Page 48 of Rune

I dropped my eyes to my hands as they shifted against each other. “Honestly, a lot of it is guilt.” I swallowed the lump that rose too quickly. “I feel guilty I’m here, in this gorgeous home, eating fresh vegetables from a garden every night, with Odin’s protection over me, while they are here to fight and die. I’m not certain I’m deserving of this.”

Even if I were a goddess, I’d feel undeserving. As a mortal, I felt less than deserving. I felt like a thief. Stealing kindness that wasn’t meant to be mine.

Ve thought for a moment, then replied, “From what you’ve told me of your life in Danmark, you didn’t receive good things often. You aren’t used to being treated well. What the champions will do this week—fighting, risking their lives—that’s all you’ve ever done.”

His hand slipped into mine, stilling their constant movement and tripping the beat of my heart. His voice came like a lyre’s soft music. “It’s time you were treated well. You’ve nothing to feel guilty about. And those mortals who fight don’t do it for themselves. Whoever wins brings back a decade of the gods’ favor for their clan.”

I knew that. It was a ritual begun by the first Vikings, who were desperate enough to offer up their own in return for the eyes of the gods. But we were not as foolish. The gods were there whether we offered living sacrifices or not, and we needed every fighter for our raids. It was an archaic ritual that needed to end.

But it was not one I could stop.

I focused on the look of his hand in mine, watching his fingers curl to cup my own. The gesture didn’t feel as romantic as it did comforting, in a friendly sort of manner, but it did the job. A warmth spread through my body, helping unwind some of my reserves.

“You can’t change what’s going to happen tomorrow,” Ve echoed my thoughts. “The Champion Games can’t be stopped. But know that as you are watching, I will be right there beside you, helping you through.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

I wanted to ask about his sister. I wanted to do the same for him as he had done for me—unpack some of the pain and try to make it better. But the moment didn’t feel right. Perhaps he didn’t need to talk about it. Perhaps he did. But he stood up before I could decide and placed a gentle kiss on the back of my hand.

“My goddess,” he breathed.

That was much nicer than ‘my delight.’ I could get used to that.

Ve moved for the door, leaving with one last reminder. “Two months here. Then we leave, and you’ll never have to watch a Champion Games again.”

Before he could leave, a question sprung to mind so quickly, it brought me to my feet. I’d almost forgotten. “Ve?” He turned. “Is it possible for a god to allow a mortal to drink jravn and not die?”

I was giving away my doubts about my deity, but the question was too important to not ask.

He frowned and stepped back into the room. “Possible? Maybe.” His hand went to his chin and he paced. “Probable?” He let out a low whistle. “It’d take a powerful god to do it. Even then, I’m not convinced they’d pull it off. Especially like tonight. They would’ve needed to know you were drinking it at that exact moment, have given you some sort of tonic or charm first…” His voice died off. He shook his head with resolution. “I don’t think it’s possible. You would have died tonight if you were mortal.”

“There’s no chance?” I pressed. “If a god is toying with me here, I want to know.”

“I guarantee you,” he replied. He crossed back to me, where he stood a pace away to let me look over him. He looked like a god. I didn’t. And no matter how many times someone called me one, I feared I’d never feel like more than an imposter. Gently, his fingers tipped my chin upwards to him. “You are a goddess,” he said. “Through and through.”

The tightness was back in my chest when I woke, and I considered hiding instead of going to the arena. But Ve and I were to be presented there, and I didn’t want to put him in a difficult place by not showing up. Plus, he would be here soon, and I didn’t put it past him to drag me from bed, no matter how sweetly he’d said ‘my goddess’ last night.

So I swung my feet to the floor and stood.

My fingers inched to grab my brace and clip the axe to my back, then faltered.

Ve had been so kind last night. It was the least I could do to not wear an axe around him, when it reminded him of how his sister died.

I still put on a brace, but one for swords instead, and I clipped two in a cross behind my back.

Horses and the roll of a chariot sounded outside the window. I tied sandals to my feet and descended the stairwell just as Ve was opening the door.

He paused to take in the sight of me. I swore his eyes lingered on the swords in place of my axe, and he swallowed. Then he opened the door wider. “I’ll be the envy of every god there.”

“Let’s just get today over with.”

SEvEntEEn

VE WAS RIGHT, abundant excitement buzzed in the air at the opening ceremony for the Champion Games. The stands that had been empty last night were roaring with life as every seat was taken by gods eager to see this year’s champions. I kept staring at the door to the arena—the iron clad, strongly bolted door where the mortals would enter.

For once, the attention was not on Ve and me as we pushed through the heavy crowd to find our seats at the front. Ve wore a long-sleeved tunic the same color as the ivy that used to grow alongside my home, with his hair left loose around his neck and a gold ring on his finger that pushed into my skin as he kept a tight grip on my hand.

I’d dressed far more subtly today than the past few days, opting for something lighter to keep up with the heat of the day. My dress was a silver silk with braided straps, allowing my hair to brush against my bare shoulders in a way that made me feel free. The dress hungto the floor with enough fabric to run in if needed, which I was finding was a very important factor when I choose my clothing. Still, I allowed it to be tight at the waist, with a slit up the side that showed off the knife I strapped to my thigh. My leather sandals wrapped up my calves, and I wore a white band around my forehead.

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