Duck, Duck, Noose Read online

  I touched her shoulder, but she didn’t seem to notice. Normally you’d say someone’s name to get their attention, but I didn’t know hers. I wasn’t sure if the Norns even used names. I’d sure never been given one to call any of them by.

  Not knowing what else to do, I knelt down beside her and wrapped my arms around her shoulders. I hugged her, because sometimes, that’s the only comfort one person can really offer another. The comfort of another body, holding them close, sharing in their pain.

  She let out another sob, then leaned her weight against me.

  I am the only one left, a weak voice whispered in my mind. All of my sister’s have left me. I cannot bear this burden alone.

  “There’s still hope,” I soothed. “We can still return you to your true form. Maybe then, you’ll be closer to your lost sisters.”

  She finally lifted her head to look at me. Her strange, uptilted eyes were swollen and red-rimmed from her tears. The Norns had always seemed so different to me, not like humans or Vaettir, but in that moment, she seemed just like all the rest of us. Lost and alone, longing for safety and love.

  You will truly regrow Yggdrasil? she questioned, as if needing reassurance.

  I nodded. “That’s been my plan all along.”

  Frode cleared his throat, then leaned toward Mikael and whispered, “I’m guessing there’s a whole other side to this conversation I’m not hearing?”

  “Yes,” Mikael answered simply, then moved to kneel before the Norn, though he turned his eyes to me. “Will she join us?”

  I nodded, my arms still loosely wrapped around her shoulders. “I think so.”

  We will need the Morrigan, the voice said in my head. We cannot regrow Yggdrasil without her energy. We need fate, chaos, emotion, life and death. All parts must be present.

  I frowned. Mara, the Morrigan, had left the world once again, after temporarily possessing Marcos. Her energy had been too weakened to remain. Logically I knew we’d need her energy to bring our goals to fruition, but I was hoping we’d either find a way around it, or another solution would present itself. I might even be able to use my energy, but I wasn’t sure what such a sacrifice would entail.

  Reading my thoughts, the Norn answered, We can bring the Morrigan’s energy back, if only in a small way. If you bring her to once again reside inside you, she may be able to remain until the time comes to regrow the tree. We’ll need the help of the necromancer.

  “Marcos?” I questioned. “How do you know about him?”

  Suddenly her sorrow turned to anger, hot enough to scald. He fed off the energy of my sisters in the past. I can sense him, just as I can sense you. It is why we feared the banshees. Executioners and other denizens of death are instinctually programmed to stay away from each other, and if they come together, they compete until one is killed. You have somehow gathered three in one space, including yourself. It is unnatural, and terrifying.

  I frowned as I thought over what she’d said. In the beginning, Faas had been downright bitter toward me, but we’d eventually become friends. Marcos didn’t seem to feel a need to compete with me, as long as I helped him achieve Hecate’s goals.

  It is all because of you, the Norn explained in reply to my thoughts. You are the earth and all that it encompasses. You are a uniting force, bending the laws of nature to your will.

  Mikael smiled suddenly, obviously still hearing everything I was. “So what you’re saying,” he began, as he glanced between me and the Norn, “is that we have a chance.”

  The Norn seemed surprised. She was silent for several seconds, then answered, Yes. There are powers at your disposal to rival those of the charm, but the cycle of fate is slowly unravelling. I truly cannot say what will happen.

  Mikael winked at her. “Don’t worry, I’ve always been very lucky. You’ll be reunited with your sisters in no time.”

  The Norn didn’t seem to know what to say to that. No one did. What remained of Fate was quite literally on our side, perhaps with a little added luck, we might actually succeed. The world was basically depending on us. No pressure, or anything.

  8

  Once the Norn had recovered, we returned to the Salr to share the news, and to get everyone ready to go. Mikael had stayed outside to make calls on his cell to arrange our travel. He’d ordered Frode and Aila to remain by my side while I spread the news and packed my things. Tallie vowed to protect me too, but Mikael didn’t seem to believe her.

