14
__________________________
____________
Vali’s face broke into a wide grin. His oversized lips and teeth looked downright comical in an expression he clearly didn’t make very often. I allowed myself to take a breath.
“Are you certain of this?” he asked incredulously. “How can my taking his place equal avenging his death?”
Good question.
“Instead of looking at it like avenging, maybe consider it as saving. You are Baldur’s savior. By going to Helheim and taking his place, you, and you alone, can grant him his life back.” I stood. “If you ask me, it’s better than avenging. You will be hailed a hero in all the realms.” I had no idea if that was true, but it made sense, since Baldur was beloved by all. “You will allow him to breathe again, to walk in the grass, to laugh, to love. There is no greater gift to give.”
My mind wandered to the epic task of convincing Hel that Vali was a good swap for Baldur. I tore my mind away from that thought as quickly as I could. I’d have more than enough time to contemplate that soon enough.
Vali appeared lost in thought as he absentmindedly flipped the crown over in his hands. Slowly, he met my gaze, his eyes burning with intent. “I have dreamed of Helheim my entire life. The visions plague me, call to me, entice me.” His hands went to his head, his palms clasping his temples, his fingers still tightly gripping the crown. My heart went out to him. His life had been one big hardship. “I’ve often wondered why the fates could be so cruel to me for all these years.” He brought his hands down. “Now I know why. This is my destiny. I will save my brother’s life.”
I took a careful step forward.
When Vali didn’t try to stop me, I continued to his side, reaching out to touch him. His arms were thick with corded muscle. “I believe this is your destiny, and the fates haven’t been cruel, they’ve been trying to prepare you as best they could.” I took a step back. “I promise I will do my best to convince Hel to call you down once I arrive.”
“I would take your place if I could and spare you this.”
“I believe you. But this is my burden to bear, and I accept it. Vali, I want you to know that, no matter how the people of Asgard have treated you, I can see in your heart you are kind and generous. I am proud to call you brother and wish our time together could be greater than just a few stolen moments standing here.”
“That would be my wish, too.” He nodded, his hair flopping erratically. “Maybe I will see you in Helheim?”
“That’s a distinct possibility,” I said.
“Am I to wear the crown?”
“I don’t know. I have something to give Hel, a stone that’s linked to the crown. I’m pretty sure it will be her who calls you down, not me.”
He lumbered to his chair and sat. This time, dust fell from the ceiling. “I will keep it with me at all times and await my summons.” His gaze drifted off as he became lost in thought, likely thinking about Helheim once more.
“I will leave you now,” I said. “My trial is set for the morning, and we are nearing morning now.”
He nodded. “Be well, Sister.”
I reached the door, pulling it open. “You, too.”
A crowd of Valkyries waited for me on the lawn. Ingrid clasped me on the back. “How’d it go?” she asked. “Everything all right?”
“Yes.” I felt a little solemn. “I have no idea if it’s going to work. I’m just hoping for the best.” My life, as well as Fen’s, depended on it.
“I’m not gonna lie,” Ingrid said as we began to walk down the lane. “You have one rough road in front of you. But I know you can do it, Phoebe.” She hugged me close. “And once it’s done, your life here will be set. You’ll be able to travel freely to Midgard to see your family. It’ll all work out. You’ll see.”
“The Norns will have something to say about my freedom,” I said. “Even if I manage to bring Baldur back, and Fen and I are able to come home, they won’t stop their harassment. They’ve already turned most of Asgard against me.”
“Tyr is working on that angle,” she said. “And we will aid him as much as we can while you’re away. Those witches are working toward their own end, and we will find out why. By the time you get back, their name will be mud.”
I smiled at my aunt’s encouraging words, hoping she was right, even though I knew there would still be a hill to climb once I got home. If I got home. “What time is it?”
“You’ve got three hours until your hearing,” Ingrid answered. “Let’s make the most of them.”
* * *
My mother wasn’t here.
I sat in the same wooden straight-backed chair that Fen had occupied yesterday. Glancing upward, I could see the balconies were jam-packed, the faces of Asgard staring down on me curiously, most of them hopeful I’d be exiled and they’d be here to witness it.
The Valkyries sat in the first tier, where we were yesterday. I spotted my grandmother, who gave me a pursed smile and a nod. Sam’s face was a cross between panic and wonder.
None of the gods and goddesses had arrived yet to spectate, but I’d been told they would be here soon. The main room had three rows of elegant seating for the elite who chose to witness any hearings, situated right behind me.
A small area with a gate around it sat off to the side for those who would stand up for me.
Currently, Ingrid, Rae, and Tyr were there, all tossing me encouraging smiles.
In front was the tall wooden wall and a circle of thrones, the one that Odin had occupied yesterday being the biggest and most prominent. I actually had no idea if my father would be present during this, since Frigg was running things. I assumed he would be, but no one had shared that information.
If the electricity had been heightened for Fen, it was ten times that now. The anticipation might do me in. Waiting had never been my strong suit.
The main door across the chamber opened, and Callan strode in, giving me a small salute. He joined Ingrid and Tyr in the assigned space.
The door had barely closed when it opened again.
Someone under the cover of a long, flowing cloth walked in, trailed by a bevy of attendants. With a start, I realized the small people surrounding the figure, also covered in capes, were dark elves.
The shrouded person had to be Invaldi.
Once the dark elf leader was situated in a seat off to the side, his fledglings scurried out of the room, but not without more than a few of them snarling at me.
I crossed my arms, pinning my gaze on the polished wood in front of me. I wanted this trial to hurry up and be over with.
