Chapter Twenty-Eight

Erika raced through her house without finding Magnor anywhere. Her heart galloped while panic threatened to overwhelm her. Where did he go?

She could have sworn he’d return here, even with the threat from the Trolleks outside. He wouldn’t rejoin his team, not without the sacred book. Sure, he might sulk a bit over her, but soon he’d realize they needed each other.

And, oh Lord, she didn’t like the emptiness that yawned ahead without him. She’d grown accustomed to his comforting strength and gentle touch. If only she’d told him the truth from the beginning. He was the first man who truly appreciated her and she’d let him down. Tears pricked her eyes. She’d make it up to him somehow when she found him.

She’d vectored directly inside her house, keeping away from the windows as she searched each room. His backpack lay where he’d left it on a kitchen counter. She scooped it up during her search. Her stomach roiled and ice filled her veins at the possibility he’d gone. She didn’t even know how to contact his team.

The other possibility scared her even more. He might have taken the poison pill, intent on sticking to his mission despite her absence. Afraid of what she’d find, she rummaged through his knapsack. The gifts from Imogene were gone—the horn, too.

Inside her home office, the screen saver swirled on her computer. She dropped into the seat and scraped the mouse along its pad. A website popped into view. So Magnor had been here! He’d looked up Norse legends, Hel in particular.

Erika scanned the page before clicking on a link for Odin. Among his other talents, the All-Father could banish souls into the earth. He also had the power to open funerary mounds and take spirits from the underworld to bring them back to life.

Wait, how had he accomplished this? She squinted at the monitor as she read further. The Norse god had imparted some sort of magical breath. Was it possible she’d inherited a measure of this ability?

According to Imogene, she’d find the means to revive her husband among the Fae. But even though fairies didn’t fit into Norse mythology, her figurines might still provide a clue.

Crossing over to her pottery studio would expose her to any Trolleks patrolling the premises. Magnor must have used his invisibility shield to bypass them. Or maybe they’d left. Erika didn’t hear the buzzing sound she usually got in their presence.

She peeked out the rear door from her kitchen. Not seeing anyone nearby, she slipped outside and hurried around to her studio. Her purse flapped against her side along with Magnor’s backpack as she trod across the soft ground.

She pushed open the unlocked door, her pulse jumping when she noticed the lights blazing inside.

A quick scan absorbed the drying racks, the counters, the long table where she taught children’s classes, the potter’s wheel, and the kiln.

At first glance, everything seemed to be in order, but something wasn’t right. She could tell from the smell of dust that the air had been disturbed.

And then she saw the pair of boots on the floor sticking out from behind a counter.

Her heart leapt into her throat. Oh. My. God.

She slammed the door shut behind her and rushed ahead with a cry of dismay. Magnor lay stretched out on the ground, the container Imogene had given him spilled from his open palm. Erika fell to her knees. His eyes were partially closed, his face as gray as granite and just as still.

“Magnor, wake up.” She pushed him but he didn’t respond.

Should she try CPR? No, that wouldn’t help if he’d ingested poison. She needed an antidote. Could the answer be here, among her finished porcelain fairies?

She scoured the contents of her studio, but her whimsical designs didn’t offer any solutions. Their delicate faces stared back at her, as imaginary as Tinkerbell. At least that fairytale heroine could fly.

The germ of an idea sprang into Erika’s mind. She locked the door while thinking about it. What had she just read on the computer? Something about a breath that could give life.

Night had descended, but if a beam of sunlight could cut the gloom, it would have illuminated the dust motes suspended in the air.

She inhaled deeply. The particles filled her nostrils, tickling her nose and making her want to sneeze. But they also filled her heart with hope.

Therein lay her salvation. The truth did lie among the fairies. Precisely, in fairy dust.

With her special power, she had control over the earth and all that derived from it.

Her chest swelled with the realization that the means to revive Magnor came from within herself. She had only to believe strongly enough and focus her ability. Could she do it?

She’d have to try.

After sucking in two deep breaths to inflate her lungs, she crouched by Magnor’s side again. Her fingers smoothed away the lock of dark hair that had fallen across his forehead. Then she trailed her forefinger along his cheek to the beard that darkened his jaw.

