Beyond a Darkened Shore(97)
Leif strode toward me, and a relieved smile split my face. But there was that unease in my stomach, that fear that we hadn’t won yet. And then, just as the sun rose on the horizon, I heard the ominous flapping of great wings.
I froze even as my gaze darted to Leif.
27
“Leif!” I shouted. The great black birds were threatening. I could feel it in the heaviness in the air, the thrum of it like the tingle just before lightning strikes.
There were six of them, inky black against the pale dawn sky. Their wings were spread impossibly wide, creating great buffets of wind. I had seen these birds before.
The Valkyrie.
As they descended, their wings created such a powerful wind that everyone in the radius around Leif was knocked flat. Torn from Sleipnir’s back, I fell through the air. One of my undead clansmen caught me, preventing me from breaking my body against the hard earth. His cold arms released me almost immediately, and when I looked into his face, I saw it was Fergus. Sleipnir landed beside us with an impact that would have broken the bones of a mortal beast.
Beyond us, the birds transformed.
I squinted through dust and the cacophony around me to see they had become six bronzed women, wearing the same shining golden metal armor Leif had described. Their black wings spread wide, each wing touching the tip of the next Valkyrie’s wing. And Leif was trapped in the middle of their terrible ring, effectively separated from his allies. And though they were the ones who had bestowed his power upon him, and both of us knew what would be his fate, I still drew my sword.
“Leif Olafsson,” they said, all speaking at once, “you have fulfilled your quest.”
He bowed his head once, but I saw that his hand never relaxed on his sword.
“Fenris led the revolt against the gods,” they continued, “and we granted you the power to stop him. In doing so, we made you the most powerful warrior on earth. Odin allowed this under one condition: you could only remain this way to complete your quest.” They moved to form a wide circle around Leif. “It is your abilities that will make the einherjar unstoppable.” In one fluid motion, six swords were drawn. “You have done well, Northman, but now it’s time to come with us to Valhalla.”
No. A violent, uncontrollable anger seethed within me, and I drew my sword and summoned the rest of my undead clansmen to me. My body might have weakened, but I would wield my army against these pagan goddesses; I would have them tear the wings from their backs and rend their flesh to pieces.
Rúna was shouting something, but I was deaf to everything but my need to help Leif.
Protect Leif; defend him against the Valkyries, I thought to my clansmen, and they surged forward.
The Valkyries attacked Leif then. He blocked with his shield and parried with his sword, but they hemmed him in. Panic rose within me, choking in its intensity. He would hold his own, but not forever. Not even Leif could fight endlessly against six goddesses with swords.
My undead clansmen reached the Valkyries as I struggled to pull myself astride Sleipnir. I’d succeeded in controlling the j?tnar’s minds, but these were war goddesses. My whole body shook violently, my heart shuddering in my chest. Even so, I had to try.
Two of the Valkyries turned to face us. Swords clashed violently as my undead clansmen attacked, easily running through their defenses.
With my hands thrust in Sleipnir’s mane, I wrapped the strong hairs around my palms and gripped them tightly. I hoped it would keep me mounted.
I closed my eyes and sought the power that would allow me to battle the Valkyries on more equal footing—I hoped. But it wasn’t as easy as it had been before; the power seemed to dance away from my grasp, until with a scream of frustration I finally accessed it. There was a tearing sound so terrible I wondered if I’d finally freed my spirit one too many times, but when I glanced once at my body, I knew I was still alive. My spirit surged toward the closest Valkyrie, and my desperation was a living, breathing thing.
I plunged into impenetrable darkness. The strength of her mind was the same as the stag’s had been in the Faerie Tunnel. It was like being lost at sea on a cloudy night: nothing but black nothingness no matter where I searched. Again and again, I threw myself against it. When that failed, I moved on to the next Valkyrie. And the next. All had minds of steel.
Their taunting laughter filled my mind. You are not strong enough, little Celt. Leif will die, and you will be next.
Three Valkyries surrounded Leif, but all were engaged with my undead warriors. These were Norse goddesses with abilities far beyond my own. I streamed back to my body, but the moment I became conscious, my heart shuddered. I pressed my fist against my aching chest, and after a breath, it resumed beating reluctantly. I didn’t need to be a healer to know I didn’t have much time—my body had reached its limit. But I had the blood of ancients, the blood of the druids and the blood of the Tuatha Dé Danann, and I knew what I must do.
For only death itself would stop me from saving Leif.
I sank deeply into my mind and found the door of light—it was my connection to the realm of the Tuatha—and fell through it. I called for the Morrigan, imagining her as I’d seen her last: with a headdress of crows’ feathers. Black fog poured in, ominous as storm clouds. And she appeared before me. For the first time, I gazed upon the Morrigan in mortal form. Her skin was as pale as marble, her hair as dark as pitch. But her eyes were still a terrible blood red. She was dressed for battle. Her armor was as black as night, a mantle of greasy black feathers upon her shoulders. I knew she couldn’t appear in Leif’s land to fight for me, but there was one way she could help me.