Fragments of your Soul (The Mirror Worlds Book 1) (30 page)

At one point they left the path next to a creek crossing and penetrated deeper into the forest, where they reached a low waterfall. The stream went over to a wide, flat lake with almost no current. Next to it were some large boulders that formed a natural niche, which protected them from the wind.

Tired and depressed, Arvid sat down and leaned against a rock. Nod began to collect half-dry wood for a fire. Loke had wordlessly disappeared toward the water. Arvid did not care where he was going. Still her thoughts circled around what he had said. She knew he was right. She really was a criminal. She had broken laws, killed two men and injured another so badly that he could never see again. On their way Nod had tried to talk to her several times. He had tried to convince her that she had only done what she thought was right, but his words did not help.

“Can you help me with the fire?” Nod asked eventually.

Arvid looked up slowly. The fireplace was ready, but Loke not back yet. Of course, Nod wasn’t even able to light a fire without the right tools. When had she last attempted something like that? Several months ago? At that time, a candle had been a challenge, so Arvid doubted that she’d be able to set fire to this pile of wet wood.

“I think we’ll have to wait for Loke,” she said weakly, but still stood up. “But I can try.”

She fixed her attention on he bottom kindling and focused. It wasn’t an easy task, because the heat would have to expel the moisture first. A bright, white spark smoldered on, then a strange, whistling sound could be heard and quickly became louder. Arvid tried to raise as much energy as she could.

Suddenly there was a loud bang and the pile of wood burst into roaring flames. A wave of black smoke and scorching heat hit her and made her stumble backwards with a shocked gasp. Nod had also retreated, frightened. Even when the smoke cleared, the flames flickered almost two meters high. Arvid stared in bewilderment at the wildly blazing fire and coughed as a gust of wind blew more smoke in her direction.

“I think that was a little excessive,” Nod shouted over the roar.

At that moment, Loke came back. “Glad you decided to spare the forest,” he said mockingly. “I would suggest you hold back a little next time. Farther down you could attract demons.”

“That wasn’t my intention,” said Arvid and was shaken by another fit of coughing. “I thought just about nothing would happen.”

“Your powers evolve,” Loke said. “You have to learn to better control them.” He had brought several small fish and handed them to Nod, who took them and placed them on a flat stone near the fire.

Arvid took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. “There’s not much more that I’d have to keep under control,” she said. “I’ve been trying to generate as much heat as possible.”

Loke had withdrawn from the fire and sat cross-legged on the soft forest floor. The flames covered his body with a flickering pattern. “In a few weeks your powers will have grown again,” he said. “I think we both know what really makes you dangerous.”

“Dangerous? I’m not dangerous.”

Loke threw his head back and laughed. Nod’s gaze silently wandered back and forth between them. He looked worried, but Arvid couldn’t blame him. Sometimes Loke behaved as if he were crazy. Probably he was.

The Month of the Sun

The next day they set out late, because they would spend the night in Erendal anyway. Loke considered it better if they avoided people during the day. In fact, it was evening before they finally left a densely wooded area and the city lay before them.

Arvid marveled. Erendal was surprisingly large and did not correspond to what she had expected. The houses were built of almost black wood, tall and narrow, and looked like edged towers, which grew out of the steep rock. On the roofs flew long, pennant-like flags in yellow and red, and directly above the town towered three gigantic, almost vertical crags. Between two of them a waterfall sprang. From the distance it looked almost ridiculously narrow, and seemed to fall right between the houses of the city. The entire city was surrounded by palisades. Outside there seemed to be nothing but a gigantic scree, only interrupted by some verdant spots here and there.

“Arvid’s real name must not be mentioned,” Loke impressed upon them, as they approached the city. “I don’t think that anyone will recognize her from an image, but the name is too conspicuous.”

Loke had taken the figure of a bearded man and instructed Nod to appear as a woman, just to be sure. At the gate stood two guards who only nodded and watched them from disinterested eyes as they passed. Arvid had turned up the hood of her cloak to cover her hair, but maybe that wouldn’t have been necessary. The few people they met paid them little attention, and so they moved unchecked through the narrow streets of the city.