There was a commotion in the balcony above me. I spotted Vali. He clearly didn’t care who he was inconveniencing. He chose two seats near the railing, which had already been occupied. The people had no choice but to vacate their positions and find new ones.
He wasn’t wearing the crown, and I was relieved, but I was touched that he had shown up. Judging by the low murmuring from the crowd, it was clear he didn’t get out very often.
“Psst,” Ingrid said from my right. “It won’t be long now. How are you faring?”
“About as well as can be expected.” I adjusted myself so I faced her.
Tyr held up something covered in white cloth. I sat up a little straighter, immediately sensing Gundren inside. Tyr had brought my weapon to the trial, and I was grateful.
A side door opened, one that I hadn’t noticed before, and the guards led someone inside.
Fen!
I wanted to jump up and go to him, but I knew that would be frowned upon, so I stayed where I was.
They led him into the same area where Ingrid and Tyr sat. Were they going to let him testify for me? Once he took a seat, the guards stepped back against the wall.
“It won’t be long now, shieldmaiden.” He gave me a smile, his eyes gleaming.
He was right about that. “Are they going to let you stand up for me?”
“They made no promises,” he replied. “I will be heard directly after your sentencing is complete.”
“So they’re streamlining the trials, huh?”
“It seems that way.” He nodded.
It had been hard to be separated. “I have so much to tell you,” I said.
“I look forward to hearing it.” A lock of his hair fell in front of his eye, and I itched to touch it.
“Did you see my mother?”
“No,” he said. “Although, I was able to gain some useful information.”
I wanted to ask what it was, but the main door opened once more, and a stream of beautifully dressed men and women paraded in. They looked decidedly different than the regular Asgardian people.
These were the gods and the goddesses, coming to witness my demise.
I examined them curiously.
Some met my eyes, others kept their heads down. They were all dressed in finery, the women in light-colored silk dresses, the men in breeches and tunics of fine cloth. They had elaborate hairstyles, some with braids, most with curls. I had no idea what any of their names were. They filed in silently and filled up the space available behind me.
I faced front, not knowing what else to do.
Lucky for me, I didn’t have long to wait, because the door behind Odin’s throne opened. I held my breath. Frigg walked out first, dressed in a glimmering white gown, a crown of laurels perched on her head. She was followed by my father, and I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I saw him. I knew instinctively that Frigg would harm me if she could. He would keep her in check.
They both took their seats. The entire space had become deathly quiet.
The trial was about to begin, whether I was ready or not.
“State your name.” Frigg’s voice rang out, strong and sure.
“Phoebe Meadows.” My back was ramrod straight. I wasn’t going to let Frigg see my fear.
“You are facing trial because you killed my son,” Frigg accused. She wasn’t going to beat around the bush.
“I didn’t—”
“You will not speak unless I deem it so!” She leaped up from her throne, shaking her finger at me. “You do not know our ways, but that is no excuse. Unless you are addressed directly, and asked to reply, you do not open your mouth. If you do, you will experience my wrath firsthand.” She was daring me to push back. I kept my mouth shut. I heard a faint growl over my right shoulder and prayed that Fen would keep it together. Frigg sat back down, smoothing her dress. “Let me begin again. You are here, facing trial, because you murdered my son. Because of this, I, and I alone, have full jurisdiction to sentence and punish you however I deem fit.”
My eyes met my father’s for a single, brief moment. I saw compassion there, but also resignation. Even though I felt he loved me, there was nothing he could do.
I had one mission today. The only thing I had to accomplish before I was exiled by Frigg was too convince her that bringing her son back was an option and, if we were successful, that Fen and I were to be pardoned.
My words would have to resonate.
“I call Invaldi, leader of the dark elves, to stand as testament to your crimes,” Frigg announced, taking me by surprise.
By the crowd’s reaction, this was an unprecedented move.
Fen’s trial was the only one I had to go on, but I assumed most people were allowed to have witnesses speak for them before folks spoke against them.
As Invaldi made his way to my side, my brother objected. “This is highly unusual,” Tyr argued. “The court’s responsibility is to see both sides fairly, not just one.”
Frigg spared my brother little of her rage. “You’ve been gone from this realm for a long time, God of War. Are you trying to accuse a goddess of the high court of unfair play? Or how to run my trial? You will stay silent or be ejected from this courtroom. Do you understand?”
Tyr gave Frigg a tight nod. At least he tried.
Murmurs from the balconies reached a fever pitch as Invaldi strode to the center, stopping not three feet from me. He lifted the cloth from his face. This room had no direct sunlight that I was aware of, so he was likely safe.
He was just as ugly as I remembered, even worse this close. He had only a few wisps of mud-colored hair, warts dotted his face, and his upturned nose was decidedly piglike and fitting. His eyes were a murky black, the yellow around them making him look jaundiced and unhealthy. He wasn’t more than five feet tall, and that was being generous.
“You will quiet down!” Frigg bellowed to the crowd. When they simmered, she clasped her hands and glanced at Invaldi. “Did this girl enter your realm without permission?”
Very quietly, my father cleared his throat. “She is a Valkyrie and will be referred to as such during this hearing.” That wasn’t a request.
Frigg didn’t acknowledge Odin, but she rephrased her sentence. “Did this…Valkyrie”—her tone reflected disgust—“enter your realm without permission?”
“She did,” Invaldi replied, his voice unpleasantly high and squeaky. I refused to look at him as he spoke. “The damage she caused to my realm was astounding. She ruined priceless magical equipment with her swords—”
“Yes, yes, we know that.” Frigg waved her hand in dismissal. “While she was in your realm, did she have any contact with the god of light?”
“She did,” Invaldi said, sneering in my direction. “I saw her kill him with my own eyes.”