Freed: (Phoebe Meadows Book 2) Read online

  “But if any of us perish, the deal is off,” Baldur added, his voice strong and final.

  “We cannot guarantee your life, god,” the lizard said in a voice full of lispy condescension. “But will promise the others.”

  Instead of being angry, Baldur laughed and agreed. “You’re right, of course. Mine cannot be guaranteed. Get them out alive, and the deal will be seven caskets.”

  Before I could protest that Baldur’s life must be included, the two shook hands.

  It was comical how vastly different sizes they were, one huge god hand encircling one tiny pod hand.

  The deal was done.

  The lizard whistled, which sounded bizarre coming out of its wide, narrow-lipped mouth, and immediately a trampling of feet issued from the hallway as an army of skogs came to its call.

  Junnal bellowed at the intrusion.

  “It’s okay,” I said. “They’re going to help us get out of here.” I muttered under my breath, “The sooner the better.”

  Baldur grabbed the table and tugged it out from the wall. “How do we address you?” he asked the skog. “I assume you are the leader here.”

  The skog picked up a chair and motioned for a few of his cronies to line up behind him, which they did, with their thin arms crossed. They didn’t look threatening in the least, even with their chests puffed up. At the tallest they were four feet, and each had on the same comical outfit—a brown toga-type thing with leg holes.

  But I was betting they could turn it on if they had to. They did have sharp teeth, after all.

  “I am Zetafoula,” it said as we all sat. “I am the leader here.”

  “Can I call you Zee?” Baldur asked, affection in his tone. He really was a good guy—either that, or he was an extremely talented actor. He was infectious and had a way of making everyone feel at ease. I could see the lizardman leader thought so, too. It nodded, and Baldur continued, “We need a rock-solid plan. Our strategy was to enter the weapons room on level ten where they keep spells, but getting there was going to be a challenge.”

  The skog shook its head. “No, taking their weapons will not be necessary. We will also have no need of their magic. Our plan is simple. We distract the elves by giving them what they want, and while they are busy gloating about their good fortune, we free the Valkyrie and move you out.” I raised an eye as the leader continued. I wasn’t sure giving them what they wanted was the right choice. “Right now, they are betting we will be victorious, meaning we will bring you out as prisoners. Once we do that,” it lisped on, “we will demand that we guard you until we are paid. Since they do not settle their debts quickly, it will be granted, and while they are congratulating themselves on their good fortune, we shuttle you out. The elves will not suspect a thing.”

  Hm. “What exactly do you mean by giving them what they want?” I asked, trepidation at the forefront. “They don’t know I’m here. I can be an asset to the mission and stay hidden.”

  The lizard examined me, its vertical irises expanding and contracting. “They know that the god had help in his escape.”

  I jerked my thumb toward the Junnal. “Yeah, from this super-strong Jotun.”

  “It’s too risky,” Zee said, shaking its head. “If they discover we’ve hatched a plan, they will unleash their magic, and we lose.”

  “So you’re asking me to turn myself over to them in hopes you can break me out once you find Leela?” I turned toward Baldur. “Does that sound right to you?”

  “The lizard does have a point,” the god answered. “If the skogs bring them a far greater prize, that being you, they will be distracted. If your end goal is truly to break out the Valkyrie, this might be the best way to do so.” Baldur’s voice was sincere, but I had a hard time believing that was the plan we should follow.

  “I will accompany you,” Callan declared, lofting his finger in the air. He stood behind my chair. “They do not know I have been here all these years, so that will be an even greater surprise. We will tell them I am ailing, and they will not think me capable of anything.” He directed his sharp gaze at the lizard. “That’s the only way we will agree to this, skog.” He was firm, his voice no longer shaky. “She will not go into one of those cells unprotected. I shall go with her. Swear it.”

  “It will be done,” the skog answered, appearing a little smug as it looked around the table.

  “Um,” I pondered. “I have to say, I’m not entirely amenable to this plan.” I fingered the ice pick I still wore harnessed at my waist. I had used it to slay a dark elf that had been attacking me on a rooftop in New York. I hadn’t even thought to leave the weapon behind. “I have no idea what the elves will do with me when they find out who I am, but it could be chaos.”

