Secrets of Valhalla (17 page)

P
luto walked over to a massive onyx trunk that stood in the corner of the room and threw open its lid. Piles and piles of strange objects filled the interior.

Pluto hummed to himself as he perused the contents, gray fingers skipping along the objects until they came to rest on something of interest.

It was hard to see what the god was gathering up, but eventually he walked back to the table and laid out the objects.

Buzz could see a broad sword, a curved horn made of bone, a slingshot, and a helmet.

“I give you these gifts to help you in the test ahead,” Pluto said.

“What are they?” Mary asked

“Now, that would be cheating.” Pluto wagged a finger at
her. “These objects choose their owners, but I promise I will tell you what your gift does once it has chosen you.”

Theo leaped forward and picked up the helmet, which appeared to be wrought from solid gold. “I choose this. I bet it's worth thousands. And so far on this quest, I've been thrown about by a tree and smashed into a wall. I think it will be useful.”

“Not sure you'll be able to sell it on eBay,” Buzz pointed out, relieved that Theo had gone for the shiny thing instead of the slingshot.

“True,” Mary agreed. “And I bet it's really heavy. Are you really going to be able to wear it?”

Theo looked at the helmet as if he'd made a terrible mistake. “Can I change my mind?” he asked.

Pluto shook his head. “Afraid not. Trust your instincts. Why don't you try it on for size?”

“Whatever.” Theo shrugged, shoved the helmet on his head, and instantly disappeared.

“The helmet of invisibility,” Pluto said. “A powerful gift that will keep you safe and keep you hidden whenever you wear it.”

“Hang on a second,” Theo demanded. “Are you telling me that no one can see me?” His voice came from somewhere in the middle of room.

Buzz nodded, trying not to feel annoyed that he'd failed to choose the helmet first. Still, even now the slingshot seemed to call to him. The craftsmanship of the weapon was clear to
see. The silver wood appeared to be made from a single forked tree branch, and rows and rows of eyes had been carefully carved along its length. At the top of the wooden fork rested a leather projectile pouch, which was strung with some kind of sinew. Buzz could almost hear the creak of the leather that would come when he pulled it back, and his finger itched to touch one of the shiny pebbles that lay on the table and—

“Ouch!” He yelped as his hair was viciously yanked from behind.

He swung around to face his attacker but could see no one.

“Whoa, this is so cool,” Theo crowed. His voice was somewhere near Buzz's ear, but he still wasn't visible. “You really can't see me, can you? Imagine how useful this helmet would be at school.”

Theo pulled Buzz's hair again.

Buzz leaped forward and picked up the slingshot, along with one of the pebbles next to it. He still couldn't see Theo, but somehow the slingshot was guiding his hand, and before he knew it he'd released a pebble, his instinct telling him where to shoot.

There was a deep clunking sound and Theo suddenly appeared, his helmet shot off his head by Buzz's pebble.

“Hey!” Theo knelt down and picked up the helmet. “You dented it.”

“Well, you started it,” Buzz shot back.

“How did you do that?” Mary asked. “How did you know where to shoot?”

Buzz was staring at the slingshot in his hand. “It just knew, and I trusted it.”

“And so the slingshot of Yggdrasill has chosen its owner.” Pluto looked pleased. “It will never miss its target.”

Only the horn and the sword lay on the table now.

Uncle Mark was staring at the sword, the gold of the hilt reflecting in his eyes. His finger traced the flat of the blade, and then he lifted the weapon. He twirled it around his head so that the metal was just a blur of silver.

“I can guess what that sword's power is,” Theo said. “It turns anyone into an awesome swordsman, right?”

“Wrong,” Pluto said. “That is the sword of justice. It is the sharpest blade ever to be forged, but it will not inflict injury on a person who is innocent. It will defeat any sword held by someone unworthy.”

Buzz gazed at his godfather. Uncle Mark wasn't really listening to Pluto—he was far too busy twirling the sword above his head, practicing his parries and thrusts.

Since when does Uncle Mark know how to use a sword?
Buzz wondered.
Or speak ancient languages that even Mary hasn't heard of?
It was like Uncle Mark was a different man.
Or maybe his sleeping god is just closer to the surface than Theo's.

“I guess the horn is all mine, then,” Mary said, not sounding terribly excited.

