Page 89 of Between Broomsticks and Beating Wings
“We’ll be before Freyja once more in a week's time. You should be the one to ask her. Not only are you directly involved, but you’re one of her trusted informants now. She’ll know this question is not one of selfish means. If you don’t have the full scope of the deal, how are you to aid her?”
“That’s a good way to spin it,” I said, leaning into her shoulder. “Because we both know I’m just being nosey.”
Rune chuckled. “Yes, well, Freyja doesn’t need to be privy to that, though I’m sure she’ll find out soon enough. The truth is more flexible than most believe. You’d be surprised what all you could get away with without spinning lies.”
“You’d thinkyouwere the one with a bound tongue for how much practice you’ve gotten omitting the whole truth,” I said with a teasing eye roll. “You better not be using that trickery on me anymore.”
Rune shook her head, her gaze soft as she said, “No. You’ve always seen right through me.” The heat in her eyes made me gulp, and warmth of my own spread through me, inside and out.
I could hear the echoing of music from the courtyard ahead, voices from friends getting lost to chatter and laughter. I cleared my throat and said, “And to think, I was so worried about them eating all the mooncakes. You didn’t even need to make an offering. You’re more valuable than any treat or splash of ale.”
“I guess that means there’s more for us. You deserve about ten of those delicious little cakes for what you accomplished today.” Rune steered the conversation back to me, and my brows knit together as I realized this wasn’t the first time.
I grabbed her forearm before she rounded into the courtyard. “So do you.”
She stared into my eyes, her scared brow raising slightly when she looked from my hand clamped over her arm back to my face. I didn’t unhand her; I wouldn’t let what she was doing slide.
“Kari–”
“You don’t think you’ll pass your test, do you?” I asked. “You keep making this about me when it should be aboutus.”
“Odin has been my god for so long. He was a part of me, and he ripped that part out. I have no doubt I can remain loyal to Freyja, and I would be honored to remain in Asgard here with you, but the Rune you knew is the one he made. He built me, named me, and even if I pass Freyja’s test and become a valkyrie once more, I will never be who I once was.”
“Then be different!” I said, my thumb grazing her arm. “If this fear of change is on my behalf, don’t let it be. Rune, Iris, or someone else, I will…I will care for you all the same,” I said, almost letting an entirely different word slip out. “He doesn't own you, and he may always be the Allfather, but the parts of himself he gave you were of violence and deceit. And sure, maybe you were a bit of a badass, but you were also a pain in mine.” A laugh spilled from my lips. “You will find yourself here, and maybe you can heal parts of the person you left behind in Thalassa, because Iris deserves love too.”
“Love?” Rune asked, her voice tight. My eyes widened and my mouth dried as she waited for me to say something, anything.
“Lovebirds!” Rayna called out, stumbling into the dark maw of the hall Rune and I had crept into, out of sight from the courtyard loungers. A heavy breath escaped me as Rayna threw an arm over Rune’s shoulder.
“Are you drunk?” Rune asked in surprise, steadying her sister. Something told meshewas the one who was used to being steadied by Rayna.
“My first task was a dazzling success! Kari’s here as an attendant, and I’m celebrating. You should too,” she said with a massive smile upon her face. The sight was odd, but I couldn’t look away. Seeing Rayna happy was like staring into the gods damned sun. “Why are the two of you lurking in this dark corner when a feast is being thrown in your honor? Well, mostly Kari’s, but you’ll get there too, Rune.”
Rune scoffed, throwing Rayna’s arm off her playfully. “How did you even know we were planning a feast?”
“You mentioned it when I came to inform you Odr had requested your presence. You were all excited about it; it was so cute. So, I told the others, and Áma made the most delicious drink. You should try it. Come on! Everyone is waiting for you two.” Rayna pushed off Rune and tried to drag her into the courtyard.
Rune scanned her sister as if she’d been possessed by a wayward spirit. “Don’t drink that ‘delicious drink’ Áma made,” Rune muttered. “I think it’s allowed a demon to claim Rayna’s body.”
“She’s not possessed,” Alvion said with a chuckle as he appeared between two stone columns. “She just made the unfortunate mistake of being the first one to sample Áma’s potion. We’ve switched to mead. Come join us!”
“You don’t have to ask me twice!” I said, following Rayna and Alvion into the courtyard. Something about slowly losing my mortality made me a ravenous beast. My stomach growled forfood—this was a feast, after all. I planned to stack my plate a foot high with whatever Rayna summoned. I only hoped she’d done itbeforeshe tried Áma’s potion, or the food selection could be questionable.
I turned back to Rune, who lingered between the columns. I flashed her a grin and held out my hand for her to join me. Her warm hand met mine, and I pulled her to my side. She leaned into me on a big exhale.
“We have some things to discuss, but for now, let’s enjoy this celebration with our friends. When else will you be able to hold questionable decisions over Rayna’s head? I’m sure she hasn’t made a fool of herself since the night she met Alvion.”
Rune smirked. “Trust me, seeress. Tonight, I plan to gather all the dirt on her I possibly can. She’s done her fair share of mocking over the years. It’s payback time.”
Just as Rune’s last word escaped her lips, a large crash brought our attention to the center of the courtyard. Turkey and potatoes went flying as a silver tray clattered upon the stone floor. Rayna stumbled back, her calves hitting the legs of a chair. Alvion tried to reach for her but couldn’t grab her in time. The valkyrie fell ass first into a fountain, water splashing up and over the edges.
Rune erupted into laughter. “Oh, it’s going to be a good night.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
FOR THE WOLVES
Rune
