Hammer of the Gods Read online

  I believe the Gods must be desperate. The power of Ydrenir was never meant to be wielded by men.

  On the opposite page were two drawings depicting the front and back of the amulet. Jorick Ivarsson was no artist, to be sure, but there was no doubt in Thor’s mind, the drawings were of the amulet sitting on the desk, now.

  Thor skipped through the pages. He read the book years before, and remembered it pretty well.

  Our ships numbered in the hundreds as we sailed to Denmark. The few among us with horses scouted ahead. The rest marched as if heading toward Valhalla itself. We marched south until the land opened to the east. Then we marched southeast.

  My father ordered us to make no raids, take no women, and no more than we need. And all obeyed.

  Three times we were challenged by lesser armies. Three times those armies joined our quest. More men joined day by day. In ones, twos threes, and fours they joined us. The sound of marching shook all of Midgard.

  At the end of the second moon we found a ruined village. All houses had been burned. Two days later another village burned. We found many more ruined villages. Some had human bones with the flesh stripped away. The men did not sleep well those nights.

  … Awoken by screams. Five sentries butchered like cattle…

  … Six more men found butchered. This makes nearly thirty in the past five nights.

  … Fifty men…

  … Seventy men…

  We caught one of the creatures Odin called Fenrir. The demon beast killed two dozen men before being tethered. It was by half again taller than the tallest among us, and twice as strong. It was most difficult to kill. Its flesh healed quickly. Neither sword nor ax could sever limb or head. But a spear or sword driven through the chest could send the monsters howling back to the underworld.

  Thor knew the rest of the story.

  After a huge battle, Ivar the bold and thousands more died. Then Jorick took the amulet and hunted the creatures to extinction. Afterward, he tried to destroy Ydrenir, but failed. So he traveled three days alone, burying it deep in the earth to keep the enormous power from being discovered. Jorick was terrified of the amulet, and feared it could give a man the power to rule the world, maybe even Asgard itself.

  The eleven survivors agreed to keep silent; Midgard must never know how the Gods almost failed. For the time being, Loki was still imprisoned, and Ragnarok avoided.

  Thor always considered it a pretty good story. He used to think, with a good editor, it might be a best seller. Until today, though, he believed it to be complete fiction… Now, he was not so certain.

  He closed the book and placed it back into the safe. He finished the Scotch, started to pour another, and decided against it. He found his grandfather’s journal, and began taking notes.

  Strange how Thor had never noticed how localized his grandfather’s search had been. Thor unrolled an old map, placing marks at the sites of his grandfather’s digs. Over the course of fifty years, his grandfather conducted thirty-four digs in the western Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania.

  How he managed all that during the Soviet era was anyone’s guess.

  Thor wanted to cry as he marked off the last dig’s location. Vali Odinsson died from heart attack, waist-deep in the mud, ten miles from Darabani Romania.

  You almost had it, Gramps. You almost had it.

  Thor rolled up the map, and placed it back on the shelf behind a figurine of Freyja made from reindeer antler. He wiped a finger along the shelf, noticing it was time to give the room a thorough cleaning, again. He put that thought in the back of his mind, along with the thousand other things he intended to do.

  A yellowed sheet of paper slipped from the journal as Thor prepared to return the book to the safe. He snatched it up and shoved it between the pages. However, his hand refused to move toward the safe, even with conscious effort. The words “read it” suddenly echoed in his mind, and his eyes darted to the amulet glittering in the lamplight.

  He slipped the paper free, and unfolded it. It was a letter to his grandfather, written by a woman’s hand.

  3 June, 1959

  My dearest Vali:

  It is with a heavy heart that I put pen to paper. Stefan is dead; he was killed last night

  during a hunt. The men that were with him said it happened quickly, and assured me

  Stefan did not suffer; though I believe they were only trying to comfort me.

  Please do not blame yourself, as I most assuredly do not. If anyone is to blame, it is the

  fools that sought to rule the world. If they had not released the hate back into the

  world, Stefan would still be alive.

