Valkyrie: The Elsehere, #2

By Grace J Roberts

When your penance is up…

 

…what do you do next?

 

For Kari it's always been an academic question. She knows that she can never truly atone for her past, so when Freyja tells her that her sentence is complete Kari is left with decisions she never expected to make.

 

But while she thinks about her future, her past is on a collision course with the present…

 

…risking lives and threatening Kari's hard-won sanity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel Trench
• Release date: Jan 18, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201273644

Book preview

Prologue

The late autumn sun was hot as Kari stepped on to the island of Agilkia. home to the relocated Temple of Isis. On one level she wasn't surprised her search had led her here. Though she'd always argued not to know the details of why she was given a particular assignment, she'd long since worked out that Ayana was of particular interest and import to Isis and the council. That meant meeting her mystery source in a shrine to Isis made sense, and this was one of the more intact temples to Isis.

And yet, Kari was suspicious. The trail was too neat. Too clear. She suspected some sort of trap, but she also knew the threat to Ayana was clear—the postcard Joelle had received had confirmed that, if she'd been at all unsure before. That meant she had to follow the lead regardless.

Moving around the site, she noted that the place was almost deserted. Tourist season was largely over now, and the conservators who worked during the off-season had yet to arrive. It gave the relocated temple and associated buildings a creepy feeling. So much so that she half-regretted not inviting Nick on this little jaunt. After all, this was his native land and he knew all its nooks and crannies and, most of all, its secrets far better than anyone else. But he was busy, doing what she no longer could: looking out for Ayana.

So Kari was here, and she would get to the bottom of this.

She climbed the steps up into the main temple shrine, senses alert. But when she entered the dim space, there was no-one there. She frowned. This was where she was supposed to meet her contact; where were they?

There was a scuffed footstep behind her.

She turned. No-one was there and yet, while she might not see someone, she knew there was someone here now. She could sense the change, almost hear their breathing.

I know you're here, she called. Might as well come out of the shadows. Stop hiding.

You're not going to like it, Kari Gormsdottir.

Kari wasn't sure what was worse; hearing her truename spoken aloud for the first time in literal centuries, or knowing the man who spoke it. His voice had come from behind her, and she turned again and found the confirmation.

Robin.

Robin van der Merwe smiled. It's not my name, any more than Caroline Hickman's yours, but... it will do. For the next five minutes, anyway.

"Ayana's not in danger because of you; she's in danger from you," Kari realised.

If she'd just been a good girl, listened to her dear father... but no. You had to meddle. You and the council. Robin's smile turned to a scowl. Well, your time of meddling is over. You're going to tell me everything I want to know. All the plans. All the contingencies. Every last ounce of information. Then I'm going to do what I should have done fifteen years ago.

I'm not going to tell you anything, Kari retorted.

Oh, you will. From his suit pocket Robin pulled out a flat jewellery box and held it open for her to see. A collar. Silver and embossed with a scrolling, serpentine design. Though she was too far away to see, Kari knew there would be runes in the design. They would look like nonsense, but they weren't. They were specific, powerful runes that made a simple neck ring into a shackle.

Despite herself, Kari took a pace back. She knew that collar and what it meant. She looked back up at Robin's face. His expression was spiteful now.

You will tell me what I want to know because you won't have a choice.

He took the collar from the box, ignoring where it blistered his fingertips, and advanced on her. Kari went to sidestep him, but with his free hand he gestured and something slammed into her, knocking her down and winding her. She tried to crawl away, tried to scramble to her feet, tried to do anything, but it felt like she was stuck in tar. She couldn't move and then he was over her, straddling her.

I wonder, he said, maybe when I have what I want I'll take you for a little... ride.

You can try. Kari glared up at him. She won't let you, and she's killed for less.

Robin laughed. She's you. And just like that he fastened the collar around Kari's neck.

Kari felt the collar's power invading her mind and fought against it with every tool she'd ever been given but it wasn't enough. The power flowed in like a rushing river of hot red anger and blood.

Trapped in a tiny corner of her own mind, Kari could only watch on in utter horror as her own body betrayed her.

