News of the attack spread quickly. Captain Teren greeted them at the gates as Howie gingerly carried the still-flaming arrow inside. The stalwart Orkadian soldier looked frightened. His face was pale under his sheaf of thick blond hair. “High Council chambers, now,” Teren ordered. The gate was closed and sealed firmly behind them.
They crowded into the meeting room. Perrin had to order Damarius to stay outside three times. The Shun Kara hated being parted from her, but his fearsome size tended to intimidate even the most battle-worn Orkadians.
Inside the meeting room, Orkadian banners hung from the wall made of red silk with the white heron emblazoned on the front. A pair of chandeliers held burning candles that cast a warm glow over the room.
Sam’s mom, Abigail, sat at the head of the table claiming her place as Chief High Council. The pesky dwarf, Rego, sat on her left rubbing his whiskered chin worriedly. To Abigail’s right sat Leyes, the newly appointed Eifalian representative. With Gael now king, his young cousin had taken his place on the council. Leyes had long white hair he left loose, and he wore the aqua green robes favored by the Eifalians.
Next to him sat Beo. A row of dangling iolar feathers hung from his ear lobes. The Falcory’s face looked grim as he eyed the still-flaming arrow Howie carried into the room.
“Quickly, put it on the table,” Abigail said.
Howie set it down and she leaned forward, murmuring a spell. With a wave of her hand, the arrow finally went out. It lay there, glowing red and smoldering.
“Anyone care to explain the meaning of this?” she asked.
“Only one army has fire like this,” Beo said. He sniffed at the smell of sulfur rising from the ashes. “The Eldjotnar. An army of fire giants to the south. Their arrows are dipped in the molten lava of Musspell. Surt is said to own a flaming sword named Bal. With it he could burn an entire village and hardly trouble himself.”
There were gasps and groans from around the room.
“Who are they?” Sam whispered to Perrin.
“The fire giants are ruled by the warrior god, Surt,” she whispered in his ear. “They are the enemy of mankind. Odin’s protection kept them at bay, but somebody killed him,” she pointed out.
Sam ignored her dig, gulping back his fear as Captain Teren said, “We have always known that Surt was a threat, but he has never made a move against us before. Why now?”
Leyes waved a hand, releasing a cloud of fog across the table. “Captain, surely the veil has been torn?”
They watched as an image of a long-ago Odin appeared, standing on the shores of Orkney and sealing off their world from the fiery mountains of the South.
Abigail sighed heavily. “You think Odin’s passing has made it possible for Surt to advance?”
Leyes nodded over steepled fingers. “So it would seem.”
Rego snorted, jumping up on his stubby legs. “Then we stop him. I’ll take our best men and ride out to meet his army.”
Beo laughed harshly. “Dwarf, you speak a death sentence for those men. The fire giants are fiercer than any warrior alive. It would take a hundred times the forces we have at hand to defeat them, and, even then, I’m not sure we would win.”
“What do we do, then? Wait until they march on Skara Brae and burn it to the ground?” Rego thundered. “I say we fight.”
“Take heed, Rego,” Abigail murmured. “We must not act in haste. We do not have the power to defeat Surt. Today was just a survey party. They will need to amass their weapons and move them into position. We have time yet to plan.”
“What are you thinking, my lady?” Captain Teren asked.
“We will need powerful magic to fight them. Perhaps if I speak with Hestera, convince her to join with us. A coven of witches will do much toward balancing the power.”
Teren drummed his fingers on the table. “Even if every last witch joined us, it wouldn’t be enough to defeat Surt—”
Before he could finish the sentence, the door to the chambers banged open. A hunched man shuffled in wearing a hooded cloak. A cold wind blew in with him, snuffing out most of the candles.
The room went silent.
Captain Teren rose, one hand to his sword. “Excuse us, sir, this is a private meeting.”
The man ignored him, hobbling forward in the dim light until he was at the head of the table. Then with a flourish he threw back the hood and grinned at them.
“Isn’t this a lovely sight,” he said.
Sam frowned. For some reason, his skin crawled with dread. The man was stocky, not too tall, with a broad face and a wide grin. Bushy eyebrows made him look almost feral, and his deep-set eyes glittered with a potent evil.
Abigail rose, sniffing at the air. “Who are you? I sense powerful magic.”
The intruder raised innocent hands. “Who, me? I was just looking for the kitchens. I always did like the kidney pies here.”
Leo shoved past Sam. “I know you. You’re the one that hit me on the head with that rock in the underworld.”
The man’s eyes narrowed into slits of evil. Then he grinned, spreading his hands. “You caught me. Loki’s the name; mischief’s my game. Hear me, oh, wise council of Orkney. Enjoy your last days of peace. Surt’s army of angry fire giants will soon be marching down your throats.”
“You did this,” Abigail breathed. “You went to Surt.” She raised her hand, and a blue ball of witchfire sprang up, but before she could throw it he snapped his fingers and the fire sputtered out.
