“You appear to have learned what true commitment is. Well done, Einar.”

Blinking didn’t hurt but it took him a moment for his eyes to adjust.

Standing over him stood one he hadn’t seen in a while.

“Geiravör?”

She smiled, her lips pulled back in what appeared to be a genuine expression of joy.

“Brave, strong, and smart. Perhaps the All-Father did choose right. Now stand, there is little time to talk, and I have been given a message.”

She held out her hand as she took a step back, and the moment he had grasped hers, he was yanked to his feet.

The hall felt darker than usual, less light than before and the stars and planets that often decorated the ceiling were dimmer in some ways.

“The other side is making moves, as I am certain you have noticed. Odin is not sure who or what brought that crystal to the beastkins that enslaved their minds. He has seen one of those before, but it was so long ago that it was believed they were all destroyed.”

Cracking his neck, Einer glanced down, feeling a cold breeze against his skin, almost chilling him to his soul.

“Uh… my clothes?”

Geiravör let out a roar of laughter, her golden braid bouncing off her shoulder it had been lying over. After a few seconds she immediately stopped and those piercing blue sapphire eyes looked him up and down.

“I have seen many men and women, and you should know you look better than most. Now then, stop being a prude and focus.”

She snapped, and a small map formed in the air. He immediately recognized it as similar to the one Varitan had regarding the undead area they were in.

“You died here,” she said as she pointed to a place on the map. “This road will stretch on for miles and you managed to clear the initial build-up of the undead. Hel has been sending spirits here for a while. Now then, this is why the All-Father has sent me.”

The map zoomed in before him and changed to a 3-D tactical view, which made Einar’s eyes widen slightly.

“Here is a clearing and a portal is there. Something is holding it open in the realm of Alfheim. He is certain there are at least two casters, both of whom will be dangerous on their own, even more so with two or three hundred undead protecting them.”

“Two or three hundred?”

“Perhaps more,” she replied, glaring at him for a moment. “Regardless, even if it takes multiple deaths, you must close this portal or they will continue to pour in. It appears the other realms are making a play in different areas. Once you manage to defeat them and return to Midgard, we must discuss where you go next. The giants have invaded…”

Geiravör’s voice had become softer for those last four words.

“Since I’m new to all this, I’m assuming they are worse than anything we have faced yet?”

The frown that had appeared vanished, and a small smile took its place as the Valkyrie shook her head.

“You and your men are not ready for them yet. It is wise that you came to Alfheim first. Perhaps you can have some success with the right runes and preparation, but yes, they are far worse. A single giant would easily crush the trolls you fought.”

Rubbing his eyes, Einar tried to ignore the pain in his head that had started.

“What about–”

“There is no time. They have begun the rebirth. Fight well, Einar Sibbisson. You have brought honor to–”

A flash of light filled the hall, and all sound was washed away as a gust of strong wind lifted him off the ground and then slammed him into and through the stones that struck his back.

***

“Welcome back you fool.”

Blinking, Einar lay there, seeing that the light of the day was approaching evening.

“Thank you, Thorve,” he replied. “How many?”

“Four plus yourself. It would have been far worse had you not done what none can believe. Sometimes, I wonder if Thor himself or Odin fills your body in those moments. How you lasted for so long…”

Her voice trailed off as he sat up, looking around and seeing all his warriors watching him.

“Who died?”

“Hogni, Skardi, Ospak and Hallad.”

He nodded as their healer called out those who had sacrificed everything. He could see the looks on each of those men who had suffered.

“Thank you,” Hogni said as the warrior moved to stand before Einar, holding out a large hand.

Allowing himself to be pulled up, Einar nodded and gave a gentle slap to the man’s arm.

“For what?”

Chuckling, Hogni grinned as he motioned to Starkard with a thumb.

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“He told me how you cleared the undead that had killed me and then tossed my fat ass about forty yards onto the road where he could grab it and drag it to safety. Without you doing that… this death would have hurt more.”

Hardened Vikings often didn’t show the pain of death. Each knew the cost of what they risked, and the single tear that hung on the outer edges of the tanned skin on one of the best bow users meant more than he could convey.

“I’m just glad he could carry you back,” Einar replied with a wink. “He is right. You appear to have grown larger on your backside.”

Multiple men laughed, and Hogni turned around a few times, appearing to try and look at his own ass, before shrugging and smiling.

“I guess I have been eating too much.”

With that moment passed, Einar forced away the smile and then moved so everyone could look at him.

He studied Varitan and the elves who were sitting off to one side, seeing the looks on those who had never witnessed the rebirth of a Viking whose body had been lost.

“It would appear we were not as prepared as we thought. Still we cannot give up. I received a message that no matter the cost, we must rid Alfheim of this threat.”

“A message?”

Nodding at his Elven friend, Einar didn’t wait.

“While I waited in the space between, one all of you know of, a Valkyrie visited me and told me Odin has charged us with this task. There is something holding a portal open here, and it is on this side. We need to destroy it and close it.”

“A Valkyrie visited you? Was she as beautiful as they say?”