  It was my hope to tell you in person, but the doctor says I am too far along in my

  pregnancy to travel. Even now, the baby kicks like a mule. I am sure it will be a boy,

  and he will be strong and handsome like his father.

  I know you will never stop searching for what you seek. I will continue to help you as

  much as I can. My name still carries a great deal of weight, and I will use it to help end

  this madness.

  P.S.

  You were right! Stefan wanted to name the baby Yuri, if it is a boy. If it is a girl, I shall

  name her Sylvia. God, I miss her so very much! It is difficult for me to believe it has been

  over a year since her passing.

  Kiss Balder for me, and hold him close, Vali.

  Until we meet again, my dearest friend.

  Selucca

  Thor sat in stunned silence, reading the letter twice more, just to be sure his eyes were not playing tricks on him. He felt as if his head was about to explode, and he was entirely grateful he was seated already, as visions of dying from a concussion from hitting his head on the desk as his knees gave way floated through his mind. This was turning out to be one Hel of a day!

  My grandparents and the Lazarovicis were good friends?! At least that explains how gramps got to play in the Soviet’s backyard for years. But why didn’t the old woman tell me first? She would’ve gotten a much warmer reception. He scanned the dozens of photographs, confirming a sneaking suspicion. Julia doesn’t know, that’s why!

  He sat back in the chair, absentmindedly running a finger over the amulet. It felt warm to the touch; almost as if it had not completely cooled from its forging. What was that sound? He looked out the window. Was that sleet pelting the ship? It was a bit too close to Summer for sleet.

  He grasped the chain with both hands, slipping it over his head. There was an immediate flash of blinding white light, followed by searing pain shooting through his skull. Thor imagined getting hit on the forehead with his namesake’s hammer could not feel worse. Every fiber of his body burned, then he seemed to be freezing, as if he were a white-hot piece of iron quenched by a glacier.

  The pain quickly subsided to a dull throb, before disappearing completely.

  Something was wrong, though. He could hear birds singing, and smell the sweet scent of flowers. A gentle breeze was blowing through his hair, and he could feel the warmth of the sun on his back.

  Thor opened his eyes slowly, tentatively. Chelsea smiled at him, her light-blue eyes glittering in the sunlight. She was wearing the faded Sex Pistols tee shirt she bought in a London boutique, and a pair of cut-off shorts. She was barefoot, and wiggling her toes in the grass.

  Thor took in his surroundings. He was no longer in his grandfather’s study, but a lush garden filled with low-hanging willow trees, and flowers in every color of the spectrum. The sun was at his back in a cloudless sky. A fat bumble bee buzzed by, its legs and body covered with pollen; it circled Chelsea’s face before disappearing into a small grove of apple trees. The air filled with the sounds of honking geese as a flock flew overhead, then faded as they flew out of his view.

  “Am I dead?” Thor asked.

  Chelsea shook her head, then pushed a few wind-blown strands of hair from her face. “No, Honey, you’re not dead.”

  “Then, whe
re am I?”

  Chelsea smiled again, then laughed. “A safe place. That’s all you need to know, for now.”

  Thor rubbed his forehead. “Are you real, or just a figment of my imagination?”

  Chelsea glided toward him – she always did have a graceful walk – and held out her hand. He placed his hand in hers, and she pulled him close. She kissed him gently on the lips, and hugged him. Thor’s arms wrapped around her waist, and he lifted her into the air as he squeezed the breath from her. Chelsea squealed with laughter; she would whenever he did that.

  This was nothing like the times he had seen her in Macleay Park. His heart wanted to believe she was there, but he knew deep down it was nothing more than fatigue induced hallucinations. She was here! He could feel the weight of her body, smell the lavender-scented soap she used, and hear her heart pounding in her chest.

  “Convinced?” she asked, running her fingers through his hair.

  “Oddly…yes.”

  “Good. Put me down, I have a lot to tell you.”

  Thor eased her to the grass. Chelsea immediately laced her fingers with his and began to walk slowly. Thor followed, feeling the warmth of her hand in his, scanning the rolling hills beyond the low-hedged boarders of the garden.

