Page 86 of Between Broomsticks and Beating Wings
“Is this such a bad place to wait?” I asked, motioning to the area behind me sprinkled in fall flowers. The air was crisp this time of year, but that’s what the light furs were for. Fólkvangr may have seemed like spring personified, but the air could still chill the bones of the living. Even so, the beauty far outweighed any prickle of the skin.
“I suppose not,” Kari said with a small smile, her disappointment still visible.
“I’ve never met Odr. Are you sure it’s him?” I asked.
“I know it in my bones. I saw him arrive and felt it as if it were me staggering up those steps,” Kari said and then added in disbelief, “Another waking vision.”
“You’re growing stronger, carving paths within your mind and forging homes within your heart for your unique seidr,” I said, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear. “And that only means one thing.”
“What?” Kari said, biting her lower lip in a way I ached to.
“We need to celebrate this success. A first of many.”
“It’s too soon,” Kari said with a laugh that told me everything I needed to know. She wanted this, needed the release that came from letting go with the people she trusted most, the ones who would stay by her side no matter what. And we had four of them here already.
“We’re throwing a feast!” I said hastily, stooping to begin collecting our belongings from the grass below. “Rayna can be responsible for the food, and, hopefully, Alvion still has some ale and mooncakes,” I said, my thoughts moving faster than my mouth could. “Of course, Tove will serve as entertainment, sincethere’s hardly time to hire actors for a play. Oh! Did you know Nori is quite talented on the harp? Maybe we can get her to play something upbeat for us.”
Kari put her hand on my forearm, and the distraction allowed me to take a much-needed breath. She let out a giggle, then nodded her head, sending her hair flying over her fur-lined shoulder, “Okay, okay! Let’s have a feast, then. I expect it to be the best you’ve ever had.”
“I’ve never attended a feast with you, seeress. Will you accompany me?”
“I will.”
“Well then, the festivities haven’t yet begun, but I already can attest that this will be the best I’ve ever had.”
“You’re such a flirt,” Kari said with a giggle, swatting my arm. “Don’t stop.”
I looped my arm into hers, a basket in the crook of my other arm. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
Kari and I laughed and planned to our hearts’ content as we climbed the stairs to Sessrúmnir. We were halfway to our room when Rayna called for us in the next hall. Her voice wasn’t panicked, rather, controlled with an excitable inflection. We rounded the corner to see my sister trudging toward us, a wide grin on her face.
“Have you already heard about our feast?” Kari asked. I wondered how word could’ve travelled so quickly, but I was happy to see how thrilled my too-serious sister seemed over the celebration.
“Feast? No,” Rayna said, her smile wavering for only a moment as confusion crossed her gaze. “Freyja is requesting your presence in her hall, as is Odr.”
Kari’s grip on me tightened.
It really is him.
“Why so soon?” Kari asked, her face forming lines too hard for her soft features. “Is everything okay?”
“More than,” Rayna said. “The God of Inspiration requests to meet the seeress responsible for finding him immediately.”
“I can’t believe this,” Kari all but gasped. “I’m sorry, Rune, but the feast will have to wait.”
“No apologies necessary. You have a god to meet. We better not keep him waiting.”
Kari and I rushed down the hall, the seeress lifting her flowing gown in one hand. I hadn’t expected this time to come so soon. In my many years tending to Odin, I’d learned one valuable lesson: you’re always on the gods’ time.
When we reached the double doors to Freyja’s throne room, we slowed and caught our breath.
This is happening.
“Listen to me,” I panted before the guards could open the chamber doors. “Whatever they say, I just want you to know, I’m so proud of you.”
Kari’s entire face lit up, and a sparkle glistened in her right eye. She didn’t say anything, but she grabbed my hand and squeezed it.
“Are you ready?” I asked.
