OSVP 18

The worst of Hel’s mess had been cleaned up, Lezard using minor spells to dispose of the ruins of some of his experiments. The searing flames made quick work of them, slowly burning away the remains so that no trace existed, not even ash. He didn’t like that some of his work had been destroyed by the Goddess’ tantrum, but it was a minor annoyance at best. Nothing of real importance had been destroyed. The experiments had been mere curiosities on his part.

Of course some were dangerous if left unchecked in the wrong hands. Which is why he had had to clean up the mess himself. He couldn’t trust his servants not to burn or disfigure themselves, anymore than Lezard could trust them not to report what they had seen to others. There were curious eyes all around him, ambitious minds that would eagerly grasp at his work, ready to claim credit in his stead.

But that was neither here nor there. Lezard had more pressing things to worry about. The recent visit from Hel weighed heavy on his mind, the Goddess impatient for results. That impatience might be the ruin of all she plotted, but Hel would never accept the blame if things went badly for her. It would be Lezard who would be considered at fault. The kind of torments she would visit upon him made him shiver though he made no attempt at imagining it.

It was a dangerous game he had set into motion. There was much risk to himself, especially if he was to be discovered as anything less than faithful to Queen Hel. And yet he was locked into this path, Lezard having brokered a deal with Odin. One he could not wiggle out of. Especially now that he had his promised reward in his possession.

To displease Odin was to lose Lenneth. But more than that, the God would be ruthless and without mercy. He might even throw Lezard to Queen Hel, knowing no one was more inventive than the dark Goddess when it came to tortures. Again he shivered, knowing he had put himself between a rock and a hard place, and could only charge forward with the blind hopes that all would turn right at the end.

As such he had to handle Odin just as carefully as the Queen. It was an effort that took more energy from him than Lezard liked, the man weary after dealing with two deities in quick succession. Hel had barely left his workshop before Lezard was contacting Odin, though the God did not deign to appear before him in the flesh. No, Odin would never set foot in Hel’s territory, not even during this sham of an alliance.

Instead he had sent a vision of himself, a hologram projection that flickered and wavered depending on the intensity of Odin’s emotions. That projection was centered on an amulet in Lezard’s possession, one he need only speak a certain phrase over to get in contact with the Lord of Asgard. They had been communicating for weeks through the amulet, Odin keeping Lezard abreast of things concerning the arrival of his Valkyrie bride.

But it was not about Lenneth that Lezard had contacted Odin about this time, though the God had expressed interest in his Valkyrie’s well being. Lezard had dispensed with the niceties, trying to get straight to the point of the call. Odin had acted put upon, as though it was a great burden Lezard bothered him with. Lezard had fought his own impatience, stressing his need. A need Odin has seemed loathe to acknowledge, even as Lezard reminded him of their bargain.

Odin had sighed then, giving a negligent wave. It had been his signal to continue, Lezard telling him of Hel’s impatience. “She grows tired of waiting.” Lezard had said. “She yearns for Asgard, yearns for that which you possess. Already she wants to make a move on your holdings, to claim all of Midgard for herself.”

“Hel never did appreciate the wait.” Odin had grumbled. “This alliance is not even a month old, and already she seeks to betray it!”

“My Queen has been waiting longer than a month.” Lezard had reminded him. “She’s been waiting centuries for her chance…”

“And she thinks that chance is now?” Odin had questioned with a lift of his eyebrow. “She is a fool.”

“No, not a fool. Just ambitious.” Lezard had retorted. “Her armies are larger than ever. Strengthened by the warriors she has stolen from you.”

Odin’s face had turned angry then, though he did not snarl out a retort. “She had no right to those souls. No right at all!”

Lezard wasn’t there to argue about the rights and wrongs of what Hel did. “She has them all the same. And she will use them, bring down the heavens if she has to, in order to displace you.” The look that had been on Odin’s face strongly hinted that he might destroy the heavens by his own hand, if only to keep the realm out of Hel’s possession.

“Hel thinks she has the advantage.” Lezard had continued. “With her new army, and the distraction the war with the undead provide you…”

“The bitch might win.” Odin had acknowledged.

“I of course will do everything I can to stop that from happening.”

“Yes. You will.” Odin had narrowed his eyes at Lezard then. “Or you will find out there are worse things than an eternity spent in the underworld.”

There were times when Lezard wondered if he shouldn’t have tried for more when bargaining with Odin. If he shouldn’t have insisted on both Lenneth and paradise. The information he had given Odin was surely invaluable, it would have taken years, decades even, before the God could have discovered on his own what Hel was up to. And by that point, his armies would have been dwindled down to nearly nothing, leaving the heavens easy pickings for both Brahms and Hel.

