CHAPTER NINETEEN
There was a brief, unpleasant sensation of being tightly squeezed, twisted and somehow turned inside-out. When it was over, Phoenix stood with Truda, Marcus and four freaked-out horses in the middle of a wide, flat prairie. A cool wind whistled around them, making the short, dry grass-stalks ripple and swish. It smelled of dust and a hint of snow from distant mountains. There were no trees anywhere but white-topped, purplish mountain peaks clawed the sky on all sides. A few seconds later, Jade appeared out of thin air, followed by her wild-eyed horse and an equally unsettled Brynn.
“OK, that was weird,” Phoenix commented. Looking up, he waved madly at the sky.
“What are you doing?” Truda giggled. “You look really silly.”
“I feel silly but I’m waving to Arawn and Aurfanon.” He grinned.
The others laughed and did the same.
Eventually, they turned around to look for Gladsheim. Truda clapped her hands and did a little dance step of joy. Her companions stared in shock. The building was massive. It looked as though a giant, white marble Lego block had been dropped in the middle of the Plain of Idavoll. There were just a few, small windows high up and one, large double-door at the end. The door stood over thirty feet high and glinted gold in the morning sunlight.
“Why is it so big?” Jade breathed.
“Oh, lots of the gods are giants or half-giants or quarter-giants.” Truda’s blithe reply made Phoenix’s stomach sink. “Grandma Jörð is a giantess. Uncle Loki’s a shapeshifter as well as a giant. Lots of them are. C’mon! Pa’ll be so happy to see me!” She skipped ahead, waving them anxiously on.
“At least that explains why she’s so tall, but will Thor be happy to see us?” Jade muttered to Phoenix.
“Why shouldn’t he? We’re returning his daughter to him.”
“Dunno.” She shrugged seeming uneasy as she stared up at the massive building. “I’ve just got a bad feeling about this. It’s been too simple.”
He snorted. “I don’t think fighting off wolves, traipsing through freezing snow, outwitting two trolls, getting killed and persuading the Light-elves to help us could be called ‘simple’.”
“I don’t know.” She sighed. “It just doesn’t seem hard enough for the second level of the game. Where’s Zhudai this time? We haven’t seen anything of him or his henchmen.”
Phoenix thought about it. “You did put that spell on Marcus to hide him, so Zhudai probably can’t find us.” He gripped her shoulder. “Don’t worry too much about Zhudai. We need to concentrate on stealing the Hammer of Thor, remember?” He glanced over at Brynn. “At least we have our very own thief to help with that.”
Brynn grinned and saluted him with two jaunty fingers. His step had a cocky bounce in it.
Jade nodded then frowned. “Oh, I forgot to tell you something.”
“What?”
“While I was...umm...dead, I ended up in that grey limbo place again and heard someone explaining all the stuff we have to do on the next three levels. I think it was the same old woman we met there in Albion but I’m not sure. The voice sounded similar, at least.”
“Brilliant!” Phoenix heaved a sigh of relief. “I was getting worried about that. All I could remember was that the next one is something about Egypt.”
“But I’m not sure it was her and we still don’t even know who she is or why she’s helping,” Jade shook her head, worried. “What if it was Zhudai trying to put us on the wrong track?”
“Good point,” he conceded. “What did she say we had to do next? If it was Zhudai, he’d be sure to feed us wrong information.”
“The voice said we have to use the Hammer of Thor to destroy a tekhen in Egypt. I think ‘tekhen’ is the Egyptian word for an obelisk. Destroying it will release Anuket, the goddess of fertility of the Nile valley.”
“Yeah,” Phoenix cocked his head, thinking hard, “that sounds right from what I remember reading, which means it probably wasn’t Zhudai in your dream.”
“She also said we have to do it before the death of the moon,” Jade continued, her expression anxious. “But I don’t know what that means!”
He shrugged. “Neither do I but we can’t do much about it here anyway. Let’s solve that one once we actually make it to Egypt.”