  I came through the entrance first. Faas was there, waiting just inside the Salr for our return, looking sullen with his white-blond topknot of hair hanging forward into his eyes. Like me, Faas was more magically imposing than physically, as we were both executioners. We were even the same height.

  He heaved a sigh of relief, then looked past me as Aila, Frode, and Tallie appeared. Next came the Norn. She crouched as she entered, then stood to her full height, antlers nearly reaching the ceiling.

  Faas took a step back, wide-eyed.

  Once he’d recovered, he turned his gaze back to me. “Is that what I think it is?”

  “She’s a Norn,” I explained. “She’s on our side.

  He nodded, instantly accepting my explanation, then glanced at the dirt wall as if expecting more people to come through. He brought his eyes back to me. “Mikael?”

  “Up above, making plans,” I explained. “Alaric and Sophie have been taken by Estus. We all need to get on a plane to the States to rescue them.”

  I could feel anxiety wafting off him like a bitter perfume, but he took me at my word without asking for further explanation. “Might I ask . . . ” he trailed off as his eyes flicked to the Norn.

  “Later,” I answered as I walked past him. “Help me spread word to everyone that it’s time to leave. Make sure someone escorts Maya and the others up, while keeping a close eye on them.”

  Faas fell into step beside me. “Consider it done. What about Marcos?”

  “I’ll talk to him. There are some things we need to discuss before we leave.” I held up a hand to cut him off as he began to speak, knowing he was going to reject the idea of me speaking to Marcos on my own. “Frode and Aila will remain with me,” I added.

  Faas sighed, then nodded. “I’ll get everyone ready, but don’t get too comfortable around Marcos.”

  “If you think I stand any chance of being comfortable with anything right now,” I replied, “you are sorely mistaken.”

  He put a hand on my shoulder to halt my progression, surprising me since he was not the physically affectionate type. “We’ll get him back,” he assured, his pale eyes earnest.

  I didn’t have to ask to whom he referred. Everyone knew Alaric would be at the forefront of my mind. I nodded, holding back tears as they suddenly attacked me, then turned away to continue on with my mission.

  Faas walked off in the other direction without another word, as Frode and Aila fell into step on either side of me. I felt like a dwarf between their tall, muscled frames, but I couldn’t say that I minded. Extra protection was rarely a bad thing, even if it could be annoying.

  We continued down the hall silently until we reached the room where Marcos was being held. Outside the door stood Alejandro and Tabitha, casually chatting. Alejandro had somehow managed to fit in much better with Mikael’s people than Tallie had, though I sensed Tallie’s need to fit in was greater. Alejandro didn’t really care. He was just happy as long as no one was trying to kill him. Unfortunately, his happiness would probably end once we reached the States.

  “It’s time to go,” I announced.

  Tabitha looked to Aila for confirmation, which irked me, but I couldn’t really blame her. Mikael was her leader, not me, even if we were planning on ruling together.

  Alejandro simply nodded, accepting my orders. “Alaric and Sophie?” he questioned.

  I shook my head.

  He frowned, and I could sense Tabitha’s worry, but neither spoke.

  “Aila and Frode will aid me with Marcos,” I explained, not wanting to discuss
anything else further. “Find Faas and help him gather the others.”

  Tabitha and Alejandro both nodded, then left us. I was glad once they were gone. Aila would never push me to talk about anything emotional, and I had a feeling Frode wouldn’t either, though I’d only just met him the previous day. Alejandro and Tabitha were different.

  I opened the door and the three of us entered the room. Marcos was sitting on the floor with his back against the stone wall. His long, white hair hid his expression. He remained motionless, not acknowledging our arrival.

  “Rushing to Estus’ Salr is a mistake,” he stated.

  “How did you . . . ” I trailed off, wondering how he knew our plan before we’d told it to anyone.

  He moved his head a fraction to peer through his hair and meet my eyes. “You know just who whispers in my ear,” he replied vaguely.

