“You’re quiet.”

Einar watched as Geiravör simply nodded.

“I understand what I did wrong.”

“Do you?”

Her frown and crossed arms conveyed almost as much doubt as her tone.

“I do. I got distracted and let my guard down. Then again, how was I supposed to know that thing would be tracking me or even risk coming over the wall of the outpost?”

“Einar… that is just one of the many creatures in the realms that are going to seek you out. The fact you died instead of being carried off and kept alive is a blessing. Imagine if, instead of vengeance, it sought to steal you away?”

Rubbing his eyes, he considered her words, starting to understand the warning of what she had said a few visits ago.

“Tell me, Geiravör, should I not get married?”

She laughed, shaking her head and spinning around momentarily as she looked up at the cosmos above.

“All-Father! Do you hear this question?! What kind of warrior asks such a thing?”

“One that doesn’t want to have an anchor that our enemies might use to drag me down with,” he answered, not looking away when she glared at him.

“You’re a fool sometimes, Einar Sibbison! Do you think it matters if you are married?! Word has spread. She is marked! Anyone you consider important is now a stone that one might use to drag you down to the depths of hel!”

Her voice almost sounded like thunder, sparks of energy forming in her eyes as she bent down toward him.

“Do you not understand?! Everything rides upon you!”

Both of them stood there, neither one looking ready to back down when a crow flew between them, the tips of its wings almost brushing each of their noses.

“You two need to take a moment.”

The deep voice came, and both turned, seeing Odin moving slowly toward them.

Einar felt his eyes widen, seeing that the god looked older, almost as if somehow aged suddenly well beyond the time that had passed.

“All-Father! Forgive me, I-”

“You can go, Geiravör,” the head of Asgard said as he raised his hand. “I shall handle this moment.”

With a deep bow, she turned, moving to where her ride waited and climbed on, leaving the pair alone.

“You’ve… changed. Aged…”

A chuckle escaped Odin’s lips as he nodded, closing the last ten yards between them, his spear appearing to assist as he walked.

“Giving up what I did cost me. Not in ways you can begin to imagine but I believed it was the right decision at that time.”

Coming to a stop a few feet from Einar, the god scratched his bearded chin.

“I still believe it was the right choice but Geiravör was right. You relaxed too much. I cannot fault you. Even a man of your talent and skills would struggle to pick up the weight I have placed upon you… no… all of the realms has put upon you. Just know that things are going to get harder. More men and women are going to die. There is conflict in Midgard, and some of my priests no longer choose to listen to my voice.”

“What can I do about that?”

Waving a wrinkled hand, Odin sighed.

“Nothing. In time perhaps I can find ways to solve some of the problems without too much chaos. For now, you need to be prepared for what is coming next. Thor is right: the dwarves need your help. They need to be able to start forging more weapons and armor, helping to assist in the coming fight, and that requires help from you. Help that we cannot give without allowing our enemies more freedom.”

“Every move you make allows them a chance as well?”

“To a degree… yes. Some moves are so small they seem insignificant but too many small moves are like enough drops of water, eating away at stone. Now then, ignore that Valkyrie. She forgets sometimes the pain of death. You need to return home. Marry that woman. I can tell you care about her even if you’re unsure how to care for someone.”

Einar started to reply and stopped.

He could see the slight twinkle in the god’s eye as he winked.

“I choose not to burden someone with having to wonder if I would live or die. Knowing that death isn’t the end… I allowed myself to feel something and now…”

He considered his words, wondering if Odin would say something and finally finished his thought.

“What’s the point of all this if I can’t love?”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Bending down slightly, the All-Father put a hand on Einar’s bare shoulder and squeezed, bobbing his head as he grinned.

“That is the real question. None of this is worth it. Do you think I simply summoned you because I wanted some heartless man who would die over and over for me? Am I that cruel that I care nothing for the people I created and chose for this realm? No… all that I do, I do out of love for you and my other children.”

Odin gave a gentle push, sending Einar into a slow fall backward. His body did not respond to his desire to catch himself and prevent it.

“Now that you know what you are fighting for, defend it, Einar Sibbison. Be the warrior who fights because he protects what he loves.”

***

“He’s back!”

The sound of people filled his ears, and opening his eyes revealed Thorve holding her arm, which had a large bandage wrapped around it.

“What happened?”

“Shadow walkers invaded,” Thorodd answered before anyone else. “Your spell woke us all up and I was able to defend Thorve from the one that was coming into our…”

He stopped, seeing Einar grinning and then looked at their healer who was smirking, eyebrows raised slightly.

Clearing his throat, the second in command offered a hand to his pack leader.

“Anyways. Only you died. There was only the one we found dead in your room and the one that attacked Thorve.”

“So a targeted attack.”

Now standing, he glanced around the fort and saw that there were dozens of extra torches burning brightly on the walls.