Would his soul fly to Valhalla if she failed? So it was in the Norse stories for fallen warriors. But she wouldn’t give up on him yet. He had to live.

She couldn’t imagine her life without him.

Bending forward, she hovered over his face, her mouth nearly touching his. His lips were parted. Tempted to touch him with a kiss, she instead took another deep breath. Then she squeezed her eyes shut and blew softly into his mouth.

In her mind’s eye, she pictured the dust swirling into his throat. The particles sparkled like magical fairy dust as she imbued them with her power. Riding this dust was the wind of life, the breath of respiration.

She envisioned this breath twisting down his trachea and entering his lungs, where it revitalized each cell. And from there, it would get absorbed into his bloodstream and circulate throughout his body. His metabolism would restart like a rebooted computer.

Her temples throbbed, her pulse pounding from the effort expended. She’d done her best.

Opening her eyes, she gasped in dismay. Magnor lay unmoving, still as death.

She’d failed. Now they would never recover the Book of Odin and the means to destroy the Trolleks.

She had doomed her world to catastrophe. And she’d lost the one man with whom she wanted to stay until the end of time.

Too shattered to go on, she covered her face with her hands.

A muted cough made her glance up. Was it her imagination, or had Magnor’s nose twitched?

When he took a short, choking breath, she cried out in joy. Her spirits soaring, she shook him and called his name.

“Magnor, can you hear me? Wake up.”

His eyes popped open, and he stared at her in bewilderment.

“Oh, thank the Lord. You’re alive.” Leaning over, she hugged him.

“You did it.” His voice held a note of wonder. “You brought me back.”

She kissed him, rejoicing in his revival. “That was my job, remember?” Moisture tipped her lashes as contrition filled her. “I’m so sorry. Please forgive me for not telling you about my trust fund sooner. I was afraid to lose you.”

He struggled to a sitting position. “No, it is I who beg your forgiveness. I should have given you a chance to explain.”

When he opened his arms, she settled onto his lap and embraced him. They clung together, tightly bound. As his mouth inched close to hover over hers, she lifted her face. His lips descended on hers in a desperate, hungry kiss. She matched his moves, unable to tear away, wanting to keep the world at bay so they could have a few moments together.

A hard object jabbed her leg. Was that his arousal, or his sword? A glance downward showed the corner of a book sticking from his pocket.

“Is that what I think it is?” She broke off and stood, smoothing down her clothes.

“Yes, I got the artifact, and you retrieved me just in time. How did you figure out what to do?” Magnor scrambled to his feet.

“I’ll tell you later.” She picked up his backpack off the floor where she’d dropped it along with her handbag. “Let’s go back to the house and talk. I want to hear all about your experience.”

Relaxing in her living room, she listened while Magnor related his tale. Any thoughts of a more intimate reunion fled when a banging noise sounded on the front door. At the same time, Erika’s ears buzzed.

“We have company.”

Magnor leapt up from his chair. “Take us to my team using your transport device. We must give Nira this book to translate.”

The banging turned into a series of crashes as if someone were applying an axe to the door. Why hadn’t the Trolleks vectored directly inside her house? She glanced at the sculptures displayed on her shelves. Perhaps they shielded her.

Shield Maiden.

The thought came unbidden into her mind. Or had she heard it spoken? No one else was present in the room with them, so why did she feel as if they weren’t alone?

Wait, wasn’t shield maiden was another name for a Valkyrie, the warrior women who guided dead soldiers to Odin’s hall at Valhalla?

Perhaps one of their kind had selected Magnor, to take him there if he didn’t survive his quest. Or maybe the opposite was true. A Valkyrie, like a guardian angel, was protecting them.

Does it matter? Get us out of here.

As Magnor instructed, she gripped his arm and focused on their destination.

When they arrived, it wasn’t to any familiar location. They stood in a tropical jungle with raucous bird cries and crickets singing a chorus as stars twinkled in the night sky. Thick foliage surrounded them while a spicy scent permeated the moist air.

“Where are we? This doesn’t look like Florida. That’s where I meant to bring us.”

“You were thinking of my team so we must have come here for a reason.” Magnor took out his PIP and did a few quick calculations. “We’re on a Pacific island with imminent volcanic activity. I’m reading body heat signatures up ahead about five klicks away.”

A tremor shook the ground, startling them both.

