***
It was a long time later that Fehin finally came to grips with this new reality. After showing him the devastation Gunnar took him back to Far Isle where he found his mother and Kafir, their faces wet with tears. It had happened suddenly, his mother told him, taking him in her arms.
“One minute we were planting and the next it was as though the winds of hell moved across the island. Gunnar saved the two of us but I don’t know what happened to the rest of them.”
“Aki?”
Kafir shook his head.
“Why didn’t someone warn me? No one ever said I wasn’t allowed to kill that bastard. He made my life a living hell. He was about to hurt Airy.”
“We didn’t know anything about it,” Kafir answered, taking hold of Fehin’s shoulder. “Are you saying this is because of Wolf?”
“That’s what Gunnar told me,” Fehin answered turning to corroborate this with the druid. But Gunnar was gone. “What do I do now? I have no way to get back there. And Wolf’s body is long gone, burned up in a crematorium I’m sure. What about S
kidbladnir
?”
“Destroyed with the rest of it,” Kafir said, his eyes glazed with tears. If Gunnar thinks it’s possible then he’s the one to help you.”
Fehin grimaced, his hands turning into fists. “Gunnar despises me. I’d be better off asking Loki.”
Gertrude brightened. “That’s a good idea, Fehin. Loki loves you.”
Fehin turned toward his mother. She looked older, as though the ordeal had sucked some of her life force away. He hugged her hard and then pulled back, holding her gaze. “I’ll do whatever I can to re-create a home for you. I’m so sorry.”
Gertrude grabbed his hand. “It isn’t your fault, Fehin. You had another destiny. What’s happened with that?”
“I left Airy alone without telling her where I was going. We haven’t yet figured out what we’re supposed to be doing—my magic just returned.”
“You look so different—bigger, more grown up,” his mother said, trying to smile. “You’ve been through so much,” she continued placing her hand on his cheek. “Gunnar said he’d lost touch with you, that he couldn’t reach you through the ether.”
Fehin stared at her. Gunnar, the man who moved through time, couldn’t reach him? “Bullshit. He’s a liar. He set me up. Wolf was on
Skidbladnir
when we entered Boston harbor.”
“What?” Kafir’s eyes went wide with shock.
“I probed his mind. Gunnar knew all about his little stowaway—told me Wolf was part of my destiny. Wolf nearly killed us, Kafir. The man was a monster. Why in Loki’s name would I have to resurrect him?”
Kafir frowned and then gazed into the distance. “Gunnar’s playing games. He’s done it before.”
“Why? What does he want from me?”
Kafir shook his head. “It could be anything. Go see Loki, maybe he’ll have an answer.”
Before leaving, Fehin waved his hands in the air, producing a small house for the two of them. It was very much like where he’d left Airy, he thought, hopelessness settling into him. She must be frantic by now. “This will have to do until we can round up survivors and start anew. Wait here until I get back,” he added, jogging toward the forest.
***
“It was not I nor was it Odin who caused this chaos. As for Gunnar, I’ve never liked that meddling druid.”
“So what he told me isn’t true?”
The god scrunched his eyebrows. “Of course it isn’t true. I wouldn’t destroy Thule. Wolf’s death will not be mourned by me nor any other gods or goddesses.”
Fehin gazed around the throne room where he’d been ushered by the guards. Everything was the same as it had always been and the familiarity of the pale marble columns, the bright jewels embedded in the ceiling, the sumptuous red and gold cushions on the floor and the enormous logs burning in the wide stone fireplace were somehow comforting.
He turned his attention back to Loki. “What do you think happened to Thule?”
Loki’s eyebrows came together and then he asked, “Did you say you lost your magic?”
“Yes.”
“That could be why Thule was destroyed. As you know from my dealings with your mother, the past affects the future. As to Wolf I will have to consult the Norns, but as I said, I can only see his death as positive. What I wonder is who released him from Svartalfheim?”
“He never said. Would Gunnar have that kind of power?”
“Perhaps,” Loki said, pushing a hand through his thick hair. “I will travel to Asgard and find out the truth. In the meantime Aki is at your disposal.”
Something heavy lifted from Fehin’s heart. “He’s alive?”
“He and his mate and their offspring arrived here before it began. He must have known what was coming.”