“Anyone die?”

“Two elves from the east side where the shadow walkers came over.”

Nodding, Einar glanced at Thorve and motioned to her arm.

“Are the elves going to heal it?”

“Yes, but it wasn’t as important as bringing you back,” she replied, wincing as she started to stand. “From what I saw in your room… or what was left of it, dare I ask when you noticed it?”

A breeze blew, and glancing down, Einar sighed. The lack of clothing was evident by the cool wind he felt down below.

Ignoring the smirk on Thorodd’s lips as he held out a blanket, Einar took it and covered himself.

“I was in a dream and things felt off. The part that made me realize it wasn’t real was that I believed I could smell Avitue, but I couldn’t.”

He saw the confused looks on their faces and shrugged.

“I know, you can’t normally smell in a dream, but it was just… off. When I woke up it was about to bite my head off.”

“And that’s when you called down lightning?”

Nodding at Thorodd, Einar pointed at their healer's arm.

“How did you manage to kill one?”

“It wasn’t that big,” Thorve replied. “The shadow walker.”

Both men groaned as she smiled, playing off the pain she was obviously in.

Glancing around for a moment, Einar moved closer to Thorodd.

“That means we need to hurry up, get back to Kopanes quickly, and start the next part of our plan.”

“First light?”

“Everyone is awake, and we can be ready to go when it’s safe to travel. I don’t want to waste any more time. We’re not even sure if there will be any problems on the other side of the portal waiting for us.”

Thorodd nodded and leaned over, giving Thorve a quick kiss on her head before freezing, realizing what he had done. Coughing, he turned and started shouting at those nearby the plans to prepare to leave.

“He’s different,” Einar teased as their healer just smiled.

“Yes he is. I’m sorry that you died. We’ve all been a little overly excited at how successful we were a few weeks ago.”

“You’re not the only one to tell me that, and unfortunately, it took me dying to realize that. Still, we’re about to need your help with the next part. Have you told Thorodd about our plan?”

Thorve nodded, wincing as her arm moved.

“Yes… that is why I think he's more affectionate than usual. It would appear knowing I’ll be leaving once we reach Kopanes has him a bit concerned I’ll find some other smelly and loud Viking that I want to share a bed with.”

Chuckling, Einar motioned at Lyeneru who was a bit away, talking with some of the elves that lived in the fort.

“Einar, I’m so sorry! You must forgive us!”

“It’s not your fault and we both know it,” he replied, doing his best to smile as he stood there, bare-chested in a blanket as people flowed through the four roads in the small fort. “They are masters of stealth and you lost two of your people. I barely was able to detect mine at the last moment.”

“Still… the blame falls on us.”

“Don’t do that. There is no blame. For now, have a report ready to send to the leader of Camalin and explain what happened. I’ll sign off on it as well.”

“Oh, you’re a bastard,” Lyeneru stated as she saw his wink. “You and I both know Varitan will make my life a living hell as he fills in there until Shael gets a permanent replacement.”

Laughing, Einar nodded.

“Oh, the look on Nissa’s face was priceless. Those tears looked real for a moment, but when she realized her fate, they vanished as she stormed off.”

“Varitan didn’t help that at all either,” Lyeneru pointed out. “The way he ignored her and just spoke with you. Sure, she deserved it, but it was beneath an elf of his stature now.”

“When you two are done acting like children, could one of you help me find the healer?”

The pain on Thorve’s face was evident as she bit on her lip, blood seeping through the wrapping on her arm.

“God woman! Why didn’t you tell me it was that bad?!” Einar exclaimed, shouting for someone to fetch help as Lyeneru took off down a street, looking for assistance.

“I’m sorry,” their healer muttered as she stumbled to the ground, barely kept from slamming into it by Einar as he moved to catch her. “I didn’t realize…”

Cursing under his breath as she passed out, he placed a finger against her artery, feeling how slow her pulse was.

Freyr… I could use a little help here!

***

“Why is it I feel like you’re always making my life hard?” Thorve asked as she was forced to ride in one of the wagons.

“You almost died,” Einar replied. “That’s why. Now rest. We have a long time of traveling ahead of us and it looks like we’ve managed to make it this far without being noticed. I’d prefer to be as close as possible to Kopanes before word gets out about our return. If something happened and our only healer died, we’d be in a hard place.”

Grumbling to herself, she nodded, ignoring Thorodd's grin as he gave the reins a slight pop, making the horses speed up just slightly.

“I believe what our healer normally says at this time is to shut up and rest. Am I right, Einar?”

“Oh hel no, don’t bring me into this,” he muttered, giving his horse a nudge and riding away, leaving the two by themselves.”

“Coward!” Thorodd called out before taking an elbow to his side.

“Stop you’re shouting. I’m trying to rest, you fool.”