glad the salty old bastard didn't die on us.