But Odin had refused to give him more than one reward. He had forced Lezard to choose, and Lenneth had been what he had decided on. For good or for bad, he needed to possess her. Possess her in all the ways that mattered.

Lezard hadn’t baited Odin, knowing the God would not be pleased to learn that the mage feared Hel’s torments more than any threat Odin could make. Instead Lezard tried to maneuver the conversation back to the reason of his calling. “I need information.” Lezard had said. “I need something I can tell the Queen. Something that will be seen as useful to her ambitions.”

Odin wasn’t as forthcoming with information as Lezard would have liked. “I will think about it.”

“Think quickly then.” Lezard had almost snapped then. “Without something to appease her, Hel won’t wait. She will move ahead with her invasion, appearances be damned!”

“What odds would you give her chances of success?” Odin had inquired.

“Good ones.” Lezard had been blunt. “She has amassed close to two hundred fifty-thousand warrior souls with her tricks. She has even more soldiers among the living, the mages waiting to be called upon.” He had smiled then, an expression devoid of any amusement. “Many are eager for this battle, eager to prove themselves to their Queen. It won’t be like last time…the mages won’t be so easy to overwhelm.”

“She will use the souls of the warriors to protect them.” Odin had deduced. “They will stand guard as the living cast their spells.”

“Yes.”

“I will cooperate with you.” Odin had sighed. “I will give you information to feed to your Queen.”

“It might take more than a few secrets.” Lezard had hedged. “You might have to give up a city or two…”

“WHAT?!” Odin had roared then, the sound booming, rattling things inside Lezard’s workshop. He hadn’t broken out into a sweat, projecting an outward calm to the
God.

“It would lull Hel. She is no fool. If you don’t give me something useful, something that can give her a concrete victory here on Midgard, then she would suspect the information I give her is false. Useless.” Lezard had explained.

“Sometimes I wonder if you are not playing ME for a fool.” Odin had grumbled. “Very well. I will think on what city I can give her.”

“She won’t be satisfied with something small. She’ll want to hit one of the largest of your holdings, take it and it’s people before the others can get word of the attack.”

“You want me to give up Crell Monferaigne, don’t you?” Odin had demanded. “The largest and most holy of my holdings.”

“It would go far to assuring her of my continued loyalty.” Lezard had told him.

“I think you need to concentrate on proving your loyalty to me!” Odin’s eyes had flashed with annoyance, a glare on his face.

“What more do you require?” Lezard had asked.

“Something more concrete than words.” Odin had said. “I am taking a lot on the faith you are being true to me, that you won’t betray me at the first opportune moment.”

“I wouldn’t.”

Odin hadn’t looked like he believed him. “You are a commander in Hel’s armies. We can use that.”

“Use how?” Lezard had inquired, a bad feeling stirring within him at those words.

“All in good time.” But the smile on Odin’s face had been pleased. “I will be in contact with you shortly. I’ll have made my decisions by then.”

“Of course.” Lezard had bowed his head, the hologram flickering out of existence abruptly. There was only the smallest hint of divine energy that remained, lingering on the metal of the amulet. The amulet was now in Lezard’s pocket, the mage keeping it close to him at all times. It was difficult not to reach in and stroke it, but Lezard didn’t want to call attention to the fact he was carrying something of such importance on him.

Lezard wondered just what Odin would demand of him, what sacrifices he would be expected to make. He could only hope the God would remember that Lezard couldn’t risk doing anything too overt. Not without claiming Hel’s attention! The goddess would be beyond livid if she learned of Lezard’s betrayals, she would make both his life and his eternity a misery in retaliation.

Ideally, Lezard had hoped to come away unscathed from his betrayals. It was his hope that Hel never learned of what he was attempting. It would be the only way to protect himself from her torments. A promise of paradise would have been better, but then he wouldn’t have had Lenneth for his own. And Lenneth had been the key factor in Lezard’s decision to betray the underworld’s queen.

He had gone to Asgard on Hel’s sanction. A mission the queen had given him to trick the Lord of Asgard into an alliance that was false. He had been prepared to do just about anything, say whatever the God wanted to hear to gain his trust. A part of him had even hoped to manipulate Odin for his own ends, Lezard having ambitions that went beyond Hel and her underworld.