“What’s that?” She glanced around, but it was difficult for her to make out shapes in the dark.

“This area is volatile. We should move on. I’ll check in with my team to make sure they are here.”

“Join us as fast as you can,” Zohar’s terse voice said in response to his hail.

They made slow progress through the jungle. Sharp tapered leaves slashed at them, and sticky webs clung to their skin.

Erika shuddered to think what creatures might live in this steamy place, ready to drop onto her head. At least she’d had the foresight to change into sneakers back home. She hoped the dead leaves underfoot didn’t hide any snakes.

In the lead, Magnor pushed aside overhanging branches and vines. A screeching noise came from above, making her wonder if monkeys inhabited the trees.

She rubbed her aching forehead. If only she could sleep for a few more hours, she’d feel better. Those catnaps she’d taken had helped, but they didn’t lessen her overall fatigue. Unfortunately, time was of the essence. Enemy troops would be gathering for battle, and warriors didn’t have the luxury of rest.

Did that include her, now? Had she graduated to warrior status with the rest of her legendary sisters?

She supposed so. People could fight with skills other than combat. Pride straightened her spine. She’d do whatever it took to fulfill her part in the prophecy.

Magnor’s eyes glowed, his night vision active as he led the way. She yielded to his sense of direction and the compass on his PIP.

The ground shook again as though the ancient gods were angry at their intrusion. Or was it Loki preparing to launch Ragnarok with a catastrophic eruption?

They kept on for what seemed like hours, but her watch said only ninety minutes passed. She yelped at a sudden howl issuing from the vegetation. Hopefully, they wouldn’t meet any of the larger wildlife.

Several feet further, Magnor halted so abruptly that she bumped into him.

“There, up ahead. Do you see it?” His deep voice resonated in the dark.

She could barely make out a structure among the shadows. A low whistle sounded.

Magnor whistled back.

Zohar emerged from the jungle, a grin splitting his face. The two men clasped each other’s shoulders in greeting.

“You made it! Welcome to the temple. This is the island where Nira and I landed after we fell through the mirror.” Zohar saw Erika’s questioning glance. “That’s a story for later.”

“I thought we were regrouping on Togura Island?” Magnor said.

“This turns out to be the site where we must chant the rune to banish Loki. Unlike last time, we are better prepared to face any hostile natives. No one has shown up so far.”

“I have the book.” Magnor withdrew the ancient text and handed it to his commanding officer. “Nira will need to translate the language. It looks runic in origin.”

“The ladies are inside. We are fortunate part of this temple is still standing with its walls and roof. Erika, it is good to see you again.”

“Thanks. You, too.” Sparing a glance at the pillars that dotted the grounds and the offerings of fresh fruit in an altar-like alcove, Erika darted ahead and climbed the stairs to the temple’s gaping entrance.

Inside, electric lights were strung overhead to provide illumination. Wires led to a mobile generator that hummed in the background. The interior wasn’t immune to the ravages of time. Vines intruded into cracks and crevices, while piles of rubble dotted the floor.

A couple of the guys huddled around a laptop, studying the screen, while the women conferred over a collection of documents laid out on a marble slab. Yaron’s lady wasn’t there. Perhaps she’d stepped outside or into another chamber.

“Erika, you’re finally here.” Nira welcomed her with a smile and a wave. “Come on over.”

Zohar handed Nira the book. “Here, see if you can find mention of the weapon. We don’t have much time.”

After exchanging news, Nira suggested Erika get some rest. She was happy to comply and found some bedding set up in a corner. Allowing the others to worry about their next move, she stretched out and shut her eyes.

Her thoughts drifted to Magnor and his tender touch. That happy notion brought a smile to her lips and eased her into a dreamless sleep.

****

“Guys, I’ve got it. Come and take a look,” Nira cried.

The men hurried over. Magnor assumed a place at his captain’s side.

“What have you learned?” Zohar asked, his face eager.

She pointed to the book spread out on the marble slab that served as a table. “This verse claims the light of day turns Trolleks into stone.”

“That’s unlikely, since they live among us in broad daylight. Even Jak’Tar has cycles like ours.”

“I believe it means that a certain frequency of light can adversely affect them.” Nira crooked her finger at Kaj, their engineer. “Explain about the spectrum.”

