Oathbreaker (29 page)

“Who are the others?” I eyed a tall, dark-haired man who looked like he had a Xena fetish.

“
The one you’re staring at is Ares,” Fenrir growled.

“
Ares, the God of War?” I looked closer and something inside me jolted in recognition. “Oh shit.”

“
He was one of Aphrodite’s lovers,” Odin was eying his son as he added that little tidbit.

“
Yes, I know,” I rolled my eyes. “Thus the ‘oh shit’. He probably doesn’t like me much.”

“
Neither do their children, I suppose,” Fenrir nodded to the men behind Ares.

“
They had four children?” I had only recently learned that Aphrodite had bore a son to Hermes, now I hear that she had four with Ares. The only one she didn't give any children to, it seems, was her husband. The poor bastard.

“
Yes but only two of those there are their sons,” Odin waved distractedly. “The men in the back are his attendants, Trembling and Panic.”

“
Trembling and Panic?” I stopped walking for a second, to eye Odin before he took my arm and propelled me forward again. “What he name his sons, Pain and Avarice?”

“
Try Deimos and Phobos,” Fenrir smiled scathingly, “Dread and Fright in English. Harmonia and Eros don’t fight for obvious reasons.”

“
The hobbies of my children are no concern of yours Wolf King,” Ares had finally come within speaking distance.

“
Save your remarks for later,” Balder shot Ares a quelling look. “You’re on my time.”

“
Fuck off,” Ares growled. “I’m not here for you. I want the witch.”

“
At least you’re not bitter,” I sighed.

“
This is humorous to you?” His eyes narrowed. “You took the one woman who loved me away and now you mock my pain?”

“
Interesting,” I looked closer at the angry god. He was good-looking but his lips had a tight, greedy look to them and his eyes turned down at the sides like he was perpetually frowning... or a little slow. His chin was square but stubborn and his nose gave the distinct impression that it was constantly raised in disdain.

“
Interesting?” Hot color was suffusing his cheeks.

“
I notice that you say the woman who loved you, not the other way around,” I nodded. “You two were definitely well suited. Did Hephaistos know about you guys?”

“
Don’t speak of my mother, whore,” a white-haired young man stepped forward and when he sneered at me, I couldn’t help but notice his pointed teeth. I wondered if he was Fear or Panic.

“
Don't speak of your mother-whore? Is that like Madonna-whore? Is it a complex?” I smirked.

“
No, I called you a whore,” the man snarled.

“
Why do they always call me a whore?” I looked over at Fenrir.

“
I don’t know but they’d best stop,” he growled as his muscles bunched in preparation of launching himself at Mr. Pale’s throat.

“
Make all the threats you want,” Ares pushed in front of his son. “When the end comes, my magic will turn the sky black.”

“
Then we will fight in the shade,” I smiled slowly, wondering if anyone would get my reference. Doubtful, though it was a war movie.

Ares sputtered and reached for his sword but Balder stopped him with a quick hand. “Enough, this is my moment, find your own time to fight her.”

Ares stared at me hard but finally nodded curtly and stepped back.

“
Where’s Trevor?” I glared up at Balder.

“
Inside,” Balder smiled, finally serene. “Demeter's been taking care of him. I’ll bring him out if you’d like to come in.”

“
Figures,” I snorted. “You and that evil bitch. Do you know she just tried to kill her own son-in-law?”

“
No, and I don't care.”

“
You don't care that the Lord of the Underworld is now your enemy because of the company you choose to keep? Interesting but then I guess he's no more terrifying than either of these two.” I gestured back to Odin and Fenrir. “Do you think they're just going to go away once we make this little exchange?”

“
They will if they want you to live,” the Shining One started to lose his sparkle.

“
You're planning on killing her anyway,” Fenrir growled. “Better to save her the torture.”

“
But
you
won't be saved from torture,” Odin said directly to his son before turning his one-eyed stare on the others. “Any of you.”

“
Bring it on, cyclops,” the pale one spoke again.

“
Shut up,” Ares pushed the guy back. “She killed my lover, All Father. You cannot deny that I have a valid claim.”

“
Your lover was in the middle of torturing Vervain to death,” Odin said before I could jump in. “The Godhunter was within her rights to kill Aphrodite.”

“
I care not for whys or rights,” Ares spat. “Aphrodite was a goddess, this bitch is merely human. I will have my vengeance.”

“
Then you will pay for it dearly,” Odin said calmly. I have to say, it even gave me the shivers.

“
And let Demeter know that when this fight is over,” Fenrir added, “she's next. There's a whole lot of vengeance that needs to be doled out today.”

“
I’ll tell you what, Balder,” I narrowed my eyes. “Why don’t we settle this right now, you and I, winner takes all kind of thing.”

“
You want to fight me?” Balder laughed and looked at Odin. “Doesn’t she know?”

“
She knows,” Odin shrugged, “she doesn’t have to kill you to win, just incapacitate you.”

“
Hmph,” Balder looked over his shoulder. “Bring the wolf!”

A great commotion preceded Trevor’s arrival. When he came into sight, I saw why. He was chained heavily, strung between four men, who pulled him forward amidst bouts of cussing and chain pulling as they struggled with an enraged Wolf Prince. Trevor was in half form, snarling and occasionally pulling hard enough on the chains to stumble his attendants, but somehow they managed to get him out.

I knew better than to call out but he was aware of my presence instantly, raising his face and catching my gaze with his suddenly calm one. He stopped and howled ferociously, pulling the chains so hard that two of the men slammed into each other. The Froekn behind us let out answering howls and my Intare joined their roars to the commotion. I saw, with no small amount of satisfaction, that the opposing army was a little disturbed by it.

