Son of Thunder (Heavenly War Series) (23 page)

Jord and Meghan stood in the small stone chamber. The shimmering portal to Olympus was behind them and before them stood the great titanium door that guarded access to the portal from Odin’s great hall. Stavros offered to come with them, but Jord sent him back. Now once again in Asgaard, Jord faced this last hurdle.

He brought Mjolnir up and pounded on the door. He didn’t expect the door to shatter, in fact the blow would barely dent the heavy door, but the sound of the blow would echo throughout the great hall. If anyone was there, they would hear it.

A spirit drifted through the wall. “Jord! Meghan!” The voice was stark but familiar.

“Hi, Val.” He sharply felt the loss of the woman who’d been his close companion and friend for hundreds of years. “Do you think you can get someone to open the door?” He felt guilty still asking her for favors.

The wispy form of the former Valkyrie shimmered in the dim light of the small chamber. “Your grandfather is on his way. I’ll tell him it’s you.”

The spirit vanished. A series of clicks and clunks was followed by the great doorway swinging open.

“Welcome home. We’ve all been so worried about you two.”

The King of the Norse Gods looked tired and haggard, but he managed a weak smile before he grew deathly serious once again.

“War is on our doorstep.” Odin ushered them through the doorway and into the great hall. For the first time Jord could remember, Valaskjalf stood quiet and empty.

A chill shot through Jord’s gut. “What’s our situation? Has my father returned yet with the army?”

Odin’s nod was assuring. “They came in yesterday. A strong force. They will bolster our defenses greatly. You did well Jord.”

“Where is everyone?” Jord scanned the great chamber.

“I sent them all home to arm themselves and prepare for battle. I don’t need their advice any longer. I need their swords.”

Jord had never seen the man look so old . . . so vulnerable. “You never needed their advice. All they did was whine and complain at you.”

Odin shook his head, but a small smile creased his lips. “Not all of them. Your father, Heimdall, Tyr, and a few others still possess the wits they were born with.” Then he chuckled. “But you are right. Most was useless prattle. When I had the time, I didn’t mind putting up with it. Right now, we just don’t have the time.”

Then Odin got serious once again. He turned to Jord, looking him straight in the eye. “I need you, Jord. I need you to lead the army.”

“Me?” Jord couldn’t believe he’d heard his grandfather correctly.

“Your father has refused—said he would organize things until you got here, but he outright refused to lead our troops.”

Jord’s head whirled. “That’s ridiculous. Father was born to lead armies.”

Odin raised an eyebrow. “I asked your brothers, and they defer to you also.”

It was unbelievable. This was Thor’s moment. He was the greatest warrior and leader Asgaard had ever produced. What was his father thinking? “I’ll talk to him. Where is Fenrir’s army?”

Odin waved his hand and a table appeared in front of them. On it was a miniature version of Asgaard. To the north, Jord could see a sea of tents.

“They arrived only an hour ago, and started to set up camp just out of bowshot of the northern gate.”

Jord took it all in. Battle plans and tactics filled his mind. If the vision on the table was current, they still had a bit of time. He turned to Meghan. “Come on. We need to talk to my father.”

“You should have seen their faces when I told your grandfather I wouldn’t lead the army.” Thor was smiling, laughing. Meghan couldn’t help but get caught up in the man’s jovial mood.

“But Father . . . ?” Jord appeared completely perplexed.

“Those old fools cleared the hall so fast, heading home to find their rusty swords.” Thor continued to chuckle. “I knew it was just the thing to light a fire under them.”

“You should have told Grandfather you were only kidding, then.” Jord admonished his father. “He’s worried sick.”

“I meant what I said.” Thor sobered. “You’ll lead this army, not me.”

“What?” Jord raised his hands and his voice in exasperation.

Meghan had felt it. Known it. Jord would never have acknowledged his own leadership skills. His father was forcing him into the role where he clearly belonged.

Thor became serious then, leveling fiery eyes on his youngest son. “You said it yourself, countless times. We older gods have never let you younger gods step up. Well, here you go.”

Jord sputtered and began to pace. “But Dad, I wasn’t talking about you. Your whole life has led up to this. Asgaard needs you now, more than ever. This is your moment.”

“No, Jord!” Thor brought his hand down on the table hard, suddenly all business. “This is your moment. The hammer, the belt, the gloves, and the chariot are yours. You’ve already proven you are more powerful than I have ever been, and blast it boy, you haven’t even been trying.”

