His gaze is threatening. “I do not believe you are telling the truth. Would you like to start again?”
“I am telling the truth. I haven't seen her since that time a couple of years ago. I don't know where she is or where she stays.”
After another crash, more rocks rumble into the cave, and I miss deflecting one that rebounds and crashes onto Elan’s side. She flinches as it tumbles over the canopy of her extended wings, attempting to protect me, and I flinch as it falls to the ground.
Another loud grumble reverberates through the cave. “I know you know more than you're letting on. You must come clean with me. The sooner you do this, the sooner I'll let you out without harming you… and your dragon,” he adds at the last second. “But if you don't come clean with me, this promise is void. I will leave you in here, stewing over the consequences of your silence. You cannot leave this realm without my help or the help of my pets.”
My silence only seems to aggravate him more. He pushes off the cave and stomps off, the ground rumbling with each step.
- Chapter Six -
* * *
Setting my jaw, I gaze at the last spot I saw Surt. I don’t like our situation, but I couldn’t give up Freya’s location even if I knew. The canopy of Elan’s golden wing retracts from over me, accompanied by a wince, pulling my attention back to my friend. The offending rock lies only a few feet away. It’s huge.
Rounding her large form, I try to peer at the spot the boulder hit on her back. “Are you okay, Elan?”
She attempts to cover a small grunt that escapes her when she moves to face me. Yes. A little bruised, but not too bad.
“You didn't have the saddle to protect your back.” Regret nibbled at me even though it was an honest oversight, considering I didn’t know we were about to be kidnapped by a lava monster. “I left it next to my apartment after I took it off Sobek, I mean Loki.” I growl at my error.
Elan nudges me with her snout. I’ll be fine. It’s just a bruise. My scales protect a lot of that, remember?
“I know. But it still would've hurt. I heard the impact, and it was a huge boulder.” I continue to assess her scales. “Any broken bones?”
Kara! Stop fussing. We have to get out of here. Remember, that's the most important thing to focus on. I'm guessing you’re not going to tell him where Freya is. She lowers her head, leveling her gaze at me. Not that I want you to.
“No. I'm definitely not going to tell him where Freya is. But it’s true: I don’t know where she is. Even if I did, I wouldn’t tell him. She deserves much better than him, no matter what he threatens us with. Besides, I don’t give up friends who help Asgard or me.”
Elan scoffs. She can definitely do better than him. That wouldn't be hard!
Burning with annoyance, I glare up at the hole of the cave. “What is it with the gods thinking they can take any goddess as their wife? So old-fashioned.”
Yeah, just like they think they can own all the dragons and control them and make them agree to unfair alliances, Elan says with spite.
“We worked on their attitudes and treatment of the dragons and ended up with a fair outcome. Don’t you think?”
Of course. I was just using it as a reference to their selfishness.
“Indeed. Maybe we can work on changing their view on goddesses and thinking they can own them.”
Sounds good. Then maybe we can stop them viewing Valkyries as only battle maidens who aren't supposed to get married and settle down and have children. Or if they do have children, it can only be with particular warriors to create more Valkyries.
I huff a laugh. “I don’t think it’s quite that bad, but close. That view is very old-fashioned as well. Thankfully, they haven't tried to pawn me off to create Valkyrie babies.”
They probably think you have a few more good battle years in you before they start using you for breeding.
“I'm not going to do it.” I kick a rock, and it clatters across the ground. “There’s no way they can pair me off with someone.”
Elan tilts her head to one side. I can see this will be another battle you're going to have to face and try to overcome.
I glare at her.
Hey! She retreats and straightens her back. It's not my fault. I completely agree with you. It's another thing we'll work on with the gods and the head Valkyries.
My chest heaves with a massive sigh. “I know. It’s not something I want to think about. Thanks for bringing it up.” I roll my eyes.
Rocks clatter to the side, knocked by Elan’s talons as she paces the cave, her gaze traveling to the hole above and the opening toward the lava river. What do you think? Should I try to fly out of here?
Happy for the change of subject, I join her and assess the openings available. “I would say our only chance would be past the river,” I muse.
Rumbling sounds from above, and the hole above is blocked again, I assume by the backside of the lava monster.
I huff in disgust. “Are we looking at the lava monster’s butt again?”
I think so. If it is, it certainly has a strange but effective way of blocking the hole. Although I think it forgets that I have wings.
Something moves over the entrance opening to the river of lava, and disappointment crumples Elan’s facial scales when solid black legs dangle past it. The legs don’t block the entire entrance yet remain a deterrent and a promise of a warning.
“I guess that's our answer. It hasn't forgotten you have wings. I’d say it thinks it can catch you on your way out.” My heart sinks at the thought. “I wouldn’t know which direction to go anyway. From what I can see, the land is covered in black rock and flowing lava, giving very few distinctive landmarks, and I certainly can’t see the Yggdrasil.”
The world tree must be here somewhere. Maybe it looks different down here. It’s supposed to touch all nine realms. Elan sits on her haunches. And I assume the giant brought us down here through the Yggdrasil.
Anger churns deep within as I stare at the hanging legs that swing once as though reminding us of their presence. I stoop down and pick up one of the many fallen rocks, one that fits perfectly in my hand. I toss it then catch it in the same hand, glaring at the obstacle threatening our freedom before being overcome by temptation. I peg it at one of the dangling legs. A loud clank reverberates through the cave as it collides with the back of the lava monster’s calf. The leg flicks forward for a few seconds before swinging back over the opening menacingly.
The walls of the cave rumble as the legs slowly swing wide and more rocks crumble from the inside lining, falling around us. Glowing pits resembling eyes peer over the edge of the river opening at us, the red flashing in a warning that it’s still watching us, waiting for us to try to escape.
Instantly, Elan shifts in front of me to block any threat from the monster. Her wings drape around me, leaving me to peer out from behind her front legs. The lack of pupils makes it impossible to tell who the eyes are looking at or if they can see me.
“I guess that answers our question,” I say softly.
Elan’s protective stance remains unwavering until the monster finally pulls away, taking its fiery red glare with it. The draping legs kick out and swing back into position, partially blocking the entrance to the river. Rocks clatter around us again, and I push them away with my magic, smashing them against the cave walls.