Chapter Seventeen

After passing a pirate boat ride for children, Erika and Magnor stopped at a tall tower where tiny overhead cars on cables whipped around at high speed.

Magnor nudged her with a grin. “We’d have a good vantage point over the whole park on that ride.”

“That’s not for me, but it’s a good idea. You go. I’ll wait here.”

“No, we stick together.”

She pointed forward. “Look, the Odin Express is up ahead.”

The train ride didn’t produce any useful clues. As they disembarked, she rubbed a hand over her face. Maybe this park represented a wild goose chase. At this rate, they’d never find anything. It might be wise to expand their reach and not exclude other types of attractions.

An operetta at a concert hall and a variety show with jugglers did not hold the key to their target.

“Most of the other rides are on the far side of that food palace,” she said, her tone weary.

“Let’s eat. I’m hungry.”

Erika got an open sandwich with smoked salmon while Magnor ate a schnitzel dish. Afterward, they strode past several thrill rides including one where people sat in harnessed seats while hoisted upward and then plunged upside down. Erika hurried past so Magnor wouldn’t get the notion to try it.

“Here, this has to be the place.” Magnor halted beside a popular ride. “Loki’s Lair is an appropriate title for our quest.”

“Yes, it is.” A smidgen of unease clawed at her.

The guidebook didn’t say too much except the attraction was an adventure into the mythological past. Children couldn’t go as there was a height requirement. Nonetheless, a line snaked toward an entrance designed to look like the mouth of hell.

Fake stalactites hung down at the entry. Red glitter reflected the sunlight, casting images like flames on the surrounding rock walls.

The sounds from the park muted as they entered the dark interior. Here guests were forced into narrow aisles until they shuffled along single-file. Careful not to bump into the people ahead of her, Erika grimaced as she passed dimly lit dioramas of torture and suffering. Wails reverberated from somewhere ahead like ghostly residents howling a protest at the intrusion.

“Delightful place,” Magnor murmured in her ear.

She’d taken the lead, peering around each curve in their path, wary of what might be around the next corner. Then the route widened, and they emerged onto a landing where people boarded boats presumably on tracks. Shadows played against the stony walls while torches flickered on sconces. Smelling smoke, she marveled at the authenticity of the setting.

A figure dressed like the Grim Reaper and holding a scythe shook each person’s hand before issuing directions for which row to take prior to boarding. Next to him stood a lovely assistant, a blonde wearing dominatrix black leather that drew men’s glances. She was meant to be a distraction, Erika realized.

This was it. They must be Trolleks.

Erika whirled around and lifted on her toes to kiss Magnor smack on the lips.

Before she could explain her action, their turn came.

The blond woman grasped her arm and said something to her. When Erika shook her head in confusion, the attendant spoke in English. “How many are in your group?”

The Trollek female’s tantalizingly sweet scent made Erika want to lean closer. With her sexy outfit, she’d easily snare any red-blooded human male in the vicinity.

“Uh, there are two of us.” Erika’s voice came out a squeak.

Meanwhile, the hunched figure in the robe reached for Magnor, who had been watching Erika with a perplexed frown. The hooded host snagged his hand for a firm shake.

Magnor shot her a panicked glance. She gave him a reassuring smile in return. He should be all right if her immunity had transferred to him, but they should play along.

“Row number four,” the husky Trollek ordered.

Magnor cast his gaze downward in mute obedience and proceeded to the labeled spot.

Erika followed while surreptitiously glancing at others standing in queue. Besides assigning rows according to the number of people in a party, it didn’t appear as though any different selection process was at hand. Perhaps it happened at the end of the ride, or in the inevitable gift shop.

Would old folks be parted from their loved ones and sent to their doom? Would strong, healthy adults be selected for slave labor? Or would a covert scan provide new subjects for Trollek experiments? With luck, they’d all be sent home with orders to wait for activation in Algie’s army.

An empty boat appeared from around a curve to their left. It must have disgorged its occupants at another station and then rode the track to collect its new load.

Erika stepped into the vessel, a narrow design with pointed tips at either end, reminding her of Viking ships she’d seen in history books. They sat in rows of two and donned harnesses. Thankfully, she and Magnor were in the last seats. She wouldn’t want to be in front, in case there were dips ahead.

She stashed her purse in a net under her feet, wishing they’d learned more about this attraction before entering. Her spine tingled in dread of what might come.

Their boat jerked into motion and glided along, picking up speed toward a dark maw that loomed ahead. She clutched the rail in front of them, gritting her teeth as they ascended a steep incline into darkness. A cool breeze blew tufts of hair into her face while a voice spoke in a foreign tongue.

“What’s he saying?” she asked Magnor. He’d told her about his implanted universal translator. Could he understand Danish?

