“Göll. Hey. Hey!”
He reached out for her, but before his hand came to her arm, Eir cleared her throat.
“You will now have your audience with the Allfather.”
Eir walked to the side, stopping just past the edge of the door. It came open and the feel in the air changed immediately. Erik’s head began to spin, as if he were under a wave, being dragged across the bottom of the sea. An enormous man, old and without a hint of joy in his face entered the room. He wore armor made of leather and plate and on his back was a spear that seemed to repulse Erik’s eyes from even attempting to look at the tip. It was unmistakably Odin, King of the Gods and Wanderer and so many other things. Erik felt the power rise inside of him, his hands trembling in terror just from the presence of the Aesir before him. He stood in the presence of a god and his body knew it more honestly than he could fathom.
“You.” The word from Odin’s lips seemed to ring on forever, lost down a well with no bottom. “You dare to come to this place. After all my warnings.” The mighty king snarled, lips curling in anger. “And one of my own would bring you. Your influence has pulled her from my control. But no longer.” Odin shook his head, fire burning behind disappointed eyes. “You have come to bring ruin, Haki Erik Styrsson. To us all. And for it, I will see you destroyed, along with all those who would aid you. Even my own.”
Anger rose behind the fear, Erik willing his body to move, his mouth to speak.
“What would you say for yourself? A creature such as you, born of mistakes? Do you regret the crimes you would commit against us all?”
Erik shook free of the oppressive air around him. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. I haven’t done anything.”
Odin’s face changed, flashing what Erik swore was fear for only a moment before settling to an impressed calm. “You bark, baring your teeth to claim innocence. And yet you stand in my hall with a warband. Corrupting my very precious daughters, wounding them.” His voice flared, the power of it pushing Erik backward. “That you would so besmirch my good will! That you would ignore my attempts to hand you salvation! You must be destroyed!”
“Fuck you, old man!” The rage in him flared, pulling him free of the grip of Odin’s power fully. “You want to kill me? Huh?! Haven’t your valkyries done it enough?”
Odin clenched his jaw, the hate in his eyes was pure and powerful. “You have forced my hand, Haki Erik Styrsson. Göll will be destroyed and you will see my pain. Then you will be undone.”
“You won’t fucking touch her!” Erik’s voice rose to a roar, the windows shaking as he screamed the words. “Understand me?!”
Odin’s eyes opened wide. The fear was there, Erik saw it. The Allfather’s eyebrows twitched. “You… you! I will not let Skuld’s words come to pass!” His voice was paranoid, nervous, not at all the godly thunder it had been. “Gunnr!” A valkyrie flew down to his side instantly. “Destroy Göll!”
He laid a hand on the valkyrie and the color of her spear shifted to a deep purple, almost black at the center of the blade. Göll did not move or even look as Gunnr charged. Erik felt his body push through the air as he rushed in front of Göll, the spear nearly at him already. He balled his fist and swung at the weapon. It shattered in the valkyrie’s hand, but she did not stop. Erik had counted on it.
His other fist came up, elbow cocked. He put all the energy he could find inside his body into the blow, turning his body to put his weight behind it. He struck squarely on Gunnr’s face, her cheek crackling under his fist. He let out a guttural yell that shook the very walls of Valhalla and pushed through any resistance he felt. The valkyrie came to pieces, her blood and skin splitting. The pieces turned to shimmering rubies and scattered across the hall. Gunnr was gone.
Erik stood and let another yell ring out.
Odin bristled, his rage growing to match Erik’s own. “Kill them!” The valkyries hesitated. Madness flashed again in Odin’s eyes, quickly subsumed by the rage. “Now!” His voice shattered the windows of the hall and the valkyries took to the air. Göll dropped to her knees, screaming. She fell over to her side, wrapping her arms tight around her chest. Erik saw Odin take a step, knowing he could not turn to face his warband. Behind he heard the sounds of battle. Ljunge gasped first and then came a scream from Tove. They were lost behind him. The valkyries did not set upon Göll, only turned.
Odin came to the first step of his landing, his foot coming down. Fire in his eyes, he drew Gungnir from his back. Erik’s body screamed in rebellion, begging him to flee but he would not take himself from Göll’s side.
Behind he heard the valkyries scatter and the doors to Valhalla flew open, a hot wind carried behind them. Göll’s pained screams stopped and she lay still on the floor. Erik did not pull his eyes from Odin, only listened. Odin’s eyes left Erik and the rage became indignance.
“Why do you defile my hall, giantess?”
Erik turned, his eyes finding Hel standing in
