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  Time Academy

  The Portal Sagas: Valkyrie’s Gift 2

  Kelly N. Jane

  1

  I wasn’t a Valkyrie anymore—at least, I didn’t see how I could be. I’d come to the island of Breasal to help repair the damage I’d caused throughout the realms. My days of claiming warriors for Odin’s army were through.

  If that wasn’t bad enough, we’d landed in the middle of nowhere and had to find our way to the city. Slogging through the muddy mountainside made me irritable, but Gus seemed excited about it.

  Stretching my wings, all I wanted was coffee and a scone. Would I ever get either again?

  Breaking into my wallowing, a hand came to rest on my shoulder. Without thinking, I spun and slammed my fist into the intruder, then watched as Gus’s head snapped to the side. He groaned as he stumbled backward, and I curled my hand against my chest.

  “I take it you’re not a morning person,” he said, rubbing his jaw. He wiggled it back and forth a couple times before meeting my gaze.

  “You shouldn’t surprise me before I’ve had my coffee.”

  I wanted to apologize, but I couldn’t get the words to form. Part of me wasn’t sorry. He’d chosen to come with me, to be banished from Valhalla to a mysterious island on the other side of the Gap. That stupid decision deserved a crack in the jaw. Besides, he didn’t look like it had hurt him.

  “I’ll keep that in mind.” Gus kicked dirt over the cold ashes of the fire from where we’d spent the night. “We should get going.”

  I rolled my neck, working out the kinks from sleep. “No coffee, no scones, and no sparring. This is going to be a great day.” Not to mention the other awkwardness with those vines. I shuddered and put it out of my mind.

  Staring around, I wasn’t sure which direction to walk. I hated feeling helpless and lost. Adding to the frustration, I’d lost the leather string from my hair, and the wayward curls wouldn’t stay out of my face. I kicked around the area where we’d slept, and found the string on the ground. I tied my hair back as best I could.

  “I can’t do anything about the food, though those are questionable choices, but the sparring I can help with. It sounds like a great way for both of us to warm up before we head out. I’ll take it easy on you if you want.” Gus’s mouth quivered as he fought a grin without success.

  He picked up two of the branches he’d gathered the night before and pulled at all the small twigs and leaves until they were bare. Then he presented the two pathetic pretend swords.

  I stepped back. “I’m the best champion in Valhalla. If you hold back, you will only hurt yourself. And I don’t need a weapon.” I bounced on my toes and readied to smack the smirk off his face.

  “You didn’t see how well I did after my transition,” Gus said. “Unless you came to spy on me? Did you miss me?”

  “I was a little busy, if you’ll remember.”

  It wasn’t a lie, though I’d thought of him many times while I sat in my cell awaiting trial. All because I’d tried to help Odin have a better army.

  Gus dropped the pretend swords and swung his arms back and forth before he relaxed into his stance.

  “Whenever you’re ready,” he taunted.

  My strategy had always been to let my opponent take the offensive first; it gave me a chance to see their skill set. I could always find a weakness and turn it against them.

  Gus and I circled each other. Apparently, he had a similar approach.

  “Any time now,” I said. “If you’re afraid, you can give up. There’s no shame in knowing when you’re beat. Well, there is, but I won’t hold it over you for too long.” I tried to give an innocent smile, but I’m sure I only looked ridiculous.

  “You remember that when you have to surrender,” Gus said with a chuckle. He had a natural, easy-going swagger. The blind confidence that came with acceptance, from never feeling rejected.

  This dance was getting us nowhere.

  I feigned a charge, then jumped back. He smiled, but didn’t take the bait. I rustled my wings, getting prepared to use them, but also to remind Gus that he was outmatched. The high ground would always be mine.

  Before I could make another move, a heavy weight slammed into my side and sent me sprawling to the ground. I heard Gus yell as I went down and knew we were both in trouble.

  A beast pinned my wings to the dirt with two massive paws, and snarled into my face.

  Frozen and too terrified to breathe, I gaped. It was an unfamiliar sensation to know that I was outmatched in every possible way. Surrender had never been an option, but I saw no other choice.

  The beast leaned closer. I twisted my neck and slammed my eyes closed. In one swift bite, it would tear out my throat and put an end to any hope I had of helping to stop the Legion.

  Instead, the beast sniffed me. Sniffed me!

  I cracked open one eye to peek at the pink triangular nose next to my cheek. Saliva dropped onto my face, and I winced. The next second, the pressure released from my wings, and the beast was gone.

  My eyes popped open, and I scanned the area.

  Five paces away stood a lion-like creature with wings protruding from its back, staring at me with eyes more like an eagle’s than a cat’s. A long tail with pointed barbs on the end swished through the air. The beast raised its head to the sky and roared. A second roar answered from the last spot I’d seen Gus.

  I sat up slowly, never letting my gaze leave the duo of terror in front of me. The bigger cat, the one who’d overpowered me, answered my stare and nodded before both of them turned and sauntered to the edge of the forest. Then they stopped and twisted their necks, as if waiting for us.

  Gus had evidently been knocked to the ground as well, and rose to his feet slowly as I did the same.

