01 - Runemarks by Joanne Harris

Author:Joanne Harris
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

The Huntress stood as if transfixed, her eyes shining like distant glaciers. Next to her, Nat nursed his broken finger, whimpering a little in pain and relief. He had told her everything - not quite in the way that he'd envisaged it (over sherry, in the Parsonage), but in a scrambling, squealing way, in terror for his life.

Lucky for him that she had believed his tale. But glam, as she knew, is volatile - and the fellow's description of what had happened left her in no doubt. He had trespassed into the path of the Word, and in doing so had glimpsed Odin's thoughts - thoughts and plans regarding the AEsir.

Coldly the Huntress considered the AEsir. Though she had joined them for strategy's sake, she felt no loyalty to Odin's clan. Her father and brothers had died at their hands, and Odin himself, who had promised her full recompense, had somehow managed to renege on his deal; to trick her into marriage with Njörd, when Balder the Fair had stolen her heart; and to rob her of her revenge on Loki, who had lured her kinsman to his death.

The Vanir were no better, she thought, following blindly where Loki led. Skadi's allegiance was still to the Ice People, in spite of her marriage to the Man of the Sea, and she'd always been happiest in the Ice Lands, living alone; hunting; taking eagle form and soaring over the dazzling snow.

If war were to be declared, she thought, then this time there would be no alliance. The General had betrayed her, Loki was her sworn enemy, and Maddy Smith - whoever she was - had planted her colours in the enemy camp.

She turned to Nat, who was watching her, his broken finger in his mouth. 'So what did you see?' she asked him softly.

'First your word. I want the girl - and the power in that Book.'

Skadi nodded. 'Very well,' she said. 'But at the first sign of treachery, or if I even suspect you of trying to use your book against me ...'

The parson nodded.

'Then we have a deal. What did you see?'

'I saw her,' he said. 'I saw Maddy Smith. When the Examiner asked, Where are the Seer-folk? - that's what I saw in your General's mind. That's what he was trying to hide.

And he was ready to die rather than give up her name —' ,

'Name?' said Skadi.

'Modi,' said the parson. 'That's what he called her. Modi, the Lightning Tree, first child of the New Age.'

Meanwhile, under Red Horse Hill, Maddy was thinking furiously. One-Eye and Loki had left her alone; One-Eye to sleep and regain his strength before setting off to recover the Whisperer, Loki on Some nefarious business of his own. The hall was lit only by a branch of candles, and Maddy's shadow pranced and sprang against the stony walls as she paced repeatedly up and down.

Her initial reaction to One-Eye's disclosure had been an immediate and overwhelming feeling of anger. That he could have

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