Chapter 13
The Lost Brothers
After a thirty-minute walk, they reached Odin’s palace. The building stood five stories tall. Statues of soldiers lined the path to the entrance, each depicting a soldier in motion. The first statues were of a Viking soldier with his sword stretched above his head angled downward. He was saddled in a horse rearing above a group of men armed with stone and metal working tools.
“They depict an epic battle waging for years between the Jotunn and Thor,” Brynhild explained after noticing Lysandros and Alina examining the statues. “The Jotunn are giant savages that roam throughout nature. Unfortunately, some Aesir blood has been tainted by such beasts.”
A woman walking behind Brynhild, second in command, issued a warning. “The gods will hear you, Brynhild. Odin will not respond well to your words. He has punished you once before, my friend.”
“That is why I do not fear him, Eir. The circle of fire meant to curse me merely kept me warm while I waited for my beloved Sigurd,” Brynhild arrogantly dismissed Eir’s warning.
“I know that story,” Lysandros shouted proudly. “Sigurd rescued you and you repaid him by killing him and one of his son’s for revenge.”
“He was betrothed to me but married another! Sigurd disguised himself as his disgusting brother-in-law to earn my hand in marriage for him. He deserved the death he won,” Brynhild’s eyes lit with rage.
“You mean the death you constructed, dear sister,” Eir corrected. “Yet you threw yourself on the funeral pyre to die in the flames with your accused deceiver.”
Brynhild walked up the steps to twelve-foot tall gold doors. “I command the Valkyries, Eir. I choose what hero lives or dies, even in the battles of my own life. It is unfortunate that Freyja chose…”
Whap!
A tall blonde haired woman in silver armor and a feather cloak appeared in front of Brynhild. “Chose to return you to your rightful place? Chose to restore your blessed gifts? Chose to acknowledge the slaying of your beloved Sigurd as the duties of a true Valkyrie?” All of the Valkyries bowed their heads to the woman, including Brynhild. “I believe I chose well, Brynhild. I can return you to Hel’s domain if you wish, but I promise that if you return there you will never see Sigurd again.”
Brynhild remained unmoved but the slightest widening and twitch in her eyes revealed the woman’s words cut her deeply. “I apologize, Freyja, I did not mean to offend you or sound ungrateful you brought me back to life. I gladly serve you faithfully,” said Brynhild as she gracefully bowed.
“I know you do, which is why I am willing to forgive your insolence,” Freyja said smiling. Freyja promptly turned her attention to Alina and Lysandros. “Queen Alina, I presume?” She looked Lysandros up and down. “And you are a guardian? Hmm.” Freyja lightly tapped her lips deep in thought as she stared at Lysandros.
Lysandros looked at Alina with a who does this lady think she is? look. “You presume correctly. Freyja, is it? And what do you mean a guardian? I thought I was the Guardian?” Lysandros retorted with a hint of annoyance.
“Did you honestly believe there is only one guardian for The Queen? Oh no, Sir, she has many. Three of whom you will pick up today. You see, guardians change because they frequently die.”
Two Valkyries took the silver reins of the horses from Lysandros and Alina and motioned for them to follow Freyja. The Valkyries led the horses down a path with the rest of the winged steeds. Magic walked close to Lightning so that his shoulder was touching hers to provide comfort.
Freyja sighed then opened the giant hall doors and walked inside. “Anyway, let us not keep his most honorable divineness waiting. Otherwise, he may throw a divine tantrum.”
Lysandros laughed, but Alina put a finger to her lips to hush him then pointed to the Valkyries. They did not find Freyja’s harshness towards Odin funny. Their stern faces grimaced at the goddess. Lysandros pursed his lips together trying to keep a straight face as he followed the women into The Great Hall.
The title “Great” did not accurately describe the hall. “Rustic” would better suit their view. When the doors opened, the pungent scent of stale mead and sweaty men assaulted their senses. The loud hall bustled with hundreds of long wooden tables packed with drunken men. The rough looking men roared with laughter as some recounted stories while others yelled and cheered for arm wrestling competitions. The soldiers Shields and spears were strewn about the room, and axes were strapped to the men’s backs.
Various weapons decorated the White Ash walls of the The Great Hall. The ceiling had rows of chandeliers made of Elk antlers. At the far end, a large throne overlooked the room. The throne was like everything else in the room…rustic. It was also constructed out of White Ash with white leather cushions and adorned by the largest set of antlers in the room. In the throne sat a burly man with a modest crown made of plain bronze. His light brown, wavy hair met his shoulders, which were covered by grey wolf pelts.
