I doubted Kanesha had been taken for any reason, of course, other than to get to me. I called the cultists.

They denied it, of course, and it didn’t really seem like their MO, but I extracted a promise – that their people on the ground would keep their eyes open for her. That was all I could really ask for and all I wanted anyway.

Half a boot print. Definitely male. What kind of a lead was that? The spring air was clear and I was trying to tempt the fyrhund – but when I really needed him, he was apparently occupied elsewhere. At the very least, he wasn’t coming.

“Screw this.” I was going to find her and I was going to hurt, if not kill, anyone who got between us. It did occur to me that might be part of their plan; that they might want me going off half-cocked.

I didn’t particularly care. True, she knew the risks of being involved with me. That didn’t mean I was going to let anyone get away with so much as touching a hair on her head.

I loved her. I really needed to keep admitting to that, because it reminded me what I was fighting for. Now, though, it was in a rather more literal sense. She was in real danger and I was messing around trying to find that…that…dang dog.

Thruor came up behind me. “No sign of her yet, but those of my sisters that can be spared are looking.”

“I can’t find the fyrhund. He could track her down.”

“Unreliable beast,” Thruor snorted. “Bear in mind he’s a thing of Muspelheim. Fire is…fickle.”

I nodded a bit. “True, but he could still find her for me. I have no clue where to start.”

“You start inside yourself.”

I glanced at the valkyrie, startled.

“She’s yours. Part of you knows exactly where she is. It’s just a matter of getting in touch with that part.”

“So, what, I try meditating or something?”

“Not a bad place to start – but I doubt you’re calm enough right now.”

“I need to beat a few things up before I can get calm enough,” I admitted. “And I’m worried if I do I’ll…lose it.” I hadn’t forgotten the couple of times I’d come close to going berserker. With this going on, I knew that if I tried to fight I’d probably end up killing somebody. Possibly an innocent somebody.

“Then we do it another way. Let’s go for a ride.”

“That…might help,” I admitted, ducking inside to get my helmet. Maybe feeling some speed would get my thoughts straight.

More likely, Thruor wanted to get me somewhere with fewer civilians and less property.