Thor brought his hands to his hips, his stance proud. “I could never have defeated Surtr by myself. Who else but you could have taken the slave pits of Utgard Keep and produced an army in less than three days? And don’t think for one moment I don’t know about how you’ve been aiding the other pantheons these past hundred years, despite your grandfather’s orders to the contrary. You’ve shown more leadership and initiative than anyone in Asgaard, including me.”

“Magni?” Jord tried handing the hammer to his oldest brother. “This should be your inheritance. It was always meant to be.”

“Oh no, little brother.” Magni held his hands up and backed away. “You deserve it, all of it. I don’t begrudge you it. I’ve never been prouder to be your brother.”

“Modi?” Jord said turning to his other brother.

Modi laughed. “I’m the irresponsible one, remember? Don’t even pretend to go there.”

“Not only that . . .” Magni added, “but he’s been assigned to the same battalion as Sigrid. He’s not about to give up that position just to lead.”

Modi threw his empty ale tankard at his brother, but Magni ducked just in time.

Thor ignored the antics and put a hand on Jord shoulder, pulling him aside. “You’ll do fine, Jord. Vanheim sent their full contingent. The elves came in early this morning from Alfheim. And Heimdall finally has his son, Jack, trained to control Bifrost, so the gods and demigods are coming in from Midgaard as well.”

Meghan turned to Sif, who was standing beside her. “How is Heimdall?” Jord had told her about how badly the old god had been injured.

Sif’s eyes darkened. “It was touch and go for a while. Modi got him to Idun right away, but even with the apples, we almost lost him. He’s still quite weak.”

Meghan felt a bit sidelined. The men were in a big strategy discussion about troop placement and defenses. She certainly wouldn’t have anything to add to a discussion.

“Come here.” Sif pulled Meghan into the next room, the kitchen. The goddess closed the door then confronted Meghan.

“How are you holding up?”

Wasn’t that just like Sif? The world could be blowing up around her and she’d be concerned with how everyone was feeling.

It warmed Meghan’s heart and brought a smile to her face. “I’m fine.”

Sif motioned her to sit at the kitchen table. With a wave of her hand she brought a sterling tea service floating through the air toward her and set it in front of her on the table.

Sif smiled at Meghan’s chagrin. “It’s just a little Norn magic. The good stuff, not the . . . you know.”

Sif poured them each a steaming cup, then offered Meghan the honey jar to sweeten her tea.

Meghan blew across her cup to cool the liquid. “I don’t see any birds dropping from the sky, so I guess you’re all right.”

As Meghan sipped the tea she felt warmth and vigor seep in to her tired bones. Sif grew serious, her voice lowered. “We heard you’d had a run in with Loki.”

Meghan filled Sif in on all the adventures she and Jord had experienced. It felt good to sit, drink tea, and just talk to the goddess. Sif’s warm acceptance always made Meghan feel at ease.

“So, how are the two of you?” Sif glanced at the door to the other room where Jord, his brothers, and Thor were still plotting strategy.

“I’m not what he wants.” Meghan shook her head. “Not what he needs.”

“Meghan?” Sif frowned.

Meghan forced a smile. “For a few wonderful days I could pretend I was. I’ll always have that. But look at him. He needs a goddess on his arm.”

Sif just shook her head. “Don’t write him off yet. He can be just as thick headed as his father. He’ll come around.”

Meghan smiled and nodded. Deep down, she knew better. She wished she had the optimism Sif had, but she’d felt Jord pushing her away. It hurt. She’d fought it for a while. But now she accepted it. Jord’s heart would never be hers, even though hers would always belong to him.

Jord stood on the north wall of Asgaard. The sun had just risen and he could clearly see Fenrir’s camp. Giants and dark elves scurried around, getting ready. An attack would definitely happen today.

Jord glanced right and left along the walls. Asgaard was as prepared as possible for the assault. Aesir, Vanir, and bright elves lined the walls, bows and swords ready. Many of the mortals from his army stayed to help, even though they’d been offered the opportunity to return to their homes on Midgaard. The whole Jord/Thor thing had been cleared up and he was now Jord, God of Thunder, to the whole army.

Meghan was safely ensconced back at his father’s house. Jord still remembered his mother’s scowl when he’d ordered her to stay behind to look after Meghan. Not asked, ordered. As commander of the army Jord had that authority, not that he would ever have used it on his own mother under other circumstances. But he needed Meghan protected and right now his mother was the best person for the job. The look his mother gave him spoke volumes, yet she hadn’t uttered a single word.

Then there was Meghan herself. His gut twisted every time he thought about what he’d done to her. It had worked, though. Jord was sure she was no longer in love with him. She’d be safe from the prophecy, and Jord was more than ever determined to end this war and get her safely home.

