Page 87 of Rune

Ve peered over his cup. “I did. He’s all strength, and his opponent used speed and agility to combat him.”

“But the opponent died?”

“That’s right. Njal used patience, not strength, against him, playing defense until the opponent was worn out. Then he struck. If Tova is to beat him, she must be patient as well.”

Njal. I preferred to call him First. Better not to give them names, knowing they can’t all survive. Currently, they were all having their goblets filled, each one adorned with a different color gem. When they got to Tova’s emerald one, she put a hand over her goblet. The server looked back over the gods, and tried to fill her cup again. Tova said something and pulled it away, and the server moved on. Olesea watched Tova, taking a sip from her own cup.

Briefly, I debated slipping jravn into the cups of the other mortals. Let the games end now, and Tova win. But there’d be no way to pull off such a thing without clearly interfering, and Odin might just take Tova’s head in retribution. Or mine.

Something slid through the crowds, catching my attention. Aegir was here, wearing a silky blue cloak that lightened into white at the bottom like the foam of the sea, and a smile just as slippery. His sharp gaze landed on me. He winked. I shivered.

“What about Aegir?” I whispered to Ve, planting a big smile on my face so he wouldn’t see how unnerved I was. “What do you know about him?”

Ve looked up, and stilled. Then he let out a low whistle. “I haven’t seen him leave his ocean palace in a long time. The games must have drawn him.”

Or me. I leaned on my elbow, so I couldn’t see Aegir from the side and he couldn’t see what I was saying. “Is he on good standing with Odin again?”

“Hardly. Most dislike him, and he dislikes them more.” As he spoke, our plates were set before us—thick steak with a thin sauce and plump grapes. Ve tugged one free to plop in his mouth. “I used to want to visit his lavish palace under the sea,” he confessed. “I tried everything to get an invite, but my most notable attempt was to make him an apothecary teacup, one that would hide poison if he wished.”

I blinked. “You what?”

He laughed. “I realize now how absurd of a gift that is. But I was ten, and I thought a poison teacup sounded cool, so I made one for him. It didn’t earn me an invitation to the palace, but as far as I know, he has never poisoned anyone with it, so that much is good.”

The thought of Aegir having access to my secrets and poison made me hold my cup closer.

“Don’t worry,” Ve said with a chuckle. “My gifts have improved. No more apothecary teacups from me.”

“I wouldn’t mind one,” I said absent-mindedly. I stared at Tova, trying to draw her eye back so I could point to the daggers. “They sound much more exciting than the gifts mortals give.”

“And what gifts do they—stop staring at her, or someone will notice.”

I dropped my gaze. “Sorry.” I blew out a breath. “How will we get these to her?”

“Eat your food, for starters. Then dance. In the midst of everyone spinning, I’ll slip her the blades and none will be the wiser.” He tipped his head toward my food. “Eat, or you’ll give us away.”

I begrudgingly took a bite. The food once tasted sweet, but now it settled bitterly on my tongue like a kiss of death, until it was all I could do to swallow. My eye raked over the mortals, over Aegir, over Odin, running scenarios through my mind until I’d plotted out a hundred ways to take them all down, and a hundred more where Tova and I died. It wasn’t long before Ve pushed his plate away and stood up.

“Let’s start the dancing then.” He held out a hand. “My future bride.”

I stood to take his hand. He called to the musicians to play something happier, and swept me into his arms. That one beckoning was all it took for several other couples to stand as well and join in the dance, each of us forming our own paths through the maze of tables, while Ve and I hoped no one noticed as our path veered closer and closer to the mortals. We hung back before reaching all the way, though. It’d take more than a few other couples to hide us from watchful eyes.

Ve cupped a hand under my chin. “Smile, Rune, and you’ll have so many gods in the palm of your hand, that you’ll be able to hand Tova a dagger in plain sight and none would stop you.”

For him, I did. “I doubt my smile works well on anyone.”

“It works for me.”

The words should make me smile. But my gaze wandered to Tova again. The servant had managed to fill her cup without Tova realizing, and Tova shoved it back. It was smart to decline. The other mortals might not hold the alcohol well, and that alone could bring them down tomorrow. Olesea, for example, seemed particularly taken with the substance. When Tova refused hers, Olesea took the emerald mug and sipped herself.

Over Ve’s other shoulder, I watched as Trig knelt, shifting his attention between Tova and something at Odin’s hip which I suspectedto be a dagger. Surely he wasn’t dull enough to go after Odin. I bore my eyes into him, attempting to warn him off, but he never once looked my way.

As the music slowed, I leaned my head against Ve’s chest and inhaled deeply.

“If you weren’t here,” I whispered. “I don’t know how I’d manage any of this. I’d have driven myself mad by now.” Or at least,madder.None could claim I was entirely sane at the moment.

“You would have attacked Odin at least three times, that’s for sure.”

I chuckled. That was probably true. And attempted several break-outs for Tova. Perhaps staged my death to find a way home. Without Ve, I wouldn’t be standing half as well as I was now, and yet the closer we got to tomorrow, the more it felt as if everything was falling apart too fast to have hopes of holding it together.

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