Jewels and Feathers (Race Games 3)

CHAPTERTHREE

Hugin and Munin were once Odin’s favored, his eyes and ears in a world filled with betrayal. With so many gods constantly trying to cause mischief in the nine realms, it had been Muni and Hug’s jobs to foresee problems before they happened. When the two ravens had died, they’d long since been released from that task, but it had still been ingrained in their blood. They’d often found themselves standing near dedications to the old gods in the hopes that they’d appear, but after so long, they’d receded and left humanity to their own devices. All the gods had, allowing their memories to be left as worship and nothing more. Deities had given humans their freedom and most of them hadn’t ever dared to think of what that meant. Some humans still prayed to the old gods, still honored them, but there were far less nowadays. They were happy to remain a myth, just as most of the supernatural world was.

In Valhalla, none of that mattered.

Though Odin wasn’t in Valhalla and hadn’t sat at the warrior’s table for many centuries, the place still felt like Odin’s hall once had. Where Muni stood, there were long tables lining the area piled high with food. Banners hung from the ceiling beams, symbols for different gods and goddesses represented there, a reminder that the warriors in Valhalla were only there because of the gods.

Muni’s eyes traced over the orbs of light within the brilliant light around her. Because she was not dead, she couldn’t see physical details of the souls here, but she could feel their vibrance. A warrior soul was brighter than any other. If she’d been allowed to Valhalla upon her last death, she would have been able to see all those here, been able to know their physical features. Now, they were left nameless and unable to communicate.

Though she couldn’t see them, they could see her. A few came closer but most moved away, understanding what she was. Muni didn’t pay them no mind, not yet. She only had a limited amount of time here, and she had to find someone first.

Walking from Odin’s hall, Muni stepped outside into what Norway used to look like. Green grass, snow-covered mountains, chill air; she breathed deep from the clean oxygen untainted by pollution. Norway hadn’t smelled like this for far too long.

Not wasting any time, she stepped out into the green and tilted her head back. Focusing all her memory on one person, she breathed out one word.

“Hugin. . .”

The wind swept passed her, tousling her hair around her face, but she focused all her awareness on the word, on projecting it out into Valhalla.

She didn’t have to wait long.

A single glowing soul swept across the plains, swirling around her in a way that told her exactly who the soul belonged to.

“Hello, brother,” she whispered. “I can’t see you as you are, but I can feel you.”

The brilliant light flared in answer and sadness hit her that she couldn’t understand him either, not while she remained alive. Holding her hand out, the soul settled into her palm, offering his warmth as the only way he could.

“I’ve only come to make sure you were here. I’m going to find out who did this.” The light flared again. “I was reincarnated,” Muni offered as explanation. Likely, he was wondering how she was alive when he wasn’t, so she spoke in the hopes he could understand. “I’m entering the Race Games.” Two quick flares. “I know the danger it poses, which is why I came to Valhalla for my team. If I could choose you, I would, Hug.” But her powers were limited to human souls, and Hugin wasn’t quite human, just as she wasn’t. “I’m going to avenge you, brother,” Muni promised, tucking her hands away. “That is my vow to you.”

But Muni was running out of time. If she could, she would have sat with Hug for hours, but she wasn’t given that long here. The longer she stayed, the closer to death she grew, and if Muni faded in Valhalla, that was it. There would be no Hel, no Valhalla, only the void.

“I have to go,” Muni rasped. “I’m sorry I can’t stay longer.”

The light of the soul flared and rose into the air. As if giving her strength, he swirled around her again, the wind he generated lifting her hair around her cheeks.

Muni. . .

The single word filtered into her mind, likely only because they’d once shared a bond closer than blood, but it made her feel better just the same. Hug, no matter where he was, would be proud of her.

It took great strength to turn away from her brother’s soul, but Muni did so, only because she had a mission to accomplish. But she needed a team, and Valhalla was full of warriors. Though she couldn’t speak to the souls or see them, she could feel their honor, their loyalty, and their strength, and that’s what drew her to a soul hovering near the door as if watching her. He felt like a great warrior, and when she offered her hand toward him, he came willingly. The moment he touched her fingers, she connected a tether that he struggled against. But that was the downfall of this process. It all came with a cost.

A second soul moved passed, uninterested in her, but he felt familiar to her somehow. Something had her reaching for him and tethering him to her without waiting for him to come toward. His struggle was greater, as if he didn’t want to go, but once tethered, there was nothing she could do. Guilt bit at her for taking that choice away, but she couldn’t allow it to cripple her.

Two souls were enough. Two teammates were rare but not unheard of.

Moving toward the door again, knowing she would need to prepare herself for the exit, Muni was unprepared for the soul that came out of nowhere and hovered in front of her like a barricade.

This soul felt younger than the other two, though not in age. It was as if he had only come to Valhalla recently, and she hadn’t realized there were still warriors being admitted. The time of great battles like the olden days was over, so how had this brave soul found himself here?

She held out her hand and the soul circled it gently. Muni shouldn’t have considered it. Two souls were enough. Three could drain her completely, or worse, ruin her plans, but something told her to tether the third soul just as she had the first two. Following instincts that had remained dormant for longer than she’d have liked, Muni tethered the third soul to her. A team of four was unheard of but she didn’t fight the feeling. This was meant to be.

Grabbing the door handle again, the three souls bumping around her, one desperately trying to get away, she dragged the door open. . .

. . .and ripped three souls from Valhalla back into the realm of the living.