Cones of what smells like vanilla, damiana, and sandalwood incense blended to induce visions sit in a glass bowl on the same shelf attached to the wall.
A circular incense burner and matchsticks sit beside it. I feel a strong pull toward the chair pushed up against the wall.
“Ylva?” I look at Kirk.
“Huh?”
“Are you okay?” Kirk frowns.
“Yes. I think someone wants to talk.” I feel removed from my body as my brain grows cloudy. The temperature in the room plummets and chill bumps break out.
“Everyone out. Give her the room.” Cadoc ushers them out.
“Is that wise?” Kirk hesitates.
“What if she needs help?” Fell crosses his arms.
Cadoc squeezes my arm. “I’ll be posted outside the door.”
Allowing them to figure things out amongst themselves, I strip off my shoes and stockings and venture inside. The tiny grains of salt feel like sand on my feet.
I dig my toes in and inhale. Closing the door, I move to the shelf and light the incense, trusting the instincts guiding me. I know the old rituals, but I’ve never had cause to use them until now. Suddenly all of Fell’s ramblings about our history are being put to good use.
The smoke drifts up, and I sing an old song. Eyes shut I lose myself to the rhythm and the haunting words. The rest of the world slips away.
Images of wolves running in a forest flicker in my mind. A long, lonely howl echoes through the trees.
I find myself in an overgrown grove of large ash trees. I move in a circle. Fluffy blossoms fall to the ground.
I reach my hand up to catch the pale green petals, able to interact with my vision. A large bloom falls into my palm. I peer down and find a silver coin in the center etched with runes around a howling moon.
The energy emanating from the piece is undeniable.
“Fenrir’s Amulet.”
I turn and find the Volva in the forest beside me. Another figure stands in the distance, shadowy and indecipherable.
“This is what everyone’s looking for?” I whisper.
“Yes. And it seems to have found you.”
Shadowy figures appear on the horizon. Blinded, by the sun high in the sky, I’m unable to make out details.
Surrounding me on all sides, they begin to close in. The coin disappears when the figures surge forward with war cries.
A bright light flares, and I stumble back. Heart pounding in my chest, I search for cover.
The ground beneath me splits and I scream. Above, the sky grows overcast, and the weather plummets. Another flash of light and the figures are closer.
I sink into the rotting ground, full of maggots. Looking down, I realize I’m slightly translucent. This isn’t real. I’m still in spirit form. Snakes slither along withered branches.
I find myself on my knees with my arms bound in rope, the shadow figures standing above me victorious.
A sword lowers toward my neck. I jolt back into my body.
“What the hell was that?” Teeth chattering, I rub my hands up and down my arms. I need to see the Volva.
CHAPTER NINE
Istand and my tingling legs protest. Losing my balance, I sway and crash into the door.
“Ylva.”
The door swings inward and I hit a hard muscled chest masquerading as a brick wall. Powerful arms wrap around me, and I look into electric blue eyes.
“I need to see the Volva.”
“Not like this, you don’t,” Kirk appears to my right, one long slender finger titling my chin up. “Let me see your eyes.”
“I’m okay. My legs fell asleep from kneeling too long, I think.”
“You were in there for over an hour, Princess,” Bo says.
I look up, shocked. He hovers next to Fell a foot behind us.
“What? It felt like minutes.” My stomach growls.
“That’s it, we’re putting food into your belly and setting ground rules,” Cadoc swoops me into his arms.
