Ljunge stepped ahead of them. “The doors are open.” He started toward them, stopping when no one followed him.
Erik watched Göll, who paid the gates little mind, looking to the west instead.
“Göll, I’m guessing those gates are no good?”
Göll shook her head. “It is one of Hel’s tricks. There is another way.”
“I’ll let you lead then.” Erik swung an arm to the west. “After you.”
They were off again, Tove beside Erik and Ljunge behind, still watching the doors he’d almost gone through.
“He is stupid, Erik. He will cause problems.”
Ljunge was quick to run forward and defend himself. “I am only as stupid… as…” He stopped, eyes turned upward in deep thought. “I am not stupid. And neither a fool! And I’ll only be your problem a while longer at that!”
Tove sneered at him. “I’ll believe that when you’re gone. You’re the sort to follow anyone who’ll stand you.”
“A rat recognizing a rat, aren’t you?” Ljunge scoffed. “You don’t talk as he does. Come, where’d you meet? When did he ask you to come along on his journey?”
Tove crossed her arms and looked away, refusing to continue the conversation. Erik couldn’t help but laugh.
“You two are going to be in love before long, aren’t you?”
Tove looked back. “A vile man like him? I’d sooner choke!”
“She’s fine to call me vile. I’ll take no insult from a girl with the chest of a boy.”
She turned bright red and rushed at Ljunge, swinging at him. The man ducked the punch deftly, something that drew Erik’s attention. He had ducked a second attempt when Erik spoke.
“Hey! Fight when we’re somewhere I won’t have to drag either of your unconscious bodies away from.”
A final sneer from each of them was the end of their conversation and the walk became a quiet one. It was a short walk to a portion of wall that had collapsed awkwardly, forming a sort of arch with a path through it. It was meant to look disused, but the path through was too clear for him to believe that it was accidental. They stood at it, considering the entrance.
“I should probably go last. You know, chosen one or whatever. Less likely a magic barrier or something will lock you two out.”
Ljunge was quick to move to the entrance. “I’ll not argue with good logic. Through I go.”
He went through with no problem, Tove followed and then Erik did the same, Göll motioning for him to go ahead of her.
There was immediate noise around them as they came into a lush park. It was a city, properly a city, bustling with life. There were trees in the parks and people walking them, unconcerned with the appearance of four people through the hole in the wall. They moved across the park, Tove and Ljunge marveling as they approached the street.
“Those lamps! There are no flames! How…” Tove’s question trailed as a streetcar rolled silently by. “What was that? There were people in it! Where does it go?!”
She returned to Erik, pulling at his shirt. He was lost in the curious view of it all himself. There were electric lights and the streetcar had been electric as well. It was something from old pictures of New York, maybe. The clothes had not changed and what Modgudr had given them still looked very much the same, though everyone wore them. Erik ignored Tove’s questions for the moment, holding up a hand and jogging up to a woman who stood reading a leaflet written entirely in runes.
“Excuse me, ma’am. Hey.”
She turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “Do I know you?”
“I mean… ma’am would sort of imply…” He dropped it. “Is there a restaurant around here that’s good? Maybe a hotel?”
“Hotel?” She puzzled for a minute. “Oh, you must be one of those.” The woman’s speech was more modern than anyone he had met. “You mean an inn. Sure, there’s a place down that way.” She pointed up a street to the north. “Restaurant and ‘hotel’ all in one.” She chuckled at the word and went back to her leaflet.
“Yeah… thanks.”
Erik turned around, nodding to the others who had kept their distance. They came to him and he started toward an intersection, crossing north. There were paved streets but most of the traffic was people on foot. He could see no cars, only streetcars from time to time.
“There’s a hotel up this way. Inn. Sorry.”
None of the buildings that Erik could see were much taller than ten floors or so. They seemed to be constructed of the same sort of things modern buildings were, certainly skyscrapers could be possible. He turned his head to Göll.
“Do you know why the buildings aren’t any taller than they are?”
“Hel does not allow buildings which would be taller than her hall.” Göll looked up at the buildings. “She has many strange rules.”
“Not that I’m in a rush to head there, but how do we get to Valhalla from here?”
“There are gates. They are at the far eastern edge of the city. You should not delay. Hel or her minions may come and make trouble for us. Odin will be displeased.”
Göll’s voice was harsh. He knew it was not her own, but the edge to it was more than it had ever been. Whether it was truly Hel that put her ill at ease, or something else, he did not wish to see her that way longer than need be.
“We’ll go.” Erik realized Ljunge was still walking with them. He turned to
