“You cannot be angry.”
“Do not tell me what I can or cannot be, as you gave up that right when you bedded another man!”
Striking out, I punch another tree, rattling birds from their slumber nests as they screech, flying into the night sky.
“You cannot hate me more than I hate myself.”
“Do not doubt my aversion for you right now, Emeline!”
“Fuck you, you Viking bastard!” she cries, chasing me and gripping my arm to stop me from pacing. “You were not there when we needed you. You were not there to help when Loki told me the universe detailed our meeting.”
Instantly, my anger subsides. “What did you say?”
Finally, we lock eyes, and although I am filled with absolute fury, I still love her with every beat of my heart.
Her lower lip trembles. The only time she shows vulnerability is when our children are involved. “I fear Loki sees into the future. He sees things that have not happened. He told me of your return and how our reunion would not be a happy one.”
“How right he was.”
This cannot be.
My son, a seer?
Some may see this as a blessing, but this is nothing but a curse.
“This is heresy,” Emeline says, covering her mouth in fear. “What does it mean as a Viking?”
“They are called Seiðr. Or seers. They are important to my people because they can translate the wishes of the gods. Odin himself was said to be one, as he learned from Freyja, the most powerful seeress of them all.
“But because of their power, they are forever in danger. Being the voice of the gods comes with a price.”
Emeline nods, her eyes filling with tears. “I thought as much.”
“Although respected amongst the clan he calls family, other Vikings may see him as a threat or a commodity. They will want him to be their connection to the gods.”
Though an honor that the gods chose my son as their vessel, I cannot help but feel his path has already been paved without a say.
“Does anyone else know of this?”
Emeline shakes her head.
“We must keep it this way. He already foresaw this happening,” I explain. “Therefore, he knows how this ends. Sune is safe. Do not worry. Loki will make sure of it. He knows we are coming for him.”
“Why did he not tell me if he knew?”
She soon understands why.
“Because he did not want to worry you. He is strong and smart. Both our sons are. We will find them. The gods will ensure it. It is fated in the stars.”
Emeline bursts into tears.
I want to console her, but I can’t.
For Loki not to tell her what he saw means there is a lesson to be learned. I don’t yet know what that is, but we will soon find out.
“What a mess we find ourselves in.”
And she’s right.
