Page 43 of Between Broomsticks and Beating Wings
I left more than enough food and water behind for the pegasuses so there would be no battles over resources. It wouldn’t be the first time. When the second half of our traveling party was secured and comfortable, I led the rest of us through a passage of rock until we came upon a granite slab jutting from the soil.
I placed my palm upon it and ushered Kari and Rayna to do the same. Once we did, the granite sank into the soft ground, swallowed up by the realm itself. I hopped over the mud from where it disappeared and landed on the start of a stone path. The path was a staircase that descended into the depths of Nidavellir, and as we descended, the music grew louder. There was nothing to guide our way but the eternal flames mounted upon the stone walls every few paces, casting shadows across rock.
“What’s going on?” Kari asked as we were funneled into a large cavern. Dwarves were everywhere, dancing, singing, and drinking horns of ale. Lanterns were strung up from stone wall to stone wall, bathing the dwarves in an orange glow. Someone bumped into Kari, spilling frothy ale down the front of her. She let out a shocked hiss in return, but the dwarf who’d bumped into her didn’t seem to notice over the flutes and lyres and the people cheering around us.
Light typically filtered into the cavern, designed specifically for the moonbeams to reach the depths of the cave. On a night like tonight, when the moon was hidden, the lanterns had to work double time. In the center of the high stone ceiling, there was a large gap where the moon would be shown only during a precise time of the night. When the new moon morphed into the faintest crescent, beginning the lunar cycle over once more, the joyous occasion turned wild.
Kari’s hand on my arm brought my attention to her, her forehead creasing. I realized I’d ignored her. “Sorry, seeress. It’s hard not to get distracted on Nidavellir. As you’ll soon understand, there’s never a dull moment in this realm,” I explained as I began maneuvering us around the outskirts of the cavern to avoid the crowd and stay out of ale-spilling range. “Tonight is the new moon, and the dwarves worship said moon. Each lunar cycle, sometimes even twice, the dwarves will celebrate the presence of their source of power. When they bask in the darkness of the new moon, it refuels their seidr levels, like how I need to ride upon Apple. Seeing as the new moon is the start of the lunar cycle, it represents new beginnings, and the dwarves believe that’s something to be celebrated.”
“And they celebrate…hard,” Rayna added, her lips tilting up at the corners. I swore, if Rayna had to reside anywhere in the nine realms, throwing away her life as a valkyrie, she would settle here. She left the drinking to me most of the time, but the woman knew how to indulge when the weight of her Asgardian duties lifted from her shoulders. Between the ale and the world’s finest smiths, she’d get on here no problem.
I caught Kari watching Rayna as if she’d noticed she was a person with actual emotions for the first time. Her attention then shifted to me and the hand that still held my metal-coated arm as I directed her to a network of underground tunnels. Only when we crossed the threshold into the first tunnel did she let me go. I didn’t bring any attention to her desire for guidance, hoping if I acted as if it hadn’t filled my stomach with butterflies, she might do it again upon reaching another crowd. And tonight, we surely would.
Rayna’s favorite tavern was up ahead, lanterns mounted onto either side of the stone façade. Dwarves funneled in and out, a drink in each hand, some freshly topped up with an amber-colored ale and others drained, leaving nothing but foam to tellyou what it once held. My younger sister pushed her way to the front of the tavern, where a granite bar top glistened with sticky substances, and I found myself hoping it was all ale and nothing more potent.
When I noticed Kari trapped behind a group of drunk dwarves who’d decided they’d start an arm-wrestling challenge right in front of her, I grabbed her hand and pulled her toward me. One of the dwarves shot me an irritated glance when they were shoved to the side to make room for her, but when they spotted my armor, their bearded jaw fell slack, and all they could do was admire the craftsmanship. That tended to happen here, which gave my sisters and I a little leg up around these parts. Quality metalwork would never cease to catch the attention of a dwarf.
“What was that about?” Kari asked, glancing at the dwarf, who now was gathering the attention of their companions.
I gave her a shrug and said, “They can’t help themselves.”
“What, you think you’re just that attractive?” she asked, holding back an eye roll.
I snorted, giving her a once over to understand the harsh edge in her tone. I couldn’t tell if she disagreed with that logic or simply didn’t love the idea that a group of people were fawning over me. “You jealous, seeress?”
“Hardly.” Her jaw was set, and she stared after Rayna, where she secured our spot in line.
“Well good, because it’s not me they like. It’s what I wear.”
Understanding flashed in Kari’s eyes, and maybe I was imaging it, but I swore, an embarrassed blush crept over her cheeks. “Your armor. Of course. I presume a dwarf seeing what you have on your body is the equivalent of a viking running into a battle.”
I chuckled and nodded my head in agreement. Kari smoothed a hand down her skirts until she remembered she wascovered in some strangers' abandoned beverage. She grimaced, but Rayna waving her arms above her head to catch our attention quickly stole Kari’s annoyance. I hadn’t realized Rayna was no longer standing next to us; somehow, she’d managed to secure a table for three amongst the chaos.
“How did you get so lucky?” I asked once we got close enough.
“A couple dwarves asked if they could touch my armor, and well…” Rayna glanced at the table. “I told them I’d do a trade.”
“Nice work,” I chuckled, and even Kari seemed quite happy with my younger sister.
The three of us took our seats and, shortly after, a dwarf with deep, brown eyes and braided auburn beard greeted us. “Ah ha! Many happy greetings, valkyries! Why do I have the pleasure of seeing you again so soon?”
“Alvion,” Rayna said, clapping the back of our old friend. “I was hoping you’d be joining in on the celebrations tonight, not working.”
“My duties will expire within the hour. I’ll catch you out there for a dance or two, don’t fret,” Alvion said with full cheeks and a toothy smile. “Who’s this you’ve brought me?”
“Greetings Alvion, and merry moon. This is Kari, our…” I trailed off, searching my brain for an appropriate title for her.
“Hi, Alvion! It’s nice to meet you,” Kari cut in. “Rune and Rayna have brought me from Asgard. I’ve never been to Nidavellir. Can you believe it?” Kari said, far more enthused than I expected.
“Well, nice to meet you, Kari. Welcome to the greatest of the nine realms. If you don’t believe me now, you will before the night is up.” Alvion offered Kari a warm welcome, then turned to me and Rayna. “Look at you girls, making friends outside the House of Wings. Proud of you.”
“You’re a…friend outside the House of Wings,” Rayna pointed out.
“Well, I always thought I was your very special exception,” Alvion said. “Who we spend our time with aside, I’m happy to see you all. Can I grab you all some food, or are you just celebrating with ale tonight? There’s no wrong answer.”
“We’ll take three of whatever the stew of the night is, plus three ales,” Rayna said, slipping more coin than necessary into Alvion’s apron. As responsible as Rayna was, she cared little about being smart with her coin. If she loved something, she was going to spend her coin on it. If she cared for someone, she had no limits on showering them with gifts or paying extra for something as simple as stew. If she valued you, she made it known.
Alvion patted his apron pocket, then brushed his hand over Rayna’s shoulder. “Oh, how I love when you come to visit,” he chuckled. “Three horns of ale and three bowls of boar and mushroom stew, coming right up!”
