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Váli's stare turned curious as it passed over William and the twins. When his eyes landed on Kal, they lingered, kindling a spark of jealousy within me. I wrapped a possessive arm around my mate.
"This is Kal, my chosen mate," I introduced. Then I gestured to our children. "Our sons Thor and Loki, and this here is Kal's father, William." I said finally gesturing toward Kal's father. I noted the portal inside of the tent. It was linked to the one I created back in Sahara!
I wanted to ask more about it. Who had built it? The only two with any experience constructing a portal would be Jarnsaxa and Svein. Svein was my assistant during my research. He would have traveled through the portal with me into the human realm but I thought it was safer for him to remain in Utangard encasesomething went wrong. Of course, something did go wrong. Horribly wrong.
Váli simply grunted after my introductions, his expression unreadable. I longed to inquire after my kin, but sensed this was not the time. A tense urgency permeated the soldiers in the tent. I could even see it on Váli’s features. This was far from a happy reunion.
“What’s going on?”
"Walk with me, we have much to discuss," Váli said brusquely before turning on his heel. The soldiers moved to block Kal's path as I followed.
. "They will come," I insisted, firmly, refusing to be separated from my family.
Váli's smooth features creased in displeasure, but he relented with a curt nod.
I followed Váli out of the tent with Kal and the children close behind me. Stepping into the daylight, I saw we were in a sprawling military encampment nestled at the base of the mountains. Soldiers milled about preparing for the day's duties, some gathered around campfires eating breakfast. The teal and gold banners emblazoned with the Yggdrasil insignia of our Esmian royal family fluttered proudly in the crisp morning air.
I took in the familiar sights and sounds that permeated the camp, a wave of nostalgia washing over me when I noticed the mountains in the distance in the shape of a trident. I couldsee the darkness in the skies beyond the mountains where the Dökkálfar live. We had to be in the east near the Dökkálfar’s border. I turned to Váli as we walked between the orderly rows of tents. "Is the situation so dire that we must camp near the dark forest?" I asked, brow furrowed. “Why was a portal all the way out here?”
Váli’s youthful features were drawn and serious. “The Dökkálfar are not allies, but they will not attack us so long as we do not wage war across their border. You do not need to worry about them. Save your questions for a more secluded location.”
As we passed tents clustered tightly together, I glimpsed warriors cleaning weapons and armorers hammering out dents in breastplates in preparation for battle.
We entered the main tent and Váli made it clear that this was as far as Kal, William, and the children were allowed to go. I unhooked my harness, turning to Kal and assuring him that I wouldn’t be far. I followed Váli through the main tent and out back toward his private tent.
“Is all of this necessary?” I huffed growing anxious and weary.
“This secrecy is not about your mate. I do not want the men to hear our discussion. We have spies here. Right now I’m feeding them misinformation but such an endeavor comes with draw backs, every once in a while they get a victory too, and your return is the victory they need, but it is also ours.”
“What are you talking about?”
Váli offered me ale before speaking. "Until about four years ago, we had all thought you and your party were dead until Jarnsaxa and a handful of the expedition members returned accompanied by these dwarves who call themselves humans.”
“Did they come through the portal here?” I asked referring to the portal in the other tent. “Did Svein build it?”
“Svein did build it, but they didn’t come here through that portal, they landed in Álfheimr.”
“What about the portal I had built back home? If you can link portals now then why not link us to one that was already created, not to mention safer?”
“Destroyed when you used it. From our end, it seemed as if you all were blown to pieces. Many of the spectators were injured, though everyone survived. Half of your castle was destroyed in the blast. When we cleared away the rubble, the portal was in ruins. We held a funeral for you and the expedition party and the King banned the construction of another. And then after three centuries, they return to us. The King lifted the ban and ordered Svein to continue your research, but it was not too long after that King Falka attacked. Construction was halted for a while, but once Radorgirn became King he ordered Svein to continue.”
“Became king…where is my father?” I asked, dread creeping up. “I want to speak to Radorgirn!”
Váli's solemn face gave me my answer. "Your brother was gravely injured fighting that whoreson Falka. Your father and mother are MIA. Radorgirn became king as a result. Though hemay not hold the throne much longer. We had to construct the portal on the run while sending scouts all over Utangard in case you entered somewhere else. He finished it a year ago. We’ve been transporting it with us hoping you would return.”
“You should have sent someone for me. I would have returned sooner!”
“We did but something terrible happened. The portal spat our scouts back out in pieces within seconds of their departure. We had almost shut it down when a rodent from the human world slipped through. On the off chance that it was safe to still come through from the human realm, we left it on while Svein discovered a way to fix the issue. Unfortunately, he was captured by Undvik’s forces before he could solve the problem. We had no choice but to cross our fingers that if you decided to use your portal in the human world, you would return to us safely. But there is no way you should try to go back through.”
“Why did Falka attack? Our family had ruled Esmia since time immemorial. My father had very few enemies, almost everyone loved him.” I didn’t know much about Falka other than he ruled the land of Undvik, a cluster of islands in the northwest that aren’t much of note.
“He claims your father was supposed to uplift Undvik. I supposed he decided to uplift himself by waging war.”
"What of Eldgrim and Skadi? If Rado…dies…then…" I asked of my older siblings. Skadi was my sister and second born. She would be the one chosen to rule now. Eldgrim was the third after her.
"Scattered by the winds of war. But there is still hope..." Váli lowered his voice. "The clans remain loyal to your line. If you claim the crown, they will rally to you."
“What the hell are you talking about? I’m the youngest! Where the hell is my family?!” I demanded.
