Oathbreaker (11 page)

He shrugged and went back to searching. Out of the sack he pulled a corked bottle, a frying pan, a box, and a couple of collapsible rods. He put one together expertly, baited the hook with something slimy, and handed it to me. I took it and immediately cast it out as if I did such a thing everyday. It landed with a satisfying splash.

Well I am from Hawaii.

I sat near the edge of the rock, crossed my legs and held the rod, waiting patiently for a nibble, while he baited his own hook and threw his line out away from mine. My gaze wandered lazily over to where our horses had meandered along the water and were drinking in great gulps. Sleipnir was so much bigger than my mare, an impressive horse, but still not as impressive as it would have been if he had those eight legs. Like a spider. A horse spider instead of a horse fly. Or a rocking-horse spider if you were in Wonderland, which I guess I kinda was.

I closed my eyes in an effort to shut out my insane musings and find a little peace. Yes, some good old fashioned meditation was what I needed. I needed to clear my head of inappropriate thoughts concerning men other than my gorgeous boyfriend.

Okay, here we go, clear your mind. Focus on physical sensations only. A light breeze caressed my face, cooling me as the sound of the water lapping against the rock calmed me. The air was crisp and clean with an undercurrent of ripe fruit. Ah, sweet nirvana, here I come.

Then a nirvana hating fish sacrificed himself to prevent my bliss. The pole jerked and snapped me out of my tranquility. Odin laughed at the violent look on my face. Oh, this fish was gonna get it. How dare he interrupt my moment of peace? I could just chop his little head off for this. Oh wait, right, that's exactly what I was going to do. Wow, fishing is vicious.

“
Pull it in, Vervain, I’m hungry.” Odin whined.

“
Alright, alright, don't get your tunic in a twist.”

I leaned back, then wound the reel and repeated… and repeated and repeated. The fish gave me a good fight and Odin laughed at my determined expression the whole time. Finally, after a horrendous battle that lasted years and years or maybe five minutes, I pulled a shining fish from the water.

I threw it on the stone and Odin pulled a knife from the box to cut its head off quickly. I liked the fact that he didn’t just leave the fish to suffocate. It may only be a fish but I didn’t think being humane in your treatment of it cost anything but a little effort.

“
Phew,” he whistled. “That’s a nice one.” He held up the body by its tail.

“
What is it?”

“
Trout,” he flung the body back to the rock and wiped his hands on his jeans. “Or you can call it by its Latin name… Lunches Maximus.”

I poked him with the butt of my pole and made a face. “We’re going to keep fishing?” I watched as he picked up his pole again. “I thought you were hungry.”

“Yeah, but we just started,” he smiled. “I can’t let you have all the fun.”

“
I can start cooking if you like,” I put my pole down and he raised an eyebrow.

“
There’s everything you’ll need in that box there,” he nodded to the wooden box he’d pulled the knife out of. “Use that jagged piece of metal to remove the scales, then there’s a small bottle of olive oil to fry the fish in.”

“
Did you bring any herbs?”

“
We don’t need no stinkin’ herbs,” he teased with a thick Mexican accent.

“
Did you forget, I'm named after a stinkin' herb?” I raised a brow.

“
I guess I may need just one,” he grinned.

“
Uh,
I think I’ll go take a look around the tree line and see if I can find us some,” I smirked at him like he was a silly man. It was kind of cool to find a god other than Ull who understood all my movie references and actually made a few of his own. Must be that Santa TV. Oh, he hadn't showed me the TV yet. I needed to remember to ask.

“
I'll be here,” he stuck the pole between his knees so he could pull his shirt off and toss it on the ground beside him.

I stopped and stared, not because he had such a fine chest, which he did, but because there was a large scar on the right side of it, at both front and back, as if he’d been run through. I'd seen it once before when he trained me to shift. I hadn't asked how he got them and I was really curious. I frowned and turned back to the forest. I didn’t want to ruin the day by bringing up the scars. It couldn’t possibly be a pleasant memory. I’d ask him later.

The trees seemed to welcome me as I wandered a little further than I’d intended, in my quest for herbs. They swished and creaked happily in the breeze and I felt completely at ease as I continued deeper in. I found some rosemary and tarragon, both would be good with the fish but I was really hoping to find a lemon tree. You never know what you’d find in the God Realm. Maybe there’d be a little lemon tree just waiting, on the off chance some god needed lemon with his fish.

“
It would be convenient,” I said to the forest, hoping maybe those were the magic words I needed to say.

“
What would be convenient, little nymph?”

I whirled and dropped my arms to release the knives from my gloves, dropping the herbs as well, in the process. There was a young man leaning casually against a tree, taking in my battle stance with lifted brows and twitching lips. He had dark hair but it shown auburn in the spots of sunlight that drifted through the branches. His face was rough looking for one so young, with a few scars that added character rather than detracting from his appeal. He was wearing jeans, leather boots, and a dark brown T shirt. A bow was slung over his shoulder and a quiver of arrows was on his back. He stepped forward and the light caught his eyes. They were blue, almost purple, coming close to but just stopping short of Odin’s beautiful color.

“The nymph has claws,” he smiled and it was filled with fascination. “Do you wanna play with me, clawed nymph?” He took off his bow and quiver, then placed them carefully on the ground, rising up with his hands spread, not in surrender but readiness. He was waiting for me to make my move.

“
Vali?” I stood up out of my stance.

“
Do I know you?” he leaned his head to look me over. “I'm sure I'd remember such a lovely nymph. Or at least the claws.”

