Soul of Furies (Book Three)

Chapter 6: Voice

Night flying is still my favourite thing in the entire world, no matter what's happening in my life. The cold wind whipping around my face, the stars, the ocean below me; it's all amazing. It helps me forget.

Nightstar casts me anxious looks every now and then, like she's questioning whether she should help me with this plan. Whenever she looks at me, I shake my head in response. She whines and focuses ahead again.

As we keep flying, I see a speck of light in the distance. It sits right in between the ocean and the sky, twinkling like a star...but it's brighter than a normal star. Curiosity overwhelms me, but nevertheless, I focus on my task at hand.

Nightstar flies higher, twisting and looping with elegance and grace. I find myself laughing, but my eyes quickly switch to the weird light again. It may be my imagination, but it looks like it's grown bigger. In fact, it doesn't even look like a star anymore. It now looks more like a jagged tear through the sky.

Nightstar makes a distressed noise, slowing her flight as her eyes latch onto the dark waters below. I try to follow her gaze, but my night vision is subpar compared to hers. Still, I can almost see what looks like a figure standing on the water, looking up at us with glowing eyes. Before I can say a word, the blast of a sonic boom radiates across the dark waters. The last thing I see is a blinding light.

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My eyes flutter open, a moan of discomfort leaving my lips as I slowly push myself up. I look around, my head spinning and my body aching. I'm in a forest, one which I can already tell is nowhere near Berk.

In fact, I recognize it as the place where I first met Nightstar. I wince and grip my head, wobbling as I try to get to my feet. My world becomes unfocused, showing double of everything before I squeeze my eyes shut again.

Nearby, my dragon gets up, shaking her large head back and forth. She looks up at me, her blue eyes full of confusion.

"My my, Thora, you are really in a dilemma, aren't you?" a feminine voice murmurs from a spot behind me.

My breath catches in my throat. I slowly turn around, every step hesitant yet calculated. Within the trees is a hooded figure, the same figure that I thought I saw on the waters a few moments ago. Her face is shaded by her large cloak, her clothing hidden by the material as well. Her eyes are two glowing pits, yet as she looks at me I feel a great sense of wisdom, of judgement. I subconsciously wish I had brought along a weapon to protect myself with.

"Child, you look pale," the woman comments, her voice breezy yet full of authority. When I can't bring myself to answer, she takes a few steps forwards. "Do you know who I am?"

I shake my head. "No...I don't."

She sighs. "I don't blame you. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Vár, the goddess of oaths and contracts." My brown eyes widen in complete shock as the woman smiles. "It seems to me that you have a very interesting contract that's about to come into play."

"A goddess?" I squeak, my usually calm persona completely scattering to the wind. "I...I..."

"Speechless, yes. Most Nordics don't put much faith in the smaller gods anymore. It's all Odin, Thor, Loki..." She shakes her head, closing her eyes for a moment. "Times have changed, even now."

"Why are you here?" I ask, although I have a pretty good feeling that I know.

Vár seems amused by me. "Your people were very favoured among the gods, Thora of Thord and Sigrid. Your people honoured all of the gods, not just one or two like some villages tend to do. You know of the blessings they were given; magic, wisdom, prowess in battle. All-Father was very generous with the Hermaōans."

I feel like I'm about to pass out. Of course I believed that Hermaōr had been blessed by the gods, but Odin himself? I never let myself imagine something that huge. Vár watches me for a moment before striding forwards, her face a mask of sincerity.

"I am acting as the messenger for this day, Thora," she speaks. "The gods have...found pity on you. They heard your wish."

"My wish?" I echo. My freckled face pales at the thought. There's no way that a shooting star—

"Yes, where you wished that you had never existed. You are a foolish mortal, one who does not see just what you have done," Vár continues. "We have decided to make another deal with you."

"Another deal? Do you really think that's a good idea?" I ask.

Her eyes seem to flash. "If you can right what's been wronged, we will add more years to your sentence. You will live until you are fifty years old. That will give you enough time to see your children become adults, to raise them until they no longer need your constant care...but that is all we can offer."

"You can't just reverse the contract?" I wonder, although I know it's useless.

She arches an eyebrow, but it falls and she nods. "I am sorry, Thora, but you should be dead. It is by Odin's grace that you are still breathing, and it is by him that you will have the chance to live for a little longer."

I swallow, tugging on one of my auburn braids. "Okay. I'll do it." I pout in confusion. "But...uh, when you say to 'right what's been wronged'—"

"I can't tell you everything. You have until the sun sets on Thor's day to complete your task, or you shall be held by your previous contract. Do I make myself clear?" she asks. I nod. "Good luck, last of the slayers. The gods watch your journey."

She disappears without a trace, leaving me in utter silence. I rub my head, exhaling heavily as I look towards Nightstar. The calmness lasts for a moment before another feminine voice sounds from directly near my dragon.

"That was odd."