The Watcher

Chapter Thirty-Two

I leaned forward to get a look at the fashionable dwarf. "Blitzen," I called. "Do you know Fenris?"

He dropped his head in his hands after nodding weakly. "Every dwarf knows of Fenris. That was the first time the Aesir came to us for help. Fenris grew so savage he would have devoured the gods. They tried to tie him up, but he broke every chain."

"I remember," Magnus spoke up. "Finally the dwarves made a rope strong enough to hold him."

"Ever since," Blitzen voiced. "the children of Fenris have been enemies of the dwarves." He lifted his shielded head, Magnus's and I's reflections in his shades. "You're not the only one who's lost family to wolves, kid."

My throat closed up in sympathy. I wanted to hug him, take away his pain, but we were strangers, people only connected by one person: Magnus.

"On Ragnarok," Magnus explained. "The Day of Doom, one of the first things that's supposed to happen is Fenris gets freed."

Samirah nodded. "The old stories don't say how that happens—"

"But one way," The short creature interrupted. "Would be to cut him loose. The rope Gleipnir is unbreakable, but . . ."

Hearthstone then signed something. I waited for someone to indicate what he said.

"Surt wants to free the Wolf with my father's sword." The son of Frey voiced, looking at Mimir. "How are we doing so far?"

"Not bad," the appendage responded. "Which brings us to your task."

I raised my brow apprehensively. Our task?

"Stop Surt," Magnus answered. "Find the sword before he does . . . assuming he hasn't got it already."

I shook my head and placed my hand on his shoulder. "No, you probably would be dead by now if he did."

"She's right, he doesn't," confirmed the head. "Believe me, an event like that would make the nine worlds tremble. I'd taste fear in the waters of Yggdrasil."

I furrowed my brows in thought. How would fear even taste like?

"Yuck," Magnus put in, grimacing.

"You have no idea," said Mimir, nodding. "But you must hurry."

I sighed. "Seven days to find the sword and stop Surt from ending the world," I stated, my eyes trailing across the lagoon, silently cursing the thanes for making us lose two days. Thinking back on my past experiences with quests, I shrugged. "I've seen the worst odds."

I could feel the others' eyes on my calm, unaffected face.

Before my companions could question me, Mimir chuckled. "Yes, I'm sure you have," he said with a smirk and a knowing twinkle in his eyes. My eyes hardened and I subtly shook my head; I did not want to share that part of me yet.

"What is he talking about?" Magnus asked. I stared at his and the others' expectant faces, trying to will myself to melt into a puddle. Instead, I put on my best 'Are you kidding me?' expression and crossed my arms.

"You want to talk about my past that is none of your damn business, or do you want to find out how we're going to save the world in seven days?" I answered eyebrow raised.

"You know, she has a point," Mimir cut in from bobbing in the lagoon water.

Magnus lifted his hands in surrender, though disappointed as the rest of our party. I inwardly sagged in relief at the aversion of revealing my past. I politely motioned for the head to continue.