“Sort of,” Pluto replied. “I do want you to take this with you on your quest. But you are to give it to Hel if you find her. She is the only one who is to use it. Tell her it will move the stones
and make the water flow again.”

“So my gift actually belongs to someone else.” Mary raised an eyebrow. “Thanks.”

“These are my gifts to
all
of you. And I have one more.” He took up the golden pitcher and poured water into four goblets. “The water in these cups is from the River Styx. It is pure. Untarnished by the shadows of regrets which plague the river now.”

“One sip will heal all your wounds,” Persephone continued. “It will restore you to your truest and strongest form, and you'll need that for the fight that is to come.”

Uncle Mark lowered his sword. “I thank you for the gifts and for your offer of water, but I have no injuries and no wish to be restored to anything other than what I am.”

Persephone nodded. “As you wish.”

“Your loss, Inspector Marko!” Theo strode forward and snatched up a goblet, downing the water in one go. He grinned even as the wounds on his head and cheek began to heal. “Wow, that tastes
amazing
. No way is that water.”

“I assure you it is,” Pluto said. “There isn't much pure Styx water left in my kingdom, but what remains is the sweetest nectar you will ever drink.”

Buzz reached out for one of the goblets, the longing to be free of pain in his legs almost becoming a pain in itself. Since meeting Sunna in the forest, his body had been dropped, drowned, and dragged through the realms of the gods. Buzz hadn't looked at his legs since getting on the drawbridge, but
only because he was scared that he'd see bone. And those were only the physical pains.

I just want to be fixed.

He brought the cup to his lips but stopped as Mary's warning about not eating or drinking anything in the underworld came back to him. His eyes slid over to her and saw that she also had a goblet in her hand.

“Persephone said it was just a myth,” Mary said. “This is real life and we need to be ready for what is to come.” She gulped down the water.

Buzz closed his eyes and did the same.

The taste of the water was extraordinary, and his tongue was alive with flavors he didn't even know existed. As the water flowed down his throat, warmth rushed through his body, and even his fingertips tingled with heat. It was like the feeling of crisp sheets still warm from the dryer; it was the scent of his grandmother's bread. It was a hug from his mother. It was a word of praise from his father. He felt the muscles in his legs begin to loosen, and the bones knit together once more. He felt the headache that had been with him for days finally leave as well.

“Look at my hand, Buzz.” Mary flexed it and waved her right palm in his face. The rose bed of blisters from their first encounter with Sunna was completely gone. Her arm dropped, and she began to look around her. Her eyes were large as she turned around in a small circle. It was as if she was taking in her surroundings for the first time. “It's funny,” she said. “I'm
getting such a strange sense of déjà vu.” She put her hand to her temple.

“Are you all right?” Buzz asked.

Mary's brow creased and she bit the edge of her thumb. “I'm not sure. I have this feeling like I know this place, but when I try to think about it, my brain feels like it is being scrambled.”

“What have you done to her?” Buzz demanded. “She was fine until you gave her that water.”

“You've drunk that water. So have I,” Pluto insisted. “All it does is restore.”

“Buzz, I'm fine,” Mary insisted.

“We've delayed long enough,” Uncle Mark said. “It is time that we get those runes.”

Pluto quickly took an empty vial from the folds of his toga and filled it with some water. He placed it into Mary's hand. “Since you weren't fully pleased with your gift, take this with you as well. I think some more water would do you a world of good. You're not fully restored yet.”

Mary looked at the vial and then slipped it in her pocket. “Thank you.” She took a candle from the table.

“Which way is it to the caves?” Buzz asked.

“I will take you there,” Pluto promised. “Follow me.”

B
uzz watched Pluto's retreating figure, and then he looked back at the caves. They sat there waiting, a vast yawning mouth with no teeth.

“The Dread Caves,” Uncle Mark muttered. His hand tightened on the hilt of the sword of justice. “Come, we have delayed enough. The runes wait for us.”

Mary led the way, holding her candle up.

The light from the flame threw their shadows up onto the wall—monstrous and unworldly companions that accompanied them deeper into the cave.

The sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the darkness.

“Someone's coming.” Theo was shaking. His hands tightened on the helmet. It was his comforter, Buzz realized. The
only thing that was keeping him from freaking out completely.

