She screamed and retrieved it before the addled warrior could move. The swan squawked as it hovered about them, daring her to move. Every ounce of her triumph had been stolen away in a mocking instant. There could be no more waiting--Odette and all she loved had to die.
The swan swept past the blade and, pivoting in the air, collided with the back of Vanda's turning head. Vanda toppled onto her knees for a humiliating moment; and the next she was back on her feet. But as she raised the sword she saw that the blackness was slinking back through the torn rooftop. Heimdallr was nothing but a mist as He rode the Bifrost Bridge back to the heavens. And the delineation of Loki's prison cavern was fading from the portal.
The swan dove again; but Vanda crouched, avoiding the impact of its bill.
"Whore!"
Again and again the swan dove, trying to force Vanda away from Cu'lugh. Vanda lashed the air with steel and screamed.
"Face this, sister, face this!"
Out of the corner of an eye she saw a strange warrior approach. She even heard his threat�but her rage knew no limitations now. She pivoted, and with two clashes of blades disarmed him and stayed his insolent attack.
The swan ascended a ways and plunged back toward her, this time skirting the blade. Blood spurted from the stainless pelt, but the swan careened again. It evaded the flailing weapon and, making a sharp turn, fastened itself to Vanda's head. Vanda clawed at it with her free hand and tossed her head violently, but the damnable creature would not budge. It pecked at her eyes and her fingers on the sword hilt. At last, blinded by her own blood, Vanda felt the weapon slip from her grasp.
Only then did the swan relent and ascend again. Through her clouded eyes Vanda saw the other warrior run back. She drew the priest's dagger from her bodice and threw it at him. It punctured his throat; and he froze, gasping, and sank near Cu'lugh's head.
Vanda looked toward the soaring swan and, opening her arms, willed her rage and disappointment--and most of all her hatred--into every particle of her being. The agony of her fury dimmed even that of her shifting body. As the swan turned and plummeted again Vanda welcomed the little squawk of shock it made.
Continue
Buy the paperback Buy in ebook formats
Amazon eBookAd.com
Barnes & Noble
Amazon UK
HOME