I suspect you're in a much more reasonable frame of mind now, said Robin, smirking, even as he stepped back several paces. Tell me what I need to know.

I'll tell you everything, Kari heard herself say. On one condition.

Robin's eyebrows lifted at that. A condition?

When you've got what you want, I want the Medjai, she hissed. I owe him.

Robin tipped his head back and laughed. I suppose you do at that. We'll call that a deal. He gestured to the temple exit. Come; let's talk.

Still here?

Sita's voice jerked Kari out of the memory and recalled her to the present. She was on a balcony, looking out over Naxos harbour, almost three weeks later. Kari reflected that the idyllic view really didn't match her mood. It ought to be raining and stormy. But it wasn't. It was a sunny morning, chilled by Mediterranean standards but still comfortable for a woman who'd been born on a small island in the Baltic Sea.

She looked over her shoulder and found Sita regarding her with a concern that rode badly on her normally smiling face.

Checking out in an hour. Just enjoying the view one last time.

Sita's mouth compressed into a thin line. You are not. You are brooding. You are blaming yourself for everything that happened, but you have to know it is not your fault.

Isn't it? Kari turned back to the view. How much better would this have gone if she'd known more? I could have taught her more; shown her. Helped her.

And you did.

Did I? Kari sighed and turned to fully face Sita. I made so many mistakes.

On any occasion when choices must be made, some of those decisions may prove wrong. Sita shrugged a bit. There is little sense berating yourself, particularly when at least some of those choices were not yours to make. And do not forget, there were limits on what you knew, so even if you had wanted to explain, you could not have explained everything.

Kari had no response to that. She pushed past the smaller woman and into the suite to check that nothing had been left behind.

Do you need some help with your departure? Sita asked.

Kari shook her head. It's fine—got it covered.

Sita raised an eyebrow. Nicholas hides in the desert to lick his wounds. Where do you plan on hiding?

It's hardly hiding if I tell you.

Sita smirked. I promise not to reveal your secrets—or to drop in unannounced.

Kari wasn't entirely reassured, but she answered anyway: I'm going home.

Chapter 1

Now

Kari allowed her long blonde hair to fly free of its normal braid as she faced into the wind on the ferry's deck. Västerhamn was coming ever closer, and though it looked completely different to the tiny fishing village she'd been born in, it still had that strong pull that only home could exude.

She sighed.

Once a part of Sweden, Fasta Åland had been a part of the Russian Empire and then, finally, Finland. A complicated history to match her own, she thought, smiling faintly. It had changed so much in that time. The tiny little village she'd been born in was now Mariehamn, a town that probably wasn't as grand as the Russians had planned but was thriving nicely all the same. The last time she'd been here had been nearly twenty years ago. She'd used it as a convenient place to plan an operation in St Petersburg. She'd wanted to buy a small cottage on the island then, but after St Petersburg she'd moved to the Caroline Hickman persona and spent much of the following two decades in the UK. Maybe she'd use this time to rectify that, particularly knowing what Robin van der Merwe's goons had done to her cottage.

As the lights of Mariehamn grew brighter, she burrowed more closely into her coat. One thing that hadn't changed was the sea. This late in the year it was rough and, though the sun had been shining, the water had the slate-grey look of an oncoming storm. The handful of other passengers who'd boarded in Stockholm had spent the whole journey inside and looking at her as if she was crazy for being up on deck. Kari, for her part, felt far better in the fresh air. That said, she was grateful that they had almost arrived. The sun was rapidly setting and taking with it what little heat there'd been.

To her surprise, someone actually came to stand beside her. Though when she glanced up at the new arrival, she realised it wasn't one of her fellow passengers.  She was dressed in much the same style as Kari, with a thick winter coat and scarf, but there was something otherworldly about her new companion.

Lady Freyja.

The new arrival offered mischievous smile. I must confess, I'm a little surprised you didn't choose to sail yourself.

Being soaked to the skin and trying to tie knots with frozen fingers is not one of the things I miss about my life here.

I suppose not.

