But something has to be done. Right now. I lay a careful hand on her shoulder.
“Thyra,” I whisper.
She shoots up. Standing straight. Rigid.
Her eyes are still closed, her hands still gripping something tight.
“Are you okay?”
Still no reaction. What kind of twisted joke is this? Is she cursed?
I touch her shoulder again, shaking her lightly. She’s rigid as a rock, towering over me. My instincts tell me to run. Head for the hills and never look back.
She’s gripping so tight that her knuckles are white. What is she holding? It could be an enchanted item, keeping her frozen. If I help her, surely she will return the favor.
I touch her fingers, keeping my eyes on her face. She doesn’t move a muscle, no reaction to my presence whatsoever. I pry one of her fingers backward, then another, gripping them firmly to break her clutching hand.
As it opens. I see what’s inside.
“By all the gods,” I whisper.
Three bone pieces. Perfectly cut. Each one with a rune carved into it.
Triple Thurisaz.
What the fuck…
“No, but…”
Thyra’s head turns to me. Her eyes snap open, but it’s not her. The sky-blue of her irises is covered by her black pupils. Hereyes stare at me as a wide smile spreads on her face. She releases a low rumbling laugh.
“There she is,” she whispers. “The slut.”
“Wha… What?”
“It’s been a while. There’s more to do.”
I stumble backward. Terrified by Thyra’s blank stare. She doesn’t talk like this. All the insults she has flung at me have been eloquent. But calling me a slut? It brings back a memory…
It dawns on me. When I touched the hammer. The vision. The old Volva with the covered eyes. The guts. The stench of blood and bile. She called me a slut. Why me? Why always fucking me?
“Who… who are you?” I whisper.
“Me? Thyra. Are you blind, child?”
Even in her trance-like state, Thyra’s voice carries venomous sarcasm.
“Leave now!” I shout. “Leave Thyra’s body!”
Shivers run through my spine. These waters are too deep for me. This Volva is on Ylvin’s level, if not way above. Thyra’s body turns to mine.
“I will leave, but not without giving you a parting gift.”
“What? But how?—”
“Farewell, little slut. Enjoy.”
A vicious smile invades Thyra’s face. From ear to ear. Her eyes stare blankly into the air for a few seconds. Like she isn’t present.
