36. Homecoming
Homecoming
Darien
D escend was too light a word, Darien decided. It did not aptly describe their plummet down into what felt like the core of the earth, perhaps even into Hel itself.
The floor beneath them dropped at a steady decline that only worsened as they carried on.
Multiple times, he’d held onto a ledge to drop down onto a landing below with nothing but Halvor’s word that solid ground lay beneath them.
With only one flashlight between them, there was hardly enough light to see more than a few feet ahead.
The sword at Darien’s hip made maneuvering the path even more difficult.
Still, he was grateful for its return, even if it did bang awkwardly against his leg.
As they continued down a new path, Darien knew he could never escape the tunnels without Halvor.
The air thickened, and sweat gathered at his neck.
Every so often, his eyes caught on the enormous human being in front of him whenever the flashlight’s illumination was blocked by the man’s impressive bulk.
Halvor called him Haki, and he had to walk at a constant crouch to avoid banging his head against the ceiling.
The giant cradled Anara in his arms as though she were no heavier than a blanket and navigated the tricky terrain without breaking a sweat. Anara stirred occasionally, but she fell back into her medicated sleep with only a small moan each time.
Larissa followed in silence. Darien reached out once to stop her from falling after a particularly rocky patch. She thanked him but moved away with a swiftness that left him hollowed. Not that he blamed her.
His mind returned to Halla, playing the scenario over and over again.
If only she hadn’t woken up. If only she hadn’t offered to run on her own.
If only he hadn’t been attacked. If only the group of thraell hadn’t been there.
If only the Vienám had known he was their ally, they could have helped him rescue Halla.
The “if onlys” did him no good. He was on his way to the Vienám while Halla was held in the hands of the thraell .
The harsh sound of Larissa’s breathing intensified, drawing Darien’s attention back to the present. More than exertion, the sounds she made were painful. Only then did he realize Larissa had stopped following, her hands pressed up against the rock wall as if to keep from collapsing.
“Lara, you okay?”
Silence, except for her ragged breaths. Halvor’s flashlight bounced down the tunnel, away from them.
“Do you need to rest?” He reached out in the dark, his fingers brushing the hair on her shoulder.
“I can’t do this.”
“Do what?”
Leave Halla? Join the Vienám? Forgive him? Really, her options were endless.
“I can’t…breathe…”
Fear rushed over him. “Are you hurt?”
“No,” she gasped. “I don’t think so. The stone. It’s too much. We’ll die underneath all this stone.”
It hit him. “Larissa, you’re having a panic attack; take deep breaths.”
“I don’t…get…panic attacks.”
“If you don’t stop hyperventilating, you’re going to pass out. Come on, slow breaths, in and out.”
“Darien.” Dry sobs heaved from Larissa’s throat. “We left Halla.”
She stumbled forward, crying softly into Darien’s chest, struggling to breathe between the tears and his bloodstained clothes.
Her body tensed as she held her breath, trying to regain control, only to make the crying worse as she gulped in air for her begging lungs.
Darien wrapped his arms around her, knowing they could not shield her from her pain.
They clung to each other, sharing their sorrows and regrets.
“We’re going to get her back,” Darien said.
When she pulled away, he let her go. “How?”
Her absence hurt worse than any of his wounds.
“Larissa, I know you don’t want to be, but you’re the Princess. We’re heading for the Vienám. Anara said the people believe in you. They need you.”
“I’m not her anymore, Darien,” she argued, exhaustion lacing her words. “I wouldn’t know how to be her again.”
“Look at how Halvor and Haki responded to you. They need you. And if they need you that badly,” he pressed, “they might be willing to do whatever you need them to do.”
“You think I could demand that they rescue Halla?”
“I don’t know if I would use the word ‘demand,’ but I think they’d do anything to have the Perle Princess back.”
Larissa stilled, the cogs of her mind moving behind her eyes.
Darien knew it wasn’t what she wanted, even if he didn’t understand.
The Lovisa of his childhood was terrified her people would reject her, but only because of how badly she craved their acceptance.
She’d wanted nothing more than to be their Princess.
But Larissa was not Lovisa. She had changed, clearly, and Darien couldn’t say if that was a bad thing.
She was more reluctant to take authority, but she was brave and loyal enough to run into a burning barn, to fight off a draugr , and to enter the dark and unknown. Yes, she was different, but he only loved her more for it.