Once again Jord looked up and down the ranks of his army. Some would die this day. It was inevitable. Was it wrong to hope one of those deaths would be the prophesied one? That they could get this whole blasted thing off their shoulders? He was tired of being at the mercy of whatever deity or power dictated such things.

A stone hit the wall to his left bringing Jord’s thoughts back to the impending battle. He saw the largest of the giants, the frost giants, organizing into a line. The smaller stone giants were carrying boulders to the frost giants. With their great strength the frost giants could hurl rocks at Asgaard and still stay out of bowshot. You really didn’t need siege machines when you had giants.

It wasn’t unexpected, but it did mean he would have to expose a part of his army to danger. The only weapon in Asgaard with greater range than the frost giants was Odin’s spear, Gungnir. Odin had gifted the spear to Jord’s brother Magni, who at Jord’s signal began to hurl the spear at the giants. Like Mjolner, Gunfnir returned to its wielder after it struck its target. It wouldn’t be enough on its own to keep the giants at bay, but it would help, and also give Magni, who was still hobbling around on his injured leg, something valuable to do during the battle.

“Let’s go!” Jord shouted to his troops and every flying mount in Asgaard lifted off. Freyr, on his boar Gullinbursti, led a force of flying archers that moved up just within range of the giants and started shooting. Jord was impressed with Freyr’s determination and self sacrifice. This was not the god Jord had grown up hearing about and knowing. Whatever his motivations, Freyr had turned into a fierce warrior and a valued ally.

Jord led the second troop of flyers up and to the left, in an attempt to flank the giants. He saw dark elf archers taking up positions behind the giants to protect them. A flight of arrows came his way but Jord felt the power of the god, Njordr, controlling the wind. The sudden downdraft caused the arrows to veer off course, down and away from his troops.

Njordr, the God of Wind and Sea, was more a god of the ocean, and a bit out of place in the air, but Jord saw him smiling, mounted on the back of a flying seahorse, as he pushed the wind this way and that, thwarting the dark elves’ attack.

Jord brought his troops around on the enemy’s flank and began moving along the enemy front lines. Gods and goddesses used spears, stones, and Nornish spells to attack the giants and dark elves from the relative safety of the skies.

The giants flung stones, that occasionally connected, and swatted at the flying mounts that got too close, but the losses were minimal compared to the great damage Jord’s flyer’s were doing to the forces of Fenrir. The attack was quickly thwarted, and the enemy was forced to retreat.

Jord shouted his orders above the din of battle. “Don’t pursue them. Back to Asgaard to regroup.”

It had been easy, far too easy, and Jord feared a trap of some kind. Fenrir had enough troops to waste some, and he might have just been testing Asgaard’s defenses, but Jord was going to play it safe for right now. There would come a time when he would have to commit his troops to an all-out battle, but this was not the time.

Jord saw the young goddess, Hilde, struggling to make her way back to the walls on foot below, and swooped down to pick her up. She must have lost her mount at some point in the battle.

“Eight, I killed, Jord.” She was smiling, as she jumped into the chariot.

“Your mount?” Jord took off for the safety of the walls.

“Just a conjured wind spirit.” Hilde shrugged. “I used too much magic and didn’t want to pull what might be needed by others, so I let it go.”

A brave girl but she had put her life in jeopardy.

“I’d rather you only kill six and keep yourself safe.” Jord admonished her, but he smiled at the girl’s exuberance.

Jord landed the chariot next to where his father stood on the north wall. As they landed, the young goddess jumped off and ran to rejoin her strike force.

“What do you think, Dad?” Jord stepped down off the chariot.

Thor grunted. “He’s just testing us. That wasn’t a real attack.”

Jord was glad his father was there to advise him. This would be a real test of Jord’s leadership skills, and he couldn’t think of a better advisor than Thor.

“The bulk of Fenrir’s force stayed back behind the lines and didn’t even enter the battle. I think Fenrir just wanted to know how big our air force is.”

Jord agreed. “So what should we expect next?”

“Well, they don’t look to be packing up to go home, so I’m guessing they think they can handle your air support.”

Jord nodded thoughtfully. “We don’t really have many flying mounts.”

Jord’s father continued to scan the enemy camp. “My guess is it will be a full out assault on the walls. We’ll need a lot of power, especially at the north gate. If they get over, or through, we’ll have to retreat into the strongholds and split our forces, making coordinating a counter offensive a lot harder.”