  The big cat gave a jerk of his head, seeming to want us to follow it, then disappeared into the greenery.

  “I say we run hard the other way.” The words choked out of my dry throat in a coarse whisper-yell to Gus.

  A roar, softer and less threatening, sounded from not far away.

  “I think they want us to follow them,” Gus said. He made his way to my side as I strained to peer into the brush along the trail where the beasts had bounded.

  “Does that seem wise to you?” I let the sarcasm drip from my words, but in truth, I valued his opinion.

  A less patient roar came from the trail.

  “I don’t think it’s wise not to.”

  I nodded then blew out a heavy exhale. With a quick glance to Gus, to be sure he was ready, and not wrapped up in vines, I strode forward.

  2

  We hiked until the sun was high in the sky, stopping only once beside a sparkling creek, where we found some sugary purple berries. The slightly humid air among the greenery gave off a pleasing smell, that invigorated me. Though the trail seemed seldom used, I followed the large cats with an easy stride. The branches and vines seemed to bend and twist out of the way as I moved, but Gus kept getting tangled within the undergrowth.

  The large cats, growled occasionally as they padded ahead of us ensuring we kept pace. When they reached the top of a small rise, they paused for a moment. Then disappeared down the other side when we caught them up.

  When we reached the point where they’d stopped, a stunning view took me by surprise and lodged my breath in my throat.

  “Wow,” Gus said under his breath.

  Lush green mountains rose into the clouds and formed a semi-circle around a sparkling city next to a bay. A massive palace perched high, as if carved directly into the mountainside. Tall, glittering spires atop circular towers of various heights jutted into the sky. It was startling that we were so far away, yet it still appeared so large.

  Below, at the edge of the water, a village stretched into the
trees at the base of the mountain. The same sparkling, white stone formed a multitude of buildings with red roofs. Streets wound in a curving pattern that mimicked the two chains of what appeared to be smaller islands forming rings around the main island. Like the inside of a snail’s shell, they formed two protected waterways shielding the bay from exposure to the sea. Long, stone bridges with wide arches anchored in the water connected the rings, then stretched across to the main island.

  “It’s still a long way off. Let’s get going.” I strode down the hill through the trees.

  There were too many unanswered questions swimming through my mind, and it was time to find some answers.

  The felines made an abrupt stop at the edge of the wilderness. The village we’d seen from above sat just through the tangle of trees a few paces away. The creature who’d pounced on me earlier nodded his head, as if gesturing us forward, then bounded away, disappearing into the greenery. The other one followed, and then we were alone.

  “I guess this is as far as they go,” Gus said, peering through the branches.

  We watched from our hidden position for a time. It was midday, and not many people milled about, but those who came into view seemed docile. Most looked human and were either older, or very young. Like the cats that had brought us, a few inhabitants seemed as though they were from otherworldly locations.

  I was hesitant to move forward. Gus nudged my back, so I shrugged and strode out of our hideaway.

  As we strolled along, trying to act as if we belonged—though we clearly stuck out—no one gave us much attention. A flick of a glance here, a nod in greeting there. It was unnerving.

  When we’d landed on the island, Gus and I had remained in our true forms. He was taller, broader, and more muscled than an average human since his transition to einherjar, and my Valkyrie wings stayed in constant view.

  No one seemed to give us a second look.

  We followed a cobblestone street to what appeared to be a small market, with shops and carts laden with produce, cloth, jewelry, and a multitude of everyday items. I smiled at a woman standing under an awning, and perused her display of hair clips without stepping closer. I’d tied my hair back as best I could. After hiking through the trees, I could only imagine my wild curls were enough to make me appear feral. I’d have loved to hold it back with a simple clip, but the dainty golden ones she sold would not work for me.

  Gus smiled at me as we walked away, apparently understanding my issue, and confirming my suspicions about my appearance.

  A man suddenly stepped in our path, in front of Gus. He was perhaps six feet tall, shorter than Gus yet taller than me, with long, straight, dark hair, and elongated ears that rose to a point just below the top of his head. His eyes had a cat-like shape, but glowed like golden gems. It could have been just a trick of the light, but his skin was so soft and dewy, it appeared luminous.

  A long-sleeved tunic in maple syrup brown hung comfortably loose from his shoulders over the top of a similarly dyed pair of wide-legged trousers. Soft, black, slipper-like shoes covered his feet. Though he offered a smile, his attire allowed the freedom of movement one would want in battle.

  “My name is Tarnan, and I’ve been sent to escort you to the palace. We have rooms ready for you in the Eudaimonia wing, but first, the High Council wishes to greet you.” Tarnan opened his arm toward a narrow street that branched away from the main market, as if we were to lead the way.

  I turned to Gus. With raised brows, I silently asked if he was willing to follow the man. If he wasn’t, we’d stay. Too much had happened lately for me to trust anyone I didn’t know.

  Gus nodded, but stepped closer to me. “We’ll follow you.”

  “Of course. This way,” Tarnan said without expression, and strode toward the side street.

  We shadowed behind, keeping watch as we went. The street wound around and rose steeply. We entered what appeared to be a residential area, with buildings made from cream-colored stone, topped with red clay-tiled roofs, but no one seemed to be home.

