Page 84 of Between Broomsticks and Beating Wings
The land of white.
“Alfheim!” I blurted. “Odr has to be in the realm of light elves. I think he’s trapped. I-I saw him being dragged through the Earth, and I think he missed his home.”
Áma slowly nodded, her grey, wiry hair falling into her face. “The light elves have underground prisons made of sentient trees to keep their prey trapped and isolated. It is very possible he went for more pigments but found himself in a bit of trouble along the way,” Áma said before her mouth split into a too-big smile.
“Why are you smiling?” I asked, my stomach dropping at the odd sight.
“Because you did it.”
“I did, didn’t I?” I said, my hand lifting to my still-damp face. The tips of my fingers found the curve of my lips, and the knowledge of what I’d done washed over me in a wave so fierce, my knees wobbled. “I need to go tell Freyja!”
“Not so fast,” Áma said, grabbing my arm before I could run past her. “It’s the middle of the night. The guards won’t let you anywhere near her.”
I peered out the window over my shoulder, realizing she was right when I saw the glow of the moon and its glittering starry sky. “I’ll wait until morning, though I can’t say I’ll be able to go to sleep now, not after this discovery.”
“You should try. You may see something else in your dreams that could prove useful. That, and you weren’t exactly asleep while having that vision of yours. How do you expect to continue practicing your seidr in the coming days without rest?”
“I wasn’t asleep, you’re right,” I mumbled. “It was so odd. In the beginning of the vision, I was aware of my body and of your presence, but the deeper into the vision I was pulled, the less I sensed anything outside of myself. Odr and I felt one in the same, even if the vision wasn’t the clearest.”
“If you don’t need to be asleep for a vision, that means you’re understanding your mind and the workings of your seidr. It’s said the seeresses on Freyja’s council can have them in the waking hours, and one can even have visions on command, though I’m not sure how reliable they are.”
“On command?” I asked in amazement.
“Yes, well, they’ve had far more time to hone their skills. Who knows what you’ll be capable of in a thousand years.”
I coughed on my own spittle, my hand flying to my chest to force myself to take in a meaningful breath.
One thousand years?
“Oh, I’ve done it now,” Áma said, gently patting my back. “Yes, girl, you’ll be alive for many years to come, just like that valkyrie of yours when she shows her loyalty to Freyja.”
“Rune,” I said with a lingering cough. “Finding Odr was the only thing keeping her from offering herself to the goddess, but now, there’s nothing standing in her way.”
“If they find Odr, that is. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Áma said. “Now, climb back into that bed and find your rest. We have a big day ahead of ourselves in the morning.”
I nodded once, and as I began walking over to rest my head, I caught a glimpse of the pinkish-red marks across my skin. There were open eyes crusted onto my palms, runes fingerpainted onto each of my wrists. I wondered if I should wipe them off, or if I should risk the lack of sleep to possibly uncover more about Odr and his whereabouts.
I climbed into the bed, curling under the sheets. A sigh escaped my lips, and for the first time in a long time, I wasn’t worried about my future. I had every faith in Rune to show herself loyal to Freyja, and surely, after finding her husband, she would let me stay within her realm.
The immortality didn’t matter to me, and neither did the fancy position on her council. What I cared about was a woman with two names. I couldn’t wait to get back to her to tell her what I’ve done for the goddess. For us.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
A FEAST IN HER HONOR
Rune
Áma knocked on my door upon daybreak, telling me I needed to get my ass out of bed. Kari had a vision, and if I didn’t rush to Freyja’s main hall, I was going to miss the goddess’ reaction when Kari told her she found Odr.
I’d never gotten dressed faster in my life. Hel, I threw a dress over my nightgown just so I could leave the room faster.
When I entered Freyja’s chamber, Kari was already bowing before the goddess’ dais. I’d missed most of the pleasantries, but far be it for me to care about such matters of formality. I remained in the back, not needing Freyja to notice me in my disheveled state.
I’d once told Kari she looked too horrid to stand before a god. All she’d wanted was to keep Tove by her side, and she’d promised to do whatever it took. I’d thought she was ridiculous, bold, and far too human. But here I stood, in a wrinkled dress, my brown hair tossed over one shoulder, far too vulnerable and human for the one I’d do anything to save. I suddenly understood Kari more than ever before.
Kari stood before Freyja, exhausted and eyes too wide, as she prepared to tell the goddess she’d found her husband. Her mouth parted, and the feeling of my breath exiting my lungs left me weak and shaking. Our future together hinged on this moment, on Freyja’s reaction to Kari rising to her challenge.
“Speak, Kari Kettlesdotter. Why have I been summoned?” Freyja’s voice filled her throne room, and I caught a hint of something lingering in her tone that wasn’t all confidence and cool disposition. Was even the goddess nervous in this moment, her hopes living within her throat, making it impossible to swallow?