“Welcome, friends, welcome!” a voice boomed through the hall as they entered. The loud welcome silenced soldiers as they turned to stare at the new comers. “I am so glad you made it to my humble abode.”
Alina looked around the room once with a raised eyebrow, “Humble, Odin, would be an understatement.”
At Alina’s side, Freyja laughed, “I like her. She has fire in her that most men lack. You would make an excellent Valkyrie. She won’t be fooled by you and your precious Aesir silver tongue, Odin.”
Odin ignored Freyja’s comment. “I will not keep you long even though I wish you would stay and enjoy our feast. Völva tells me you are running on a strict schedule.”
Panic filled Alina’s chest and her eyes widened as she grabbed Lysandros’ arm.
“We’ll make it,” Lysandros reassured her, not sure what they were making it to.
“I sent my son, Týr, to retrieve the Lost Brothers. Consider this a gift of time.” Odin refilled his goblet and fell back into his throne with one leg over the arm of the chair.
As if on cue, a set of doors on the side of the hall burst open from a man flying through them. He slammed to the ground with a thud that even made Odin cringe.
The man was young with short dark brown hair and a clean-shaven face. The appearance of a twenty-year-old, his handsome features stood out among the rest of the gruff soldiers. He wore tattered, unkempt battle gear of an Etrusci soldier, the silver and emerald green of the uniform unmistakable amongst the earthy browns and evergreens the rest of the men wore.
Through the door came a large man with one hand missing carrying two men by the collar in the other hand. He tossed the men on the floor next to the first one.
The next two men were dressed like the first. Their thick black hair, bright hazel eyes, and the same chiseled jaw line confirmed their relation. One man landed directly on the first soldier. When he rolled over, he appeared to be in his mid-to-late twenties with medium length hair that feathered out just below his ears. The man next to him appeared to be the oldest of the three, about mid-thirties, with dark scruffy facial features. He held an air of authority with his wide shoulders pushed back and head held high. He was the first to stand with his sword ready to attack. His presence commanded fear and respect.
“Nikolaos! Stop!” Alina cried out, running towards the three men.
Nikolaos’ body froze, rigid in shock. His head swiveled towards Alina with his mouth open. He had not seen her in twenty years. Although Alina distracted Nikolaos, Týr did not take his attention off his opponent and swung his sword to tear a gash in Nikolaos’ chest. Before he connected with Nikolaos, Thor appeared in front of him and slammed Týr in the chest with his hammer. Týr crumbled on the floor against a pillar.
“I announced in all of our lands that these men are not to be harmed, Brother! And that order also applies to you!” Thor screamed, outraged by his brother’s careless disregard for his order. The other soldiers uneasily made sure their weapons were within reach, praying they would not have to defend them
selves against the thunder god.
Týr’s throat closed up and he gasped for air clutching at his neck. Odin sighed impatiently and ordered Thor to release him.
“It is not I who is doing this, father,” Thor smiled, pleased with Týr’s punishment for disobeying him.
“I am,” Freyja walked up to Odin’s throne lightly squeezing a ball of water. “This is the second time your son has made a direct attack in a fight he does not belong in. He involves himself in matters that are not his concern.” She squeezed the ball tighter and water spewed from Týr mouth.
Odin furiously stood up and threw his cup of mead across the room. Instead of taking his anger out on Freyja, he lunged from his throne and grabbed Týr by the collar. He hoisted Týr high above his head, shaking him with anger. Odin berated Týr for allowing Freyja to defeat him as water gushed from Týr’s mouth. “Twice she used this spell and twice you have fallen for it. Twice!” Odin tossed Týr at Freyja and told her to do what she wanted with him. Freyja looked disgusted and released her spell.
Alina ran to Nikolaos and threw her arms around his neck. Nikolaos, still in shock, gently closed his arms around her delicate frame. “Mother?”
The two other men were already on their feet staring at Alina. “Mother!” They ran to her and she hugged each of them as they picked her up into a bear hug and spun her around.
Nikolaos focused his attention on Lysandros and motioned with his head to the side door where he and his brothers arrived. Outside the door, there was an endless beach of white sand and a cool blue ocean with chunks of ice.
Lysandros nodded, acknowledging Nikolaos’ escape plan.
Alina caught a glimpse of Nikolaos’ motion and gasped when she looked out the door. “Remus?” Alina, caught off guard by her husband’s sudden appearance, lost her footing. She stumbled into her two younger sons who caught her with ease.
Remus extended his hand, motioning for her to join him. The youngest of her sons stepped in front of her.