“Take a seat, deary.” Abigail was slammed into her seat with some invisible force.
Magic boiled under Sam’s skin. He was ready to blast this mischief-maker into the next world, but his mother silently shook her head at him.
Loki strutted around the table. “I might have stirred the pot, but Surt would have figured it out soon enough.” He scanned the room, eyeing the banners and the shields mounted on the walls. “I just wanted to see the old place one last time before he burns it to the ground.”
He stopped in front of Sam, who had to ask, “Why are you doing this?”
Loki leaned in and sniffed Sam’s scent, and then his eyes lit up. “You’re the Son of Odin that took his life. I should give you a medal. Why, you ask? Do you know what Odin did to me? What he did to my wife and children?”
“Your children are horrible beasts,” Keely said fiercely. “They deserve to be chained up.”
Loki flung his hand out, and, with a snap of his fingers, Keely went flying backward. She crashed into the wall with a thud. “My children will rule this world on the ashes of your bones.”
Leo and Jey rushed to Keely’s side to help her up. She looked shaken but unhurt.
“You’ve been warned,” Loki continued, pointing a finger at all of them. “Now that your precious Odin is dead, you don’t have a prayer. Surt will burn your cities and cut you down like paper dolls.”
There was shocked silence, and then Captain Teren stepped forward. “Surt will not defeat us. We have friends. Allies. They will join us. We stand united.”
Loki laughed bitterly. “United? There’s a joke. The witches hate you. The Balfins are all but destroyed. The Falcory, well, don’t get me started; they’re weak, clinging to their old ways. The Vanir need only the slightest push to unleash their bloodthirst for war on the Eifalians. Who does that leave? You lot. Well, sorry, you don’t scare me. And, speaking of those frosty Vanir, it’s time they were reminded of their hatred for the Eifalians. Ta-ta!”
As a group of Orkadian soldiers burst into the room, closely followed by Damarius howling with rage, Loki transformed into a raven, scattering feathers everywhere before he flew up the chimney.
Sam was the first to speak in the silence. “Did you hear that? Loki’s going to trick the Vanir into starting a war with the Eifalians.”
Perrin looped her arms around Damarius as Keely limped back to the table. “The Vanir will keep to their treaty. I know their king, Joran. He is an honorable man.”
But Leyes slammed two hands down on the table, shouting, “The Vanir have no honor! Look how they executed our king because of a thousand-year-old hatred.” He stood abruptly. “I must warn my people. I will leave for Torf-Einnar immediately. I’m sorry I cannot stay and help in this fight.”
“What if I go to Rakim and talk to Joran?” Keely said. “I know he’ll listen to me.”
There was silence as the council digested that, and then Leo stepped forward. “Keely’s right,” he said. “She has the best chance of reaching the king of the Vanir. I’ll go with her,” he added, his voice thick with guilt. “This is my fault. I freed Loki.”
Jey jumped into it. “If Leo’s going, I’m going. Keely will need a lot of protecting.”
Abigail shook her head. “Thank you, Jey, but I think your father might need you here. Beo, what say you?”
The dangling feathers in Beo’s ears swayed as he shook his head. “The frost giants have always stood in brotherhood with the fire giants. Between them they can take Orkney apart. If the girl believes she can convince the Vanir to join with us, I’m for it. Until then, our biggest threat is Surt’s army of boercats, the flying red beasts he rides on. I have an idea. There is an ancient mountain of stone to the east of the Falcory lands, the Caverns of Inizza. They are said to be the birthplace of the ancient Safyre Omeras.”
Abigail’s hand fluttered to her throat. “Surely those horrid beasts are long dead?”
“Not dead. Sleeping. Catriona awoke one in her battle with your son. In recent days, we have seen signs, strange burn marks on the stones, and our hunting grounds have been disturbed. There are whispers in the sands that when the beast was called, its mate was also awoken.”
“It might give us an edge,” Abigail said quietly, looking to Teren. “One we desperately need.”
The captain slowly nodded his agreement. He looked tired, weary to the bone, and Sam couldn’t blame him. He had just led the Orkadian army through a difficult battle with the witches, and now this.
“Let me go with you, father,” Jey said eagerly. “I will help you find this Safyre Omera and bring it to heel like a dog.”
Beo shook his head, his dark eyes unflinching. “Hunting this beast will be the most dangerous thing the Falcory have undertaken. You will stay here in Skara Brae and await my return. That is my final word.”
Jey scowled and folded his arms.
Teren stood. “Then we’re agreed. There is no time to waste. The tides will be in our favor this afternoon to sail to Rakim. Galatin, you will escort Keely and Leo on their journey.”
The young Orkadian soldier nodded. Galatin had traveled with Keely to the North once before. “Aye, Teren, I know my way around there. Didn’t lose my head last time.” He winked at Keely.
Abigail also rose. “My friends, once again we face an enemy greater than any we have faced before. We must stand together, or we will lose. May Odin’s fortunes smile upon you on your journeys.”