Beyond a Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake

Author:Jessica Leake
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollinsPublishers
Published: 2018-02-20T05:00:00+00:00

15

The crows above us flapped their wings at the Morrigan’s pronouncement, and icy cold water swam through my veins. “How can the dead fight battles?” I asked.

“They are the army of the undead,” the Morrigan answered cryptically. Her gaze shifted to Leif. “This one knows of fallen warriors who live to fight again. He hopes to be welcomed into the halls of Valhalla himself one day.”

A look of surprise and almost hope flashed across Leif’s face. “Do you mean that Ciara will be able to call upon the einherjar?”

Frustration grew within me. “Who are the einherjar?”

“I believe he’s referring to the warrior souls who are taken by the Valkyrie to Valhalla,” the Morrigan said, a glitter of amusement in her eyes. She turned her attention back to Leif. “But Ciara is a daughter of Éirinn. She cannot call forth the einherjar.”

Leif’s disappointment was clear in the drop of his shoulders.

“If not them, then who?” I asked.

“Your own people,” the Morrigan said. “Brigid gave you gifts of armor, but I have swords that will pierce even the tough flesh of the jötnar.” She pulled two swords from the mist at her feet, swords nearly as tall as Leif. “For you, Northman,” she said, handing him a sword with an ornately tooled grip. A Celtic knot made up the pommel. “This is Vengeance, so named because it feeds on the need for revenge.” She turned to me and presented me with a sword as beautifully crafted, only the pommel was a miniature skull. “And for you, Ciara of Mide, I give the Sword of the Fallen.”

I took it reluctantly. As soon as my hand wrapped around the grip, the sword thrummed, coming to life as though it had been asleep.

“This sword is the key to summoning the army of the undead.” Her tone turned sly. “Wouldn’t you like to give the dead a noble purpose?”

“Not at the cost of damning their souls,” I snapped.

The Morrigan’s eyes flashed menacingly in the shadowed light. “Then you have sentenced the people of Éirinn—and your remaining sisters—to death.”

Anger rose so fast within me I nearly choked on it. “You wanted me to fight for this quest and so I have, but if this was your intention all along, then I will not be manipulated. Leif and I will fight together, and we’ll defeat the jötnar, backed by an army of men with flesh and blood and beating hearts.” I shook all over, the sudden fury causing my vision to redden on the edges. “Tell me how to return.”

The Morrigan stared at me for several moments, her expression dangerous. It was only my boiling anger that kept me from fearing that she would tear out my heart as easily as she had the hellhounds’. “You need only open the door.”

As soon as she said it, I became aware of the other part of me, the ethereal part that could open doors of light and steal a jötunn’s life force. I indicated for Leif to follow me before striding away, eager to be free of the Morrigan’s tainted presence.

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