“It’s a story about the early Danes and how they settled disputes, and how crime and punishment have evolved over time. We’re going to get a glimpse of what happens to the souls of dead criminals.”

“Oh, great. Like, this is supposed to be hell?” Those earlier dioramas of torture came to mind.

“This attraction is called Loki’s Lair. The evil spirit wants to bring hell on earth to everyone who lives there.”

“How appropriate.”

At the top, a three-headed creature glared at them and spat angry words.

“What’s that? It looks like something out of mythology.” She didn’t recall such a monster from Norse myths but her knowledge wasn’t that extensive.

“It’s saying we have sinned and we’ll be punished like all who have transgressed. Our humanity alone has earned us an eternity of suffering.”

At those words, their boat whizzed around a curve and plunged downward into total darkness. Erika’s breath whooshed from her lungs in a shriek.

She closed her eyes as their vehicle looped and dipped through an endless, twisting speed ride. Her head reeled and she lost her sense of orientation. The brochure had said nothing about this! Then again, they were supposed to be spellbound. She held her breath, her grip on the rail so tight that it dug into her skin. Her heart pounded like a race horse on the turf.

They zoomed down another steep slope then climbed up again and careened around a curve. She gasped in a breath, praying this nightmarish ride would soon be over. Her neck stayed locked in the harness while her mouth opened in a silent scream. They plummeted downward, her stomach knotting with each motion.

Her body sagged against the seat, flung this way and that but held tight by the restraint. She didn’t care what happened at the end, only that she reached it intact.

Just keep breathing, and you’ll survive.

Her pulse thundered in her ears. No wonder people died of fright.

“Are you all right?” Magnor nudged her with his elbow at the same time she realized they’d slowed.

Her eyes blinked open. Their vehicle glided toward a landing. Shaking, she could only nod in response.

A voice emitted from a speaker near their ears, rattling off a series of words in a foreign language and then repeating them in English.

“Please proceed to your right where you’ll be given a souvenir key ring. Go home and tell your friends what a wonderful time you had and urge them to visit Jolheim Gardens.”

Erika could barely lift herself from the seat let alone place her foot on the platform when it came time to disembark. Magnor took her arm and hauled her up.

“You’re trembling like a glitter bug. Can you manage?”

“Yes, I’m fine. That wasn’t my kind of ride.”

Inside the inevitable gift shop, they headed with the others in their group to obtain their free souvenir. Directed to reach into a dispenser, Erika exclaimed aloud when her finger encountered something sharp.

“Ow, what was that?” She snatched her hand away, the key ring somehow ending up in her palm.

Magnor, who hovered behind, nudged her. “Ssh, you’re supposed to be confounded, remember? This must be where they take DNA samples.”

The staff wouldn’t let them exit immediately, regaling the group with a sales pitch. When Erika noticed a uniformed man heading their way, she dodged past the speaker toward the door with Magnor following at her cue.

Outside, she held her stomach and sucked in a shaky breath. The warm air, flowered scent, and bright sunshine helped to dispel her anxiety. Hopefully, the attendants wouldn’t come after them out here.

Spotting a trash can, she tossed the key ring inside, not wanting to take any chances it might be more than it seemed.

“What now? You didn’t see any clue to the book in there, did you?” she asked Magnor, her gaze alighting on a colorful bed of purple and white pansies.

“No, but it must be here somewhere.” He cast a narrowed glance around them. “At least we have confirmation this theme park acts as a recruitment center. I’ll notify Dal so he can neutralize the underground complex once we’re finished here.”

“Will we have to use the portal again?” She’d rather not transport to their next destination that way and risk encountering a troop of armed Trolleks down below.

“It depends on where we have to go from here.”

Erika glanced at her watch, surprised to see it was four o’clock local time. Man, she could use a drink.

“Let’s take a break. I need one after that last ride.”

They chose a bar overlooking the lake. She got a glass of chardonnay, while Magnor ordered a beer. They strolled along the pavement while sipping their beverages. Music blared from a nearby concert stage.

Magnor’s face scrunched in thought. “Perhaps we’ve been thinking about this the wrong way. How could anyone have hidden the Book of Odin at the theme park? This land would have been forested in early times.”

“That’s true.” She considered the possibilities. “Maybe we should look for it at the base of a tree or under a rock. Too bad we’re not more familiar with the geology of this area.”

His pace slowed. “What if the Trolleks utilized a system of natural caves to build their underground tunnels? We shouldn’t exclude the possibility of looking there.”

“Speaking of caves, I got a weird feeling inside the mine attraction. Those little men seemed awfully real.”

Her glance rose to an overhead ride where baby dragons on cables flew passengers around a central tower. A much larger dragon had been chained inside that fake mine shaft.