Kaj plowed his fingers through his unruly hair. “The visible spectrum is the light we can see. The electromagnetic spectrum includes near infrared, medium range wavelengths, and a longer infrared range. These are not visible to us.”

“Like ultraviolet light?” Magnor said for clarification.

“Right. That has a shorter wavelength compared to visible light. Some insects, like bees, can see it.”

Zohar rounded on Nira. “How does this help us? Are we to flash a light in a Trollek’s eyes to subdue him? That makes no sense.”

“I’m not sure yet, but I feel we’re on the right track.”

Turning back to the book, she compressed her lips, while Magnor glanced in the corner where Erika rested. She needed sleep, so he resisted the urge to check on her.

His gaze swung toward the temple’s open entry. If they were all inside, who was standing watch? Had Zohar set a guard, or had he been too distracted? They were vulnerable here, all gathered in one place.

“Tell me,” Zohar said to him aside from the others, “how did you acquire the book? What happened since we last saw you?”

Magnor related their adventures. Then Zohar took a turn filling him in on the team’s progress.

Finally, Magnor glanced toward the entrance again. Unease clawed at him. “Shall I take a look outside, sire? Or did you post guards?” Perhaps Zohar had deployed their allies for that duty.

“Go ahead. I set a perimeter alarm, but getting a visual is a good idea.”

“Hey, I’ve found something,” Nira called before Magnor headed away. “I thought the book binding felt too rigid. This object was hidden inside the spine.” She held up a crystal rod in her hand. “I believe this is the weapon we were meant to find.”

The crystal’s polished facets reflected light in rainbow colors. Red, green and blue beams shot across the room, dancing on the walls.

“What is it?” Zohar said with a perplexed frown.

Kaj’s face lit with excitement. “It’s a prism that disperses white light into different frequencies. We see them as bands of color, but in actuality, there are no such definite boundaries. The color spectrum is continuous.”

Yaron veered their way and plucked the prism from Nira’s fingers. “I can explain. Human retinas contain two types of cells, rods and cones. Rods function at night, while cones support daytime vision along with color perception.

“Three types of cones exist. Each one contains pigments activated when they absorb light. We perceive discrete bands of color as a result of these pigments because their responsiveness varies. For example, one pigment may be receptive to short wavelengths, another to medium ones, and the third to longer ranges.”

“Can you speak more plainly?” Zohar shared an exasperated glance with Magnor. Combat strategy was more their thing than science.

“The Trolleks might be hypersensitive to a certain frequency, as Nira said earlier.”

“If true, how does that work for us?”

Kaj stole the prism from the medic. “We have to adapt the idea on a larger scale. I’ll need to tap into the global satellite system. I’m guessing the prism’s harmonic resonance in combination with its refractory properties will do the job.”

“Harmonic resonance? Do you mean sound?”

“That’s correct. You know how the Trolleks dislike loud noises? Imagine the piercing note you get when you tap a crystal glass. Now magnify it.”

“Can you access the satellite feed from here?”

“Aye, but the setup will only work after sunrise.”

“What about Hel’s army of dead walkers?” Magnor asked the engineer. “Do we have an anti-magnetic shield in case they show up?”

“I didn’t finish it,” Kaj replied, “and now this project takes priority.”

“Get back to work.” Zohar signaled the others. “Magnor and Dal, you’re with me. We’ll do sentry duty. Yaron, keep researching your antidote to the confounding spell. Paz, assist the others and contact me when Nira has pinpointed the site for the final ritual.”

“Do you think people’s minds will clear once we eliminate their puppet masters?” Paz asked with a hopeful lilt.

Yaron responded. “Chemical changes are responsible for the mental compliance. We need a treatment that blocks this interference. I’m almost finished refining my compound. If it works, we’ll require a means of dispersal.”

They split up. Magnor accompanied his team leader and their demolitions expert out a side opening that might have once held a door.

His muscles tensed. A pregnant silence alerted him that they weren’t alone. He’d grown up surrounded by woods and knew the signs.

Zohar sniffed the environs. “Cors particles. Trolleks are vectoring in.” The perimeter alarm sounded at the same instant that he drew his T-6 phase pistol.

Eager for battle, Magnor unsheathed his sword.