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All eyes turned to the earth dragon in human form.
“His thing?” the elder asked.
Kai grunted and crossed his arms over his massive chest, his scarred, tattooed face setting in a ferocious scowl.
Eir knew him enough by now to know that the look was not worn for intimidation. Rather, Kai was abashed. He didn’t like to be the center of attention, the hero upon which so many hopes lay.
“I will take him on my steed,” she explained, speaking for him.
“We will fly well ahead of the others to set the trap. Kai will use his powers when we are close enough, and when the target is in range, to cause avalanches on both sides. The snow and ice won’t keep the jötunn down. He commands them, after all. But the boulders beneath might stun him as they fall.”
“At that point, our first line will have arrived,” the chieftain continued where Eir left off. “We will aim the long spears at his eyes. But, for a monster of that size, surely they will only be pinpricks to him. Even if we manage to blind him, our weapons will not be able to kill him.”
“It is not for you to kill him,” Kai finally spoke.
“Only my dragon fire can take him down.”
“We hope,” Ere muttered.
Kai shot him a toothy grin.
“If fire bombs don’t work, I have more primitive ways. My claws, tail, wings and teeth. Ripping his throat out and disemboweling him should do the trick.”
No one else seemed to find the description amusing. But Eir caught Kai’s eyes and gave him a subtle nod.
She understood his morbid anticipation. His macabre delight. They both loved a good fight. The stronger and tougher the opponent, the sweeter the victory.
“If things look grim, you should leave for the forest with the rest of the militia,” Eir told the chief.
“My Valkyries and I will hold the line.”
The man shook his thick-maned and bearded head.
“Nay. This is our home, and we will defend it. This is not your battle, though we are humbled by your support. You have our deepest gratitude. We will stand beside you to the last.”
Here was a warrior fit for Valhalla, Eir thought, assessing the chief briskly. But, for the first time, she wished for him to live. All of these villagers amongst whom she’d been living for the past days—she wished for all of them to survive andlive.
They made more plans and preparations well into the evening. Eir operated by rote. She was a natural military leader, and this was a straightforward campaign.
Her mind, though, kept wandering.
If she no longer looked for soldiers to recruit for Odin’s Valhalla, then she was no longer a Death Dealer. Was she not a Valkyrie, then? And if not, then what was she?
Whowas she?
What would become of her after this? After she lost Kai one way or the other?
She could not imagine going back to the way things were before. Unfeeling. Nonchalant about life and death.
How would she live after this? When the very beat of her heart was gone?
“Look at me, my Eir,” Kai murmured in the solemn quiet of their hayloft later that night.
“Bewith me. Your thoughts have taken you far away. Come back.”
She looked down at him, lying hot and hard beneath her, their bodies joined intimately as always. Whenever she had the chance for that exquisite connection, she took it.
And when their eyes met, Eir’s doubts and fears subsided. Just like that.