  I glanced to Aila, then to Frode on either side of me. He was claiming Hecate had told him of our plan, and I had no choice but to believe him. There was no other way for him to know.

  “Mistake or no, we’re going,” I replied.

  He stood and took a graceful step toward us. His shapeless black clothing made his pale face seem ghostly, and his spiderweb-like hair only added to the effect. “Well this should at least prove interesting,” he commented with a small smile on his gaunt face.

  “Who says you’re going?” Aila remarked snidely.

  “He is,” I answered before there could be any arguments. “He’s part of the plan.”

  Aila didn’t reply, but I could sense her unhappiness. No one seemed to like Marcos, myself included.

  He spread his arms wide, encompassing the rest of the room. “Seeing as I have no possessions, I suppose I’m ready to go.”

  I nodded, then turned to leave the room, expecting everyone to follow.

  Mikael found us just as we re-entered the hall, his cell phone still in his hand. “Everything is arranged. We’ll fly out of Dublin in three hours, so we need to get moving.”

  I nodded, suppressing tears, glad we wouldn’t have to wait around much. As long as I was moving toward our agenda, I could keep myself together. If I had to wait, I wasn’t sure if I could keep myself from breaking down. Wallowing would do Alaric no good. Action would. Guess which one I was in favor of.

  “I need to pack my things,” I breathed.

  Mikael looked past me to Aila, Frode, and Marcos, then turned his gaze back to me. “Several cars should arrive on the main road to pick us up shortly. Aila and Frode will remain with you while you pack. I’ll take Marcos.”

  I glanced behind me as everyone nodded. Marcos seemed calm with a small, secretive smile on his face.

  “You have a problem with that?” I questioned, hoping he wasn’t about to give us trouble.

  “Not at all,” he replied politely. “In fact, I’m quite interested to see how this whole new endeavor will work out.”

  Taking him at his word, I turned back to Mikael and gave him a final nod. “I’ll see you above ground shortly.”

  He nodded in reply, then walked past me and took hold of Marcos’ arm, guiding him back down the hall away from the rest of us.

  I watched them go, wondering if Mikael would be a match for Marcos should Marcos decide to rebel. I shook my head. Mikael only took well calculated risks. If he felt fine taking sole custody of Marcos, it meant he wasn’t worried about it, so I shouldn’t be either.

  Aila cleared her throat, drawing my attention to her. “We should get moving. You aren’t the only one who has things to pack.”

  Forcing myself back into the current moment, I nodded, then turned to head back toward my room, deep in thought. I didn’t get far. I nearly jumped out of my skin as I almost walked right into Kira.

  She looked up at me with her large, green eyes, accented by the bangs of her forest green hair. Her delicate face held concern. “What’s going on?” she asked softly. “I heard someone say that you were leaving.”

  I bit my lip and mentally cursed myself. In all the chaos I’d forgotten about Kira. I’d originally found her living alone in the Salr, but she’d been more than happy to have the extra company that came with my presence. She’d grown accustomed to having extra people around, and now here I was, about to leave her behind without a word.

  “Alaric’s been kidnapped,” I explained, tilting my head to look down at her diminutive form. “We have to fly to the U.S. to get him back.”

  Her eyes widened, then she looked down at her feet.

  “What is it?” I pressed, anxious to get on with things.

  She mumbled something that I couldn’t quite hear.

  With an impatient huff, I knelt in front of her. “I’m sorry, but I’m kind of in a rush, please just tell me what you have to say.”

  She met my eyes. “I’d like to go with you,” she stated clearly. “I’d like to find my sister, if I can.”

  A promise I’d made came to mind. A promise to reunite Kira with her sister Sivi, even if Sivi might not be the sister Kira remembered.

  I took a deep breath. “She may still be allied with our enemy,” I explained. Sivi felt no loyalty to Estus, but she still lived in his Salr under his rule, or at least, she had the last time I’d seen her. “But you can come with us if you want. Just please don’t get your hopes up.”