Arvid realized that the entire city was an endless series of narrow terraces, on which the many tower-like houses were built. Stone stairs connected the different levels with each other, forming a dense system of streets that ran parallel to the slope and were fortified with walls. Unlike in the villages Arvid knew from the lowlands, the houses had barely protruding roofs here. Star lamps could also be found here, though: They were larger than the ones in Black Castle and placed in long rows in gutters, which were attached to the edges of the road.

“First to the marketplace,” Loke decided. “I want to know what Asgard has to write.”

They went down several flights of stairs and shortly after arrived on a large square with a fountain, which was a fortified terrace of slightly oval shape. It was more or less deserted. In one corner three donkeys were tethered and ate hay; here and there some people stood together and talked.

Loke pointed to a towering structure made of wood, which was covered by a roof and lit by a large number of star lamps. On it Arvid saw a series of posters, which looked exactly like the ones from the town hall of Black Castle.

They stepped closer and began to skim the headlines. Many of the placards mentioned demons; some reported about council decisions of Asgard. A report stated that an exceptionally long and bright summer was to be expected, and several were invitations to festivals and markets that took place in larger cities.

“Nothing new,” Loke said finally. “That’s a good sign.”

“So I‘m not wanted anymore?” Arvid asked hopefully.

“Yes,
she
is still wanted,” said Loke stressed, although they were the only ones who were standing here, and the closest people were several meters away.

“Here.” Nod tapped a small poster in a corner, which was located between a large number of similar announcements.

Arvid reluctantly stepped closer. “Wanted for reward,” she read, “Arvid, daughter of Carl. For the benefit of the people of Jördendheim Asgard is interested in the immediate seizure of this woman. Any evidence about her whereabouts is rewarded with twenty-five silver coins. Because of her hazardous nature a direct confrontation is strongly discouraged.” There was a picture that resembled her a little, but just as well could have been another woman.

“That’s ridiculous,” muttered Arvid and continued reading about the absurd-sounding prophecy and the warning from the Oracle of the North. This was followed by the description of her own person, which especially pointed out her long, dark hair, which she allegedly preferred to wear down. Her heart began to beat faster. It wasn’t exactly a good feeling to read her own wanted poster, but Loke had been right: Neither he nor Nod were mentioned in the notice. At least in this respect, no complications were to be feared. It was also just one of many wanted posters hanging here.

“Well then,” Loke said impatiently. “I’d really like to disappear from the streets.”

Arvid nodded and broke away from the notice in order to follow him. At the last moment her eyes fell on another poster right next to it. It was half torn down and looked very old.

“Wait,” she quickly said and stroked the bent corner straight.

“Wanted for double murder,” she read. “Gyda, daughter of Trels, last seen accompanied by her brother Hagen, son of Trels.” Arvid dared not to read on. She backed away from the wall in shock, turned and hurried after Loke and Nod.

As Arvid came in the dining room the next day, her hair carefully covered below the hood of her cape, she found Nod and Loke at a dark corner table and sat down with them. Loke showed her a map that he had bought from a vendor.

“He sold it too cheaply,” he said. “It’s amazingly accurate for its small size.”

Arvid interestedly looked at the fine lines in black and red. At first she didn’t understand what the map showed, but then she discovered the word “Jördendheim” in one spot and knew that it was a world map.

“I thought you said we’d continue in this direction?” said Arvid, pointing to an area northeast of the border. “What’s that, ‘Jökutnjamargr’?”

“The Ice Wastes,” Loke said. “In the language of the giants it’s Jökutnjamargr, but around here people think that’s quite a mouthful.”

“It sounds a little like Old Jördisch,” said Arvid.

“It actually is,” Nod said eagerly, then he stopped and looked down. “Old… Old Jördisch,” he added quietly.

Loke gave him a withering look, then nodded. “Most of Jördendheim belonged to the giants before Asgard took it from them. It developed its own dialect, then a new language with influences from the South.” He put his finger on several mountain peaks. “The Hail Peak, or ‘Frytreknjengfjald’, if you feel like trying.”

“We stick to Hail Peak,” said Arvid. “How far is it from here to Karst?”

“Less than two days’ journey. We will get mounts. The path is a little easier from here.”

