15
__________________________
____________
After I closed my mouth, I stammered, “Are…are you serious? I didn’t kill Baldur. Verdandi—”
“Enough!” I hadn’t expected Frigg to be able to reach that high of a decibel. My eardrums ached. “You continue to flaunt our laws, even though you’ve been warned.” Frigg turned to Odin. “I request to be allowed to sentence this insolent whelp immediately. I’ve heard all I need to on the matter. I need not suffer through more.”
Invaldi leered at me, snorting through his nose.
I braced myself for bad news.
“All will be heard, just as our laws decree,” Odin said. “You may continue with your questions.”
Frigg looked as though she was about to pop, but didn’t argue. Instead, she flashed a searing gaze down on Invaldi. It was clear she thought the dark elf was beneath her, and the fact that she had to keep questioning him was beyond hardship. My guilt was a foregone conclusion. “How did this Valkyrie,” she snipped, “kill my beloved son?”
I crossed my arms and glanced at Invaldi. This I had to hear.
Invaldi hadn’t been anywhere near us when Verdandi threw the fatal dart. He had likely still been out cold after the magical blast I’d given him with Gundren.
The dark elf leader drew up to his full height and puffed out his chest. “She embedded her sword deep within his chest as she called up her filthy magic, killing him in a blast of light before the poor god had a chance to defend himself!”
Invaldi couldn’t be serious.
The audience began to chatter.
Frigg had to know how her son died. It was inconceivable that she didn’t.
Invaldi snickered. He knew as well as I did that he was lying. Frigg was about to speak when Odin cleared his throat. Her face said it all. She did not appreciate the interruption, but she inclined her head, allowing the leader of gods the floor.
Odin set a blistering gaze on Invaldi, who visibly cowered under the scrutiny. “You’ve just testified in my courtroom that my daughter damaged things that belonged to you,” Odin said. “Is that correct?”
“Yes, it is,” Invaldi said in a puzzled tone.
We were all puzzled.
No one had expected Odin’s questioning to start there. Invaldi had just lied openly in court about my killing his son Baldur.
“What damages do you seek?”
Invaldi leered at me. “She will never be able to repay it in all her years, so the damage I seek is her. She will return to my realm and work off her payment indefinitely.” His tongue slithered out of his mouth as he licked his lips at the prospect of me back in Svartalfheim.
I retched in my throat, hot bile bubbling up.
My father’s voice was the only grounding force in the room. “Because she is my child, she holds vast riches,” he stated matter-of-factly. I glanced up, startled. I did? “She is new to our ways, so I will make this exception only once. Name your price, and I will see it paid.” He gave a significant pause. Then ended with, “In solid gold.”
Invaldi seemed confused, unsure what to do.
I watched as emotions warred over his repugnant face. Greed, anger, pride, greed again. Finally, he straightened and answered, “Thirty caskets.”
Thirty caskets of solid gold?
There was no way I had that much!
My gaze darted to my father, who looked unfazed by the amount—in fact, he appeared bored. Frigg, on the other hand, was one match away from exploding, barely holding herself back. Her face had become bright red. It was clear she wanted to tell my father off, but she couldn’t. Odin’s word was final, just as he’d told me.
“The price you ask is unheard of.” Odin remained calm. “I have paid such a bounty for unparalleled weapons, forged only for me.”
Invaldi gave a hollow laugh, fooling no one. “Perhaps I overspoke. The correct amount for the damages rendered would be seventeen caskets.” He nodded once. “Yes, that’s the correct number.”
My father leaned forward, placing his hands on the edge of the wall, his face grim. “I will give you twenty caskets, and in return, you release my giant to me. I will not haggle with you. Accept the offer or not.”
My father had to be talking about Junnal!
He was making a deal to free my friend. My heart sang with joy.
I darted a grimace at Invaldi, giving him the what-for face. He would be crazy not to take the deal. My father had offered him three more caskets than he’d asked for.
Invaldi bowed his head. “I accept.”
The relief was overwhelming. Junnal would go free, and I wasn’t going to Svartalfheim.
