The Valkyrie Novels Box Set Books 1, 2 & 3: Dead Radiance, Dead Embers & Dead Chaos: The Asgard Warrior Academy by T.G. Ayer

Author:T.G. Ayer [Ayer, T.G.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Infinite Ink Publishing
Published: 2016-03-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

The intricately carved door swung open, its hinges barely whispering. Two people occupied the richly carpeted room. A young girl lay supine on a four-poster, gilt-edged masterpiece that could hardly be called a bed.

An older woman gazed out of a multi-paned window, engrossed in either her thoughts or the view, her pale skin bathed in a golden light.

Steinn paused by the bed, staring down at the girl. Then he cleared his throat. "Móðir, how is she?"

"The child is the same, my son. No better and no worse than yesterday." She turned to face us.

Behind me, Mika gave a soft gasp, and I choked on my own. The old woman's pale face was unlined except for a handful of wrinkles at the outer corners of her eyes, which made me think that some time, a long while ago, this woman had once been happy, had once smiled and laughed. Her leathery skin had definitely seen better days. But her eyes made me sure she was very much alive and alert, no matter how old she seemed.

The woman gazed at me with eyes that shimmered. A pair of burning, flaming, golden eyes.

"Mother, this is Brynhildr."

"Ah yes, the reason my granddaughter is in this condition." The woman's eyes flared brighter, and I almost cringed, suddenly sure that the heat of her eyes would burn out her eyeballs.

"Now, Mother, you know that is not fair."

"I hardly think it matters what is or is not fair, Steinn." She gestured toward the girl on the bed, the short, sharp movement a strange mix of anger and sadness. "Our reality is that Siri lies here in this strange sleep, worse since she drank the Mead. Mead, I might add, brought to us by this Valkyrie." Steinn's mother glided toward me, her floor-length coat swishing against the bronze silk of her skirts, her eyes reflecting the disdain so clear in her tone.

As she moved away from the window, I was surprised to see that the golden gleam did not leave her skin. I puzzled on the reason for her golden hue. Until she stood before me, and I realized I'd totally missed what had been staring me right in the face all along.

Hundreds of tiny butter-colored scales covered her pale golden skin. She was a dragon, of course.

Too many moments passed while I remained entranced by the beauty of the dragon-woman's skin. Only when she cleared her throat did I blink and meet her fiery eyes. Wow.

"I'm sorry, I—"

The silence dragged as I gave up trying to find something to say. I breathed a sigh of relief when Steinn broke the awkward silence. "Forgive me, Brynhildr. Please meet my mother, the Grand Lady Tyra. She is the Guardian of the Nidhogg and the Mother of All." Steinn ended his introduction with a little bow, which I somehow felt I needed to emulate.

I offered a quick bend at the waist and rose with a placid smile pasted on my face, still feeling slightly ridiculous, having only ever bowed to Odin before.

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