47
Airy woke shivering and wet. The cabin was gone with no hint that it had ever been there. Apparently it had been drizzling for quite a while since her nightshirt was soaked through. At least the two packs were beside her, but how she could carry both of them and all the camping gear she didn’t know. She remembered climbing into the comfortable bed and pulling the covers over her. When she fell into a fitful sleep she was sure he’d reappear with some fantastical story to tell her. And then they would make love and everything would be fine. But it was morning now, and this…she looked around…this was not good. She quickly pulled off her nightshirt and found dry clothes.
When her cell phone rang she jumped, her first thought going to Fehin. But Fehin no longer had a phone. It was Carla. After Airy explained the situation there was a long pause.
“Take a bus back to Terra Haute,” Carla finally instructed. “I spoke with Susan and she’s picking the car up from impound this morning.”
“What if they don’t let her have it?”
“I’ve told the police she’s coming and proven to them that it belongs to me.”
“And the title?”
“It isn’t signed, is it?”
“I never looked at it, so I guess not.”
“Good. This absence you mentioned, do you think Fehin is still in our world?”
“If he were here I’d know. I’m pretty sure Gunnar took him to the future, which means something terrible must have happened. Fehin would never leave me like that.”
“Please heed what I said, Airy. The idea of you hitchhiking by yourself gives me the heebie jeebies.”
Airy didn’t question what that term meant; the words made her feel like bugs were crawling all over her. “I’ll do it but I need to find a bus station.”
“Your smartphone has GPS—just type in Greyhound in Champaign, Illinois. It’ll give you walking instructions. Will you call to let me know what happens?”
“If my phone hasn’t run out of battery by then.”
When she hung up Airy felt more alone than ever. Without Fehin the bridge was a moot point. She moved further under the trees and then typed in Greyhound and Champaign, Ill. The information she received said it would take her a half hour to walk there. Dragging all this stuff along would probably take even longer than that. Sighing, she arranged one pack on her back and then dragged all the rest of it behind her and trudged toward town.
On the bus Airy placed her hands on her middle. Fehin’s absence was an aching void, a wound that hurt every time she took a breath. Tears trickled down her cheeks and she turned to stare out the window. She closed her eyes, her heart reaching out, searching through the ether. Where was he? Her ring finger hurt and when she looked down the moonstone was burning hot and full of light, glowing like a little moon. She took it off and held it in her hand feeling a buzz of energy enter her palm.
I love you, Fehin
, she said to herself.
Please let me know where you are
. She closed her eyes and must have dozed off because she began to dream.
***
Airy was standing on dry dirt outside a massive dark stone castle. A hill rose up behind it and in the far distance she could see snow-capped mountain peaks. Behind her was a dense forest of strange deformed-looking trees. The sky wasn’t blue or gray nor was there any sign of sun and it was hard to tell what kind of weather to expect. Strange bellowing sounds that reminded her of dinosaur movies she’d seen were coming from the open space surrounding the castle but a high wall kept her from seeing what it was. There was nothing to indicate where she might be other than the strange storybook quality of the scene. Perhaps that was it; this was a dream that had taken her into one of the stories she’d read when she was younger. Or maybe she was dreaming about someplace in the Otherworld where she’d never been. There were lots of castles there that housed gods and goddesses. She pinched herself on the arm and let out a yelp.
When she turned back from her perusal of the forest she noticed a figure exiting the twenty-foot high heavy wooden doors leading into the fortress. Whoever it was seemed vaguely familiar as he moved in her direction. For a moment she was unable to move. And then she began to run.
48
Loki’s castle, 2470
Fehin saw her but couldn’t believe his eyes. Airy here? It made no sense and yet she was running toward him and before he had time to puzzle it out she was in his arms.
He pulled her against him, his arms tight around her. He could feel her softness, could hear her heart beating and the sound of her breath. She was definitely real. After holding each other for a long time she whispered, ”Is this the future?”
“This is the future,” Fehin answered, grabbing her hand to keep her from disappearing. “How did you get here?”
Airy smiled. “Never underestimate the power of love.”
Fehin stared at her for a long moment. How she got here was a mystery they could discuss later. With her sudden appearance his worry and sadness lifted and he had the feeling that everything would work out. That was her effect on him. Their gaze met and clung, telepathic messages moving between them.
