It was as if that was an omen, because now it started to rain. Yes, it does rain in Muspelheim, and it rains water – but hot water that almost seems to scald the ground as it touches.

 

It makes rock as slippery as any other kind of water, though, and while it was not exactly a storm, it slowed our progress.

 

Anxiety about how Helgr and the dwarves were handling their side of the operation did not help. We had no way of communicating, of course. Nothing but planning and trust.

 

I did not trust Helgr. I did trust Ebba and Jorun, and that part of things had been their idea.

 

Maybe one day they would be here for real. Maybe. But I kept climbing, through the miserable rain.

 

Then, thank the Aesir, the path ducked inside the edge of the spire. It was not enclosed, mind, but rather running behind pillars and a sort of rail of stone. I had a feeling that meant we were almost at our destination.

 

Then I heard a yell from ahead and Mike was charged by a fire giant wielding an axe.

 

Well.

 

We had not expected it to be entirely unguarded. I had my blade out in a moment, even as Mike and the guard started to trade blows, sending sparks from where his sword – and he had clearly been practicing – struck the solid haft of the axe.

 

“My quarrel is not with you,” I snarled, but he was undoubtedly a palace guard and it might well have been more than his job or life was worth to not do his best to stop me.

 

The bad part was that it was too narrow for me to help him. The same was true on the other side, of course. Nobody else could come up on Mike, but I needed to work out a way for him to fall back if needed.

 

He was holding his own for right now, though. I glanced around, and then something occurred to me.

 

And I turned to face the outside just in time. A smaller fire giant, a woman, came swinging through the opening.
A daring move, but I didn’t want to think about how she had known. The yell, perhaps. Perhaps that single syllable had carried more information, to one trained in a code.

 

Either way, I slashed at her with my sword, not trying to get this one to surrender without a fight.

 

She didn’t quite have her blade out, it having taken both hands for her to pull off that move. I stepped to the side so I was back to back with Mike, knowing that if I dealt with her, we could then spin so I could handle the other if he needed me to.

 

And that put Thruor on her other side. She seemed to realize her misjudgment, but it could have been worse for her. She drew not one sword but two and was fighting both of us off.

 

For now. I could already see her flagging, though. I mouthed ‘Don’t kill her’ to Thruor.

 

I wanted them alive.

 

Letting Jorun and Ebba go ahead was not the plan I had intended, but the truth was that the rest of us would never be mistaken for fire giants.

 

Maybe me – I was a creature of fire and although I did not look like one physically, I rather thought my aura was close enough that with a bit of glamor I could pull it off.

 

That, though, would have meant leaving Thruor and Mike behind. Instead? We were taking another route in.

 

No, not the sewers, although we definitely considered it. We would, though, be spotted as soon as we came out – fire giants have as good a sense of smell as humans if not better.

 

But Helgr knew another possible way in…the downside being that it went up the side of the spire – and was not the nice, sweeping main entrance.

 

I was worried about falling. Falling was not something I wanted to think about too much after the dragon incident. Besides, I did not want to have to find my way back.

 

Of course, they were to keep going and get her without me. The worst part was that I had surrendered the medallion to the dwarves.

 

If they got caught I was not sure how we were going to get her out. Mike went first. He was the lightest of the three of us – he hadn’t changed visually.

 

He was still Mike, albeit still a subdued Mike. When he had spoken it was with anger. He was every bit as mad as I was about what had happened.

 

So I had been letting him fume, as much as I wanted to talk, to catch up. To tell him what was going on.
Well, he knew the important parts. He knew and he cared and that was all I really needed. The path was perhaps designed as an escape route, and looked rather more to have been made by mountain goats than fire giants. Being smaller meant it was not quite as crazy as it might have been.

 

It still could have used a hand rail in places and although steps had been cut, they were worn. I took that as heartening, though. If this path was not being well maintained, it made it less likely it was guarded.

 

I still hoped we would not have to come back this way, especially not under fire or pursuit.