  Baldur smiled, his dimples flashing. “Okay, I give. Who are you? I’ve been wondering that since you freed me. You have Odin’s favor, to be sure.” He inclined his head at my weapons. “And the elves said you are his decedent. Are you?”

  Callan cleared his throat, adding, “You are too young to be on your own, isn’t that correct? Just struck? You have a powerful bodyguard, it’s true, but to enter this realm alone seems folly. Whoever sent you must ache for your death.”

  That shocked me. “What? No!” I exclaimed a little too loudly. “I was sent here by Hugin, and he doesn’t want me dead.” I couldn’t believe that—not after everything he’d done to keep me alive thus far.

  “Ah, Hugin,” Baldur commented. “You are right. He would not want you killed. He favors the Valkyrie who is kept here and would want her freed at all costs.”

  I turned to Baldur, my eyes wide. “How do you know that?”

  Baldur shrugged. “Because my father was very smitten with the Valkyrie they call Leela, as was his agent. She has a beauty and gentleness about her, not typical for a shieldmaiden.”

  “Your father ?” I swallowed, trying not to cough or choke or pass out. That’s why his movements reminded me so much of Tyr. Baldur was my half brother! “Odin’s your father?” I asked, stalling, my voice little more than puffs of air.

  “Of course,” the god answered jovially. “My mother is Frigg. She was with Odin for a time and is still the chief of the gods, but they parted ways years ago. I am the god of light.”

  Everyone waited for my response. “I’m…I’m Odin’s daughter.” Swallow, swallow, deep breath. “Leela is my mother.”

  “Sister!” Baldur’s voice rang with happiness. He stood, making his way around the table, and swept me up in a bear hug, my weapons pressed closely against my sides. “I did not know Leela produced a daughter!” He kissed my cheek and held me out so he could inspect me. “So you are here in search of your mother. I can see the resemblance now. I should’ve known! It will be the happiest of family reunions once we find her.”

  He was so energetic and sincere, it was hard not to smile, so I gave in and cracked one.

  This was beyond strange.

  I’d inadvertently freed my own brother.

  I tried to hug him back, which was a little awkward, since I was holding my swords. I managed to get my fingers around his back without stabbing anyone. “I hope it’s a good reunion,” I told him, feeling overwhelmed. “I’m looking forward to meeting her.”

  Before I could say anything more, Zee interrupted. “The elves are restless. We must go.” The lizard leader didn’t seem fazed by the news that Baldur and I were brother and sister, other than its yucky forked tongue doing double time.

  Baldur slung his arm around my shoulders. “We go together.”

  14

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  ____________

  T here wasn’t much time to argue with the plan. Much to my chagrin, it began to roll on its own. Callan took my cloak and stuffed it inside his ragged tunic. “I smell like white elf magic, because I am a white elf. They will not suspect we have it.” His eyes twinkled. “Lead us out!” he commanded the army of skogs.

  They shoved Baldur, who was now bound by some kind of cord, in front of us.
A skog grabbed on to my arm and roughly forced it behind my back. “Hey!” I protested. “No need to yank that hard!” The thing hissed at me as it tied me up with the same thing binding Baldur’s wrists.

  Junnal gave a disgruntled sound from behind me. We were both uneasy about this. He had not wanted to surrender either.

  He was a smart Jotun.

  I tried to abandon thoughts of breaking away. I had to trust my newfound brother. He seemed okay with this turn of events and so did Callan. If I made a break for it, the outcome would be unknown.

  Either plan could lead to capture, or worse.

  At least this capture gave us an advantage. Or at least, that’s what I was telling myself as we paced forward.

  I was told the elves would confiscate my weapons when I was turned in, but Zee assured me that the skogs would be the ones to hold on to them and suggested I hide Gram and the ice pick somewhere the elves wouldn’t check.

  Without much time to complete the task, we’d strapped them to Callan’s stomach with my belt, which now had my cloak piled on top of it.

