Valhalla Virus, Nick Harrow [simple ebook reader txt] 📗

And a pair of wings, feathers luminous white and radiant gold, unfolded from her back and stretched toward the sky as if aching to be used.

“Behold mine valkyrie,” Odin intoned, presenting Erin to the rest of them. “She is my eyes and ears, and my wisdom is in her voice. She is a shield maiden, sworn to uphold my cause. While she draws breath, she will strive to protect the jarl and his circle.”

The air shimmered around Erin for a moment, and Odin and Freya vanished on a winter’s wind. Erin blinked again, her silver eyes taking in the people who stood before her. She sat down on the wheel well again, held her head in her hands, then looked at Gunnar.

“Told you you’d need me,” she said. “Let’s go home.”

Chapter 28

GUNNAR AND HIS INNER circle rode in the Dodge’s bed as Deke limped the battered truck back to the lodge. It held on until they’d passed through the gate, then its engine coughed one last time and died. When the passengers abandoned the old rig, it completed its transformation into an oversized cart that had seen far better days.

“Guess it’s real horsepower from now on,” Deke said with a rueful chuckle. “Shit, quadzilla’s dead, too.”

A heavy ballista had replaced the deadly machine gun, and the ammo belt was now a stack of heavy quarrels. It wasn’t a trade any of them would have made, but they’d learn to live with it. It’s not like they had a choice.

“The wheel turns,” Gunnar mused and clapped a hand on Deke’s shoulder. “Even for an old fucker like you. Thanks for coming. If you need anything—”

Deke looked up at Gunnar and shielded his eyes against the sun. “My daughter,” he started, but his voice choked up and faltered. “She made us come to the fight. Said you needed us. If it wasn’t for her...hell, man. She might have saved all of us.”

“I won’t forget it,” Gunnar promised. “You have my word.”

“It’s not that,” Deke sighed. He spat on the ground and raked his gnarled fingers through his wiry gray hair. “She’s always been a little rebel, but now she’s gone and got herself some wings. She’ll be out there in the thick of it with you now, won’t she?”

Gunnar nodded. “She’s a special lady, Deke. I can’t promise she’ll be safe, but I will tell you she’s a lot tougher now than you could imagine.”

“That’s not real comforting,” Deke chuckled. “Just tell me you’ll do your best to keep her out of the wringer.”

“I will,” Gunnar said. “But something tells me she’ll be the one yanking me out of danger.”

Deke laughed at that and headed inside, shaking his head.

The jarl leaned against the wagon, his spear close at hand, and waited for the rest of his people to return from the battle. He watched his warriors march through the gate, their spines straight, chins held high, and greeted each of them.

“Thank you,” he said, “for fighting by my side. You saved my life today, and I will not forget what I owe you.”

Then he embraced each of the soldiers. Not one of them left that hug with dry eyes. Like the völva, the men and women who’d fought alongside Gunnar loved him. They would follow him through the gates of hell if it came to that.

When the last of the soldiers headed inside, Gunnar threw his head back and looked up at the blue sky. They’d done it. The lodge was safe, and Hyrrokkin could choke on a bag of dicks.

It had been a good day to die.

It was a better day to live.

THE JARL USED THE UPGRADE he’d earned from activating Draupnir to open the Hall of Feasting, and the lodge’s people celebrated like true Vikings. They ate and drank more than their fill, and those with women snuck off to the caves for some alone time. Gunnar sat on the edge of the hot spring that had replaced the kidney-shaped pool as the last of his people stumbled off to sleep. He couldn’t help but smile, not just because they’d won, but because he’d been vindicated.

If he hadn’t saved Deke and his family, if he hadn’t given shelter to the refugees, he’d be dead. It felt good to know that doing the right thing paid off. “Fuck you, old man,” he whispered.

“Talking to yourself is a bad sign,” Mimi said. She had a lit cigar tucked in the corner of her mouth and handed another to Gunnar. “Don’t make a habit of it, but I figured we deserved a celebratory stogie.”

The jarl took the offering and puffed on it, smiling through the smoke. It was hard to believe how much they’d all changed, and how much he liked those changes.

“Don’t look at me like that, you pervert,” she said as she took a seat next to him. She bumped shoulders with him and blew a smoke ring. “You’ve done a hell of a job, Jarls Barkley. When you showed up on my doorstep, I’d have given even odds you’d be dead before morning. But, somehow, you turned this shitshow around. I still miss the electricity, but the fire’s growing on me.”

“Thanks. You think you could stop calling me stupid nicknames before everyone else starts?”

Mimi laughed again and blew smoke into his face. “Don’t be so full of yourself, asshole. Let an old lady have some fun.”

“You’re hardly old,” Gunnar said and rolled his good eye. “You look like you’re eighteen again. Which, by the way, you’re fucking welcome.”

She hefted a boob in each hand and squinted at Gunnar. “You want credit for these tig ol’ biddies? No way, man. I was born with this shit. Maybe if you’re nice, you’ll get to see them again some day.”

“Maybe if you’re lucky, I’ll let you show them to me,” he snickered. “I love you, Mimi.”

“Fuck you,” she sighed.

GUNNAR FOUND BRIDGET on the surface. She’d slipped out of the bed he