Empty Altars (21 page)

"You're not squeamish, are you? You hover over dead bodies after battle."

"But I don't have to touch them."

"These have been cleansed by fire and hardened with chants. Olaf's magic is combined with mine. You'll find no better runes."

Freya reached out a finger to touch one. "It feels like a stone worn smooth by running water."

"Hold them in your hands."

Freya scooped up a few. She shivered. "It's almost as though they're alive. There's energy in them."

"Magic," Diana repeated. "You said you wanted to read runes for the rebuilding time after Ragnarok. If these don't help you, no runes will."

Freya leveled a look at Diana. "You must have worked most of the night on these. I've never seen anything like them."

"They're a gift." Diana looked away, embarrassed. "They're not as strong as mine. Mine are impossible to reproduce, but yours are unique to you."

Inga wandered back into the kitchen, a hand pressed to her stomach.

Freya's gaze didn't waver. "I doubt even Woden's runes are as special as these. You've done much for Inga and me. Thank you, friend."

Diana felt heat burn her cheeks. Was she blushing? She'd never blushed before she came here. She was a goddess, for Zeus' sake! What were the Norse doing to her? She cleared her throat. "You and Inga are both prepared now. Let's try them out."

To her horror, Freya flew around the table and kissed her on the cheek. At Diana's strangled gasp, Freya laughed. "Do you think you'll survive friendship?"

Diana sputtered. "We're wasting time. Let's get on with it!"

Inga hurried to hug her. "I hope I prove worthy of you."

"It's Gudrun…." Diana looked at them both and gave up. They were grinning like idiots—hopeless. "Let's just do this."

Noir finally stirred himself. He padded from the bedroom, jumped on the table, and began licking his paws, staring at Inga with unblinking eyes. Freya's cat jumped onto a wooden bench and glared a challenge.

"Enough you two!" Freya scooped up the gray cat and stroked his head. He leaned into her and purred. Diana reached for Noir, but he hissed. Freya smiled. "There's no mistaking he's your cat." She turned to Inga. "Okay, girl, do it."

"Me first?" Inga's hands trembled.

"Concentrate on your training. Ask your question," Diana said.

The room grew solemn. Inga slid her fingers into the fabric pouch that held her runes. She closed her eyes and focused. Then she spilled the rectangles of rowan into her hands and tossed them. "Is there anything else we can do to win this battle?"

A good question. Well chosen. Eighteen runes fell, face down. It only took six to give an answer. Diana narrowed her eyes and listened to their music. What she heard and saw disturbed her. She saw Inga's eyes widen in surprise too.

"This can't be right," Inga said. "I must have done something wrong."

"It's right," Diana told her.

"It can't be… What difference would…" Inga stuttered to a stop.

Freya's grin spread from ear to ear. "If I'm right, the runes are telling us that Inga will sleep with Jorunda."

"But how could that help us win a battle?" Inga complained.

Freya snorted. "Do you want to sleep with your warrior or not?"

Inga's face turned bright crimson.

"So where's the hardship?"

"I'm still shunned. Griswold's never…."

Freya cut her off. "Didn't Diana's runes say that if Jorunda died, so did you?"

"Yes."

"So if he survives, and you're with child, would he abandon you?"

"Never."

"So seduce the man and have your way with him." Freya waved a hand. "You're a woman. Men think with their claim to fame. Get it up and at 'em."

"Freya!" Diana didn't think a goddess of love and beauty should be so vulgar. "I thought you were about romance, courtship, flowers and wooing."

"Give it a break! I'm a
fertility
goddess. Who do you think mortals call on for their spring rites around the May pole? Those two have been itching to be in each others' pants for years now."

"What?" Inga looked aghast.

"A modern saying." Freya shrugged. "Shag the man." She turned her attention to Diana. "You should have some fun too. You're a maiden goddess. How you stand it, I don't know."

"Three of us made a pact."

"
Three
of you swore off men?" Freya couldn't hide her incredulity.

"Athena, Vesta, and me."

"But that was how many centuries ago? None of you have met any men since then that excited you? Are the three of you gay?"

"What if we are?"

"No biggie, but you'd think you'd meet some hot woman who'd excite you by now, that you'd get your jollies somewhere."

Diana sighed. "You really can't live without sex, can you?"

"Sex is natural. How do you think I got this necklace?"

Diana didn't follow her reasoning. She frowned. "What has your necklace got to do with it?"

"It was forged by dwarves. I had to sleep with all four of them before they'd give it to me."

Diana didn't know what to say. She shook her head, trying to clear it. "But you're married."

"Odur understood. He has my heart. If four dwarves use my body, so what?"

Diana began to pace. "Sex is a bond. You're sharing your body…."

Freya interrupted her. "Your maidenhood won't seem nearly as important to you once you give it away. Sex dims with time. It's wonderful, don't mistake me. But love and commitment are far stronger."

Diana stared.

"You didn't answer me," Freya persisted. "What of your two friends? Are they still maidens?"

Diana shook her head.

"There you go then. You, of all people, should understand sex. What if every lion decided to be chaste? Reproduction is part of survival. So…how do you feel about Tyr?"

Diana tried to find the right words, but settled on, "I've never met anyone like him."

Freya smiled—it was kind. "My friend, Tyr has saved himself too. He's felt burdened by his responsibilities, just as you have. You're a perfect fit."

Diana took a deep breath. "I happen to be busy with a war."

"Foolish, foolish girl." Freya looked every bit the goddess of love and beauty. "Love can move mountains. It's not just some song lyrics."

