For that reason alone, he’d welcomed the minstrels, despite the irritation of having Tinklers camped just beyond his walls.
He stepped outside, immediately spotting the crowd of men gathered in the courtyard. His guests would likely be at the center of that throng.Descending the great staircase, he breathed deeply of the cold, crisp air and noted that clouds already gathered in the sky, a sure sign heralding a moonless night. And a moonless night was exactly what he needed to wing his way sightlessly across his lands.
OceanofPDF.com
Nineteen
CHRISTIANA SWAM INthe dark green pools that were Chase Noble’s eyes. She splashed and rolled, the water heating her body with its wet caress.
And then there was no water, only his strong arms holding her, his head dipping close to hers as they floated weightless together. He spoke her name, his warm breath fanning over her face, and it was as if they were the only two people in the world.
His mouth hovered over hers and she thrilled that at long last she would taste those full, smiling lips.
And in that instant, he was gone, evaporating in front of her as her foot touched down on a familiar gravel path.
“What are you doing here?”
Christiana froze in her tracks, staring straight ahead at the three women squatting in the shade of an enormous green tree.
She knew where she was. Her wonderful dream had carried her straight to the world of her Visions.
“You can see me?” she asked.
It was the first time any of the Norns had ever spoken to her. In fact, since none of them had ever even appeared to notice her presence when she’d traversed the Vision world before, she had assumed they couldn’t see her.
Skuld, Keeper of the Future, her face hidden in the folds of her veil, snorted her disgust. “Do I look to be blind? Of course I see you. What do you want here?”
“I come to travel the Vision world. I have a great need to see what I must do.”
“You’ve no right to see what’s to come.” The beauty in the middle—Verthandi, Keeper of the Present—spoke. “Live it. You will see it as it happens, as everyone is meant to do.”
“She has the right.” The eldest of the three, Urd, was Keeper of the Past. “In ages long past, Odin paid the price for such knowledge, and he’s chosen to pass it along to this one.”
“But she’s already seen that which is to come.” Skuld kept her head down, her fingers busily working at the loom in front of her. “I’ve nothing more to show her.”
“Please, there were so many paths the last time I was here.” How could she know what to do? How could she possibly make sure Chase walked the proper path?
“So many paths?” Verthandi laid aside the yarn she held, turning her gaze toward her sister. “You allowed her to travel the Maze of Possibility? What’sto be accomplished by that? Nothing. She might as well have wandered in the Paths of Possible Pasts. She could have been lost in there forever.”
Skuld shrugged. “She’s the one who pushed her way into that maze. I didn’t force her.”
“Now that you know the danger, why are you back?” Verthandi turned her gaze toward Christiana.
“Yes, why?” Urd echoed.
Guilt pooled in Christiana’s stomach. But feeling guilty was ridiculous. She had every right to be here. It wasn’t as if she were searching out something to aid only herself. It was the common good she sought. A way to stop Torquil from committing the evil he planned.
“I know why she’s here.” Skuld’s head swung her direction. “It’s because ofhim.”
Verthandi nodded as if now she understood. “She’s willing to risk the dangers of losing herself in the Maze again for the love of a man.”
“Love?” Christiana squeaked. “Absolutely not.” Love had nothing to do with any of this, despite the dream that had brought her here. Chase was the one who could save her from Torquil. She’d seen it. All that existed between them was a rescue—nothing more.
“And because you saw it, you forced it.” Skuld chided as if she’d read Christiana’s thoughts. “You bargained with the Elf to bring him to your world. You placed him in danger for your own benefit. Best you search your heart before you return here again,youngling. Best you consider why you deny your feelings so vehemently, lest you end up here forever like us.”
With that, Skuld pulled the hood from her head, revealing herself for the first time.
Christiana recognized her instantly.
