Erik watched as Ljunge and Tove cut down the einherjar who chased after them with no real trouble. A few errant swipes of the blade came close to Tove, but she seemed to use the strikes to draw her attackers in close.
When the last of them were cut down, they rejoined Erik and a deafening horn sounded. The valkyries turned their eyes to Erik all at once and he felt his blood run cold. He readied himself, Tove and Ljunge taking his lead and preparing for a fight even as they were exhausted from the one before.
A single pair of doors just in front of him opened and a woman with long, golden-brown hair walked from them. She was dressed in flowing white and stopped as the doors closed behind her. She smiled at Erik.
chapter|34
She seemed to hover under the white, flowing gown, almost radiant in the midday sun. Her face was gentle and her smile was calm. Erik found it hard to pull his eyes away from the woman, beautiful as she was. He did, looking up to the balcony. The valkyries had returned to Valhalla, leaving him in the yard with only the woman, Ljunge, and Tove. It did little to calm him, only raised more questions.
The woman came to a stop just outside arm’s reach, smiling politely.
“Welcome, Haki Erik Styrsson, to Valhalla.”
She gave a small bow, large breasts swaying under the thin cloth she wore. Behind him, Erik heard Tove punch Ljunge. For a moment, he relaxed.
“It wasn’t a very warm welcome.”
“You must have many concerns.” It was all she did to address his statement. “I am called Eir and I am the highest of valkyries currently at Valhalla, so I have been sent to see to you.” She looked him over, at no point so much as sparing a glance for Tove or Ljunge. “If you are wounded, I will care for you.”
“I’m fine.” Noticing her focus so completely on him pulled the reality of where he stood back into his mind. “What’s the game here? Are you going to kill me? Where’s Göll?”
She kept her pleasant smile, seeming for all the world like she could not feel any other emotion. “I have come to see you inside. You are…” She paused, her smile not fading. “You are a unique presence. Göll has been prepared to stand with you as you face Odin. He has called to have you brought before him.”
Erik’s eyes narrowed, the sense of a threat rolled through him. Her phrasing was something he could not rightly ignore. Facing Odin could mean many things and he doubted the valkyrie would explain herself even if pressed on the matter.
She turned, looking over a shoulder with the same smile. “If you would follow me, I will show you to Valhalla and your destiny.”
Göll was inside. There was no other place to go. He could neither see the square nor the forest. Erik had locked them into whatever awaited them inside the moment he set foot on the battlefield. He stood in his place, Eir walking a ways away and turning to wait for him, no sense of impatience about her.
He turned to his companions. “Look, whatever this is, if things go bad, run.”
Tove shook her head. “Why would we leave you? We are a warband.”
Ljunge shrugged. “As simple as she is most times, the girl says some good things. Go and see what waits for us in Valhalla.”
Erik pulled a breath and shut his eyes, letting it out. Tove put a hand on his arm, smiling up at him when he opened his eyes again. She spun him around and pushed him toward Eir.
The valkyrie resumed leading them into the open doors when Erik walked toward her. Inside the doors was a narrow room with a dozen smaller openings that led into winding, single-file hallways. Light seemed to fill every inch of the space, though it came from nowhere. Exquisite gold-trimmed, stone statues of warring men and stoic gods were placed throughout. Runes praising Odin were carved into every wall along where the stone met the gold ceiling, the shields that formed it glimmering above them. Even the walls held paintings and tapestries showing great battles of both men and gods. They bled from one to another. Views of the Aesir and the Vanir clashing gave way to scenes of long dead kings of men where valkyries watched. Eir led them through the winding cathedral, built in honor of glorious death, until they came to a door. She pushed it open and Erik followed her out into a towering hall. It was empty of any furniture and the walls were lined with horns and weapons and more statues. Beams of light shone down impossibly from each side of the room. Erik could smell the faint lingering odor of ale.
Eir walked them all to the center of the floor and back toward a large door with torches to either side. The door was on flat ground, while another at the far end of the hall sat up a few stairs at the far edge of a landing.
Their guide turned to them, smiling. “You will await your audience here, in this spot.” She nodded before turning and starting across the hall. As she moved down the carpet, the doors at the far end of the hall opened and Erik heard the familiar hiss of valkyrie wings in the air.
They poured in, four at a time, flying up and lining the walls of the hall, the hiss quieting as they