  “Where are all the people?” Gus asked. His ability to sound menacing surprised me.

  “The residents will return again in the evening. Most of them work on the commerce islands. The marketplace where we met serves those who stay behind during the day. It becomes very busy in the evenings, however.”

  “The commerce islands? Are those what we saw from above, surrounding the main island?”

  Tarnan didn’t seem reluctant to answer our questions, and I figured getting as much information as possible was a great idea.

  “You will have noticed two rings encircling the mainland,” he clarified. “The inner circle is for commerce and more residents. The outer circle is where our military is stationed.”

  Gus and I exchanged a quick glance. He’d obviously had the same thought I had. Why did a hidden island need military protection? And, for that matter, who did they trade with?

  Before I could ask any more questions, we rounded a corner and stood before the palace.

  3

  I craned my neck to follow the tall towers on either side of the gate, and couldn’t see the tops of them. The sunshine bounced against the white stone so brightly, it made me shade my eyes.

  Without a word, the gates slowly opened toward us, giving us a view inside the grand palisade. I swallowed hard and followed when the others walked forward.

  The courtyard was a wide open square. Cobbled stones lined the ground, and there were lush trees arranged around the edges of the space, with seating areas underneath them. Birds in multiple brilliant hues flitted around the treetops, either chattering or singing, and a small, furry creature swung down from a branch and jumped onto the shoulder of a woman. She reached up and patted the little beast when it wrapped its long tail around her neck, as if it was a common occurrence.

  A handful of men and women loitered about, talking quietly in groups of two or three. All were dressed in the warrior-monk style garb that Tarnan wore, but in different colors . . . deep purple, red, and blue. Everyone seemed relaxed. A few peered in our direction as we strode through. Most ignored us, just like in the village.

  “Many of those people looked human. Did you notice that?” Gus whispered to me after we passed through an archway that led to a covered corridor. It was open on the sides, allowing for the breeze to fill the air with a floral sweetness.

  “I did, though not all were,” I whispered back.

  I’d seen a man and two other women with the same features as Tarnan.

  “You are to report directly to the High Council. Unfortunately, you’ll not have time to make yourselves more presentable beforehand.”

  I huffed at his tone. Yet, my hand went to my hair an ineffectual attempt to smooth my curls.

  “I’m glad to know they realize the situation that brings us here is critical,” Gus announced.

  I understood the urgency, but a bath didn’t sound like a bad idea. Although, this wouldn’t be the first time I’d appeared in front of someone in charge looking like I’d been dragged behind a horse.

  Tarnan continued at a hurried pace and marched up a set of stairs at the end of the corridor.

  After rounding two turns and ascending another stairwell, we were ushered through a set of double doors that had to be twenty feet tall. Once inside, we stood at the end of a long mahogany table that had enough chairs to seat at least two dozen, but only seven people sat at the far end waiting for us.

  Unaware of the customs, Gus and I stood frozen side by side. A woman at the head of the table motioned us forward, but I hesitated. Should we both go down one side, or split apart and sit across from each other?

  Gus made the decision as he lightly held my elbow and nudged me to the right, following along on the same side. We remained standing behind two chairs while we waited for someone to speak.

  “What is your purpose in coming to Breasal?” a man on the other side of the table asked.

  Gus and I glanced at each other. The pinched lines on his
brow echoed my own, I was sure.

  “We were invited.” I didn’t restrain my frustration.

  “We apologize for any confusion. However, we were sent by Odin at the request of someone in Breasal. I don’t recall that he told us their name.” Gus sounded so calm and diplomatic.

  Typical.

  Another woman started to speak, but the woman who’d called us forward, the leader I assumed, held up her hand and silenced the room.

  She squinted as she stared first at Gus and then at me. “You both have the gift. That is unexpected.” With a flick of her brows she seemed to move on, though I had no idea what she’d meant. “Our High Priestess, Danú, and Odin made arrangements for this alliance, that’s true. We would like to hear from you as to your understanding of your visit.”

  As a child, I’d learned that when Odin used a soft voice with me, I was usually in bigger trouble. This woman spoke with a kind tone, but her eyes pinned me in place.

  I swallowed hard and wanted to run to my grotto back home.

  “Valhalla has been betrayed. Odin believes someone is working with the Shadow King. He sent us here to cooperate with you to try to stop his Legion.”

  I’d just met these people; I wasn’t going to give up all my information if they weren’t true allies.

  “What happened to bring him to this conclusion?” the woman who’d been quieted earlier asked.

  “One of my sisters gave information to someone who then used it to interfere with those I claimed for Valhalla.”

  “Did they?” A tiny curve tilted one corner of the woman’s mouth at the head of the table.

  So much for thinking I might have a clean slate in this new world.

  “Did your sister give you a name?” the same man as before asked.

  “She escaped before she could be questioned,” Gus answered. “A strange vortex opened and ripped her out of Valhalla.”

  The council exchanged glances among themselves before returning their gazes to us. I felt Gus tense at my side. He sensed the same anxiety I did, it seemed.