  Callan’s thinness had come in handy.

  He didn’t look remotely big, even with the weapons and the cloak. The dark elves wouldn’t physically touch him, as they reacted to white magic, and they had a healthy fear of being cursed.

  If they separated Callan and me, it would be very bad.

  I tried not to think about it, but I had a sinking feeling things weren’t as they seemed. I wasn’t naïve enough to think everything would turn out peachy. Having weapons gave me a sense of security.

  As we headed down the passageway, I issued up a silent plea to Ingrid and Fen. Please, please don’t be angry with me, especially if I die! At least they would get Leela back. I’d made Zee promise. My heart threatened to thump out of my chest when I thought of Fen and how much anguish and betrayal he was likely feeling, and how stupid he’d think this plan was. He’d never surrender.

  I had no idea if the Valkyries would be able to come after me, or if Fen or Tyr could get to this realm. Huggie had said the portal would open again.

  If you’re coming, I hope you get here soon , I pleaded in my mind.

  We entered the area that we’d demolished. There was no going back now.

  There was cheering as they brought Baldur out. Three more strides and I ducked out of the hole to an army of elves amassed on the steps, their greedy faces shining, filled with triumph and unbridled glee at our capture.

  “See?” one screeched. “Tallester spoke the truth! The Valkyrie was here all along!” It was one of the elves who’d questioned us on the stairs. Its face took on a dreamy expression, like I was covered in dollar signs or something equivalent—most likely a casket full of whatever they coveted, like jewels or gold.

  I was shoved, none too softly, down the stairs. I stumbled, skog hands encircling me, keeping me rooted, but just barely. Their weird pod fingers pressed into me painfully. They were rough like sandpaper.

  “Bring the prisoners down!” a dark elf exclaimed with authority.

  When Callan emerged, the crowd went nuts.

  “The whage is here!” an elf cried. “Look, look! He did not escape after all! I owe my cousin a ruby necklace.”

  “Don’t touch him!” another called. “He will curse you, and you will die a horrible death!”

  “Don’t look him in the eye!”

  Zee’s voice interrupted the elves’ glee and triumph. “The white elf is ailing. We will put him with the Valkyrie for safekeeping.”

  Dissents came from the crowd. The area was packed to the brim with elves. They ebbed back slowly as we descended. “Your job is done here, skog,” an elf cried. “You will not dictate.” It was the one who wore the outfit with the silver circles who had brought Junnal and me down the stairs. “You may leave us now and go back to the underground. We will take it from here.”

  “Gladly,” Zee answered, stopping one step below me. “Pay us what is owed, and we will vacate.” He thrust his arm out, palm extended, in a universal gesture for pay up.

  The dark elf looked uncertain. “You will get your reward in due time.”

  Zee shook his head. “We have heard that one before, Mungad. We want the payment up front. After it is given, we will leave.”

  I glanced over my shoulder at Callan, who winked at me. I took that as a good sign. At least someone seemed to know what was going on.

  The elf made a move to take Baldur without answering the skog, and Zee sent out a chilling hiss. In unison, the same sounds erupted from all over.

  Shockingly, the skogs hit the ground on all fours.

  They began to scale the walls and ceilings quicker than a horde of angry geckos, their jaws cracking menacingly. It sounded like they could snap us in half, the combined noise of their efforts increasing to a thunderous level.

  The elves all took a collective step backward, and so did I, crashing into a few lizards that had stayed put to guard us. “Sorry!” I squeaked. Please don’t eat me or do any other creepy stuff.

  I itched to take out my swords and be done with this place. It was all I could do to contain myself and stay perfectly still.

  The elf leader sputtered, “This is not protocol! Invaldi will be very angry! You will leave now, and your payment will be sent shortly. Call off your men!”

  Men? Did it not see that there were hundreds of reptiles scaling the walls?

  “Summon Invaldi,” Zee challenged. “I wish to speak with him. I am certain he will not be pleased we had to be called up from the depths because you could not contain your prisoners. And let’s not forget that you let a powerful Valkyrie sneak into your lair.” He eyed me. “There is also the matter of the white elf mage.”

