Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 47068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47068 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 235(@200wpm)___ 188(@250wpm)___ 157(@300wpm)
"Mt. Rainer?"
"Mt. Baker."
I blink, surprised. We're even deeper in the mountains than I thought…and much further from Seattle than I expected. Mt. Baker is the highest peak in the state, a little over three hours from Seattle. Most of the roadways around Mt. Baker are virtually impassable during the winter months. Even major highways shut down, leaving travel through certain areas a crapshoot.
"This is where the portal sent the Fae when Valhalla fell," Abigail chirps. "Damrion says they built the Hall on the exact spot to honor the Fae who died in the collapse."
"About that," I say to Dax, watching as he pulls items out of the fridge, creating a rapidly growing pile in his arms. "What is this portal and what happened to it?"
"Have you heard of the Bifröst?"
"Yes." It was, supposedly, a rainbow bridge that allowed the Gods to travel between realms.
"The portal was a piece of the Bifröst tying Valhalla to Asgard," Dax says without turning around. "The rest of the Bifröst was destroyed during the Final Battle, leaving the realms cut off from one another, but the portal remained hidden deep within Asgard."
"Until the Forsaken found it," Abigail says, her voice dark.
"Ja," Dax agrees. "Three hundred years ago, the Forsaken poured into Valhalla without warning. They massacred thousands. We assumed they came for the Valkyrie. They'd certainly spent long enough hunting them across the realms. But the portal was their goal. They unleashed their magic upon it, cutting Valhalla off from Asgard."
"Dax and the Fae tried to stop them, but when they went through the portal, for the first time ever, it didn't lead them to Asgard. It brought them here. Dozens of Fae were still inside when the portal collapsed." Abigail's blue eyes well with sorrow for the Fae who died within the portal. "They died horribly."
I slip my hand into hers, offering her comfort. Praying this isn't something she saw in one of her visions. She's just a girl. She may live amongst warriors and see things no one else sees, but at the end of the day, she's still just a girl. There are some horrors she shouldn't know.
Dax nudges the door of the fridge closed with his foot, turning to deposit his pile of ingredients on the island in front of us. Lettuce, tomato, cheese, meats, a loaf of fresh bread… There's enough to feed a small army. "Is a sandwich satisfactory, Valkyrie? Adriel will stick his lyststål up my ass if I fuck up the kitchen again."
"Dax is a messy cook," Abigail whispers conspiratorially.
"Lyststål?"
Dax grins, taking a step away from the counter. He doesn't do anything else that I can tell, but I feel power suddenly rush into him from all around, as if the very air in the room suddenly flows to him. As it does, the faint glow around him grows brighter and then brighter still. He makes a lazy motion with his hand, like he's flipping it over to present something with a flourish. A blazing sword suddenly appears, clutched in his giant fist.
I rear back, startled at its sudden appearance.
"Easy, Rissa," he murmurs gently, holding the massive sword of light aloft. "I won't hurt you."
"It's…" I stare in fascination at the gleaming weapon in his hands. I know nothing about swords, but this one seems massive, reaching almost to the ceiling even though he holds it at waist level. The handle curves at the end, fitting his hand as if it were made just for him. It's not the first time I've seen the glowing weapon. "You had this at the bar."
"Ja."
The wickedly sharp weapon is formed entirely from light, yet it's steel too. I don't understand how that's possible, but there's no denying the reality when it's right in front of me. This is no trick, no sleight of hand. The weapon is as real as the Fae standing in front of me.
"Can I touch it?"
"Nei." He pulls it back, as if worried I might try. "The lyststål burns everything it touches." He holds his arm out, gently placing the edge of the sword to it. His flesh immediately turns red.
"Dax!" I cry, jumping to my feet.
"Easy, Valkyrie. Easy." He waves his hands, and the weapon vanishes. A rivulet of blood runs down his arm from the angry red wound it left behind. He grabs a paper towel from the roll and dabs at it.
"Are you insane?" I scowl daggers at him.
Abigail giggles beside me.
"I'm well, Rissa." He pulls the paper towel away from the wound. "The lyststål will burn Fae flesh as easily as they do anything else, but only we wield them for a reason."
"Because you're insane and enjoy pain?" I snap at him.
He merely grins at me, warmth in his eyes.
"The weapon is part of the Fae who calls it," Abigail explains. "The burns are only temporary on Fae flesh because the weapon is formed of their Light. See?" She points at his arm. "It's already healing."