It made sense. “So we don’t let them take the walls or the gatehouse.”

Thor nodded. “That would be a good idea.”

Jord heard a groan behind him and turned to see Heimdall coming up the steps.

“How are you doing Heimie?”

The old god was pale, and Jord could see he was still in great pain.

“I’m fine . . . fine.” Heimdell brushed off Jord’s concern. “I hear you kicked a little butt out there earlier though.”

Heimdell seated himself on a stone bench. Jord hoped he was up for this.

“We did okay. I wouldn’t have called for you if I didn’t think we needed you.”

Heimdall shook his head and raised his hands in protest. “Bah, I’d have been here anyway. I’m not going to lay in bed and let you kids have all the fun.”

Jord pulled the horn from his backpack and handed it to his old friend.

Heimdall raised an eyebrow. “So you think it’s time?”

It was a good question, but Jord needed all his options open. “I can’t imagine any better time. Wait for my signal, then let ‘er roar.”

Heimdall patted the horn. “I’ll do my part, Jord.”

Jord would never forget the heroic effort Heimdall was making.

“I know you will, old friend. How’s Jack doing?”

Heimdall’s son, Jack, had taken over Bifrost, the rainbow bridge. He was still having some problems with the communication, and sending the bridge to the right locations, but little by little the boy was getting control.

Heimdall’s demeanor showed his pride in his son. “He’s doing well. He’s gotten most of the Midgaard based gods and goddesses back up here already. He told me he was getting some strange calls, but I figure that’s just him getting used to the job. I have to admit, it feels kind of good to have that off my plate after all this time. Don’t know why I didn’t do it years ago.”

Thor chuckled and went to sit next to Heimdall. “We all should have turned things over to the younger gods and goddesses a long time ago. We could have spent a lot more time in the mead halls.”

The battle came two hours later. The entire force of Fenrir’s army took the field then and the battle for Asgaard began in earnest.

Arrows, spears and magical spells flew from the walls as the dark elves and giants surged forward in a wave of destruction. Twice they managed to stop the movement of the enemy, even turning it back slightly once, but always there were more forces to take the place of the fallen.

Fenrir’s army outnumbered the army of Asgaard by three to one, and the son of Loki had no problem throwing the lives of his troops away just to gain an inch of ground. Still the forces of Asgaard held fast, and stood staunchly on the walls as rocks and arrows fell among their ranks from the evil forces below.

Ladders were brought up and raised against the walls only to be thrown down, but occasionally some of the enemy forces would reach the top and temporarily secure a foothold before being thrown back.

The fiercest fighting was at the front gates. Giants hauled a large tree trunk with them and were using it as a battering ram. With tremendous force the giants brought the ram against their target, and the iron gates of Asgaard were starting to buckle.

Jord was in the thick of it. Mjolnir hummed with energy as he flung the hammer, again and again, against their fiercest foes, or directed lightning at the enemy forces. But despite his best efforts the enemy kept advancing. More ladders appeared, and the dark elves continued to scamper up the walls. Jord knew the north gate would not hold much longer. He disengaged, and flew back to the tower where he’d left Heimdell and his father.

“Now, Heimie.” Jord didn’t feel they had any other choice. The great tree trunk smashed once again into the gate. Steel hinges screamed as the metal stretched and strained against the assault.

Heimdall stood, and brought the horn to his lips. A deafening tone, low and resounding, filled the air. Power crackled all around as ancient magic was unleashed. In Valhalla ten thousand spirits awoke. Heroes of the past. Great warriors, one and all.

Just as the great northern gate of Asgaard was thrown down, and the army of Fenrir began to charge into the golden city, the doors of Odin’s golden hall opened, and the heroes of Valhalla poured out. Ancient Vikings, Hessian soldiers, and U.S. Army Rangers issued from the great hall. On horseback, Egyptian chariots, and Sherman tanks they rode. Heroes who’d died bravely from every era, in every war were represented. Policemen and firefighters who’d given their lives for others appeared as well. There were heroes from all cultures, and every walk of life.

Leading them all, charging ahead on the eight-legged steed, Sleipnir, was Odin himself. The King of the Norse Gods pulsed brightly with power. Jord’s chest swelled with pride as he watched his grandfather. This was Odin’s moment, and the ground shook as the King of the Norse Gods led the bravest of the brave, heroes all, into one last glorious battle.

There was a war song on their lips, that all took up. As swords struck and arrows flew, axes cleaved, and hammers bashed, the song rose, filling the air with triumph. This was the moment. This was the hour of reckoning long awaited. This was Ragnorok.