Page 27 of Tyr

“Sure. Do you have anything else you need or want to do?”

She thought for a moment. “I don’t know. What’s down here?”

“Everything you had in Midgard, we have down here.”

“I think… Is there somewhere quiet we can go? Somewhere I can relax outside? Being down here has opened something up in me. There’s a connection I can’t explain, but I’d like to maybe explore it a bit somewhere tranquil.”

Tyr grinned. “I know a place.”

Tyr pulledup to an expensive wooden gate with intricate designs carved into it. He turned off the car, climbed out, and then walked over and opened the door for Celeste before helping her out. She studied the gate but said nothing. As they walked across the sidewalk and approached the gate, the sounds of distant tinkling bells filled the air, along with a soft, gurgling waterfall.

Tyr pushed open the gate to a lush garden. The smell of herbs and flowers tickled Tyr’s nose and made him relax reflexively.

“Wow,” said Celeste. “I didn’t think something like this would exist in the Underworld. What is it? A temple?”

“Nah, this is Vali’s place. It’s kind of a yoga retreat meets meditation center, meets holistic medicine and farmers’ market.”

“That’s a lot.”

Tyr chuckled. “So is he.” He led her up the path through the garden to the simple, round, yurt-style building. “Vali decided when he got here that he wanted a place for people to cleanse and heal or get away from the world for a while to find balance. He focuses on the body and the mind with natural medicine, therapy sessions, meditation, and stuff like that.”

“Sounds expensive.”

They walked up the steps to the front door, and light music filtered out the door.

“He doesn’t do it for the money. He does it for the satisfaction of helping those who need it most.”

She nodded but said nothing as they walked through the front door into a circular open room. Shelves lined one wall with different jars of herbs and plants. Across the back wall, a juice bar with fruits and vegetables from all over Midgard stretched out. At the front of the room, a bright blue pond split to either side of the room and around the inside of the building. And in the middle, Vali stood in a ridiculous-looking yoga pose Tyr was sure would break every bone in his spine if he tried it.

Show off.

Several people stood in front of Vali, silently trying to achieve the same pose. Tyr and Celeste watched for several minutes before Vali opened his eyes and caught sight of them. He nodded to the class and dismissed them with a bow.

The class gathered their things and dispersed. Some went through a back door, several to the juice bar, and a couple through a small side door leading to the private rooms.

Vali approached them with a broad smile. His long, shaggy blond hair had been pulled back into a bun, and his goatee neatly trimmed to perfection. He wore a baggy white shirt opened in the middle, showing off several necklaces, and a pair of light-colored linen pants. Tyr kept from laughing at the sight. Vali, the God of Light, traded in his war armor and white sword tobecome a hippie-dippy love guru. It always amazed Tyr how much his kin had changed since coming to the Underworld. Only he, Vid, and Herm remained mostly unchanged.

Vali stuck out his hand as he approached them. “Tyr. I wasn’t expecting you today… or any day.”

Tyr shook with Vali, who pulled him into a hug. Tyr hugged Vali awkwardly. Another thing that had changed about Vali, he’d become so touchy-feely in the last century.

“Who is your friend?” Vali looked at Celeste.

“This is Celeste. Her father is a friend of mine. I’m looking after her while he is away.”

Vali bowed and stuck out his hand. Celeste went to shake it, and Vali clasped her hand in both of his. His smile faded for a moment but then returned.

“Celeste, it is a pleasure to meet you.” He kissed the back of her hand before she pulled away.

For some reason, the gesture made anger surge inside Tyr, and he fought the urge to punch Vali’s mouth for touching her skin.

“And you,” Celeste replied.

Vali studied her, and then smiled and turned to Tyr.

“So, what can I do for you today, Cousin?”

“Celeste wanted somewhere outdoors and peaceful where she can gather her thoughts for a bit. I thought of no better place. Do you have any of your outdoor suites available?”

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