“Is Karst at the border to the Ice Wastes?”

“No, it’s summer,” Loke said. “At the moment the border is far more north; it will take at least two more days before we reach it.”

Arvid looked at him blankly. “At the moment the border is more north?” she asked. “Isn’t it always?”

Loke rolled his eyes. “I have some twenty books about the Ice Wastes. Are you telling me that you’ve not read a single one?”

Arvid hesitated. “Yes, I have,” she replied then, “the one you gave me. It… it never really interested me.”

Loke took a big gulp of milk and then put the jar down with a hard jerk. When he spoke, his voice was subdued and quiet, but in a way that made clear that he deliberately suppressed his anger. “We will be traveling through the Ice Wastes for four or five days,” he said. “How, damn it, how can it not interest you?”

Arvid swallowed. “Well, I… I don’t know,” she said. “I mean, a frozen wasteland… What would I find there except ice, snow and… well, a couple of wild animals, I suppose.”

It was clearly noticeable that Loke had to gather all his willpower to keep his anger under control, and Arvid still didn’t understand why. He quickly glanced around in the room, then he turned back to Arvid, breathing audibly.

“The Ice Wastes are home to the giants,” he said in a strained voice. “There is a contract between them and Jördendheim, referred to as the Treaty of the White River. This agreement once ended the years of war between the giants and the humans that had broken out after Asgard’s foundation, and defined the border between the two countries.”

While he spoke, Arvid suddenly realized that she had heard of this before. “The border always ends where the White River is not frozen anymore,” she recalled. “Thoke—a… a friend once told me of it.”

Loke leaned closer. “What your ‘friend’ surely didn’t tell you, however, is that this agreement was a ruse to steal a large part of the giants’ land.”

“I didn’t know that,” confessed Arvid.

For a while Loke looked at her gloomily, then he shook his head. “Never mind,” he murmured, rolled up the map, put it in the accompanying leather sheath and held it out to Nod. “Get our things. We are leaving.”

“Yes, master,” Nod said without looking at him.

No sooner had Nod disappeared on the stairs, Loke raised his head and seemed to be listening. Shortly thereafter, Arvid heard it too. It was the muffled sound of a bell, a powerful, shrill tolling. The host girl paused, then disappeared quickly through a door behind the counter.

“What is that?” said Arvid.

“The bell of one of the guard towers,” Loke said. “They are only rung to warn from a landslide or an attack on the city.”

“Who could be attacking the city?”

“No one,” said Loke, but rose resolutely from his chair. “Stay with Nod. I’ll check.”

Arvid jumped up. “I come with you.”

“You stay here!” Loke disagreed sharply. “They don’t ring the bell for fun.”

“What are you gonna do, tie me up?” said Arvid. “Because you’ll have to, if you want me to stay here.”

Loke took a long, deep breath. “I have no time for this nonsense,” he then growled. “Go and get Nod—we all go together.”

Hastily Arvid ran upstairs. When she came in the first room, she almost bumped into Nod, who was just about to put on his weapon belt.

“What’s going on?” he asked, grabbing the last bag in a hurry. “Why are they ringing the bell?”

“I don’t know, but you should hurry. Do you have everything?”

“Almost,” replied Nod. “You better arm yourself.” He threw Arvid her own belt with the two long daggers, which she had left in her room in the morning. Arvid caught it hastily and nodded.

“You’re right,” she said, quickly putting the belt around her waist and pulling it tight.

When they came back into the dining room, Loke was gone. The girl hadn’t come back either, but from outside the noise of trampling steps and excited voices could be heard.

“I should have known better,” called Arvid. “How should we find him?”

“If he doesn’t want it, we can’t,” replied Nod. “Maybe we should wait here until he comes back.”

“No!” Arvid said firmly. “I want to know what’s going on.”

Nod nodded hesitantly.

The roads that had looked almost empty the day before were now full of people who had poured out of their homes and looked around anxiously. The ringing of the bells was now clear and loud. In the distance they heard a man yelling loud commands. Two men with lances and clanking armor ran past them toward the city limits. Arvid and Nod followed them a few steps behind.

