Jewels and Feathers (Race Games 3)

CHAPTERSEVEN

Brin and Vidar were staring at the TV like it was a magic portal, their eyes transfixed on the moving pictures. Brin did so in open mouthed awe, jerking when the images flashed between programs. When the first commercial for a local pizza place came on, he licked his lips as if he could taste it. Vidar simply stared at the moving pictures with a look of annoyance on his face, as if even liking the console was a betrayal. It would have been amusing if they didn’t have bigger things to worry about.

Muni didn’t blame them their awe. She’d remained alive for many years and through great technological growths. Though there were a few brief decades she’d missed, she’d still seen many. In the last twenty years alone, things had grown rapidly. The last time the two Vikings were alive was long before anything mechanical even existed. Vikings had been master craftsman, building beautiful ships and weapons that stood through the test of time and still stand proudly displayed in museums around the world, but a magic box that played strange shows was apparently too much to grasp for them. They’d both been watching it for the better part of an hour. Sometimes, Brin would respond back to the screen as if the people there were speaking directly to him. Vidar had gotten up twice to look behind it in case there was somehow someone hiding there.

Eirik say on the sofa on the opposite end as Muni, his eyes glancing in amusement at the other two. He was clearly content to watch their awakening. It wasn’t every day you watched someone see such things for the first time.

The television flashed to another commercial, one Brin apparently deemed unworthy of his attention, so he turned toward Muni with a thoughtful expression. “Are we all to have roles to play in your plan?”

Muni shrugged. “I suppose that would be wise to figure out now. I’ll be driving certainly. Normally, there is at least one other teammate who does weapons and navigation. Since there are three of you, we can split things up. Weapons, navigation, and technology.”

Eirik smirked. “Clearly, I’ll be technology.”

The corner of Muni’s lips tipped up at him. “It would appear you’re the best for that job, yes.”

Brin puffed up with pride, hitting his fist against his chest. “I was a master navigator in my time. I can chart any path by the stars.”

They all looked toward Vidar who was steadily ignoring them.

“That would make you weapons,” Eirik pointed out, knowing he could hear them despite the blaring commercial about the latest luxury car.

“I don’t care,” he grunted, keeping his back turned to them. The World War ll documentary came back on, grabbing his attention again, indicating he was clearly done with the conversation.

They all fell into an almost comfortable silence between them. They still had a few hours before they were to catch their flight, a sure-to-be exciting experience for Brin and Vidar, and so it was best to relax before then. The moment they arrived back home, they would need to begin preparing. After all, the car she custom ordered would likely be ready and waiting.

“So, why did you pick the three of us?” Brin asked. Instead of turning back to the television, his gaze was completely focused on Muni, as if she were something far more amazing than a moving picture box. “Clearly, you needed only one. Why choose three?”

Something inside Muni twisted, some knowledge she didn’t want to look too closely at or acknowledge, but she owed him an answer. Though they’d died once already, they were still at risk here. If she died before the spell was complete, she didn’t know what would happen. She also didn’t know how human they still were despite their life forces being tied to hers. It was wise to be cautious.

Muni shrugged off the question. “I went in for two, but. . .something told me to bring all three of you. I know not what instinct made me do it.”

“The Gods have interesting ways of leading our paths,” Brin nodded. “Perhaps, we were fated to be here.”

“Or it’s simply a woman playing house,” Vidar grunted in annoyance.

Muni scowled at the back of his head. “I don’t clean or cook,” she snarled back. “But if you continue to be rude, I might need to clean up the blood that spills when I slice your belly open.”

Brin grinned. “That sounds glorious.”

Eirik clamped his mouth shut. “Let’s save the gutting for another time.”

Brin’s smile fell. “Where’s your sense of fun, boy?”

“Our idea of fun is very different.” Eirik shook his head.

But though they bickered, it still felt right to Muni. Her eyes trailed over to Vidar one more time before she turned to go pick more food from the fresh cart. The car would be there any moment and she would need her strength to deal with the amount of testosterone currently around her.