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Mist considered her in silence as they rode side by side. Eir could feel the other woman’s scrutiny.
If the Valkyrie decided to sound the alarm with Odin or others, she wouldn’t blame her. They’d all had to reign in mavericks in the past. And Eir was definitely veering off the well-trodden path.
Finally, Mist said, “If you fight for this village, then so shall we all. When do you anticipate the great battle to occur?”
Eir had to blink hard a few times before she could reply, hardly believing her ears.
“Eight more days,” she said faintly.
Mist nodded, giving her a sharp salute.
“I’ll round up the others and meet you at dawn on the eighth day. Look to the east. We will be with you, sister.”
“Mist…” she whispered, not knowing what else to say to convey her gratitude and elation.
The other woman smiled mischievously.
“’Twill be a stupendous battle, to be sure. Even the gods of Asgard have failed to conquer the jötnar. I can hardly wait.”
“I…”
“Make the best use of the time between now and then, sister,” Mist interjected before Eir could form more words.
“’Twould be such a shame to let those bountiful buttocks go to waste.”
She laughed as Eir tried to swat her for the teasing, rearing her steed and leaping straight into mid-flight as the horse’s wings materialized and unfurled.
Eir looked up into the gray skies after Mist’s departing form.
Thank you, she thought.For everything.
Most of all, for helping her realize what she needed to do.
~ * ~* ~ *~ * ~* ~ *~ * ~
“I know where the Red Witch dwells,” Ere said, joining Sorin and Kai in their corner of the longhouse after another long day’s work.
“The elder found a map that was left to him by his ancestors. It jives with what I’ve heard from others’ stories as well. Remember the human couple in the trolls’ cavern?”
Kai simply looked at him in answer.
The male loved to gab, but Kai had long since understood that it didn’t matter whether no one else participated in the conversation. He seemed content to listen to the sound of his own voice.
Ere went on as if he got the reaction from his listeners that he’d been aiming for all along.
“From here, it will take two days to get to her ice castle and two days to come back. If we leave tomorrow, we’d be back before the Frost Giant is prophesized to descend from his lair.”
“I will not take the risk,” Kai inserted stoutly.
“You and Sorin can seek the witch. I will stay.”
“Pfft,” Ere admonished immediately.
“We’re not leaving you to fend for yourself. Don’t even mention it as an option. If we go, we go together. If you insist on doing this, then we will see you through the battle, then continue to the Red Witch.”
Kai didn’t point out that odds were he wouldn’t survive the battle. No need to stir up his brother’s umbrage and enter into a pointless argument.
Regardless of Ere’s quest, Kai was only ever sent to earth for one reason: to fight and die. Whether it was the Red Witch or the Frost Giant, or some other battle yet unforeseen, his fate was always the same.