 

Besides, I was not convinced it was unguarded, so I was having to climb with one hand on my sword hilt. I had Kanesha’s sword across my back too.

 

That was not something the dwarves had wanted to fall into fire giant hands, and they thought it likely that they would try and take it as a sample.

 

I hoped they didn’t see the medallion in the same way – but, of course, it was not a weapon and thus not something Surtur would care about that much. I could not imagine him going for pretty jewelry.

 

Some of the others I’d seen, on the other hand…

 

A rock fell from under my feet. I caught myself, listening to it plink down the side of the spire – which I suspected to have been shaped by magic not by tools.

 

“So, he is holding your mortal lover in the spire.”

 

“There was…was the guy in the bar yours?”

 

She nodded. “Yes, although I beat on him some for getting drunk and foolish.”

 

I shrugged. “He deserved it.” I hoped she’d done no permanent damage. “But that’s what we think. We are also absolutely sure it is a trap.”

 

“Of course it is. He might not expect me, though. And here…” She pulled out some paper. It was blank, then she murmured a word and a map appeared.

 

“Neat, I want to know how to do that.”

 

She grinned. “It’s an enchantment on the paper. I could probably find you some.”

 

“I’d be willing to trade for an invisible map.”

 

“Oh, it’s more than that. It puts whatever map is in my memory.”

 

I grinned. “Oh, I like that. Anyway…so, this is the spire?”

 

She nodded. “Now, the tradesmen’s entrance is here. It goes up inside because sometimes they take horses up there, and horses spook at the heights.”

 

“You need mules,” said Ebba.

 

“Maybe we do. But…that’s the way he’s going to expect us to come in. I think we should use the front door.”
I grinned. “Disguise?”

 

“Exactly.”

 

“Surtur will see right through my glamors. He has before.”

 

“Which is why you don’t use glamor.”

 

I nodded. “Makeup won’t make me giant tall, though, and it certainly won’t do a thing for Ebba and Jorun.”

 

“And you can’t shapeshift, I suppose.”

 

“Not yet.” I had a feeling I could learn, but was still not sure why Loki would not teach me. Maybe something to do with part of my fate still being open.

 

“But you are part fire giant. We can work with that. The dwarves…” She studied them. “Hrm.”

 

“What if,” Jorun suggested. “We claim to be from a dwarven faction that wants to work with the fire giants. Offer to sell him weapons.”

 

“Brilliant. He’d swallow that,” Thruor said.

 

The giantess – her name was Helgr – grinned. “I like you. Wouldn’t have thought dwarves would be that sneaky.”

 

Jorun grinned. “We’re traders, remember.”

 

I decided she had a point. It still did not quite explain how the rest of us were going to be disguised.

 

But we had the beginnings of a plan.

 

Whether it was the trap or not, we moved to where we were hiding outside the city. Taking different routes and separately, just in case.

 

He knew I was here.

 

And I was starting to get sure this guy was the trap. It was just too convenient.

 

The thing is? Surtur was not the only person who knew I was here.

 

The giantess showed up later that night. At least she had the decency to knock on the door of the barn we were in, but then she bellowed, “Siglaugr Lokisdottir!” loud enough to reach Hel’s Realm.

 

I sighed. “Thanks,” and went and opened the door, figuring she would only make noise until I let her in.

 

“Surtur is mine.”

 

I shook my head. “You can have him as far as I’m concerned.”

 

“As long as you live he will long for you.”

 

Did she intend to kill me?

 

“He can long all he likes. I’m here to get the person I actually want and then go home.”

 

“He won’t stop chasing you.” She had a hand on her blade.

 

“Well, maybe you can convince him he’s better off with you. And fixing problems rather than fighting wars.” I kept my gaze on her. “I don’t want to fight you.”

 

“I will be queen.”

 

“Like I said. You’re welcome to it.” I studied my rival for unwanted affections. “I don’t know what you see in him.”

 

At least she wasn’t rushing in, although that might have had something to do with the fact that I now had a dwarf on either side of me.

 

Her lips quirked. “There’s plenty to see in him. When he is not going crazy, and who’s fault is that?”

