Author's Note: Well here I go again, everybody. The next chapter is finally out, and much thanks go out to everybody who waited and reviewed. Special thanks to OneThatsHumanAndNot for special input. Again, I must disclaim any and all ownership of the Ragnarok series. If anybody's taking requests for Christmas gifts, I'd take that as mine. But until then... have fun, read, and review review review!!
Chapter 15: Prelude to Fayon
Sara pushed the frost giants to travel faster. She needed – no, would – reach the temple before Fenris Fenrir. She wanted to surprise the warlock when she arrived. It had taken too much time for Freya's servants to locate Fenris the first time, just to have her disappear for several days. When they'd next spotted her, they'd been able to determine her 'path' and future destination. Much to their relief. But then Deliyyja…
Sara glowered at the thought of the past days' events into the setting sun. If Deliyyja had cost her the meeting, she'd pay dearly. Maybe that little toy mage of hers, Century. Or those damnedable little lizards. Yes… those little lizards would do nicely barbequed for dinner, or just for the hell of it. A little shiver of anticipation went through her at the thought. Maybe she'd try for their obnoxious parents, too. Deliyyja would go mad without her pets. Thinking such happy thoughts to herself, Sara's grimace turned to a sly smile as she planned for the future. The disturbance at Deliyyja's had come and gone, and with it had come an opportunity for Sara – one she refused to miss.
Arriving at the temple of Fenris' destination, Sara surveyed the landscape with an impassive eye. Nothing so extraordinary that would make one think the sword of Balder was hidden here. Just some damned trees and fields surrounding the ruins of the ancient temple.
"Huh. Well… on to the waiting. But a few surprises for our dear friend first." Sara stretched out her hand and whispered to the stone gargoyles in the courtyard.
"Hvisk liv til den stille, dreper den liv av å leving." The power clustered into a sort of nest and spread small fingers of power to each gargoyle perched about the yard. One by one, each stone statue rose from it's position to converge on the nest. Each gargoyle stood as part of the circle, absorbing the power that the power-nest gave out to them. Sara watched them gather themselves together with a small, satisfied smile playing across her face. Turning away, she sent more runes into the sky, summoning more monsters as the 'welcoming party' for the reincarnated, reinvented wolf god, Fenris Fenrir.
"Whoops," Sara said from the air as she watched Fenris avoid the destruction of her frost giants. She hadn't meant to take them out, just take out that infernal warlock. Inside though, she was smiling. Her rune spell had been more powerful than she'd anticipated. She must be getting stronger just through this assignment that Freya had given her. Speaking of Freya…
"Aww, crap. Freya's not gonna be happy." She'd been so interested in seeing how well the warlock deserved her reputation that she'd forgotten momentarily the true purpose of her coming.
The sword.
She'd let Fenris almost just walk away with the sword in her hands, no opposition whatsoever. Great. That was really gonna push Freya's buttons the wrong way. Turning her attention once again to the spot that Fenris Fenrir had just recently vacated, Sara drew out several talismans. These she sent forth to search for the ever-elusive Fenris once again, knowing that eventually, one of them would find her, and eventually, that Fenris Fenrir would unknowingly lead Freya to Balder.
"I know we'll meet again, warlock. And next time, I'll send you straight to Hel!"
Red came from many places in Sara's mind as she slept, disturbing her dreams of her mother. She fought against the redness, denying the hold it was taking over her subconscious and over her body, as it reacted to the dreams and her breathing increased and tensed. After minutes of the invading redness, Sara woke up gasping to find Freya standing in front of her. Her hands were stretched out and red wisps of magik flowed from them, almost as small streams of shiny red powder was floating in the air. Déjà vu, Sara thought, thinking of what Deliyyja had gone through at Freya's hands only a week before.
"Oh, Sara," Freya said in a sing-song voice. Purposefully kept light, the goddess' voice brought shivers to her servant. Sara tried to stand and bow, but the magik wrapping itself around and in her kept her where she lay on the ground. Far from any normal punishment, Sara could feel the magik working inside her to some end, she didn't know what, and for the moment didn't want to. She wanted only to have Freya take the magik back.
"Goddess…" she whispered as loudly as she was allowed. Freya acknowledged the greeting with a narrowing of her eyes and looked over Sara's prostrate body.
"Sara." Freya's words stroked over Sara's body.
"My dear." The fingers tightened the spell infinitesimally, but enough for more pain.
"Was there some part of the assignment that you failed to understand? Did I leave out some vital piece of information that was needed for your instruction? Or did the unthinkable happen that Fenris Fenrir defeated you in battle?" When Sara didn't answer, Freya's smile grew vicious.
"No… it's something else entirely. You talked so long about yourself and your awesome power that you distracted yourself from the task. And of course the Wolf God was more than willing to take advantage of that and grab the sword while she could." She jerked her hand and Sara's head lurched up.
"So tell me, Sara Irine, was it a mistake on my part to grant your mother's dying wish to train you? She sent me that thought and wish so nicely, promising that you would be faithful to me. Have you betrayed her trust?" Tears were leaking from Sara's eyes slowly, as memories surfaced. She shook her head minutely and Freya let loose the magik holding her captive.
"Good girl. Now – report." Sara stood quickly, still half bowing and gave a summary of her encounter with the reincarnated Wolf God.
"All is not lost, Goddess. I have sent tracking talismans searching for her. Even as we speak, they are searching for the Wolf God, and unknowingly, she will deliver you Balder because of her own intents. You will have Balder's still body before long. Fenris Fenrir will betray her own love by finding him." Sara lifted her eyes to determine whether she had been forgiven her offense and found the goddess' eyes distracted by visions of finding and killing the new Balder.
"Clever enough, Sara Irine. We shall see, however, how your predictions turn out. Now a revised mission do I give you because the original has failed. Follow Fenris Fenrir. Should she be able to find Balder and reawaken his dormant spirit, contact me. Otherwise, you are to observe only unless discovered. One exception: Fayon. Do what you will with your father and that city. It is your right and deserved punishment for those who would have killed you after your mother. Only remember, do not engage Fenris Fenrir or Balder's reincarnation. Report to me after Fayon is destroyed." Sara bowed to her mistress. She turned to leave, but Freya put a single hand on her shoulder.
"Oh, and Sara." Sara turned back quickly and bowed low anew.
"Yes, Mistress?" Sara enjoyed the light that came to the goddess' eyes.
"Have fun. Give your father my best."