The noise that issued out of Frigg’s mouth, a cross between a cough and a rage gurgle, almost made me chortle out loud.
Things were not going as planned for the goddess.
“There is one more matter to discuss,” Odin addressed Invaldi. “My son was not killed by Gundren. My daughter wields my former weapon with my blessing. The swords do not lie. Do you care to tell the court how Baldur truly died?” His expression was harsh. Everyone could see the power churning beneath his gaze.
Invaldi saw it, too.
“Of course he was not killed by Gundren,” Invaldi stammered. “He…he was killed by that.” He gestured to the broadsword I wore at my waist. “That was the weapon that killed him!”
I was saved from responding to his inanity by Ingrid, who snorted loudly. “You mean that broadsword Phoebe just got out of the Stronghold yesterday? It was nowhere near Svartalfheim.”
Before Frigg could hurl an admonishment at my aunt, Odin calmly rose and addressed me. “Were you wearing Gundren or the broadsword during your time in the dark elf’s realm?”
“Gundren.”
Murmurs and comments erupted behind me. Even the stately gods and goddesses couldn’t help talking amongst themselves.
My father pierced Invaldi with another searing look. The dark elf was beginning to sweat. Glistening droplets slid down his blotchy face. It was clear Invaldi wasn’t used to being interrogated by a god. “Then I…I must be mistaken,” Invaldi sputtered. “But I saw what I saw.” He pointed directly at me. “She killed the god of light! I swear to it!”
Frigg didn’t need to hear anymore. She rose, her hands clasped in front of her. “Thank you. You are excused, dark elf leader,” she announced. “I have heard all that I require from you.” She inclined her head, a glower on her face. “God of War, step forward.”
Tyr came out and took his place next to me.
I beamed up at my brother. He carried Gundren casually under one arm, still wrapped in cloth. It took everything I had not to reach out and touch it.
“Were you in Svartalfheim with this Valkyrie?” Frigg asked.
“Aye, I was.” Tyr inclined his head. “I arrived just in time to see the Norn Verdandi launch a dart of mistletoe aimed for my brother’s heart.” Tyr’s cadence never wavered. “Her aim was true.”
“I didn’t ask you if you witnessed my son’s death!” Frigg accused, her voice becoming ragged.
“You asked if I was in Svartalfheim,” Tyr said. “Indeed, I was, but only to see Baldur’s death at the hands of the Norn, nothing more.”
“So you freely admit that this Valkyrie freed my son and was trying to take him out of the realm when you arrived,” Frigg said.
“I admit to nothing of the kind,” Tyr replied smoothly. “The only thing I witnessed was the end of my brother’s life. To comment on anything else would be speculation, as I was not within the mountain at all. But I will vouch that my brother Baldur was in happy spirits when I last saw him and, in the end, accepted his fate willingly.”
“That is all.” Frigg’s tone was ice. “You are excused.” Before Tyr left, he leaned down and set Gundren at my feet. As he walked away, Frigg called, “What do you think you’re doing?”
He casually glanced over his shoulder. “I am giving my sister her chosen weapon. I was keeping it for her until the people of Asgard knew it was hers. You would not rob a Valkyrie of her rightful weapon, would you?”
Frigg clearly wanted to tell Tyr he could take the swords and shove them. Instead, she ignored him and said, “The next patron will step forward.”
Ingrid strode out, her head held high. She stopped within a few inches of my chair.
“What say you, Valkyrie?” Frigg said.
“I stand before the court today to vouch for my niece, Phoebe Meadows,” Ingrid announced. “She acted with no malice and did not throw the fatal dart that killed the god of light.” Ingrid was playing to the crowd, and she was good at it. “We were hijacked by the Norns. If you want to blame someone, blame Verdandi.”
“Did your niece free my son from the confines of his cell?” Frigg asked.
Ingrid paused. The murmurs inside the courtroom increased as they waited for her response. “She did, but—”
“That is all.” Frigg held up her hand. “You are excused.”