“So? What’s your point?” Magnor finished his ale and discarded the bottle in a trash bin.

Erika sidestepped a gaggle of teens munching on popcorn and cinnamon-scented almonds. “We should go back and take a closer look. What if the Grotes are not audio-animatronic figures? They could be actual people enslaved by the Trolleks and controlled to please the crowds.”

He squinted at her. “We have a mission to accomplish, and it doesn’t include freeing Trollek slaves.”

“I know, but they might be able to tell us where to search for the book. At least, let’s go see if I’m right. And if not, then we’ll examine the park’s natural surroundings.”

His mouth compressed. “Very well, but afterward, I intend to inspect every tree and bush, every stone upon the ground. There’s a reason why we were directed here.”

A swell of excitement surged through her. “I agree. We’d better hurry. I have a feeling our time is running out.”

She drained her plastic wine cup and dumped it in a receptacle. A hunch told her they were doing the right thing.

****

Magnor resettled his backpack on his shoulders as he strode beside her toward the mine attraction. He ignored the curious glances sent his way. Although this site didn’t have costumed characters roaming in public like at other theme parks, a sword wasn’t totally out of place. For all anyone knew, he could be a ride attendant taking a break.

Surely the Trolleks had noticed him by now. They must be waiting to discern his purpose. Algie would want to get her hands on the book once she understood his mission. Or had she already learned why he was there? Maybe Loki had figured it out and told her. In that case, they’d want him to find the legendary Book of Odin before attacking.

He didn’t conceive of how those short little fellows on the mine ride could be real, but if true, they might be just the thing he needed to create a diversion.

They entered the attraction and boarded the mine car without mishap. With a lurch, it zigzagged off on its route through darkened tunnels and past scenes of miners hacking at rocks for gold. He waited until they’d entered the chamber with the dragon and then he poked Erika who sat by his side. Her tense posture and worried look betrayed her anxiety.

“Look, there’s a path that parallels the track for emergency evacuation. We need to leave the ride.”

Their tram would pick up speed once it left this room and entered another so-called shaft. This was their best chance. They’d asked for the last row on the tram so no one would notice their departure.

She clutched her purse in her lap. “It’s dark up ahead. The other people won’t see us if we hop off there.”

He leapt after her, landing on the obscured path and ducking down until the tram passed out of sight. Another one would soon follow.

Signaling for her to join him, he hastened to a faux calcite column and huddled behind it. The sound of hammering came from where the miners labored. As another tram rattled past, the dragon spewed flames in its direction. Magnor felt the blast of heat on his skin.

As soon as the tourists were gone, Erika lunged toward the scene. “Yo, boys! Over here.”

Heads turned their way. The dragon swung its neck, its nostrils flaring. Scales glistened on its huge body. The chain restraining it pulled taut. Magnor gazed in astonishment at their response. Erika must be right about them.

“Who are you?” the nearest Grote said. He had big round eyes, a knobby forehead, and funnel-shaped ears. They all wore work clothes, plaid shirts and dirty trousers.

Magnor stood proudly. “I am a Drift Lord, come from the stars to save humanity from the scourge known as the Trolleks.”

The little guy looked around fearfully. “Shush, you moron. You’ll bring the beasts down upon us. We don’t want to be punished. We’ve felt their shock sticks enough times.”

“We want to help you.” Erika advanced stealthily, her hair askew. She’d lost her scarf in their hasty leap from the tram.

The dragon growled. “I haven’t eaten, humans. Talk fast, or become my meal.”

Erika and Magnor exchanged a startled glance. The dragon could speak?

“Why would you want to assist us?” the Grote spokesman said with genuine curiosity. “People stare at us and laugh.”

“They think you’re here to entertain them,” Magnor replied. “Guests don’t know you’re prisoners and that your kind exists.”

“So how are you different from them?”

“We’re part of the prophecy concerning the ancient legends.” He did a quick introduction. “You’ve heard of Ragnarok and the Norse gods? We seek the Book of Odin.”

“Listen,” Erika added, “perhaps you can help us in return for your freedom.”

“You see?” The dragon snorted fire. “They will use us, like the others.”

Magnor elbowed her and spoke in a low tone. “If you release them, they’ll run away and we’ll have gained nothing. We need their cooperation.”

“We’re not going to get it without haggling. Let me do this my way.”

A rumbling vibration heralded the arrival of another tram car. They ducked out of sight until it passed, then Erika moved within range of the dragon’s fiery breath.

Maug stubborn woman. Would he be stuck continually doing damage control in her wake instead of carrying out his duty?

He had to admit sweet-talking as a tactic could be useful, especially when that fire-breathing beast tilted its head and sniffed her. If they’d forged ahead as he had wished, they might be toast by now.

“What’s your name?” Erika halted beside the dragon.

