Page 89 of Rune

“They are almost to the weapons,” Ve said for me. He sent a disapproving look where Trig had gone, but didn’t say anything. Trig was already a passing thought in my mind as I studied the mortals. They’d split into two groups, the larger one heading for the higher point where two large barrels of weapons stood. It’d be a better starting point with more places to hide and a superior angle, but the weapons were further away. The second group, consisting of only three of the nine mortals, raced to the lower gate to the city, where a smaller barrel waited beneath bronze webs of steel. They’d get there first.

I wanted to run toward them, but all the gods were stilled to watch. Soon, they’d ascend into their glass domes above the city to witness it all, but none advanced more than a few paces. Until they moved, neither could I. Instead, I was stuck frozen, waiting to see if Tova made it past the frenzy. She’d chosen the higher point, as had First, which put them about fifty yards away from the weapons while the other group had found theirs. The first to reach the barrel drew out a broadsword and swung aimlessly, creating a wide arch to keep the other two from the weapons. The other two slowed, but when he swung again, one jumped as soon as the blade had passed. This one clutched a dagger, and with a flick, sent it not toward the one already armed, but the one unarmed.

It struck, and none flinched. The gods watched silently as the first champion fell.

The one who did the killing spoke to the other, and after a moment, the blade was lowered and hands shook. I gasped. “How often do they do that?”

“Every time,” Ve replied. “Though the bond will break by the time it’s final four.”

My heart pounded in my chest at the quickness of it all. Just like that, we were down to eight champions, and one alliance was made.

The higher group got to their weapons, but they valued their lives more. With shifting gazes to each other, they took what they could and scattered into the city to play the game with more stealth. The gods sighed, but now the initial fight was over, they began their march toward the streets, to climb to the safety of the glass.

Odin roared. I kept my head down and walked, knowing he’d spotted his prisoner was gone.

“Find him,” he shouted, and the rustle of quick footsteps followed. I hoped by now, Trig was far enough away to hide until the threat had passed. It was out of my hands now.

“Ruin.” Odin’s low growl swept over the field; his tone low like storm clouds waiting to release their rain. The hairs on my arm stood up as Ve and I turned in tandem, catching a sharp glare from Odin. It looked like a warning. A lethal warning. “Don’t interfere.”

I hadn’t fooled anyone by setting Trig free. Yet since he couldn’t prove it, I swept on a placid expression and nodded once. “You’ve made your commands clear.”

From his frown, I hadn’t soothed any worries. But beside him, Frigg stood with her hands folded before her, a soft turn of her mouth, and sympathy edging from her eyes. While everyone around us was soaked through with excitement for the sudden start to the Champion Games, she stood still like a tower in a storm, looking at me as if I’d already lost my sister and she felt every ounce of pain.

I gave her an equally pained expression. If Odin found me to be interfering, I’d count on the sympathy from Frigg to soothe him.

Then I clasped my hands around Ve’s arms as if he were the only thing holding me up in the world, and let him lead me toward the city.

“You grow bold,” Ve spoke, his Asgardian accent falling heavier with the whisper. “Being Odin’s granddaughter won’t save you from his wrath.”

Only a few weeks ago, Odin threatened anyone who touched a hair on my head. Perhaps I was bold. Or I was desperate. The heat of the sun licked my bare shoulders, seeping into my skin as sweat prickled along my brow. I counted our steps. The trick would be to make the gods believe I was there amongst them when in reality I was helping Tova, and that would be the easy part. The hard part came next. Compared to all I had to accomplish today, I could hardly think about Odin’s stare at my back.

It wasn’t long before our steps turned into a sprint, guiding the gods toward the city. From what we saw, it was all streets of tan and steel and heat, with blinding light reflecting from windows and empty homes. The roads lay quiet. Deathly still. I purposefully veered toward the northern path where Tova had gone, trying to see through the streets to find a trace of my sister.

The dirt already ran red.

A cry bit the air, one laced in agony. It was male. No one ought to feel that relieved at such a horrifying sound, but I did, just knowing it wasn’t her.

“The entrance to the glass domes,” Ve said, stepping up to a hazy blue light. It stood like a doorway between us and a looping stairwell. “Only gods can pass.”

He said it so plainly, and stepped through. I tried not to panic. I didn’t have time to guess whether it would kill mortals like jravn would—only trust that whatever had kept me alive thus far would allow me to survive this. Still, I sent out a silent prayer. Then I followed himthrough. Thankfully, I passed through the light, with only a misty feeling on my arms.

Gods were following fast. We hurried up the stairwell to be the first in the room, where stone tables sat by stacked chairs and empty plates meant for refreshments. No one cared it wasn’t set up yet. We all went to the wall to peer through the glass.

This was the best view of the city. Odin’s home sat directly behind us, and the ocean at the bottom of the mountain. From here, we saw resplendent gardens on roofs, ivy of jessamine slithering up trellis gates, and golden bridges with iron girders sprawled across torrent rivers. I took them in as quickly as I could, trying to force a map into memory. Then I looked at the city through a different angle, searching for places to hide. Beneath the curve of a bridge. A balcony I could climb to. The narrowest streets.

I shifted my eyes once more to find the piles of weapons strategically placed in the most open areas of the city. Likely, the mortals would gather in perimeters around those locations, waiting for the brave ones to make themselves known.

“You got it?” Ve whispered.

“I’m ready.”

The room was already crowded with gods, and thankfully, Odin was not amongst them. He might not fall for this as easily. But everyone else? I could fool them.

On cue, I shivered. I let the vibrations overtake my body, until those around us noticed. They raised a brow, but none were surprised. My sister was down there. Shivering was showing restraint.

I increased the display as I wrapped my arms around me like a blanket and knelt to my knees where the cold stone grated into my skin. “I can’t,” I whimpered, putting on a good show. “I can’t do this.”

Ve knelt beside me, stroking my side and leaning close. “I’ve got you.” He pulled me into him. “It’s okay.”

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