Love . The word stuck in his throat. He’d always known it, even before, but they didn’t have time for that kind of thinking now, not en route to the Vienám, not with Halla in the hands of thraell . But if they were to get Halla back, maybe…
He buried the thought where he stood in the mountain. Larissa needed him; that was enough.
“You two alright?” Halvor asked, returning with Haki and the flashlight.
“We’re fine,” Darien answered when Larissa remained silent.
If Halvor noticed the red around Larissa’s eyes and nose, he didn’t mention it. This time Darien and Larissa followed as Halvor led them again.
“The road gets easier from here.” Halvor’s voice echoed off rock walls. “Not all of our tunnels are as rough as this one. It wouldn’t be wise to make it too difficult for our own people to get out.”
“Is the Vienám underground?” Darien asked.
“Kings and Queens, no, that would be highly impractical. We’re currently traveling under the Nordryggen Mountains—”
“How is that possible?” Darien interrupted. “They’re impassable even during the summer.”
“Yes, and for that reason we were unaware for some time that in the middle of those mountains is a vast valley. It’s surrounded on all sides and all but impenetrable. The Vienám made that valley its home twenty-eight years ago.”
“Anara said the Vienám was constantly on the move when she was with them.”
A shadow fell over Halvor’s face. “Those were deadly times. Right after the Great Hrun , we were nomadic, never in one place for long. The Empress’ men picked us off one by one.
We split into smaller groups to avoid detection.
For decades we lived in the shadows, always running and always hiding.
The people lost hope in ever finding the Perle Princess.
Then word came that Princess Anara left us.
She was one of our most valiant fighters and figureheads.
We thought it was the end of the Vienám. ”
“What changed?”
“Our people fled to these mountains. We knew it was only a matter of time before the Empress sent her men to find us. Our backs would be up against the wall, literally, but we were out of options. If we were to make a last stand, we would make it together. Then the Jotnar found us.”
Darien snickered but stopped at the look on Halvor’s face. “I’m sorry, but the Jotnar ? Giants who live in the mountains and eat unfortunate wanderers? Those Jotnar ?”
Halvor’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “The very same. Although, I wouldn’t mention the ‘giant’ misconception to them; it’s quite offensive.”
“You can’t be serious?”
“He is.” Haki grinned back at them. “They’re not that big, not really.”
Darien eyed him. “Well considering you’re half-giant, forgive me if I don’t take your word for it.”
“You’ll see them for yourself soon enough,” Halvor continued. “They’ve been living in these mountains since Ragnarok .”
“That’s not possible. The Royals would’ve known.”
“The Jotnar ‘s secrecy lies in their galdr , I’ve been told. They taught us the secrets of the tunnels that lead in and out of their valley. It drives the Empress mad. She knows we’re somewhere in these mountains, but her men can’t find us.
She’s lost many in the attempt. Ever since we reduced our presence in the commonwealth, she’s stopped sending her men.
She seems content in waiting for us to die in these mountains. ”
“What are you waiting for?” Larissa asked.
Halvor stopped dead, causing Darien to bump into him. Even in the dim light, Halvor’s raised eyebrows were apparent.
“Isn’t that obvious? We’ve been waiting for you.”
Darien tensed, waiting for Larissa’s argument, her denial. But to his surprise, she did not object. She lifted her chin, but only asked, “Are we almost there?”
“Nearly—” Halvor’s words were cut off by Haki’s roar of surprise.
Anara fell from his arms as he reeled back.
Darien drew his sword, ready to defend them from whatever was attacking, when he noticed that Anara landed on her hands and feet.
Except they weren’t hands at all, but rather sharp claws coated in blood.
Thick scratches ran down Haki’s left forearm. Now he had a matching set.
One of his large hands covered the scratches, but blood was already rising to the surface. As Anara stumbled to her feet, her dazed eyes narrowed on Haki’s sentry uniform. Sheathing his sword, Darien ran to place himself between them.
“Anara, stop—he’s not an enemy!”
Her head whipped toward him, and she cut off mid-growl. Yellowed eyes jumped from Darien to Haki to Larissa to Halvor. The fangs in her mouth contorted her words. “You’re the old man from the shop.”
“Yes. I would say I’m surprised you didn’t recognize me, but it has been a few decades. We saw each other in passing before you left. Perhaps my name will remind you. You might know me better as Halvor.”
Anara sniffed the air, her fangs retracting. “You got old.”
“Not all of us can be blessed with eternal youth,” he said lightly.