The footsteps were replaced by a heavier tread and then that faded as well, to be replaced by a low growl.

Buzz took the slingshot from one pocket and released a smooth, shiny pebble from the other. He wondered whether his aim would be true once again when the time came. Then, Buzz heard the sound of embers crackling, and he smelled a bonfire scent.

Loki,
he thought.
The god of chaos was coming.

Mary sensed it, too. She stared into the darkness, and soon, a figure emerged from its depths. Loki's cloak of embers whirled around him, and the fiery slash of his mouth curved into a smile when he saw Mary. “Come, my dear,” the smoky voice crooned. Loki reached out a hand. Mary held his gaze for a moment and then turned away and placed Pluto's candle in one of the grooves in the cave wall. “I think I'm going to need both hands to fight,” she said.

As Loki stepped closer, Uncle Mark took a step back and dropped his sword. “I don't understand. Are you the real Loki or just a manifestation of one of our fears?”

Loki only stared at him, his candle-flame eyes giving nothing away.

“Does it matter?” Theo asked. His trembling was uncontrollable now. “We've still got to fight him, and he's not even a
him
. He's a thing. How do we fight something made out of fire and smoke? We've got no chance.” He lifted his helmet to his head, ready to disappear, but stopped as the figure of Loki
began to flicker in and out of focus like a camera lens searching for clarity. The smoky outline of Loki blurred even more and then was gone, morphing into someone else entirely.

A young man with long, greasy hair and clothes that were almost threadbare stood before them. His skin looked sallow and his gaze was hooded.

“Joe?” Theo whispered. “Is that you?”

“Who on earth is Joe?” Mary whispered.

“It's Theo brother. The one who ran away,” Buzz replied.

“Where have you been?” Theo snarled. “You've made Mum and Dad go out of their minds with worry. They've been so unhappy.”

“And you make them so happy?” Joe smirked. “We both know you're not the son they want around. They don't even notice you most of the time. They're just wondering where I am. Wishing I was home.” He shrugged. “You're invisible, Theo. Always have been. Why don't you just leave?”

Theo was staring at Joe, his eyes glassy. Buzz could see his pain as clearly as if he'd been wounded all over. “You're right,” Theo muttered. “I don't want to be here.” And with that, he brought the helmet down on his head and disappeared.

“Theo! Wait. Don't listen to him,” Buzz cried. “We need you to stay here.”

“But I can't,” Theo said. “I can't stay in this place. I can't see him. It hurts too much.” His voice already sounded like it was halfway out of the cave. “You have no idea what it feels like to be me.”

“I do,” Buzz said. “My mum was missing for months just like Joe. The not knowing is the worst part.”

“But everyone feels bad for you,” Theo snapped. “They just think my family is a waste of space. It's like I'm not allowed to be sad that Joe is gone.” These last words sounded very far away now.

And Buzz realized at last what was at the heart of Theo's dislike of him.

“Theo, come back,” Mary cried.

But there was no reply. Theo had left the cave.

Joe's face split into a smile as he began to morph once more, and then the boy was gone and the Prof stood in his place.

“Prof?” Buzz said. “What are you doing here?” But he knew the answer. His father always did put dread in his heart. Dread every time he saw him, because Buzz knew he wasn't enough for his father. Neither were Mum or Tia. And Buzz wished that it was different. He wanted his dad in his life, but the Prof's obsession with the Tangley Woods would always get in the way.

“Buzz, I know you're quite the expert when it comes to silly questions, but please appreciate that I'm busy,” the Prof replied, his eyes raking the cave. “The answer is here somewhere, I know it. Please don't distract me.”

His father's criticism stung, but Buzz lifted his chin. “This illusion is not going to work.” His assertion bounced off the walls. “You're not going to run me out of this cave.” Buzz could
hear the raw pain in his voice and knew that the caves could hear it as well. He'd have to do better if they were going to leave him alone. “He doesn't care about me,” Buzz shouted. “I get it. But I care about him and I always will because he's my dad. You, on the other hand, are just an illusion, and I'm finished with it.” He took his slingshot from his pocket.

The Prof's eyes went round with fear. “Don't shoot me, Buzz. I'm your father.”

