Page 25 of Rune

The Champion Games were not my focus. I could do nothing to help those people. I could hardly help myself.

Odin glanced at the statue again, this time with a harder expression as a storm brewed in his eye. The next question formed in my mind, asking how my mortal parents could have reached into Asgard and snatched me away, in hopes the answer led to the path back home, but his stony expression stilled my tongue. Odin looked at the statue of me like one might look at a beast they planned to slay for dinner, and my stomach churned.

“They treated me well there,” I said quickly. “I was not harmed; I was given food and shelter and a family. I have no hard feelings toward my clan.”

Odin’s expression softened. “You should have been given so much more.”

“Maybe. But they cared for me. I don’t wish any ill to come upon them.”

“They dared to take a goddess from us and hide her for seventeen years. That cannot go unpunished.”

I spoke quickly. It hadn’t occurred to me until now that they’d punish my family. My sisters, my parents—they were all innocent. Theywould all die at Odin’s hand by the look in his eye. “I’d like to put it behind me.” I dared to place a hand on his arm. “PleaseAfi, I wish no ill-deeds done on my behalf.”

Odin studied me for a while—far longer than I was comfortable with, until I was worried he saw beneath my desire to protect my family. Then he gave a small nod. “As you wish. I will call off the plans to slay them all.”

The blood drained from my face. The plans were already in motion. “That would be appreciated.”

He stepped away, then looked back. “If it were up to me, I’d track down everyone in that clan, slit their throats, and feed them to my wolves.” The hairs on my arms stood up. “No one should be able to hurt my granddaughter and live.”

I swallowed hard. “I assure you, your granddaughter can take care of herself.”

At that, his hardness softened. “I see that. I’m very glad you’re home, Ruin.”

It was far too late to correct my name now. When Odin calls you something, you don’t correct him.

As I watched him walk away, a man of immense power and twice the size a normal man should be, I added another story to my set of tales:I stood before Odin, lied, and survived.

ninE

I LINGERED AT the statue of Astrid, wondering how she’d react to me stealing her entire life and if she’ll ever reappear to set the story straight. With luck, I’d be long gone by then, returned to Danmark with no scars to show for it.

This statue must have been an invitation to come speak to me, because within a minute, someone else came to my side. “You must hate your parents,” she said.

I turned to look at her. Silver chains had been braided into her shimmering, blonde hair, which hung down her back like a perfect, thick cord. Golden bracelets adorned her wrists, and she held a glass between her fingers, showing off red painted nails that matched her slender gown.

This was the woman Thor has been speaking to earlier, I noted.

“I do nothate them,” I replied.

She raised a brow. “No? If you knew the life you could have had in Asgard, you would.”

I pretended to consider it. Actually, I did think about it. I thought about what it would have been like if I was really Astrid and had grown up as Odin’s granddaughter, living in Asgard amongst the other gods instead of farming myfaðir’sfields and bowing before the chieftain who only ever saw my sister.

I pushed the image away. “I had a simple life with my clan, but a good one.”

“I find it hard to believe anyone would prefer the harsh life of your people. They are ruthless, every one of them. All bite and no brain. But up here, we would have had fun.” The way she said fun insinuated she meant trouble. “We are the same age. You and I would have been playmates as children, and become the closest of friends.”

Someone as ordinary as me would look out of place next to someone like her. For the sake of my pride, it would be best if she didn’t stand too close, but my pride would have to survive. “It’s never too late to make a friend.”

Somehow, her smile looked dangerous. “My affection is much harder to win now that I’m older.” She tapped her fingers to her glass. “Though you’ve had no trouble gaining the approval of your grandfather.” Her sight locked on Odin, and her tone turned envious.

I glanced at Odin. “He’s different than I expected,” I confessed. “Warmer? The stories made him sound so cold, but being in his presence is like sitting by a fire.”

Her lips curved up. “For most, that fire burns. But Odin is fiercely protective of his family.”

The opportunity was there, and I seized it. “If he’s so protective, how do mortals manage to steal a child from here?” I tried not to appeartoo interested as I asked, instead turning my face toward my drink. “I didn’t realize there was an easy bridge between the two places.”

She chuckled. “They don’t.” The goddess turned like I’d lost her interest, but she had all of mine. “Mortals can’t enter Asgard. You weren’t stolen from us by a mortal; you were taken by a god. My guess—your parents had something they wanted, and I’m very curious to find out what that is.” With the most ominous tone I’d ever heard, she lifted her glass to me. “Welcome to Asgard. Let’s see how long you stay this time.”

---