“Leonidas, out of my way. Your father is here,” Alina said as she tried to move around her son, but he slid back in front of her.
“It is not real. He would never come here for us. This land can play tricks on your mind. We know better than most,” answered Leonidas, glaring at Lysandros.
“It is not us he is here for, Leo. Get out of the way,” ordered Nikolaos.
Alina ran outside and disappeared from sight.
Nikolaos spoke to the third brother staring out after Alina and grabbed his attention by snapping his fingers in his face. “Cole, find horses. I would prefer to get back to the cabin tonight,” Nikolaos said, a forceful warning as he glanced at Lysandros with distaste.
In the background, Freyja laughed and said, “Ooo, this is going to be a good fight!”
Nikolaos ignored the comment and confronted Lysandros, “You don’t belong here, traitor.”
“Traitor? I am not the one that almost caused a war. You three are the traitors to Etruria.” Lysandros jabbed a finger into Nikolaos’ chest.
When Lysandros poked Nikolaos, Leo moved closer to his brother, ready to throw a punch. Nikolaos put a hand on his chest to stop him. Leo took a few steps back but did not take his eyes off Lysandros.
“You were the one who drafted a plan to storm the gates of Umbria and my father is the one who wanted the lands in the first place. You were upset that we were able to do it without an army. Instead of punishing us you should have been proud we saved countless Etrusci lives.” Nikolaos looked around the room uneasily at the Viking soldiers glaring at them. “I believe it is time for us to leave. We have outstayed our welcome.”
Lysandros followed Nikolaos’ cautious gaze and understood. These were the Soldiers of the Fallen. They are heroes chosen by the Valkyries to live in Valhalla with Odin. Many of these soldiers died in the battles fighting Nikolaos and his two brothers over the last twenty years. Now, because Alina tried to protect her sons from Týr, a divine hero to these men, Lysandros and Alina became their targets of revenge.
“Do you always have to involve yourself in wars?” Lysandros asked, annoyed. He and Nikolaos suspiciously surveyed the crowd.
“You discarded us here, remember?” Nikolaos gripped his sword and slowly backed away to the door.
“Because you involve yourselves in war! Alina, it’s time to go,” Lysandros shouted.
“She’s gone, Lys,” Cole popped his head in the doorway. “Come on, Nik, I got the horses. Yours and mom’s too, Lys.”
“Fair well my friends!” Odin called out from his throne, waving childishly.
“Lysandros! Dear guardian, Regina is half-complete. You must hurry westward, past Gaul and into Alina’s borders. It is there you will find who you need,” warned Freyja.
Nikolaos stared at Lysandros, dumbfounded at the word “guardian”.
“What do you mean? Who are we looking for?” Lysandros asked, but Freyja smiled politely and waved goodbye.
Oi, let’s go, Petulant Man, before you become a Viking meal! Magic yelled psychically.
“We have to work on your manors, Mule,” Lysandros retorted. He rushed through the doorway and found Magic next to Lightning with three other grey and black speckled horses.
Cole was already saddled and hanging on the reins of the other two steeds. Lysandros mounted Magic and expected to see Alina but she was gone. There were no footprints in the sand for them to track.
“Let’s go! What in Tartarus are you two doing?” Cole yelled to his brothers.
Leo and Nikolaos sprinted through the door and jumped on their horses. Leo laughed as he held a turkey leg in his hand and wore a two-horned Viking helmet rimmed with fur on his head. Nikolaos cursed at Leo. Behind them, Freyja and Odin hysterically laughed as men shouted and wooden benches crashed to the ground.
Cole turned to Leo, “What in Hades are you eating? And where did you get that awful hat?”
“Erky eg!” Leo muttered through a mouthful of meat. Cole hoped he meant turkey leg. Leo swallowed the giant piece he had bitten off. “And I got the hat from the same guy who gave me his turkey leg!”
Leo smiled at Cole and whipped his horse with the reins. Cole rolled his eyes and followed, speeding down the beach.
Magic was about to pursue the other two men but Nikolaos moved his horse in front of him. “Why did Thor defend us? We are no friends of the heroes of Valhalla. Bargains with the gods never end well for men.”
“Thor swore we were protected on his land and Odin assured us as well. Apparently, you have impressed the thunder god. We made no bargains or promises,” Lysandros reassured Nikolaos then added, “not that it would be any concern of yours what Queen Alina does.”
Magic reared and sped off down the beach with Lightning keeping pace.
Nikolaos sighed, annoyed with Lysandros, then grunted to himself, “Where is my mother?”