  Thor stopped abruptly. “Can I see my Mom and Dad?”

  Chelsea shook her head. “No, Honey. They altered events on Earth, and were forced to move on. That’s why I have to be very careful as to what I say.”

  “What did they do?” Thor asked.

  Chelsea led the way along a worn path, past a stone fountain. “I can’t tell you what your Dad did, one day you will know. You, already, realize what you grandfather did, don’t you?”

  Thor nodded. “He showed a farmer in Romania where to dig in a field.”

  Chelsea nodded.

  They strolled through a field of wildflowers, thousands of brightly colored butterflies fluttered as they passed. They eventually came to rest upon a marble bench in the shade of a giant oak next to a stream.

  “What did Mom do?” Thor finally asked.

  Chelsea sighed, staring at the water for a moment before answering. “She brought my mind here just after I was kidnapped, and she guided the first bullet to my heart, instead of my face.” She looked him in the eye. “I know what happened to my body, but I never felt the pain, and I didn’t drown in the river as I would have.”

  Thor held her hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Mom always loved you as much as she loved me.”

  “She said as much, just before she left.” Chelsea wore a bittersweet smile. She sighed, then stared into his eyes. This was going to be bad, he knew it. “You’re going to have to make some very tough choices soon. There will be times when you must act before you intend; trust your judgment, and don’t second-guess yourself.” Her eyes darted from side to side. “Say yes when your heart screams no. You already know what to do, you just don’t realize it, yet.”

  “Do you know what will happen?”

  Chelsea shrugged. “Too many possibilities; every choice you make changes something. Even if I did, I couldn’t tell you, though.”

  Thor reached out, cupping Chelsea’s face with both hands. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to protect you.”

  “I’m not,” she said, wiping a tear from his eye. “In every one of those possible outcomes, you died, too. Now imagine what a lesser place the world would be without both of us.”

  “Do you know what I did, to them, I mean?”

  Chelsea swallowed hard, closed her eyes, then nodded. “But what you’ve been doing to yourself pales in comparison.”

  “I have to kill this thing, don’t I?” Thor asked after a long silence.

  There was pain in Chelsea’s eyes as she gazed into his. “You will know what you must do, when the time comes. I can’t say more.”

  “One thing confuses me. Jorick called the beasts Fenrir, but if mythology is to be believed – and I’m really starting to believe – there was only one.”

  By the look on Chelsea’s face, she was choosing her words carefully. “You will face Hróðvitnir.”

  Well, that was no help at all! Hróðvitnir is another name they called Fenrir. Thor shook his head. “I don’t understand.”

  “When the time comes, you will.” She glanced around, nervously. “If you’ve ever trusted me before, trust me now with every ounce, when I tell you that.”

  Chelsea reached down and plucked a white carnation, then placed it behind Thor’s ear. She giggled. “You look pretty enough to ask to the dance.” She held his hand in hers, then led him back toward the spot he first saw her.

  Thor knew it meant it was time to go.

  “Will I see you again?” he asked hopefully.

  “Yes,” she replied immediately.

  Thor bent down, giving her a kiss on the cheek. Her arms slipped around his waist, and she squeezed hard, but he sensed not as bad as she wished she could.

  “Mio was a gift of love,” she said with a smile. She kissed his lips gently, then put her lips next to his ear. “Oh, by the way,” she whispered, “I knew you paid for those boots. That’s why I took the most expensive pair I could find.”

  He could hear Chelsea laughing as blackness surrounded him.

  Thor sat up strait in the desk chair. The sleet had turned into a gentle rain. The sounds of distant thunder rolled. He slipped Selucca’s letter back into his grandfather’s journal, and returned it to the safe. He poured himself a short glass of scotch, tucked the amulet beneath his tee shirt, and locked the study as he left. He smiled at Jennifer as he passed her in the corridor near the dining room.

  “Nice flower, Thor,” Jennifer said with a chuckle. “What’s the occasion?”

  Thor reached behind his left ear, pulling the white carnation free. He put it to his nose, breathing in the sweet fragrance. It was no wonder Chelsea loved them so much, but not nearly as much as lavender. “I look pretty enough to ask to the dance,” he said with a smile.

