“You are my goddess.” He stroked my cheek. Then he went back to scowling at the people outside. “And no one claims what’s mine,” Echo vowed. “Elves, Dwarves, or J?tnar. No one.”
The thought of him fighting that giant filled my heart with dread. But since there was no point venting about it, I walked away. When my eyes met Nara’s, she gave me a broad grin. I didn’t return it. I had enough on my plate without adding her ever-changing moods to it.
Echo led the way across the hall. He walked ahead and to my left while Syn was to my right. Nara and Rhys took the rear. I saw my clanswoman and waved. I should sit down with her sometime and learn about my people.
I continued past the empty Throne Hall to the entrance to the Sorting Room. The goddess was inside, talking to Baldur. The number of souls was unusually high. I hurried to their side.
“Sorry, I was distracted by the tents.”
“I’d love to kick out the whole lot, but your father will never forgive me.”
Baldur chuckled. “Your mother is joking. She is a gracious hostess, and once she gets over her annoyance, she’ll open the doors and let them inside.”
“Doesn’t mean I have to like it,” the goddess said. “They’ll be underfoot, eavesdropping when I forbid people from being near the Sorting Hall.” She kissed Baldur’s cheek. “Go. We have work to do.”
“I will need your decision soon, elskr mín. We can’t have sons of every prominent person, god, and king from all the realms freezing outside our hall.”
She grinned as though that was exactly what she hoped for. “Maybe they’ll pack up and go home.”
“Soon, Hela,” Baldur added, then he kissed my cheek and walked away.
“Are you really not going to let them in?”
“I will. Your father enjoys entertaining, and I find it hard to refuse him anything. He tells me Echo plans to face anyone who challenges his right to court you.”
I glanced toward the entrance at Echo. “He explained in his charming way why he needs to do it.”
She sighed. “And you found yourself agreeing with him even though you don’t like it?”
“Exactly.” I gave her a sheepish grin.
“Irresistible men are the bane of women’s existence.”
I laughed. I hadn’t expected her to say something so normal. “That’s so true.”
“Now tell me about your visions. I heard you’ve had several.”
I glanced at the souls. “But the souls.”
“Can wait. I want to hear about your visions. It’s an ability that’s making me rethink a lot of things. Your brother inherited the berserker powers from your grandfather, but you might have your father and grandmother’s ability. Both are gifted clairvoyants.”
I told her what I’d seen, and she dissected it, easing my fears about Echo. “I’ll be there, too. Nothing is going to happen to him if I can help it.”
Her voice and the look in her eyes said she meant it, and I believed her. Just like that, she stopped being the goddess and became my mother.
“Are we going to cheat?” I whispered.
“No, Einmyria. Goddesses don’t cheat.” She lifted her chin, and I stood straighter, imitating her. “We direct the outcome of events because we can.”
“Noblesse oblige?”
“More like deity oblige.”
I hugged her. “Thanks, Mother. I was really worried about Echo.”
She kissed my temple. “No need to thank me, Daughter. It’s a mother’s duty to watch out for her children. I’d be remiss in my duties if I didn’t look out for him when you love him. Now about the souls. Are you sure you want to do this? You don’t have to right now.”
“It’s okay.” Despite her words, I could tell she really wanted me with her. Doing the same thing over and over again for thousands of years must get boring and lonely. Now she had me. “I don’t mind, and I really do want to practice. So first, I engage medium runes, will them while they are in energy form, and blend with them, listen to them. Then, when they are done, I engage warding runes to expel them.”
“That’s right. Do you want a chair? I don’t want you getting tired.”
She was a worrywart, too. Just like Mom in Kayville. “I’m fine, Mother. Besides, you are standing. If you can take it, so can I.”
“Are you making fun of my age, young lady?” The eyebrow above her blue eye shot up, and she didn’t crack a smile, yet I heard the teasing in her voice.
“No, I’d never do that. You look fabulous, but the fact is”—I wrinkled my nose and grinned—“you are old. Ancient.”
She laughed out loud, drawing the attention of the guards and the Grimnirs, including Baldur who was talking to Echo and his team. The surprise on their faces was baffling.
“That’s a good one. I’ll have to tell your father. If I’m old, what is he?”
“One-foot-in-the-grave old?” I added without thinking. “I, uh, I didn’t mean to say that.”
“Because he died and came here?” She chuckled. “I don’t care about his previous life. We got the best part of him. His soul. Did you know that his body was burned on a pyre on top of his ship? The most beautiful and largest ship in all of Asgard. Thor, despite his strength, could not push it. They had to use a J?tun. Our people.” She sobered up, reached out, and tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. “I’m happy you are home.”
“I’m happy I’m home, too.” And it was the truth, despite the unwanted suitors.
“Okay. Let’s get to work.”
For two hours, we welcomed souls, and I used my runes to help those who needed closure before sending them to their Resting Halls. Twice, there was some commotion by the entrance, but no one disturbed us. When we were done, it was lunchtime. Baldur was waiting for us when we left the room. He didn’t look happy. He whispered something to Mother and whisked her away.
“What’s going on?”
“The guards your mother sent to Asgard returned without Goddess Eir,” Echo said. “Your father is pissed.”
“Why didn’t they bring her back?”
“They weren’t allowed past the gate. Heimdall was gone, so his guards placed them under arrest while waiting for his return. It’s been over a week. They were lucky a certain Valkyrie overheard the guards talking about spies from Helheim and asked what was going on. Somehow he got them released.”
“Which Valkyrie?”
“Andris.”
“I told you he wasn’t bad. Man, Eirik is going to be devastated by this.”
The number of people inside the Waiting Hall had nearly doubled. And since they weren’t dressed fancily, I assumed more villagers had arrived to keep vigil.
When we arrived at Eirik’s, it was too quiet. Usually, I could hear his voice from the door. Imagining the worst, I rushed into the bedroom, but he wasn’t alone. The room was packed.
Lavion was back, and with him were two elderly healers. One had a hand on Celestia’s forehead while the other touched her chest. Tammy watched them with narrowed eyes. She was never far from Celestia’s side. Zack, seated on the lounge, had been scarce, but I’d seen him with the other three girls. Hayden, Jessica, and Trudy stood at the foot of the bed while Eirik was in his usual seat. They all looked up when I entered. I went to sit on the arm of Eirik’s chair.
“What do you see?” Eirik asked the healers.
The Dwarf touching Celestia’s head had been staring at me. She shifted her attention to Celestia. “I see memories of her healing the villagers, then a man in a white robe. There are memories of possession and tormenting people.” She glanced at Eirik. “Has she ever done anything like that while in the astral plane?”
“No,” Eirik, Hayden, and Tammy said at the same time.
“Celestia is a healer,” Eirik added sharply. “She’d never possess anyone.”
“I’m only telling you what I’m seeing, Rising Star,” the Dwarf said. “I didn’t mean to offend.”
“There’s also a very strange energy coming from her, but it’s not hers,” the second Dwarf said. “It is weak.”
“Is it my grandmother’s?” Eirik asked.
The Dwarf shook her head. “No. I’d recognize hers from what she did to the orphans in my village.”