“He’s right. You are ravishing, especially now that you’ve finally got the hang of the bow.” Vidarr comes to our side as we start the trek back to the cabin.
“Should I say thank you?” She raises an eyebrow at Vidarr.
“Hopefully, when Shaw comes home, it will be me thanking you.” He offers his hand to help her up the mountain, and I watch her assess him. Slipping her hand into his, she allows him to pull her up a steep section. I wish I could hear her thoughts. The rich fabric of Vidarr’s coat and trousers, the fancy leather boots, and his extraverted smile make for a much more impressive picture than me with a bloodied coat over my sore shoulder.
26
RASHA
“Where exactly is home?” I ask Shaw’s handsome brother as he reaches past me to help Shaw up the rocky mountainside.
“Through the Vanheim. I am not going to spoil all the surprises, so you’ll have to use your imagination. But I can assure you the accommodations are nicer than my brother’s little shack,” he scoffs. Shaw attempts to push him over, but his shoulder is still raw, the skin blistered in places.
“You healed him with magic?” I ask another question in hopes of some clarity on what happened.
“Yes,” they both say together.
“When you were more like your brother, could you use magic?” I ask Shaw.
“I could do magic far better than Vidarr,” he retorts, fixing his coat over his blood-stained chest.
“You’re only saying that because you’re trying to impress her,” Vidarr counters.
“I am saying it because it’s true. Though I was never good at shapeshifting, so maybe you could give us a demonstration byturning into an eagle and flying away,” Shaw retorts, and I chuckle at Vidarr’s feigned gasp.
“You have been following us?” I suddenly remember all the times I’ve seen a sleek, black eagle flying overhead.
“When you took the bow from the shrine, you left a small part of the channel open. Today, when you conjured an arrow, you widened the space between realms. Most likely, each time you’ve connected with the items Shaw’s given you, the channel has grown.”
“And what will close it? We cannot have angry spirit creatures running through the mountains.” I look between both the men.
“It will close when I return,” Shaw says.
Turning to Vidarr, I can’t help but ask, “You’re an eagle. Can you fly over the clans to be sure nothing like Fenrir attacked them?”
“I can if that is what you wish.” Vidarr’s quick appeasement makes me feel like I am missing a piece of the puzzle.
“Thank you.” My thoughts revolve around everything that has happened. The channel will close when Shaw returns, but what will he be returning too if there are those who still wish him dead?
I lead the men back to the cabin with Aslaug at my side giving the brothers the chance to talk about the Fenrir and the Bow. Once we are inside the warm cabin it is easy to excuse myself and go to the bedroom. Gently closing the door, I set the quiver on the bed and peel off my sweaty clothes in exchange for my favorite sweater.
When I open the bedroom door to return to the kitchen, I hear them teasing each other about the state of Shaw’s cabin. Listening to them squabble about things makes me think of Jorvik. He wouldn’t have healed me or trusted me to take down a beast from another realm.
“Are you alright?” Shaw asks, coming to where I stand in the doorway to rub his hands up my arms until I look at his hazel eyes.
“Yes, why?”
“Because you’re lurking.”
“Take that off so we can get you cleaned up.” I nudge his good shoulder as I walk around him to find a kettle for clean water.
Shaw undresses from the top down and sits by the fire that Vidarr blasted into the hearth with a wave of his hand. The magicis starting to shock me less and less. Vidarr pulls all sorts of things down from Shaw’s kitchen while I come up beside him to take a clean cloth.
Stifling a giggle, I share, “I did the same thing the first night I stayed here.”
“He’s been alone for far too long, Rasha. I don’t think you know yet what it would mean to him for you to help him get home.” Vidarr’s voice cracks over the last words. His eyes are beautiful now that I am calm enough to see him. In my hesitation to answer, his face softens to a visible ache.
“He isn’t alone now. He has me.”
