“Corvallis.”
“Hmm. Probably. Grim has been an anthropology professor off and on for a long time. Teaches at Oregon State.”
An academic profession was so unassuming, but Indiana Jones had used it to his advantage, why not a Norse god? Especially one who had an interest in recovering powerful relics.
“You were going to go after him?”
“Yes,” I said. “And I want you to come with me.”
Val’s eyes widened, and he gasped. I had never known him to admit a loss of words. He shook off his surprise and asked, “When do we leave?”
A slow grin unfurled across my lips. “I’ve already packed my bags. Come find me at midnight.”
Chapter Twenty-one
I had heard Corvallis put on a dazzling display of natural beauty in the fall, but December was quickly approaching, and the trees had shed their leaves. Thick clouds and a gloomy drizzle had settled in, turning the landscape into a green-gray soup. Despite those things, the city radiated an innate charm—most college towns did, in my limited experience.
Perched on the west bank of the Willamette, downtown Corvallis beckoned visitors into its eclectic collection of shops and restaurants. In the distance, to the west, a set of hazy peaks watched over the sleepy town.
I took in the views through gritty, sleep-deprived eyes. I had intended to sleep during the nine-hour drive from Mendocino, but I couldn’t relax and had dozed in short fits and starts.
“Look,” Val asked, “why don’t we get a room? You can sleep for a while. We’ll get breakfast or brunch. Then we’ll go see what we can find.”
“Just stroll onto campus?” I asked, stifling a yawn. “Hello, Grim, we’re here for the sword.” I lowered my voice to imitate a man’s deeper timbre. “Oh, why certainly. I have it right here. Let me just get it for you.”
Val smirked. “Do you have a better idea?”
“Nope. That dramatization was the full extent of my plan.”
“It’s an optimistic plan. I like it.” Val plucked his phone from its perch on the dashboard and asked the electronic personal assistant to find us a place to stay. She produced the names and addresses of several nearby hotel chains and a couple of bed and breakfasts. “No Bellestrellas in this town,” Val said.
“If it has a bed and a hot shower, it’s a winner.”
“Who knew you had such low standards?”
I smiled and winked. “I’m hanging out with you, aren’t I?”
Val chose one of the places on his artificial assistant’s list and followed the GPS directions to a bed and breakfast on the edge of campus in an older part of town. He steered the Yukon to the curb and parked in front of a beautiful old Cape Cod. Two massive rhododendrons stood sentry on either side of the front-porch steps. The rhododendrons reminded me of home, of the Appalachian foothills, and a twinge of homesickness plucked at my heartstrings. I vowed to get an update on my parents’ status from Baldur the next time I saw him. Until then, I put my parents and thoughts of going home again out of my mind.
Val carried my bags inside. We had arrived in time to sit down to a home-cooked breakfast: eggs, thick sliced bacon, whole-grain toast, fruit compote, and homemade jam. I shoveled in the food like the half-starved woman I was, and the more I ate, the sleepier I got.
When I finally set down my fork and admitted defeat, Tom, one of our hosts, cleared away my dirty dishes. His partner, Gene, led Val and me up to a cozy bedroom and set our bags on the floor by the bed. I minded sharing a room with Val a lot less since learning he didn’t actually sleep, so long as he respected my boundaries.
After Gene left us alone, I told Val I wanted a shower and an hour of sleep. Exhaustion, pain, and hunger had taken a toll on my supernatural abilities in the past. Not knowing what to expect, if we would find Grim or not, I wanted my capabilities fully charged and ready to go if I needed them.
“Will an hour be enough?” Val asked.
“It has to be. Otherwise, I’ll end up sleeping all day, and I want to find Grim as soon as possible. If he has someone inside the Aerie reporting to him or Tori, then he might already assume we’re on his trail. He might run or go into hiding or something.”
“You’ve never met Grim,” Val said. “So trust me when I say he would never go into hiding. He and Thorin are chiseled from the same block of obstinate.”
“Still, I don’t think it’s smart to wait too long. An hour, Val. Don’t go to Grim without me. Don’t harass any undergrads, either.”
He pouted. “That’s no fun.”
“Go take a walk or something.”
Val shook his head and turned for the door. “No, siree.” He stepped into the hallway. “No fun at all.”
When the alarm went off, I felt as though I had just closed my eyes. I patted around the nightstand until I found my phone and silenced the ringer. I rolled over, intending to go back to sleep, but my phone came to life again, buzzing and rattling on the nightstand.
“Grrr,” I said and grabbed the phone. By then, I had awoken enough to realize the phone was ringing not because of the alarm, but because Thorin was calling me.
“What do you want?” I growled.
Thorin ignored my irritated greeting and said, “It’s nearly noon. What are you still doing in bed?”
“Really? You called to harass me about my sleeping habits?”
“I called because I want a status update.”
“After all those threats about keeping in touch, you haven’t been particularly easy to contact.”
“I’ve been in a hospital. Haven’t been able to keep my phone on.”
“Hospital?” I sat up and rubbed my eyes. “What’s going on?”
