“So we go rob someone?”
She looked around. “There may be someone willing—”
“You! You three!” A guard was running toward them wearing heavy armor. He trotted to a stop, catching his breath. “Modgudr sends her regards. She has been expecting your arrival and welcomes you to Gjallarbrú.” He turned around, looking over his shoulder. “If you would follow me, she has requested your presence at the Grand Keep.”
chapter|28
The guard walked stiffly ahead of them. It looked to Erik that he was trying his best to do a parade march by himself. People along the street stopped and watched as he went by with the curious trio behind him. Mostly, they stared at Göll, not bothering to pay much attention to Erik or Tove.
They approached the gate, finding it guarded by a half dozen men who snickered at the guard who was escorting them. That was the end of the parade march, their escort slinking away as a larger man with a full beard approached from behind the line of guards.
“Welcome, chosen. Or, if you’ve made it so far, it makes only good sense to call you einherjar.” A chuckle rolled out like lazy thunder. “We have been expecting you. And,” his eyes narrowed as he looked Göll over, “your valkyrie. I apologize, I do not recognize her face.” He laughed again. “Though I have manned this wall for ages and it has been so long since any have been chosen.” He scanned over Tove bringing his attention back to Erik. “I am called Wilhelm Haftorson, lead guard of this south gate. We are pleased to have you among us. Might I ask for introductions?”
“Sure. I’m Haki Erik Styrsson.” He pointed a thumb at Göll, “Göll,” and a thumb at Tove, “Tove.”
Wilhelm nodded, looking them over. “A fine name for a fine man. You are welcomed to Gjallarbrú. Men!”
Erik tensed until he realized the men were issuing a salute to him. Wilhelm spun on his heel after they’d saluted.
“This way.”
They followed, the men watching him as he walked by. They looked at him with eyes he hadn’t seen on anyone since he’d arrived in Helheim, especially not anyone who was aware he was one of the chosen. They whispered about him, but with tones of reverence and nods of admiration. Wilhelm led them through a door beside the main gates and into the guardhouse inside of the wall. The interior was stone, lit with oil lamps, and simply adorned. The quality of the furniture was nicer than he’d seen in Lofgrund by a good measure. They did not stop in the room, being led up a few flights of stairs and ushered into a room that Erik had not expected existed in all of Helheim. It was a plush room with polished marble floors and velvet-lined furniture. The walls were still stone, but they were polished flat and adorned with pieces of art. There were even glass windows along the wall facing south.
Wilhelm entered, moving to the side of the door and putting an arm out to signal that they should enter. “I hope it is of great comfort to you after your journey.”
The line was clearly not one of his own, some rehearsed thing he was meant to say to important people. Erik entered first with Göll and Tove close behind him. Göll was expectedly quiet, but Tove was as well, uncharacteristically so.
Wilhelm straightened up, standing in the door frame. “Someone will be along shortly with things to eat. I apologize that it will only be something meant to tide you, but a custodian should be along soon. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to call for one of my men. And if they cannot satisfy you, call for me.” Wilhelm’s face turned serious and the air of rehearsed formality fell away. “Haki, I am done a great honor that you are in my care, for however short a time. And I have heard tales of the journey north. No harm will come to you here, on my honor as a man.”
Erik was taken aback by the sincerity of the man across from him. “Thanks. I’ll put my trust in you, then.”
“You honor me.” Wilhelm bowed his head and turned, pulling the door shut as he went.
Erik couldn’t help but listen to see if it had been locked and a few seconds after, he went to try the handle. It was open and swung freely. No one guarded them in the hall. He came back into the room, Tove taking a tentative step toward him.
“Is this some trick?”
“It doesn’t really seem like one,” he said. “If it is, I’m not sure why they’d bother putting us in a room with windows and a valkyrie.”
Erik went to one of the four couches in the room, taking a seat and telling himself it was possibly fine to relax. His mind was not listening to the suggestion. Tove began exploring the room. There were tables with runners along them and drawers, none of which contained anything. A writing desk in the far corner was stocked with paper, a quill, and ink. She held them up.
“What are these?”
Erik turned, laughing when he saw what she was holding. “They’re for writing.”
She looked at the implements in her hand, unconvinced. “How?”
He stood up from the couch and walked over, placing the paper on the table. “Now, I don’t really know how to use this kind of pen…” He opened the ink, dipping the quill in. He dragged it as gently as he could across the paper and wrote his name. It was the first thing not written in runes he’d seen in what felt like forever.
“What are those shapes?”
Erik cocked his head to the side, making sure he’d written it properly. Whatever let him read runes and understand Göll didn’t seem to work the other way. “They’re letters. Not runic ones.” He held the paper up, pointing it at Göll.