“If we make it,” Jade muttered.
There was a depressed pause as they all considered the scope of the task still facing them in this level, let alone the unknowns in the next.
“What’s a ‘tekhen’?” Brynn asked.
With her hands Jade outlined the shape of a tall, pointed column in the air. “It’s kind of...you know... a tall, skinny stone pillar with a point on the top and decorations all over the sides.”
“Right...” Brynn cocked his head, looking bemused.
It occurred to Phoenix that, if you’d never even seen a picture of an obelisk, it might be hard to imagine one.
They walked for a few moments in silence, trying to keep the horses moving. All they seemed to want to do was crop the grass. Phoenix stopped and struggled out of his too-warm fur coat. The others followed suit. Jade jammed the clothes into the Hyllion Bagia. There wasn’t much they could do about the fur-lined trousers they all wore, so they simply continued in sweaty silence.
Phoenix only truly realised how vast Gladsheim was by the length of time it took them to get there. Its size made it seem closer than it really was. Finally, it loomed overhead, blocking the morning sun and casting a threatening shadow over the grassland.
Brynn scouted around one end of the building and found tether points and a watering trough for the animals. The horses taken care of, four of the companions crept toward the golden front door. Truda, comfortable on home ground, ran straight past them before anyone could stop her. To their horror, she raced to the door and banged on it with her small fist, yelling at the top of her lungs.
“PA! PA! Open the door, I’m here! It’s nearly my birthday and I’m home!”
“Oh man,” Jade groaned. “There went any idea of sneaking in to case the place.”
“Well,” Marcus said philosophically, “maybe an open approach is best. After all, Thor should be grateful that we’re returning his long-lost daughter.”
“And how long will that last, once we’ve stolen his hammer?” Phoenix asked.
“Shhhh,” Jade admonished. “Truda doesn’t know about that, remember?”
“Maybe we could just ask for it?” Brynn whispered. “I mean, I’m good but I’m not sure I’m that good.”
“Hard to imagine a god voluntarily giving up his best weapon to a bunch of strange mortals, daughter or not,” Jade replied, her tone scornful.
“Still,” Marcus was thoughtful, “it might be worth a try.”
Phoenix didn’t get to reply to that because the great entrance creaked ponderously outward at that point. Truda scampered back from the opening then rushed forward with a squeal of delight.
They all looked up, expecting a giant to step out, then down again when Truda threw herself into the arms of a normal-sized man.
“Ullr!”
The blond man stared down at the girl in astonishment for a moment then lifted her up in a bone-crushing hug. “Stepsister! How did you come here? Where have you been these months?” He glanced up and sighted Truda’s companions. Frowning he put her down and pushed her to one side. With the smooth action of a seasoned warrior, he unslung a massive bow from across his broad shoulders and nocked an arrow.
Marcus responded with the same move and Brynn followed suit with a deft twist of his sling. Jade hefted her quarterstaff in the guard position and Phoenix laid a hand on the hilt of Blódbál.
“Who are these mortals, sister?” Ullr demanded, not taking his ice-blue eyes off Marcus. Truda laid a hand on his leather-clad arm.
“They brought me home, step-brother. Please don’t hurt them. They brought me back in time to stop Ragnarok.”
The god looked narrow
ly at all four companions. “Very well. Thor will wish to speak with them. Inside, all of you.” He gestured with the tip of his arrow.
Jade put a warning hand on Marcus’ shoulder and the Roman boy lowered his bow. At Phoenix’s nod, Brynn stopped swinging his sling but kept it to hand. Truda, clearly considering the emergency over, dashed through the open door. The others followed more slowly, Ullr behind them with his bow still ready.
“I still think this is a bad idea,” Jade murmured to Phoenix.
“Got a better one?” he asked.
She shook her head and stepped into the cool dimness within.