Awkward silence fell between them. For all that she'd served as a Hand for just over a thousand years, Kari was not one to be at ease with being face-to-face with people she'd once worshipped as gods and goddesses. Especially not those who'd been a part of the council who had judged her for her misdeeds.

As if mirroring Kari's thoughts, Freyja said, The Council have been discussing your sentence.

Kari's spine stiffened at that. Really?

You have served us well and you have more than earned both your forgiveness and your freedom, so it is my pleasure to confirm to you that your sentence is complete. You may continue to serve, but a seat awaits you in Sessrúmnir, should you want it?

Kari's head swam. For such a simple question it offered no simple answers. I—need time to think.

That provoked a warm smile from the goddess. So be it. I believe your time here is planned to be three weeks? Kari nodded silently. Take that time. You have earned your chance to choose your own fate this time. She leaned in and whispered softly. Choose well, my warrior.

Kari closed her eyes and shuddered as she felt Freyja's breath on her cheek. When she reopened her eyes, Freyja was gone and the ferry had arrived in Mariehamn's Västerhamn.

She drew in a deep breath and let it out. She would worry about Freyja's offer later. For now, she would simply focus on matters at hand: disembarking and making her way to her cottage.

Then

Moving slowly, Kari drew back the bow and took a careful aim at her target. The grazing deer in the clearing up ahead was a desperately needed addition to her clan's meagre stores as winter approached. She steadied, ready to release—

A twig snapped. The deer startled and the arrow flew in an erratic path, off into the vegetation, as Kari jerked round in surprise. Behind her, Halvar looked sheepish. Kari slung her bow over her shoulder and put her hands to her hips, a scowl firmly in place.

How many times must you be told not to approach a hunter when she is ready to shoot?

The boats are leaving, the big youth replied, not bothering to answer her question.

Kari's scowl deepened. And you have cost me my chance to prove my place.

There is always next time.

Kari simply stalked past Halvar and headed down to the beach. She did wonder why he was always included in the hunting party when he had no noticeable skill at either hunting or tracking; on the other hand, she supposed his size and strength were of use when it came to handling the boats. True to his words, the rest of their hunting party were packing their kills into the boats that would take them back to the island they called home.

See the mighty hunter return! Erling's tone was mocking. Behind him, his bigger and vastly less intelligent shadow, Gunnar, sniggered.

Less of that, rumbled Leif, standing up. I don't see much of your hard work here on the shore, either. The deer were scarce this trip.

Kari wasn't sure if the older man was trying to comfort her for her obvious lack of success or merely stating a fact. Either way, it wasn't a good sign. From the looks of the butchery that had been done, it hadn't been much of a hunt again.

Reckon we need to try a new ground, offered Ragnar as he prepared to raise the mast in his boat.

Perhaps, Leif agreed.

Or perhaps we should leave the little girl behind. Erling was clearly in a particularly sour mood.

I am not so little, Kari retorted.

And she is still the only one of us this year to bring down a stag, said Leif. If she contributes nothing further this hunting season, that is still more of an achievement than your slim returns.

Unfortunately, that reminder made Erling's expression fall further and Kari suspected he and Gunnar would give her trouble once they were back in the village. That, however, would be trouble for later. For now, she focussed on helping get the boats launched.

Now

In the main ferry terminal Kari was pleased to see an old friend waiting for her. She'd met Svein Lindbäck the last time she was here. He'd been a man who knew people, and who could get certain items without awkward questions being asked. Back then, he'd been a vital man just coming up to his middle fifties. Now... it looked like arthritis or perhaps Parkinson's had caught up to him. His hands shook, just slightly, and his body was hunched in a way that spoke of daily pain. Kari inwardly winced, even as she smiled in greeting. This was, without a doubt, the worst part of being a Hand.

For his part, Svein just smiled back. I always knew you'd lied about your age. You look good, Kari.

So do you, she answered.

He snorted. You lie like a bad rug, but eh. I'll take it. I was pleased when you got in touch, you know. I officially retired from the game a few years back, but for you... Svein's eyes twinkled. "Everything's as you wanted it. Well, almost everything. Even I