“
The name’s Vervain,” I watched the muscles flex in his lean body. “I met you when I was training with your father.”

“
The lioness?”

I nodded.

“Well, well, well,” he looked me over slowly as a smile spread over his face. “Turns out you really are a wildcat. What are you doing in my forest, Lady Cat?”

“
I’m just trying to find some lemons to go with our fish.”

“
Our
fish,” he looked around, “
we
have no fish but if you’re planning on sharing your lunch with me, then I’ll show you where you can find your precious lemons.”

“
Our fish, as in mine and Odin’s,” I saw his eyes widen. “You can ask him if he’ll trade some fish in exchange for lemons. How’s that sound?”

“
You’re with my father again?” He straightened up.

“
Define
with
,” I smirked. “So how about those lemons?”

Chapter Nine

By the time I returned with Vali, four lemons, and a handful of herbs, Odin had caught three more fish and was looking awfully pleased with himself. His pleasure turned to surprise when he saw who was with me.

“
Vali?” He stood up and hugged my new escort.

“
Father,” Vali hugged him back warmly. “I found a nymph collecting herbs in my forest and she told me some farfetched tale about belonging to you.”

“
I said I was sharing lunch with you,” I rolled my eyes when Odin smiled at me.

“
Why would that be farfetched?” He sat back down and motioned for us to do the same.

I watched as his muscled stomach did that curling up thing that happens when people have too much muscle and no fat. The skin just kind of ripples, no ugly fat folds. I grimaced as I felt my belly folding ugly under my top. So I wrapped my arms around my stomach just to be absolutely sure they couldn’t see anything through my shirt.

“You haven’t had a woman in ages,” Vali chucked Odin in the arm. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d taken a new consort?”

“
I haven’t,” Odin laughed when he saw my blush. “If you’d come to an occasional Yule celebration you’d recognize Vervain. She’s VѐulfR’s bonded mate and the Froekn’s new Rouva.”

“
Really?” Vali looked at me and frowned, then leaned in and took a long sniff. “I thought you were the Lion Goddess.”

“
Yes, that too. It’s a long story but basically, I accidentally bound myself to VѐulfR,” I shrugged. “Now we’re living together but I’m not actually a werewolf, I’m a witch.”

“
A witch?” Vali looked at Odin. “I had no idea I was missing so much by not going to your parties, Dad.”

“
I could really use you at home right now,” Odin’s face got serious. “Vervain’s here helping me weed out traitors. Someone’s plotting against me and I’ve no idea who’s loyal and who’s not.”

“
I’ll come back with you today,” Vali frowned, “and I’ll kill anyone who’s betrayed you. Those bastards! They’d be nowhere without your leadership, probably still sitting on that beach, watching Atlantis burn, and wondering what the fuck to do.”

“
Yes, well, loyalty has always been an elusive thing, difficult to hold onto. I’ve decided to join forces with Thor’s gods and Vervain,” Odin watched his son carefully. “I won’t be plotting to cause war among the humans anymore. The effort's not worth the payoff. I announced it to everyone a couple days ago and a few have left already.”

“
Good, that’ll make things easier,” he nodded and I saw Odin breathe a sigh of relief.

“
You don’t mind that he’s switched sides?” I asked Vali.

“
What do I care about the humans and their wars?” Vali shrugged. “I never got involved before unless Father asked me to fight. Other than that, I’m happy out here.” He waved a hand to encompass the forest. “Why are you involved, witch?”

“
Her name is Vervain,” Odin chastised gently. “She’s also the Godhunter.”

“
You’re siding with a woman who kills us?” Vali looked more curious than angry.

“
She’s merely defending her race,” Odin started to clean the fish. “Who can fault her for that?”

Vali nodded and started to slice open the cleaned fish. They worked in perfect harmony, like they’d done it countless times before. I got up and went to gather some wood to make a fire. When I got back, they’d cleaned and prepped enough fish to feed six. I shook my head and piled the wood on a corner of the rock.

Odin lit the fire and set a tri-pod grill over it. The pan went on the hanging grill to heat. I took the fish and stuffed them with the herbs and lemon slices. A happy sizzling filled the air as Odin poured some oil in the pan and we set the fish in to cook. He uncorked a bottle and handed it to me.

“
So tell me about your other sons.” I asked as I took a swig and then handed the bottle back.

“
They each have their talents,” he nodded proudly.

“
But none compares to the Shining One,” Vali’s mouth twisted.

“
The Shining One?” I looked back and forth between Vali and Odin. “I thought that was your silver Hall.”

“
It's my oldest son, Balder,” Odin frowned at Vali. “You’re each different and special to me in your own ways.”

“
Very diplomatic, Father,” Vali shook his head. “It doesn’t matter; I can’t help what I am.”

“
Oh? And what's that?” I poked at the cooking fish and Odin pushed my hand away gently. I stuck my tongue out at him. I couldn't help it, I liked to pick at things.

“
I’m the warrior,” Vali shook his head in wonder at our interaction. “You haven’t slept with her?” He asked Odin suddenly.

“
No,” Odin handed the bottle to Vali. “Here, fill your mouth before you say something even more stupid.”

“
Well look at yourself,” Vali took a deep swig before putting the bottle down. “I don’t think I’ve seen you behave like this since…,” Vali’s face wrinkled with confusion for a moment, then smoothed and went slack in shock.

“
Since what?” I looked between them again. “Come on, the suspense is killing me,” I whined when no one said anything.