 

“His.” I kept my voice even. “We’re not opposed here. Do you have any idea how to stop what’s going on?”

 

“The blasted lands…no.”

 

“I might.” I did not want to fight her. She might be the solution to the problem if we could convince Surtur that she would be a worthy queen.

 

And then I could…but I knew I could not. It was as if raven feathers drifted across my vision for a moment.

 

No.

 

I would try, regardless of what Odin might have to say about the matter. If I failed, so be it, but… “If we work together.”
She took her hand off of her sword. “You and your rag tag band.”

 

“We are a bit of a motley crew,” Mike said from the corner, grinning.

 

“One valkyrie, two dwarves, one einherior.” She counted us off like that. “And you, not yet fully decided. Definitely a motley crew.”

 

It did not sound as insulting the second time around.

 

So, I was quite surprised when he actually showed up.

 

He was quite surprised – because this time Thruor was with me.

 

“I know you. By reputation. Thorsdottir.” He couldn’t seem to manage a coherent sentence.

 

“I am Siglaugr,” I said, simply. “Surtur has my mate.” This time I was being obvious. Honest.

 

“Lokisdottir.” He glanced between us. “The two of you are working together?”

 

“We manage it somehow,” Thruor said, dryly.

 

“And he…”

 

“He kidnapped my lover to use as bait. I intend to get her back. If he gets me, he will start the war he is preparing for. He somehow thinks I’m key to winning it.”

 

“Key to getting Loki on his side more like.”

 

I stared for a moment. Could it be that simple, that obvious?
But no, Loki…but then, Loki was only arguing that the time was right. Surtur did not care. “Loki will do what Loki does,” I said, finally.

 

“Can’t argue with that.” He looked at me. “You need somebody who can get you into the spire.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I can’t. But there are those who, well, would do it just to annoy Surtur. Those who are hoping to annoy him into making a mistake.”

 

“Trying to force somebody into his bed isn’t a mistake?” I kept my tone even. “I’m told that’s as dishonorable here as anywhere.”

 

“It is, but nobody knows.” He studied me. “You sneak in, grab your lover, and…well…”

 

“We make it known what he did?” It wasn’t a crazy idea. I glanced at Thruor. “There’s three more of us.”

 

He nodded. “I’ll talk to…”

 

“And don’t get drunk again, okay?”

 

A sheepish look and he slipped out. I glanced at Thruor.

 

“Don’t trust him. But use him, sure, and maybe…”

 

“Maybe his friends will be tighter-lipped. Surtur knows I’m here, though. If we get in easily…”

 

“This could be the trap too.”

 

I frowned, but I knew she was right.

 

The plan required local help. And I had to be alone to find it. Alone and vulnerable.

 

And I worried that they would think I was taking some position, making some claim. The streets were built to giant proportions – I was tall, but not that tall – so I felt a little small and awkward. And half-naked, as I had left Kanesha’s sword with Thruor. Not the necklace, mind.

 

The fyrhund padded next to me as I slipped into a tavern. I was not sure how I looked to them – I was exercising power to not be noticed which here? I probably looked like a nondescript giantess.

 

I found a corner table, ordered beer and listened while sipping it slowly. Slowly because I could not afford to be drunk. Like dwarves, fire giants seemed to have a drinking age of “Large enough to raise a tankard.”

 

But the crowd was subdued, then I heard a voice raised. “I know, but look at what he’s doing.”

 

Perhaps I had found what I was looking for. I set down my tankard and turned slightly to face the speaker.

 

“He’s the king. You speak treason. Sit down and sober up.”

 

“I speak truth.”

 

Well, this guy was going to be in the drunk tank if I did not do something. I nudged the fyrhund under the table and it got up and padded over there…and then as the giant stood to face his opponent, neatly tripped him into the table.

 

It was probably a Loki thing to do, but it deflected him from his rant. “I’m sorry. He slipped his collar.”
The man stalked over.

 

“Let me make up for it by buying you another drink. Sit down?”