“
Ull,” I called towards the hill we'd been on and Thor’s stepson came bounding down. I turned back to Balder. “Will you make a binding oath with me that you and I shall fight and the winner will keep Trevor?”

“
No,” Balder smirked. “I don’t want Trevor, Godhunter. I want you. The oath shall be this: if I win, you’ll accompany me back into Breidablik without interference or retribution from your friends here. If you win, I shall never seek vengeance upon you again. Either way, the wolf goes free.”

“
Fine,” I ignored Trevor’s snarling protest, as I nodded to Balder. “But you must also swear that you will receive no outside help in our fight. It’s to be you and I alone.” I needed the freedom to drain him if I had to, since I knew Balder was impervious to all harm.

“
I agree,” Balder held out his hand and I grudgingly shook it. “It’s just you and I.” He waved his men back and they formed a loose semi circle. My own personal army came up to make the other half.

“
Release Trevor now or forget it,” I nodded in his direction.

“
Let Ull make the oath binding and I’ll set Trevor loose.”

“
So be it,” Ull held a hand out to both sides. “None here shall interfere in this fight between Balder and Vervain,” voices rose up on both sides in assent and Ull concentrated a moment to assure himself that everyone had sworn before he continued, placing one hand over my head and one over Balder’s. “The Wolf Prince is to be released immediately but if Balder proves victorious, Vervain will give herself into his keeping. If Vervain wins, she shall be free to go, we shall all depart in peace, and Balder will no longer seek his vengeance on her or her people.” A tingle spread over us before spreading out to the assemblage.

“
Release the wolf,” Balder didn’t take his eyes off me as he gave the order.

Trevor howled as the chains were removed and picked up two of his jailors to bash their heads together with a sickening thud. The other two ran all the way back into Breidablik. Trevor snarled in their direction but stalked over to us instead of giving pursuit. I think my jaw had come unhinged.

“Vervain,” his voice was rough but his eyes washed over me gently. “Don’t do this; let me fight in your stead.”

“
The oath has been made, Wolf Prince,” Balder sneered. “You can’t save her now.”

“
Have a little faith in me,” I whispered to him, giving him a quick kiss on his furry cheek. “I love you, fur face.” He pulled me in tight against him, rubbing his cheek against mine, the wolf in me leaping in delight. I gave in to the safety of him for a moment before going to face off with Balder. Trevor’s growl followed me into battle like a warning to the Fates.

I drew my kodachi, the short sword singing softly out of its sheath, and I felt War and Victory rise up inside me in response. The magic filled my limbs, imparting me with the endurance and strength of Victory as well as the lust for battle, of War. I knew I’d need every advantage against Balder, so I pulled up the rage of the lioness and the cunning of my wolf as well. In the background, I felt the warm breath of my Nahual, I sensed her smiling and knew she blessed this fight.

The sound that left my lips as I circled Balder, was an alien mixture of human, jaguar, wolf, and lion. A snarling, howling, roaring battle cry. It thundered over the crowd, leaving an unsettled silence in its wake. I felt my lips lifting in a teeth-baring snarl, low level growls still rumbling out. Balder’s eyes narrowed as he too pulled a sword from his hip and angled his body into a defensive crouch. I sprung forward to meet him, the predators in me, unwilling to wait for his attack.

A jolt went up my arm as my steel struck his but I twisted and pushed, sliding the blade until it met the leather of his bracer and sliced the armor away. A thin line of red rose up for a second before the cut healed itself. I swirled back around, attacking from the other direction, slicing away at his exposed side. My magically enhanced sword easily penetrated through his boiled leather armor.

“Use all the magic you want, Godhunter,” Balder snarled. “It won’t matter, you can’t kill me.”

“
I don’t have to kill you, remember?” I sidestepped his attack, swinging the sword into an underhanded lunge that sent the blade straight through his back. His scream was as piercing as my blade, making his compatriots cringe. “I just have to incapacitate you.”

He twirled away, clutching at his rapidly healing belly. The sight of his belly actually gave me hope. When I'd first heard about Balder's magic, I'd thought I wouldn't be able to even penetrate his skin but it seemed that impervious meant rapidly healing in this case. He wasn't impervious to injury, just death. That meant, if I could wound him deeply, he may at least be incapacitated long enough for me to be declared winner.

“You can’t do that either, whore.” Balder called. “Your tricks won’t work here. You can’t spread your legs and make me swoon. I’m not my father.”

A hiss and a shuffle of sound was all that betrayed Odin’s anger and I was inordinately proud of him. Balder’s taunts were just that, taunts sent out to distract and get him any kind of advantage he could manage, because he was afraid. I inhaled his fear, sharp and exciting to my beasts.

I smiled as I rushed him in another attack, leaping at the last second and focusing my blade in a downward movement to his neck. His scream turned into a horrific bubbling sound as his head fell sharply to the left and his body crumpled to the ground. My side of the circle exploded into roaring delight, shrieking in victory.

I sighed heavily as I looked down on Balder, struggling to hold his head on and heal the wound that would have been fatal on anyone else, god or not. The puddle of blood beneath him called to my animals, making me quiver with the need to lap it up and drink in my dominance.

I turned away sharply, unwilling to give in to my beasts, and I felt a keen sense of disappointment run through them. I was almost to Trevor, when I saw his eyes shift and then widen in horror. His small reaction saved my life. Before he could say anything, I dropped to my knees and swung around to face whatever was sneaking up behind me.

It was Balder of course. Amazingly, he had struggled to his feet and found the strength to try to stab me in the back. He was a walking nightmare, his head attached just barely, dripping a stream of blood that was starting to slow as the terrible wound knitted itself together before my eyes.