The Breaker of Curses: Valkyrie Secrets, #3

By Rachel Tsoumbakos

Stuck in a cycle of rebirth seems like a great idea when it involves the one you love.

But, in order to live, you must also die.

As Sigrun is reborn as Kara, the journey with her human lover, Helgi, continues. When they find each other in Midgard once more, they discover they must battle with everything they have in order to break the curse of being reborn. Caught in an endless cycle of death and rebirth, the Valkyrie and her lover need to fight for their very existence.

But, will breaking the cycle also mean that they will ruin the one chance they have at surviving Ragnarok?

 

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VALKYRIE SECRETS series:

 

1. The Unnamed Warrior

2. Curse of the Valkyries

3. Breaker of Curses

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rachel Tsoumbakos
• Release date: Apr 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201465889

Book preview

PROLOGUE

TELL ME SOMETHING, Loki, Odin said as he sat down beside the god of tricks. When did you first dream up this story involving Helgi and his destined warrior breed?

Odin had been wanting to have this conversation with Loki for a long time. However, the god appeared to be avoiding him.

I am not sure when it first occurred to me, Loki finally replied after taking a very long sip of mead. I think the notion had always been with me, though. The fates must have planted the seed of the idea within in me right from when the world began. It was only over time that I realised the idea was there,

Well, could you tell me about the first time you remembered it?

Loki giggled at Odin and the god waited patiently while Loki readied himself. He would tell the story, or not. Either way, Odin was determined to find out as much as possible about Loki’s plans, about the situation involving Helgi and the Valkyries in order to create his own counter plan.

I think it happened on the day that Svafa was born, Loki finally said. He didn’t look at Odin, gazing instead across Valhalla at the giant tree called Glasir. Its red leaves dripped down over the entrance gates and Odin always thought of the blood of battle whenever he saw it. When she was born, I awoke from a dream in which the famed line of the Volsung rose up once more and helped to free us all at Ragnarok.

Can you tell me about this dream?

Perhaps the answer lay in what Loki remembered. Odin hoped so.

And why would you want to know so much about the Volsung all of a sudden? Loki turned to Odin, one eyebrow raised. Are you plotting something against Kara?

I am merely interested in the story, Odin replied, taking a sip of his ale and hoping Loki didn’t notice the fact he didn’t answer all of his questions. I always have been.

I think you are up to something, Loki continued. However, there is no harm in my telling you the story since there is no way in which we can alter the will of the fates. You know that as well as I do.

Odin smiled at Loki. He may know that was true. However, the fates would learn soon enough that even they couldn’t control the All-Father once he truly wanted to change something in their future. Odin wanted the future to continue on as the stories foretold. The lessons the gods needed so desperately to learn were wound up in their very destruction.

Are you going to tell me your dream, or not? Odin asked.

Of course, Loki replied. I saw an army like no other, each of them carrying a sword blazoned with the Volsung symbol. They roared into Ragnarok and undid everything we have ever been told about what will happen in our end days. They sliced down the gods we thought would survive and rescued those that are famed to die. I saw the clan renewed and reborn. Over them all, Helgi and the Valkyries watched, smiling as they did so.

Odin ran his fingers through his beard as he pondered the dream, trying to figure out whether there was any new information that could be gleaned from the story. Loki could just as likely be spinning a tale, or creating a saga that would be carried on by the men of Midgard when they heard it. He had to wonder if maybe the whole story had been nothing but a fanciful creation to entertain the god of tricks all those years ago, that his plan all along had been to fool the gods and nobody else.

The Volsung had a symbol, you say, Odin finally asked. What was it?

Odin had to be careful with what he said. For Loki must never know that Odin was planning to break the cycle involving Helgi and the Valkyries who loved him.

Chapter 1: OLAF

RAVENS CIRCLED THE ship and King Olaf should have known immediately that trouble was brewing. The fact that the sky was a brooding grey and the wind buffeted his longships only added extra incentive for the king to want to leave the location. The sooner he reached Norway, the better.

However, before he had a reason, a fleet approached him. They bled through the fog and grey clouds appearing much closer than Olaf would have liked. A sense of dread covered him as the wind rushed over the bow of his ship.

I see ships, Kari said excitedly as he rushed up to stand next to the king.

I am aware of that, Olaf replied, irritated at the man for stating the obvious.

Being so close, Olaf he could already see individuals crowding in to stare back at Olaf’s own men.

Look at that hideous mug over there! Kari said before spitting over the edge of the longship. Olaf followed Kari’s finger and saw the beast of a man. He nodded in agreeance.

Oi! Kari continued, this time raising his voice and beckoning at the ship, which was now slowing and pulling up alongside Olaf’s longboat. You in the front, the ugly one.

The man in question pointed at himself and leaned forward. His face was red, not from anger but because of some sort of birthmark that coloured one side of his face. Crisscrossed over this mark was a multitude of scars. Some were lines from weapons, others looked like the pocks left over from his teenage years. One of his eyes was too round while the other seemed to be permanently squinting down over his bulbous nose.

Are you talking to me? the unsightly man finally said.

Of course, I am! There’s no one else on board your ship that is less attractive than you, Kari replied. Why don’t you lean on over a bit more and let me cut you up into little pieces. It might make you prettier.

The man sneered at Kari and reached for his battle axe. I’ll cut you if I get my hands on you! he roared in challenge.

Now, that sounds like a solid plan, Kari laughed