Instead of one, massive hall, the entrance to Gladsheim was a fairly small chamber with several doors leading off it. Truda skipped ahead, her footsteps echoing on the marble floor. She headed straight out of the antechamber, through an ornate archway. The others followed and found themselves in a truly great hall.
Phoenix had little time to take in the wonders of it. Their entrance stirred up a storm of voices all clamouring for information and attention. Truda ran, full tilt, to hurl herself into the enormous arms of her father, Thor. The God of Thunder picked his daughter up like she was a precious doll. He held her at arm’s length for several seconds, staring at her smiling face. Then he wrapped her in a gentle hug, his rugged, red-bearded face showing astonished delight and disbelief. There was a babble of talk as half a dozen gods of all sizes crowded around, hugging and petting the little redheaded goddess.
Finally, one deep, powerful voice cut through the noise.
“Silence!”
An expectant hush fell and the crowd parted as a stooped, bearded man stepped down from a throne at the end of the hall. He wore a simple tunic and breeches, with a long, brown hooded cloak. His beard and loose hair were white, his left eyelid was closed and sunken over a missing eye. In one hand he held a javelin. Over his head flew two ravens and by his side paced two silver-coated wolves. He looked harmless enough but power emanated almost visibly from him.
Jade gasped. Phoenix frowned, wondering who it was: obviously someone important.
“Grandpa!” Squealed Truda, launching herself at the newcomer.
His lined face softened for a moment as the old man hugged his granddaughter then hardened again as he put her aside.
“What are these mortals who dare to enter Gladsheim uninvited?”
Phoenix stepped forward and bowed. He was getting better at it now. “My lord...” Panic seized him as he realised he had no idea what to call him.
“Odinn,” Jade hissed, “king of the gods.”
“Odinn,” he finished. “We are simply returning Tr...Thrudr to her home.”
There was a quick babble of talk from the other gods before they were silenced by a wave of Odinn’s gnarled hand.
“It is a miracle she is come back in time to forestall the coming of Ragnarok but by what right did you abduct her in the first place, mortal?” he growled.
Taken aback by the accusation, Phoenix stared in astonishment. “No, no, sir! We didn’t take her. It was...”
“That’s them! Seize them!” A triumphant shout interrupted him. From the back of the group, a tall, dark-haired man pushed through. He too wore simple clothes but in grey cloth with a dark grey cloak buckled over one shoulder. His eyes gleamed with cunning and secret knowledge. Thor and the other gods murmured amongst themselves, looking back and forth between the newcomer, Odinn and Phoenix.
“Loki!” Odinn’s sharp tone brought everyone back under control again.
Phoenix felt Jade, Brynn and Marcus press closer as the gods moved to encircle them. This really didn’t feel like a win-win situation.
“I thought Truda said Loki was a giant,” Phoenix whispered out of the corner of his mouth.
“And a shapeshifter,” Jade murmured back, “and the God of mischief and chaos.”
“Fabulous.”
“Look at his eyes!” she hissed.
Phoenix did. They were a familiar, hard, rain-grey. The wolf’s eyes. Loki was a shapeshifter, indeed. The question was: why had he lead the wolfpack against them and what was he up to now?
Loki came closer to the companions, a wicked smile lifting his lips. He circled them, moving with the grace of a dancer.
“My king, these are the mortals who abducted your granddaughter. They thought to hold her to ransom by threatening us with the coming of the End. Thwarted in that,” he spun to face the gods, throwing up his arms, “they come in the guise of her saviours, trying to pretend they rescued and returned her; but I know their true purpose here.” He grinned evilly at the companions before schooling his handsome face once more into an expression of righteous wrath. “What they wanted as ransom they now seek instead to steal - Mjölnir, the Hammer of Thor!”
A great shout went up from the assembled gods. Thor yelled, holding his hammer high and shaking it in defiance at the four friends. Surrounded by her angry family, Truda pushed vainly, trying to get through, her shrill young voice lost in the din.
