Jewels and Feathers (Race Games 3)

CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE

The evening of the Opening Ceremony and they still hadn’t received the location. All they knew was that the ceremony was this evening and that they had to leave in an hour or so to make it in time. The location was supposed to arrive before then. Muni wasn’t too worried. Since it was already a secret, likely they’d hold it close in the hopes that it would drive her mad, only giving up the location at the absolute last minute. She worried herself with more important things, such as the dress hanging in front of her.

“Glorious,” she whispered, excited over the garment that Aerith had sent her as a gift. Truly, Aerith knew her well and had picked out precisely something she would wear.

A shimmering black material, the dress was form-fitted and sensual. There was a high slit up the side which would allow her to move and fight if she needed. Across the material were thousands of tiny woven jewels and gems, each one catching the light and throwing tiny dots of light around the room. It was heavy but Muni was never deterred by such. She was going to sparkle like the Raven she was, and everyone would look to her.

Not to be disappointing, Aerith had also sent clothing for her Vikings. Though the suits were far less sparkly than her dress, their boutonnieres were made up of large matching jewels. Somehow, the fits were all perfect, and though there were no jewels across the rest of the suits, there was a subtle pattern in the fabric only seen with a shift of the light. The loops and designs intertwined in a way that felt perfectly Scandinavian and from an older time. Each and every jacket had a small raven embroidered in the collar, an ownership Muni would have revolted against if her own dress didn’t have three tiny axes over her heart. They were so perfectly blended in, most might not notice it, but Muni had. She appreciated the work.

Dressed save for her heels, Muni stood in the living area of the hotel room taking in everything. Vidar wore all but his suit coat, the throat of his shirt opened to reveal his tattoos. Though they’d come with ties, both Vidar and Brin had chosen not to wear them, claiming they felt like snakes. Eirik, however, had expertly threaded the tie around his neck, the shimmering material matching her dress.

Picking up the small axe that would serve as both her clutch and a weapon, Muni lifted her leg from the thigh slit and strapped it around there. It was small enough, most would look at it in amusement and assume it was decorative, especially with the designs etched into it. When Vidar himself saw it, he snorted.

“What do you plan to harm with that?” he asked. “A fly?”

Without answering, Muni unclipped the axe and swirled it in the air three times. With each turn, the axe expanded in size until it was the proper size to fit her body. It could go larger, but she found she didn’t need larger as long as it was the perfect balance.

Vidar’s eyes widened at the magic of it before he stepped forward to touch his finger to the axe, as if he didn’t quite believe what he’d seen.

Brin whistled. “Where can I get one of those?”

“Loki,” Muni shrugged, swirling the axe the opposite way until it was its miniature size again. “He owed me a favor long ago.”

Brin threw up his hands. “Never mind. I’d rather not run into Loki. You keep that masterpiece to yourself then.” He grabbed a larger axe and slung it over his shoulder. “This will do nicely.”

Muni didn’t comment that they likely wouldn’t allow the weapon inside the Opening Ceremony since it was so obvious. Brin already knew that. But sometimes, men needed a chance to flaunt their manliness, not for women, but for other men.

In the end, as Muni slipped on her sturdy heels, she watched as Vidar painted his face with black paint before turning to Brin and handing him the paint. Eirik watched warily and Muni was reminded again how he was a Viking from a modern time. Though he was brave and a valuable member of their team, he had no experience with things such as this, not like Brin and Vidar had. She was about to offer to do the paint herself for him before Brin finished his and moved over to Eirik. With a grunted gesture to the paint, Brin waited until Eirik nodded before stroking the paint around his eyes and down over his cheekbones in streaks. It made them look rugged and yet formal. It did things to her core she wasn’t prepared for.

“Isn’t this for battles?” Eirik asked as Brin continued the face paint.

“Do you think this is anything other than a battle we’re walking into?” Vidar asked with a raised brow.

Eirik studied him before nodding gently. “You’re right. No better time than now to appear intimidating.”

Vidar turned to her and studied her face. “Would you like to be painted?” he asked, his voice husky.

With a soft smile, Muni nodded gently. “It’s been long years since I’ve worn battle paint. Now is as good of time as any. I only ask one thing.” Vidar raised his brows in question. “Use gold paint.”

Vidar grinned and changed out the cans to one that glittered gold. With a small brush, he instructed her to close her eyes. The cool touch of the soft bristles tickled but she held still for Vidar to sweep it across her face. He stroked the paint around her eyes, covering up the eye makeup she’d been wearing, before spreading it out in a semblance of theirs, though her lines were steadier with the time he spent painting them there. When she opened her eyes and looked in the mirror, she saw herself as she once was.

A warrior. Not a goddess, but something else.

A raven.

As they all stood studying themselves and preparing to leave, a letter slid under the door. Eirik stooped to pick it up, broke the seal, and read the words written in script there.

“The location,” he said, passing it to Munin.

She read the address and shook her head. A ruse, after all. For the location was a perfectly normal hall used for events such as this. Someone was playing a game, and she knew to be on guard. Still, she touched each of her men gently.

“Be wary of all. We don’t know all of our enemies. We only know of a few allies.”

They may have the High Wizard of the North on their side, but they couldn’t afford to relax, not when there was a target over their heads.

Raising her chin, Munin led them from the hotel room and down to the waiting car.