Ingrid refused to move. “You will hear my entire statement,” she argued. “It is my right. Phoebe did what she did at Baldur’s request—”
“How dare you claim to know what my son wanted?” Frigg exclaimed furiously. “Were you present at the time your niece opened his cell door?”
“No. But I trust Phoebe—”
“You are excused.”
Ingrid leaned over and whispered, “Sorry, kid, I tried.”
I nodded. Everyone in the entire room knew I wasn’t getting out of here without punishment.
In a bold move, I raised my hand. It was now or never.
My father’s expression changed by the smallest degree. Frigg was too shocked to react. Odin boomed, “Do you wish to state your case yourself? If you do so, you waive the right to hear from the rest of those who would stand witness for you in this courtroom.”
I glanced over my shoulder. Only Callan remained. Frigg wouldn’t take him seriously anyway. “I do,” I said. “I wish to address my comments directly to Frigg.”
“Very well,” Odin said. “May the court reflect that this Valkyrie has chosen to represent herself. You may speak freely.”
I swallowed.
This wasn’t going to be easy, but I knew it would be the only chance I had to say my piece and try to save Fen’s life and my own. “I admit to freeing Baldur,” I started. Gasps and snickering erupted around the room. “But I did not kill him, nor did I intend to. That was done by the Norn Verdandi, which has already been qualified here. I feel no need to reiterate that fact.” I tried not to fidget. “I had only just met my half brother. But from our short time together, I found him to be kind, jovial, sweet, and good-natured. His loss hit me deeply.” I pinned my gaze on my lap. “For my role in his death, I take my punishment willingly.” I forced my eyes upward to meet those of the goddess who opposed me. “But I have recently been given news regarding Baldur’s life. There is a chance that I may be able to save him.” I hurried to get everything out before I could be interrupted. “And I would ask the court that if I am successful, and we return Baldur to Asgard, both Fen and I be pardoned.”
“How dare you speak such lies?” Frigg leaped out of her seat, raging. “My son is dead! He is unable to return. It will be my greatest pleasure to send you to Helheim to receive the same fate! It is the only thing you deserve.”
Before I could clarify, Odin intervened. “The god of light’s prophecy is complicated.” He directed his comments to Frigg. “There is a chance this Valkyrie is telling the truth. We should consider what she’s offering.”
“If that Valkyrie is successful,” Frigg spat scornfully, “which she won’t be, I will happily give her a full pardon. My son is more important to me than anything else in all the realms. But what she talks is nonsense.”
“And Fenrir,” I added quickly. “I must have your word that we will both be pardoned.”
“You must have?” She leaned over the wall, her crown of laurels teetering on her head. “You don’t deserve my word,” Frigg said. “I give it to gods, not lessers.” She addressed my father. “If she is successful, I will suspend her and the wolf’s exile.”
Odin gazed down on me, his face giving nothing away. “If you free the god of light, all will be forgiven, as you will have undone something that no other has accomplished before.”
“And if you fail,” Frigg added, “you will never see the light of day again.”
“I will not fail,” I answered quietly.
“You are arrogant to think you can achieve such a thing,” Frigg snarled. “To give me false hope, sitting there like you are some kind of queen! It’s an insult, and I won’t stand for it any longer. You have admitted your guilt to this court, which gives me all I need to convict you of the crime.” She pointed her finger at me. “Phoebe Meadows, I hereby sentence you to exile in Helheim, to return only if you free my son, the god of light. Effective immediately.”
Surprisingly, light shot out of her hand, hitting me squarely in the chest.
The chair upended, and I was tossed backward. I barely registered the screams and frantic cries erupting around me. It was obvious that this wasn’t a typical way to carry out a sentence, that Frigg had overstepped her bounds, her grief leading her astray. I’d already said my goodbyes, anticipating a quick exit, but not this quick.
I glanced up from my position on the floor to see Odin level his spear at me.
Another light crashed into me.
My body felt like it was floating. I couldn’t see anything. Frigg’s cries of anger wafted around me.
I was fading fast.
In my haze, I could make out only one sound.
Fen.
“Reach for Gundren!” he yelled. “Take your weapon. I will follow shortly.”