 

He did so, warily. Glancing at me. “I should probably not have another. I forgot myself.”

 

“Or remembered yourself,” I said to him, seriously. “Tell me…”

 

“You are one of his spies.”

 

I shook my head. “Far from it, and we don’t have to talk here.”

 

He glanced around. “Tomorrow. When I’m sober. If I still want to talk, there’s a livery stable on Hercus Street.”

 

I nodded. I could find that easy enough. “Sure you won’t accept a drink. How about a bar snack?”

 

He considered, and finally let me buy him a snack to soak up the beer. I did not, though, expect to actually see him the next day.

 

I did not really want to go through them. I did not, in all honesty, want to hurt these people.

 

It was not that they were following orders. It was that I saw them as victims too.

 

On the other hand?

 

They were in my way. I let fire flow around my blade. Not that I expected it to intimidate fire giants.

 

It did not. Two of them tried to take me on. I found, to my surprise, that I matched them, and the dwarves were hitting heads.

 

“Try not to kill them!” I called. “If you can avoid it.”

 

I wasn’t able to…I had to take one of them out, my sword sliding into their heart. The sword was satisfied.

 

I less so. This was not how I had wanted this to end or to be. The death and the fury of those with me caused the rest to make a retreat in search of backup.

 

I glanced at Thruor, who was cleaning blood off her own sword. We kept moving, not wanting to be there when they came back in greater numbers.

 

But I felt bad. Then, I knew this would not have been managed without bloodshed. “Maybe I should have killed them all so they did not know I was here,” I said, miserably.

 

“Maybe,” Thruor said. “But you clearly did not wish to and have to live with it afterwards.”

 

“I’m a warrior, but…”

 

“But you had no quarrel with them, only the one giving them orders.”

 

“I think it would have been different…” I wiped blood from my blade before moving out. “…had I not known he was conscripting people.”

 

“Indeed.”

 

She was in agreement with me. Something about that made me feel better. And we kept moving.

 

“Is that a small mountain or a large spire?” I asked.

 

“A large spire,” Thruor said. “I haven’t been here before, but I’ve seen pictures and descriptions. Surtur’s palace is in the top of it.”

 

“Joy.”

 

Getting up there would be hard. Getting up there without being seen would be even harder. I was not sure I could do it without being caught. Or turning myself in and then running.

 

That was definitely on the list of possibilities.

 

“He may not…”

 

I shook my head. “She’s there.” I knew, suddenly, as if I could feel her. As if the connection between us, now I was closer, drew me back to her.

 

My love was in that tower and I intended to bring her out from it.

 

Of course, we did not make it to the capital unchallenged.

 

There was no way that was going to happen. A patrol, smart enough to not just check the road. It heartened me a little to see that there was still some competence here.

 

I drew my sword. Mike had his gun…and a sword, I could have sworn he had not had that before.

 

Maybe Thruor had been carrying a spare. But he was using the gun first, firing off a couple of shots.

 

Neither of them hit, I suspected by intent. They did have a result, making the guards step back from a weapon utterly unfamiliar with them.

 

“Who are you?”

 

Aha, we got a voice, not an attack. “I am Siglaugr, and you will let us pass.” I kept my voice even.

 

“Says who?”

 

“Says us,” said a dwarf from behind me, I thought Ebba, although their voices were so similar that I could not always tell them apart when I could not see them.

 

I did not look to see what threatening gestures they might be making.

 

“I see no army,” the guard said, wryly. “I see that we have you outnumbered, strange magic or no.”

 

“I need no army. I stand with dwarves and frost giants. I stand with Aesir and Vanir. You will let me pass.”

 

It sounded good, and I wasn’t even quite sure where it came from. Of course, I did not have a frost giant with me, but they would know why.

 

“To do what?”

 

“Surtur has something that belongs to me.”

 

They studied me warily. “The King…”

 

“Has something, again, that belongs to me. And no honor.”

 

Of course, one of them rushed at me for that, but there was no thought behind his attack. I batted him away with the flat of my blade, not wanting to kill anyone I didn’t have to.