Swords slithered from sheaths; staves and clubs were lifted in menace; and ominous roll of thunder echoed outside as the sky darkened with Thor’s wrath.
“This was so not the plan,” Phoenix groaned.
“It is now,” Marcus replied, drawing his sword.
“Actually, I’m pretty sure we didn’t have a plan,” Brynn muttered.
“Shut up and try not to kill anyone,” Phoenix said.
Marcus sent him a swift, ironic look. “Will they be doing the same?”
“Brynn, get to Truda if you can,” Jade urged the boy. “Maybe she can stop this by telling them the truth.”
He nodded and began peering through the thick bodies around them, looking for a way out.
Phoenix laid a hand on Blódbál and its song flowered in his head. “Damn,” he shook it, trying to think clearly. “Stupid sword. Where are the Avengers when you need to oppose someone in Asgard.”
“Who?” It was Jade’s strident question.
Phoenix shrugged and quirked a grin at her.“Y’know - Iron Man, the Hulk, Captain America - the Avengers.”
She sent him a half-annoyed, half-frightened glare. “I don’t think...”
Then there was no time to look or think. With a hoarse cry, ten gods threw themselves into battle. Phoenix drew Blódbál. The sound of blade sliding against scabbard was like a song in his veins. It urged him on; fired him with the desire to whet the blade on the bones and blood of gods.
Grinning fiercely, he blocked a sword-thrust with ease. Blódbál sang louder in his head, masking everything but the lust for battle. Fear vanished, replaced by exultation and excitement. Phoenix cut down toward a leg and was rewarded with a grunt of pain. The blade came back red. Shifting, he unslung his shield and blocked another blow even as he sliced to his right.
There was a shout behind him. He turned to catch a club on his blade before it smacked into the unprotected side of Marcus’ head. Marcus called his thanks. Phoenix laughed. This was easy. He could see everything, anticipate anything. To his left, Jade blocked another club then swiftly retaliated, slamming the end of her staff into a vulnerable groin. Her opponent doubled over in breathless pain, staggering away, retching.
Brynn vanished, hopefully to find Truda.
Phoenix sidestepped a javelin thrust, grabbed the wood and yanked hard. The owner fell forward and Jade clubbed him over the back of the head. A thrown dagger ricocheted off Phoenix’s shield. Blódbál twitched in his hands, begging to be used but Phoenix was wary of it. If possible, he didn’t really want to kill. Having gods angry with you was a bad idea. They were already quite irritated enough.
Where were Truda and Brynn?
“Sleep!” Jade’s desperate Command spell washed over the fighting gods.
Two of them shook their heads and blinked, their weapons lowered. She whacked them both upside the head and they collapsed, insensible. The other gods seemed unaffe
cted by her magic and waded back into the fray.
There were only four fighters left. Odinn stood back, observing. Loki had disappeared. Thor, towering over his brethren, shoved to the front, Mjölnir held high over his shaggy head. Thunder rolled, shaking the building. Dark clouds seemed to gather inside, beneath the white ceiling. Lightning flickered and the air tasted of electricity.
Phoenix jabbed with Blódbál, trying to distract Thor with a blow to the legs but his thrust was parried by Ullr’s sword. Straining, Phoenix pushed the blond god aside and tried again for Thor’s legs. Thunder growled louder, directly overhead.
Jade screamed a word Phoenix didn’t catch. The world exploded. A vast noise lashed at them; a blinding flash of light edged with purple-blue and tasting of hot iron. Then there was silence and the now-familiar blackness of unconsciousness.
*****
Baiyu clutched at his head, reeling with the fresh stab of death. No! Too many. They were losing too many lives. They would never make it. Why had this happened? They should have been safely in Asgard, welcomed and feted by the Gods. What treachery was this?
He was too weak to send his mind out of his body to seek help again. Too weak to even reach out for help closer at hand. Only time would reveal if they had survived.