This is exactly what I saw in the time tunnel,
Buzz realized.
I thought I was killing my father, but I'm just ending an illusion.
He fired the pebble.

The Prof slumped onto the ground and gave a snarl in answer. Then the image of him began to twist and turn. Skin turned to fur, and Buzz's father was replaced by a giant wolf.

The beast stood in front of them, his silver fur shimmering in the candlelight, and Buzz found that he was not scared of the animal but rather awestruck at the magnificence of him. The wolf took his breath away. It froze him to the spot.

The wolf padded toward them and then lifted his muzzle to sniff the air. Buzz hadn't thought that wolves could smile, but this one did. A wolfish, lopsided grin that got bigger and bigger as the beast stared at Mary. He opened his mouth and made a yelping noise as if in greeting.

Mary frowned. “I know you, don't I?” she whispered. “But how?” She took a step toward the beast, but Uncle Mark barged past her to stand before the wolf.

“Fenris.” The hissed word was one of pure hate, and Uncle
Mark gave a roar as he charged toward the wolf, his sword held high.

“No!” Mary threw herself forward. “No. Don't hurt him.”

Buzz sprinted after her, just managing to grab her arm before she put herself between the descending blade and the wolf.

“Uncle Mark, stop!” he cried.

But his words were drowned out by Mary's scream as the blade slashed down toward the wolf's pelt.

Buzz felt something twist in his own gut, knowing that it was too late to save the wolf.

Then he saw something amazing.

The blade bounced off the wolf, leaving no wound and no blood. It was as if the creature was made of steel.

The wolf was low to the ground, hackles raised. He watched Uncle Mark with amber eyes that were full of fury, and his body was tightly wound, ready to spring. The wolf's back arched, and Buzz noticed two familiar stones embedded along the creature's spine. They were nestled in the wolf's fur, the area around them red and raw.
The last two runes.

“Easy, Fenris,” Mary murmured. “Easy.”

The wolf bared his teeth at Uncle Mark but did not attack. Mary's voice seemed to be dampening his fury.

“Mark, this wolf is not our enemy.” Mary's hazel eyes flashed fire behind her glasses. “He's an innocent. That's why your blade won't work.”

“Innocent?” Uncle Mark was circling the wolf, his sword
clasped tightly in his palm. “He bit my hand clean off. That was his thanks when I tried to keep him safe.”

“Your hand?” Buzz asked, wondering if his uncle had hit his head or something. “You've got both hands.”

“In this lifetime, perhaps,” Uncle Mark muttered. “But I haven't forgotten what that beast did. What I lost.” His face twisted with bitterness. “‘Who wants to worship a one-handed god?'” he said in a falsetto voice. “That's what my followers said. And just like that, I was finished.” His jaw clenched. “Replaced by that charlatan and traveling salesman, Odin.”

Uncle Mark's hand flexed on the sword's hilt. “But now is my time, and I will have my revenge on those who wronged me. The whole world will kneel at my feet and worship me.”

Wow,
Buzz thought. The Dread Caves were turning his uncle properly crazy, giving him hallucinations. With a cry, his godfather charged forward once again. Fenris rose to meet him, snapping out with open jaws and a blur of teeth. Not breaking his stride, Uncle Mark somersaulted upward and slashed his sword downward. The blade scraped across the wolf's back in a shower of sparks as it connected with the runes. With a pop, they were released from the wolf's pelt and flew into the air, landing by the cave wall.

“Are those what I think they are?” Mary asked.

Buzz nodded, his gaze marking the spot where the runes had landed. “I think so, but Uncle Mark hasn't even noticed. These caves are getting to him. We need to stop this fight, get those runes, and get out of here.”

“This blasted sword is useless.” Uncle Mark slashed out at the cave wall, and his blade passed through it like butter, cleaving off a chunk of stone. Uncle Mark scooped up the rock and hurled it at Fenris.

The wolf gave a howl of pain as the rock smacked into the side of his massive, shaggy head, and Uncle Mark took his chance. He darted forward, flipped the sword upward, caught the blade between his two palms, and then brought the hilt down on the wolf's muzzle like a club.

Fenris howled and his massive paw swung out and swatted Uncle Mark away like a fly. Buzz saw his godfather somersault through the air and hit the cave wall with a sickening crunch.