  He thought I was powerful? Sweet.

  The elf paled. “He…he cannot be interrupted right now. He is in a very important meeting…with a guest who has just arrived.”

  “Until we are paid, we guard the prisoners,” Zee said, his voice lispy and unfaltering, much to my relief. “We have done our job and deserve our reward. The prisoners will remain our collateral.”

  “You ask too much!” the elf scoffed. “You are not in charge here!”

  Zee lifted a single finger, and all the lizardmen changed color, melding into the walls, becoming almost completely invisible.

  But that wasn’t the scariest part.

  Their actual features had shifted as they morphed. Their mouths gaped open and their teeth enlarged, poking out like sabers from their thin lips. Gills I’d had no idea were there puffed wide, and their claws lengthened. All in the span of a few seconds.

  Holy lizardmen!

  How many tricks did they have up their sleeves?

  The changes made them look monstrous before they faded into the background, like evil beings who’d slithered up from the depths of hell. They were dreadful, and it was clear the elves felt the same way.

  The elf leader finally put its hands up and backed away. “Fine,” it squeaked. “You may guard the prisoners, but not for long.”

  “We will guard them until we are paid.”

  The dark elf glanced around itself, before shouting, “Move them out! Take them all to level five.”

  Relief shot through me. Level five! This plan might not suck after all.

  As the lizards changed back to their normal state and crawled back to the floor, Callan got close enough to say, “Things will be okay now. We are in control.”

  “I hope you’re right,” I whispered back. Before I could say more, Callan and I were wrenched apart. “Hey!” I cried as the elves gestured to the skogs to lead Callan away. “Your leader just told you to take everyone to level five. The white elf is sick. He stays with me!”

  “We must contain the whage,” an elf sniffed. “He goes to the special chamber made only for evil white magic users.”

  “Then I go, too!” I argued.

  “No, you come with us—”

  Zee’s voice boomed from the front, much louder than I’d thought he cou
ld project. “I will assign my best guards to the Valkyrie and the mage. They go together. The white elf is feeble and needs a nursemaid.”

  “We do not care if he dies,” the elf scoffed. “We take the Valkyrie to level five as ordered.” The elves had already led Baldur away, and I could no longer see him.

  Behind us, Junnal’s club smashed into the wall, sending rocks raining down around us.

  The elf glanced wide-eyed behind me. “Fine, you can go with the whage…for now. When Invaldi arrives, he will do as he pleases! And, I promise you, there will be consequences for your actions.” The elf turned to a skog who was holding me. “Make sure you lock up the troll with them. We will not have his ilk running around wreaking havoc.”

  The skog said nothing. Didn’t even acknowledge it was being addressed. The elf gestured at a group of elves in front of us. “Lead them to the white-elf containment cell.”

  We strode purposely down a long, dimly lit hallway. When we were almost to the end, the group stopped. One of the elves worked the combination on a cell door. It was similar to the one I had opened for Baldur, and this elf finessed it in two seconds flat.

  “Where are they taking the god of light?” I asked.

  “To level five. High protection,” the elf responded in a clipped tone.

  “Why does he need high protection?” I challenged. “He’s no threat to you.”

  Another elf smirked. “If something happens to him, the goddess Frigg will rain her terror down around us. We will not take that chance. We will lock him up nice and tight.”

  The skogs tossed Callan roughly into the cell ahead of me. None of the elves stood within three feet of the white elf mage, their faces upturned in disgust.

  I was next.

  Before the skogs could shove me in after Callan, an elf cried, “Take her weapons, skog! A Valkyrie with her weapons is a direct threat to our well-being. What’s wrong with you? If you are going to guard her, do it right!”

  The lizard reached for Gundren, and I almost backhanded him. Zee had gone ahead with Baldur, and we were on our own. “I’ll do it myself,” I said between gritted teeth, shaking the skog off. With regret, and no other choice left to me, I slid the leather straps off my arms. My body cried at the parting.