  Jennifer cocked her head, then nodded. “That you do, mate. That you do.”

  Mio’s head rose the second Thor entered the dining room. He barked twice, then rushed to Thor, burying his snout in Thor’s shirt, and wagging his tail with everything he had. The giant Mastiff stood on his hind legs, placing monstrous paws on Thor’s shoulders, and licked Thor’s face. Thor scratched Mio’s chin. “You know where I’ve been, don’t you?” he whispered in the dog’s ear. Thor was sure there was a smile somewhere underneath all those wrinkles.

  “Someone needs ta control dat hairy beast!” Julia sat at the table with a cup of coffee. There were a few papers spread out on the table, and her logbook was open. “An do sometin ‘bout dat dog, while you’re at it.”

  It took work, but Thor finally got Mio to settle down. Gift of love, indeed. He went over to Julia, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, then gave her a kiss on the cheek. “I love you, grandma,” he said softly.

  Julia’s eyes widened, and she patted his forearm. “I love ya, too, Bw… Thor. How much o’ your granddad’s Scotch ya had?”

  “Not that much.” Thor chuckled. He sat in the chair next to her. “I’m leaving for Romania in a few days.”

  “I know.” Julia took a sip of coffee. “I just plotted our course to da Black Sea.”

  Thor shook his head “This is too dangerous. I’m going by myself.”

  Julia smiled. “Ya know da best part o’ ya being some super-genius? It’s dat look o’ utter confusion on ya face when you’re wrong.”

  “We’re going with you.”

  Thor looked up to see Bryndis standing across the room with her arms folded beneath her breasts. Mikki, Else and Christelle stood on Bryndis’ right, Iona, Jennifer and Lindsay on her left; each wearing the same stern look on their faces. A second later, Dominic fell-in next to Christelle. At least, he has the decency not to have a smug look on his face.

  A loud “Ah, ooh!” split the air, followed by the thud of boots on the oak floorboards. Thor turned to
see the entire crew behind him, dressed in camouflage uniforms and maroon berets, standing at parade rest, which was as restful as he had ever seen any of them.

  “Yes,” Julia said with a smile, her eyes glittering with delight. “Dat’s da look.”

  Thor’s eyes scanned over the women. “This is way I think polygamists are idiots.” He turned to the male crewmembers, pointing a finger. “This is mutiny!”

  Julia shook with laughter. She stood, gathered the papers, and kissed Thor on the forehead. “It’s only mutiny if you’re da captain, which ya ain’t, Bwoy. Nwabudike, if he tries to sneak-off, tie him to a chair.” The tall African nodded to Julia, then actually smiled at Thor.

  Nwabudike?! Gods damn you Iona! Thor stared at that smiling face. It was the first time he had ever seen any emotion from the man. What the Hel did I do to piss him off, but call him the wrong name for eight years? He wondered how many of the crew he could cripple, before ending up in that chair. Nwabudike? Huh…

  Thor turned his attention to Bryndis. “I assume you’re the one behind this?”

  “Easy, Sugah,” Mikki said, stepping forward. “We’re all behind it, but we’re not doing anything for you that you wouldn’t do for any of us?”

  “Too much has happened,” Bryndis said. “Someone is out to get you. For all we know, it’s Selucca Lazarovici.”

  “It’s not her,” Thor said, shaking his head slowly.

  “How do you know it’s not her?” Iona flashed furiously.

  “I just know,” He replied softly.

  Else cleared her throat. “Then we’re not letting you go alone after an animal that killed Clayton Timmons. That bastard was as crazy as they come, but he was the best, far better than you.”

  Thor would never admit it, but this would give him time to develop a plan. You’ll have to make tough choices very soon. Say yes when your heart screams no. That was what Chelsea said. He felt the warmth of the amulet against his skin, and prayed he was not making the biggest mistake of his life. He sighed. “Break out the cold-weather clothes.” He could not tell if the looks on the women’s faces was relief or regret, but he hoped he did not regret this decision.