Freya's music acumen was behind the times, but Diana let it slide. She stalked to the door and looked out at the day. Sunshine. Bird song. She turned back to her friend. "You’re being bothersome."

"No, it's simple. Bed the man! He needs it. So do you."

Diana crossed her arms over her breasts. "It's your turn. Throw your runes."

Freya frowned, but didn't push it. "What should I ask?"

"They're your bones, your question."

"All righty then." Freya held her pouch in her hand and closed her eyes. She took a minute to focus, then said, "Tell me about Heid's shape shifters." She tossed the black, jagged pieces across the table.

The bones fell in an odd jumble, most of them face up. Their music started, and Diana could tell by Freya's expression that she heard and understood. The Norse goddess bit her bottom lip and tears misted her eyes. A hand went to Inga's throat. She understood too. The scene before them was heartbreaking…

Peta, in dragon form, struggled against the chains that bound him, but the cave walls held—slick and hard. Heid slowly walked to a huge nest made of large, dead tree branches. They'd been gathered and arranged with care. Five, small dragons huddled in its center. Egg shells littered the edges of the nest. The dragons must be newly hatched. She reached in, grabbed one, and lifted it.

"Your father failed you," she intoned. "Perhaps he'll try harder next time."

Energy poured from her, and the tiny dragon spasmed in pain. A muffled roar of despair came from the back of the cave. The runes refocused, and a female dragon clawed at the chains around her neck, snout, and back legs.

Heid dropped the small body and turned to Peta. "Too bad you have so much power and so little skill. How often will you disappoint your mate? Next time, you lose a child."

Laughter sounded from the far side of the cavern, and the runes refocused again. A dozen witches sat around a fire with a huge cauldron balanced on a circle of rocks. Behind them, silver bars stretched from the rock floor to the cave's rock ceiling. Inside their cage, young wolves paced nervously.

One of the witches pointed in their direction. "They’re of no use to us now. Their father died a stupid death. We’ll get no more notes from the village."

Heid shrugged. "He was a shape changer with rare talents. His children might possess them too."

The largest witch—a giantess—rose and walked to the cage. Eyes narrowed, she studied the young wolves. They cringed against the rock wall, trying to make themselves small. Her eyes settled on a pure-white female. “You, lovely one? Can you shift?”

A fellow witch laughed. "Like she’d let you know.”

The giantess aimed a finger at one of the wolf’s siblings. The black male cowered, tail between his legs. "If she cares for her brother, she’ll change.”

Straining, the young female trembled. Her forelegs grew, and her snout shortened. Exhausted, she sagged onto the cave floor, her face half-human, two arms where her forelegs had been.

Heid gave a derisive snort. “She’s too new, of no use to us in this battle. Let her be. We have more important things to consider now.”

…The image faded. Diana's throat closed. She was too furious to speak. Freya shook her head, distraught. Inga whispered, "Can we help them?"

Diana reached for her bow. "I'm going after them."

"How?" Freya stared.

Diana's fingers stretched toward a rune.

"No. They're my runes. My question. You're taking me with you."

"Me too." Inga came to join them.

"Not you. It's too dangerous." Diana took a deep breath. "Freya and I shouldn't go either. We might not make it back. And then…."

"I don't care." Freya draped the belt with her short sword around her shoulder. "Heid will not harm one more shape-shifter."

Diana knew that Freya wasn't being totally honest. The goddess would have been just as upset if she'd seen mortals treated so badly. Not that it didn't happen. But when mortals mistreated one another, it was their business and gods stayed out of the way. "We can follow your runes back to their magical source," Diana said. "There's a trail, but it's short lived. If we go, we have to go now."

Freya pulled her sword. "If we get there, can you free them?"

"I'll try." Diana turned to Inga. "We'll return for you, if we can. If we don't, find Tyr. Tell him what happened. We'll need help."

Inga reached for the hem of her dress sleeve and fretted the cloth again. Before long, she'd have nothing but fringe there. "Come back," she told them. "I don't want to be here alone."

With a nod, Diana took Freya's hand. "Be ready. We'll be there in a second. The only thing we’ll have in our favor is the element of surprise. I’ll try to zap Heid before we do anything else."

Freya scooped the giant's bones up to put in her pouch. Wind stirred. Everything blurred, and the goddesses landed in the center of the cave with a thud.

Heid whirled. Her coven jumped to their feet. Heid slashed energy at Diana, and she ducked out of its away. So much for surprise. White, hot balls ricocheted all over the cave. Heid’s witches scattered this way and that to dart away from Heid’s power.

Diana turned to Freya, but found herself staring at the giantess witch. "What in Hades?"

She jumped back, pulling her knives. The coven charged, and the same witch yanked away from her to rush toward the baby dragons. "Freya?" The goddess gave a wink and kept going. Seidr magic. Her friend's eyes were the same sky blue they'd always been. Good enough. Diana knew which witch to kill.

Heid spat a chant, but Diana's spell was faster. It sewed Heid's lips shut before she could say the final word. Heid raised her arms and forks of power spewed around the room. Diana threw protective bubbles over the baby dragons and young wolves. A grim smile curved Heid’s lips and she aimed at Freya. Diana blocked her. Their magic met, jammed, then exploded into streaks and sparks. A shard hit Peta, and the dragon roared. Heid jumped, and Diana used the distraction to slam the dark witch against the wall. Her head hit rock, and she crumpled to the floor, unconscious. A lucky break.