Thorodd groaned, and before he could chastise Bodalf, Einar waved his second in command off.

“If by beautiful you mean could she kick my ass without breaking a sweat? Then yes.”

Multiple Vikings started to laugh, and a few teased the warrior who often made jokes at their expense.

“Now then, let me show you what I have been told and we need to discuss how we shall return tomorrow and make another attempt at this foe. Varitan, please bring me your map, and Osvif, get me a good stick. Skardi…” He paused and smiled at the largest one there. “The death you owe is no more. So fetch me a few rocks to represent the ones in your head.”

More men chuckled as the son of a Jarl gave his leader a hand gesture and moved to retrieve what was required.

***

Everyone sat there in silence as no plan that had been offered yet seemed to be worthy of attempting. Already the sky was dark and dinner was over.

His backup pair of pants were a little snug and Einar hadn’t put on a shirt yet, his skin warm for some reason still.

“I don’t see how we can win against a clearing this large and with so many undead scattered like that,” Thorodd muttered to nobody. “Even Osvif hasn’t found a good solution.”

“How many spells can your mages cast and how long is the delay between them?”

“I already told Osvif that,” Varitan informed Skardi. “Five at best, and about twenty seconds if they are to be worthy of anything. The more time they have the better.”

Einar sat there, listening to the discussion when he sensed someone move up next to him before they sat on the log he was leaning against.

“Tell me… this Valkyrie, why did she visit you?”

“I already told you Thorve, Odin sent her.”

“Yes… you did but you do realize none of these other men or any other Viking that I can recall has ever mentioned having had a message sent to them by a Valkyrie before. Most would argue that if they said to have glimpsed one in all their deaths, they wouldn’t be certain it had actually taken place, yet there is now doubt in how you speak. How… how is it you are so touched by the All Father?”

“A question I hate and have no answer for beyond what I have said many times. Ragnarok is coming and I have been tasked with helping to stop it.”

She grunted and gave him a shove, pushing against his shoulder and scoffed when he didn’t even move.

“You have grown… and yet with that death… I sense almost nothing has changed inside you,” Thorve whispered. “Truly you are touched. Tell me Einar, do we stand a chance against this enemy?”

Sighing, he pointed at the map many were still sitting near and a few occasionally walked by and studied.

“The hard answer is we do and we don’t. I was warned it might take multiple deaths to drive this force out from here. Things are getting worse by the day in all the realms… evil is moving.”

She slid down the log to sit next to him, saying nothing as both watched those who all wished to come up with a plan that would mean success and survival.

Finally after a few minutes, Thorve closed her eyes and leaned her head against the log as she scooched down a little more.

“I’m tired, Einar. Tired of watching so many worthless deaths. Yet right now, as hard as it is to watch men die, I am not tired. Why is that? What has changed? Are you so right that the truth I always knew has come and there is hope?”

He turned and gave a gentle nudge with his elbow, watching her rotate her head so she could look at him.

“Why did you join my pack? Why did Unnulf give you to me?”

“Bah, I hate when you say I was given!” she exclaimed.

“Thorve… you and I both know I cannot afford one of your talents. To call you anything but a gift would be an insult to both you and Unnulf. So tell me, why did you two decide I was worthy of your presence? And don’t say because his son is in my pack. We both know he’s not worth your time.”

A slight chuckle came as the healer turned her head so that she could look up into the night sky.

“You are right. That overgrown boy isn’t worth my time and yet I am here,” she replied. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, she sighed afterwards. “I’m here because Unnulf knew you would need me for many reasons. I’m also here to report when I return what I have seen and if you are the one he hopes you are.”

“And am I?”

She chuckled, then laughed harder, making so much noise, many of the men turned to see if they might perhaps share what was so humorous.

“Oh you are an idiot!” she exclaimed quietly. “Just like that fool Thorodd! Regardless, how could I say anything but yes? The boons we have all received, the forgiveness of our injuries, all those things point to what Unnulf and Bior are hoping for. When we return, my fear isn’t that they won’t believe me, it is that they will.”

“And then how the King will respond…”

“Yes. There is that as well. You are wise to see that already. A day is coming, sooner than I think you might realize where Vikings will fight Vikings. All because one believes the time to fight will never come, and the other has seen that it is already here. May Odin forgive us when that day takes place.”

Einar shifted and poked the healer with a finger, waiting till she was able to see his expression.

His lips were pulled tight and it wasn’t much of a frown, but it was what he felt showed his feelings.

“If there was any other way to prevent the needless death of so many, I would take that path. Sometimes in order for true victory to come and for those who must fight to do what is right, many will die.”

He paused before turning and focusing on the group of Vikings who were proving his point and continued to discuss options.

“No matter how many deaths I might have to give, I will gladly die a thousand times if it means we are able to stop Ragnarok.”

Thorve said nothing but he could see her shifting on her ass.

She probably is trying to decide if I can actually die that many times…

Smiling, he stood up and winked at her.

“Now if you excuse me, I’m going to go tell everyone my plan.”