AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I take your point.”
“So, when this whole Frost Giant showdown blows over, go to the Red Witch in her ice castle, plant the seeds and make your wish,” Ere instructed.
She regarded him with equal parts gratitude and suspicion.
“Why are you willing to forsake your quest to help a stranger? Why not keep the wishes for yourself?”
He gave her a haughty look.
“First of all, you’re no longer a stranger. You’re my brother’s woman. Practically my sister-in-law.”
Her brow wrinkled at his words, though she gleaned his meaning.
He looked her up and down assessingly.
“You’d fit right into my ever-expanding family, actually. You remind me of the badassery of my girl crush Aella and the implacability of Rui. I feel rather honored to claim a Valkyrie amongst my acquaintances. That flying horse of yours would come in handy in a pinch.”
“Nightmare?” she asked. “Yes, he is the best of steeds. I have wings too, if you must know. But I only unfurl them in battle.”
Ere arched a sleek black brow.
“You don’t use them in bed?”
Eir looked back at him quizzically.
“There is no need for wings in mating.”
He shook his head at her.
“Oh, poor little Valkyrie. You’re totally missing out. If there’s nothing to prevent it, try materializing your wings in bed tonight. Kai is guaranteed to love your wings.”
Before she could formulate a response, he gave her a sly grin.
“Now, where was I? Oh yes, why not keep the wishes myself. Well, the most important reason is that I already have everything I want. I have Sorin.”
They both looked over at the godly golden warrior in question.
Eir had no argument there.
“There’s nothing else I could wish for that would make me happier,” Ere continued softly. “Fulfilling my quest means bringing back the Wish of Wonders to a god I’ve never personally met and don’t really know. I don’t know what he intends to do with it. Good or bad. The only incentive is to reduce my debt. But, oh well, I’m sure there are more quests to be had.”
He gave her a wry smile.
“Truth to tell, I don’t mind these adventures as much as I did in the beginning. On every journey Sorin and I have made new friends. And this one, in particular, reunited me with Kai. I can’t complain.”
“Is it possible that more than one seed will grow into a wish tree?” Eir inquired, indulging in a bit of speculation for the moment.
She knew it might all be hogwash, but…she of all people knew for certain that there was unimaginable magic in this world. Why not a wishing tree from blessed appleseeds?
Ere gave a one-shouldered shrug.
“Why not?” he said, inadvertently echoing her thoughts. “But only one can be granted to the person who plants the seed, or so the stories go.”
“You will not come with me to plant them?”
“I suspect that the moment we defeat the Frost Giant is the moment our time in this realm will be up. There’s an arbitrary sandglass that marks the passing of time, and though I can’t see it, I feel it. The end of our visit to this place is near.”
Yes, Eir felt it too. Only three nights and two days more.