 

He went down. “Ack, you’re fast!”

 

“Indeed. Now, let me pass.”

 

They were forming a solid wall, though, blocking my route. I had a feeling that somebody would find a route around them. The one I had felled picked himself up. Looked at me with uncertainty.

 

He did not join the wall.

 

Moving through the countryside, we saw that things were not right. The next town was not as quiet, but definitely subdued. We made a circuit around it, eating food we had, bluntly, stolen from a farmer.

 

From one who had plenty, and we had taken as little as we could. The fyrhund was scavenging for himself.

 

I hated to steal, but I knew that we would be found. Unless, of course, Surtur was letting me come to him.

 

There was always that, always that risk. That this was all a trap.

 

She was bait as well as a bargaining chip – I knew that in my heart. I just hoped that he would not get to use her as such.

 

Except here I was, refusing to stay back, refusing to trust Thruor to save Kanesha. Walking right into the lion’s den.

 

Knowing it was a trap. And I was not exactly a badger. I shook my head. “This is foolish, but…”

 

“But honor gives you no choice.”

 

“He has none remaining,” I pointed out.

 

Jorun shook her braids. “Agreed. He should not need to force anyone to fight for him. He should be turning people away.”
She had a point there. I let out a breath. “So, we keep going.”

 

“And we assume he knows exactly where we are and hasn’t attacked us yet because we’re walking right into the trap.” Thruor said, grimly. “But then, that was always the plan.”

 

“We do need local help.” But he’d conscripted all of it.

 

“Which we will find better at the Capital.”

 

I took her point and kept moving. I glanced at Mike – but then I remembered he didn’t tire any faster than I did now.

 

There were things I wanted to ask. But did not.

 

Things I wanted to ask, specifically, for Kanesha’s sake. I knew, somehow, I would get no answer. Or if I did, I would not be able to tell her.

 

It could do nothing but set my own mind at ease. The protective pendant was in my pocket.

 

I had her sword.

 

I would use, though, only my own. And putting my own mind at ease? Him being there did that.

 

The familiar presence, if a little more quiet – and that only because we were, after all, sneaking around.

 

I still cared so much for him.

 

Because of that, I did not draw my sword, but swung to the side and grabbed her arm. Mike was shielding the kid.

 

“We’re not your enemy.”

 

“You came to take her away!” she screamed.

 

“No. We did not.”

 

It had been a mistake to follow the dog, I thought. Or not. We knew now that something was going on here, some new tyranny. Something dishonorable. “He took your husband.”

 

“He demanded so many warriors. Or he would…raze us.”

 

I released her. “We mean no harm to you or your child, and if we can get your husband back, we will. He has mine too.”

 

Which was loosely true.

 

“You are…not even one of us. Or are you?” She did not seem entirely sure on the matter.

 

“He has kidnapped the one I love. Nothing else matters.”

 

And she lowered her hand. “I…”

 

“Don’t help us. Don’t tell anyone we were here.” I smiled. “Well, you have already helped.”

 

It was a dark thing that was happening, but it was something they would not brook. Like a horse with too harsh a bit they would rebel. Rebel and run or fight?

 

The kid couldn’t fight. The mother probably should not. He had probably taken those who were in the best position to fight.

 

She closed her eyes. “Thank you. Whoever you are.”

 

“Not a friend. But perhaps an ally.” Which I could offer. We slipped outside.

 

“Just a scared kid,” I told Thruor. “Surtur’s resorted to conscription.”

 

“That’s good. It means their heart is not in the war. Or their heart is not in following him. Either way…”

 

“Either way we might be able to use that.” I kept my tone quiet, but grim. “Let’s keep moving. Before these people get into trouble for sheltering us.”

 

She winced, but nodded. There was a road to the capital.

 

We did not plan on taking the road, of course. It would be watched. But its course would help us navigate, on foot, through unfamiliar terrain.

 

I hoped…even prayed…that we would not take too long.

 

Would he start the war without me?