  Kira nodded excitedly. “I’ll pack my things,” she replied quickly. “Please don’t leave without me.”

  I stood. “Meet us above ground. Cars will be arriving soon to take us to the airport.”

  She nodded again, then darted past me toward her room further down the hall.

  Aila fell into step beside me as I began to walk in the other direction, while Frode trailed behind us. Aila didn’t speak, but there was a small smile on her face.

  “What?” I asked tiredly.

  She shook her head and continued to smile. “You’re just a big softy, aren’t you?”

  I snorted. “Says the woman that puts out seed for the birds every single morning.”

  She frowned.

  “I get up early,” I said with a wink. “But don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

  She sighed heavily as Frode chuckled behind us. I was feeling better. Soon I’d be on a plane, and we’d be one step closer to getting Alaric and Sophie back. Fate had already put me through hell. Surely she wouldn’t be cruel enough to take Alaric away from me after everything we’d endured? I bit my lip as I thought of the Norns, and the negative things they’d done along with the positive. I really shouldn’t have been putting so much faith in fate. She could be a real bitch.

  Alaric groaned as he sat up and brushed himself off. Why was he lying in the dirt? He glanced around at his surroundings. He was in a forest, but the smells were strange and the air felt thin. Suddenly remembering everything, he hopped to his feet, searching frantically for Sophie. He soon spotted her a few yards away, lying still at the base of a massive tree.

  His heart in his throat, he rushed toward her, then crouched by her still form, placing his hand on her shoulder.

  She rolled over with a groan, then looked up at him through slitted eyes. “Wha—” she began to question.

  “Estus,” he breathed.

  Estus, accompanied by several others, had found them in the cellar. They’d fought, and many of the Norns were killed. The last thing he could remember was Estus chanting words he didn’t understand, then everything had gone black.

  “Why aren’t we dead?” Sophie questioned as she sat up, brushing the dirt from her black clothing.

  He shook his head, then again observed their surroundings. They weren’t anywhere near the Salr in Ireland, of that he was sure. The trees were different, as were the smells.

  He stood and offered Sophie a hand up. She took it, and they began walking.

  “Why would he just leave us in a forest?” Sophie questioned. “I don’t understand. I can’t seem to remember what happened.”

  Alaric fought against a sickening feeling of foreboding in his gut.
The entire experience had felt somewhat familiar, but it couldn’t be what he was thinking. It was impossible.

  “Let’s just search for signs of civilization,” he replied. “Then we can at least ask where we are.”

  “We have to still be in Ireland, right?” she asked, glancing up at the trees surrounding them. “We couldn’t have been unconscious for long enough to board a plane or boat.”

  “I don’t think we were unconscious for long at all,” he muttered as he continued walking.

  The air was cold and moist, carrying the scent of woodsmoke with it.

  “A fire,” Sophie observed. “We should follow the scent.”

  He nodded in agreement, deciding it best to keep his fears to himself. They continued on in silence as the smell of woodsmoke grew stronger.

  Eventually they found a rocky path. Alaric tried to quiet his thoughts, but they persisted. The cellar where they’d been held was only seven or eight miles from the Salr where Madeline waited. Would Estus head there next? Would he attack Madeline and the others, just as he had the Norns?

  He frowned. If Estus’ only intent was to kill, he and Sophie would be dead. No, he just wanted them out of the way, but why? What difference did his presence make in anything Estus might have planned for Madeline . . . unless he hoped to use them as bargaining chips, just as the Norns had planned.

  A small home came into view with rough stone walls and a thatched roof. Smoke wafted out of a stone chimney sprouting out of the structure’s center.

  Sophie began to rush forward, but Alaric caught her arm.

  “Wait,” he urged.

  Instead of continuing down the path, he walked into the trees where it would be easier to hide. Sophie followed after him, not asking questions. He made a wide circle toward the house, dreading actually reaching it. If the structural elements of the home weren’t enough, he was sure whomever dwelled inside would verify his fears. Still, he couldn’t just wait around, hiding from his fate.