She picked up his hand. “Something has happened to Thule.”
Fehin’s eyes filled with tears.
Airy’s mouth dropped open. “Your parents?”
“They’re fine, but everyone else…”
“Oh my gods, Fehin. I’m so sorry.”
“Having you here changes everything. Shut your eyes,” he said. “I have a surprise.”
“A bigger surprise than being in 2470?”
“You’ll see.” He led her along the edge of the bailey, stopping in front of a very high gate. “Okay, you can open them now.”
Airy’s eyes went wide. “Dragons?” she shrieked, “You never said there were dragons!”
“Didn’t I? The one coming toward us is Aki. Don’t be afraid, he belongs to me. The others are Loki’s.”
“They’re beautiful.”
Aki made a soft bellow as he approached, heading directly to her.
When Airy reached through the fence he blew out softly sending puffs of white smoke into the air and then his nose touched her hand. She turned to Fehin. “Does he fly?”
Fehin opened the gate and headed inside the pen. When Airy hesitated he grabbed her hand. “I know they’re big but they won’t hurt you. See the one over by the fence with the baby? That’s Aki’s mate and their offspring.” Fehin walked across the pen and bent down to stroke the small one beside her. Aki let out a bellow and left Airy, crossing the pen in two strides. Fehin looked up. “I told you it wouldn’t be so bad without me here,” he told the dragon, turning back to admire the baby’s iridescent scales.
“Aki says the baby’s name is Lir,” Airy called from the gate. “And his mate’s name is Saral.”
Fehin turned. “You can talk to him? I thought I was the only one.”
Airy smiled. “It’s part of my magic, Fehin.” And then she headed across the pen.
“Do you want to take a ride?”
Airy looked surprised. “You can’t break up this family.”
Fehin laughed. “Aki’s mine, Airy, family or not. He knows his place.”
“That isn’t very kind.”
“He doesn’t mind, do you?” Fehin asked, rubbing his hand across Aki’s wide nose. The dragon released a puff of smoke and moved his head from side to side. Fehin turned back to Airy. “I’ll give you a boost up.”
Fehin helped her and then climbed on behind, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Ready?”
Airy turned her head. “What do I hold on to?”
“See those knobs where his neck starts? Grab one of those. I’ve got you,” he added, snugging her against his body.
When Aki ran across the pen and lifted into the air Airy let out a shriek. And then they were soaring over the forest.
“This land is known as Far isle and the town of Fell is below us,” Fehin yelled in her ear. Aki flew over the beach and then out to sea. “That’s what’s left of Thule,” he called as they headed toward the island covered with flattened trees and detritus.
He could feel her shaking as she gazed down and when he put a hand on her cheek he felt tears. And then he was crying too, his head against the back of her neck as he sobbed.
The dragon circled and then headed back, veering north toward the rest of Far Isle. “This is Tolam, one of the villages Wolf demolished,” Fehin told her, pointing down. A few rustic houses appeared, clustered together. “I’m glad to see it’s still inhabited,” he said as Aki dove closer.
Airy screamed as the dragon banked and then Fehin yelled out in a growling voice. A moment later the dragon leveled out. They flew over a swampy area and then over a mountain range covered in snow before turning south again.
Fehin called out words in a foreign tongue and then Aki flew toward the beach. A few moments later they were on the ground. Airy slid off, her legs crumbling beneath her.
“I’m sorry, Airy,” Fehin said, helping her up. Her face was white and she was shivering. He took his sweater off and handed it to her. “Put this on.”
She pulled it over her head and then folded her arms across her chest, trying to stop trembling. “I wasn’t scared except that one time. But seeing your island like that after how you described it was so awful. I can imagine how lovely it was since it’s so beautiful here,” she added, looking around.
Fehin followed her gaze to the dark forest behind them, the expanse of sugar-colored sand, and the sea, dark and mysterious. Above them the strange overcast had cleared, allowing the sun to burst forth in all its glory. The air was already warmer and soon Airy would be removing the sweater he’d given her.
He put his arms around her, burying his face in her neck. His tears had begun again. “I don’t know how it happened,” he whispered. “But I do know that Gunnar has turned into a royal asshole.”