Soldiers shooed back urbanites who tried to approach the gate. A massive figure in a long, red cloak shouted commands and drove a handful of soldiers who were about to close the heavy wooden gate. The sight through the last gap caused Arvid to freeze in terror.

“By the gods,” Nod cried horrified. “How can it be?”

“A world transition,” said Arvid, stunned.

Although it was still a distance away, there was no doubt. A gigantic, glittering disc hung like a bubbling and flowing mirror above the grounds outside the city and bathed everything in cold, flickering light.

“It’s huge…” Nod said, staring mesmerized toward the city gate that now closed with a crash and blocked their view. “By the gods… that’s… a disaster.”

“Do you think demons will turn up?” said Arvid.

“This transition is much larger than the one at Vero-Maghen,” he said. “Twice as big… at least. It could attract hundreds of them.”

“Hundreds? But we are in the mountains! There are almost no demons here.”

“Erendal is not that high. We are already halfway down to the valley. In this area there is a kind called ‘Rock‘. They are solitary, big and cowardly, but as soon as scouts and Rokers emerge and a group forms, they are the most dangerous of all. The world transitions make them aggressive.”

Arvid looked at the stockade, where more and more soldiers accumulated. The commander continued to shoo around his people with a loud voice, but was now on the way up to the walkway himself. Dozens of men in red cloaks disappeared between the houses in a run. More and more excited people crowded past them in order to get a better view of the port and what was happening.

“The City Guard is prepared,” Arvid said. “It’s not like at Vero-Maghen. The demons won’t be able to do much.”

“You’re wrong,” said Nod. “This will end in a bloodbath.”

“What?” blurted Arvid.

She stared at Nod in disbelief, but in his eyes there was nothing but fear. “Erendal has no circle of protection,” he said. “This should never have happened. A transition of this size here in the mountains, that’s… never been there. The defense is weak. The palisades were erected against wild animals and stray demons. They won’t stop the Rocks.”

They moved to one side as a soldier with a lance hastily made his way between the people.

“Any experienced fighters to the western gates!” he shouted. “Make way! Off the road! All fighters to the western gates!”

Arvid grabbed Nod’s arm and pulled him aside as the excited people began to rush in different directions, pushing and shouting at once.

“You should return to the inn,” Nod said. “I’ll try to find Loke.”

“No way!” said Arvid. “Do you think I’m just going to sit idly in a parlor, while a giant transition is forming out there and a horde of demons are attacking the city? I’m coming with you!”

“Are you crazy? If anything happens to you, I’m dead!”

“Bullshit! I can take care of myself. You are not responsible for me.” Arvid turned around, but Nod vigorously grabbed her by the shoulders.

“Loke sees things differently,” he hissed. “Please! I don’t know what will happen.“ He sounded desperate, and as Arvid looked at him, she saw fear in his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” Arvid said. “I’m not going back.”

She freed herself from Nod’s grip and went straight in the direction of the gate, in front of which the first armed townspeople gathered. Nod objected no more, and a moment later he was at Arvid’s side again. As soon as they were but a few steps out into the square in front of the gate, one of the guards came up to them, glanced at Nod, then eyed Arvid suspiciously. “Are you armed?” he asked gruffly.

In a long-practiced movement Arvid drew the two long daggers. The guard hesitated a moment, then nodded. “Over there,” he said briefly and pointed to a small group of men in city clothes. “Wait for further instructions.”

“How much time do we have?” said Arvid to Nod, when they had walked a few steps and she had sheathed her weapons again.

“Impossible to say. Three, four hours, maybe a little more—wait, where are you going?”

Arvid had changed direction and headed directly toward one of the narrow stairs that led up to the battlements. “We have to look for him! He’ll want to see what happens. I’ll go up there, you look down here.”

“But… that’s too dangerous alone,” Nod argued desperately. “You can’t just…”

“Yes, I can!” Arvid interrupted determinedly. “We are too slow together.”

For a moment it looked as if Nod wanted contradict her again, but then he paused. “As you wish,” he said stiffly. “Where’s our meeting place?”

“Here in front of the gate. At the latest, when the first demons reach the city.”

“Very well,” Nod said, and he turned around and left.