“I am called Shayna,” the creature replied in a reluctant tone. Its tail swished, making a wide swathe on the packed dirt ground.

“Tell me, how did you end up here?” Erika petted its thick hide with a trembling hand. “I mean, you’re such a big, beautiful thing. You’re meant to soar high in the skies. How did you and your friends get captured?”

Shayna issued a pained howl. “The Trolleks attacked my nest one day when I was out foraging. They took my babes. Upon my return, they threatened to kill my children if I didn’t go with them.”

That ride with the flying dragons—those creatures must be Shayna’s offspring, Magnor realized.

“What purpose do you serve?” Erika asked, stepping away. “The Trolleks could have faked this attraction same as the other rides.”

Shayna lowered her head. “I turn the water wheel at night when the park is closed. It provides power.”

“For what?” Magnor moved closer, keeping his sword arm free in case the dragon took a dislike to him.

“For machinery. I don’t know its purpose but it takes up an entire hall.”

That amount of energy could fuel an inter-dimensional rift generator. If he could see it for himself, it would confirm Zohar’s theory that the Trolleks were rebuilding the portals his team had sealed. If reopened, they’d allow for a massive invasion of Trolleks from Jak’Tar, their homeworld.

But would Algie approve? She’d taken advantage of the vacuum in power to declare herself queen. Was a faction of Jorgonauts—followers of King Jorg—defying her?

“You claim you’re a Drift Lord?” The spokesperson approached, his beady eyes studying Magnor. “What are you doing in this place?”

“As I said earlier, we’re here to recover the legendary Book of Odin. Either the book itself or a clue to its whereabouts is hidden on these grounds. It holds the key to destroying the Trolleks.”

The fellow stretched to his full height, a good foot shorter than Erika. “If you free our friend there, you free us. She’ll fly us out of here.”

“And why were you captured, mister…?”

“Ribald. We’re relatives of the dwarfs. Everyone has heard about how one of the Drift Lords rescued our chief courier and second cousin to the king.”

“That would be Paz. He escaped from the dungeon at Shirajo Manor with a dwarf named Smitty. Do you have the same abilities as your relations?”

Ribald shook his head. “We do not possess the magic to turn inanimate objects into gold. Our job is to guard such treasures.”

Magnor leaned forward. “Is that why you’re here then, to watch over something important?”

“We’ve always been here to guard the treasure, but it’s not this pile of fake rocks. When the Trolleks discovered our presence, they tried to confound us. Their attempt failed as we are immune to their spell. But they knew our weakness.” He pointed to his shorn hair.

Magnor remembered Paz saying something about the dwarf’s vulnerability. “The Trolleks cut your hair, the source of your strength?”

“They did the deed while we slept. When we woke up, we were chained and unable to break the links.”

“And what treasure is it that you are guarding? Did the Trolleks know your reason for being here?”

“Despite their attempts to make us talk, we’ve kept silent. They are not the ones meant to find it.”

“What is it?” Impatience edged his tone.

“We guard what you seek, Drift Lord. The legends are true. Our kind has been waiting for generations to meet you.”

A vibration underfoot indicated a tram about to approach. Magnor glanced around the cavern. “Take cover,” he said to Erika, grabbing her hand.

They ran behind a plaster stalagmite until the cars passed.

Erika’s eyes shone with zeal as she regarded him. “We have to free these people, Magnor. How can we break those chains?”

“Our chisels won’t work,” Ribald said, overhearing her. “These chains were forged in Jak’Tar. Nothing will break them.”

“What about dissolving the metal?” Magnor asked.

“You see?” Ribald addressed his brothers, who’d halted their labors to watch them. “He has the ingenuity, the inquisitiveness and the courage. If he passes the test, he is the one we’ve been expecting.”

Magnor pointed to the dragon. “How about your saliva? Does it have acidic properties?”

Shayna snorted a cloud of steam. “We’ve already tried. It didn’t work.”

“There’s only one place where you can get the acid that will dissolve these chains,” Ribald said with a grimace. “If you succeed, we’ll give you the information you need. You will have proven yourself as our destined savior.”

Erika kicked at a pebble on the ground. “With all these delays, we’ll never find that stupid book.”

Another tremor shook the cavern, and Magnor gripped a rocky outcropping as the ground shifted under him. “That’s no train coming this time.”

“These quakes have been happening more often lately,” Ribald said after the motion abated. “Loki is growing stronger. You must hurry and free us. My kind can help you in the final battle, but only if we get word to them.”

Magnor gave him a wry glance. “Where do we find the required acid to dissolve your chains, then?”

The dragon snickered as though doubting his ability to accomplish the task.

“It won’t be easy.” Ribald stroked his stubbled chin. “You have to collect the sweat of Balhogg the Ogre.”