But all that had changed when he saw the Valkyrie. When he saw her, Lenneth, an ethereal beauty that fought like a tigress unleashed. Something, his heart perhaps, had been moved. The desire to possess, to hold, to OWN filling him. He had wanted then, wanted more than he had ever before. Lezard had been unprepared to deal with the depth of his feeling, the desires and urges raging through him without control.

It had made him careless, Lezard could admit to that. To not only agree to so immense a betrayal of his own Goddess, but to actively plan her downfall? It should have been unthinkable. As should the idea of doing it without a safety net for his immortal soul. And yet he had wanted Lenneth so bad, couldn’t bare the thought of leaving Asgard without some claim on her.

And so he had taken the deal Odin offered him. Taken it without a single moment’s hesitation, his back turned on paradise. Did he regret what he had done? Not particularly. Not when he thought of his soon to be bride, and the life they could have together. But he couldn’t stop fears from forming, worries gnawing at him. He worried for his own soul, but more than that, Lezard worried for Lenneth’s safety.

Lezard understood that she would have been safest in the heavens. Even fighting a war was infinitely preferable to the torments Hel could visit upon the former Goddess. Lezard had made Lenneth vulnerable, had been the reason she had been made mortal. There was so many ways she could be hurt, so many ways his enemies could make her suffer now. And it would all be his fault, Lezard not having spent the time to think what it would mean to gain Lenneth as his mortal bride.

There was hope though, a chance. Hel, along with many in his kingdom, did not realize just how much Lenneth meant to Lezard. He meant to keep it that way, keep Lenneth from becoming the target of Hel’s angers. Let the Goddess and those around him think the extent of his interest in Lenneth was in what she could give him. That she sealed the alliance, that she was just a body to warm his on a cold winter’s night.

No one need ever know the true depth of his feelings. He was a good actor, a skilled deceiver. It should be easy for him to hide how affected he was by Lenneth. To smother that love into something that appeared to be nothing more than lust for his bride. He couldn’t afford any more moments like the one in front of the stables. Couldn’t afford such weakness and vulnerability where any one could see.

Again he thought of Lenneth, and how she deserved better than what Lezard could give her. He truly was unworthy of a Goddess, or at least a Goddess who wasn’t tainted by the underworld. And yet he couldn’t, wouldn’t give Lenneth up. He feared he’d corrupt her before all this was through. Leave a stain upon her soul in his attempts to keep her with him.

His thoughts could continue indefinitely along these lines, the worries never stopping. But Lezard didn’t sigh, did not outwardly betray how troubled he was as he approached the dining room. It would help to see Lenneth, to see the woman he had betrayed everything for.

But his luck continued to take a downward spiral, Lenneth gone from the room. He tried not to frown at her absence, or the fact that Randolf was sitting in his seat. The blonde man was unapologetic, cheerfully rising with drum stick in hand.

“You’re back.” Lezard said flatly.

“Just got here a few minutes ago.” Randolf told him. “Your steward is taking stock of the gold I brought back with me.”

Right now Lezard didn’t care about any of that, more concerned with where Lenneth had gone. He hadn’t failed to notice Mystina and her circle of followers had also disappeared, Lezard hoping they weren’t off pestering Lenneth about some sort of nonsense.

“It’s busy times.” Randolf was saying. “Everyone is making preparations.” He didn’t lower his voice, knowing no one present in the room would dare betray what he was saying. “Queen Hel’s soldiers on Midgard are waiting. Ready and willing to die at her command.”

“They’ll have to wait a little longer.” Lezard told him.

“Oh? And what is the Goddess waiting for?” Randolf asked. “We have never been stronger, never been closer to attaining all of our Queen’s desires.”

“She is cautious where you are not.” Noted a seated noble. “Surely our Queen knows that to rush now, would be to jeopardize everything.”

“Yes. You are right about the Goddess’ wisdom.” Lezard told him. “She bides her time, hoping Odin will lose just a little more power, and that he will reveal just a little more than he should to me.”

“As if Odin would be that foolish!” scoffed another noble.

“He’s agreed to the alliance.” Lezard reminded them. “That shows he’s not as smart as he once was.” Agreeing laughter resounded in the room, the nobles smiling, many relieved. “I think it won’t be long before Midgard becomes Hel’s.”

“When though?” Randolf wanted to know.

Lezard shrugged. “I do not speak in definites. But I hope it is sometime after I marry.”

“Ah yes. I have met your bride to be.” Randolf smiled. “She is beautiful.”

“That she is.” Agreed Lezard, and causally asked. “Where is Lenneth?”

A stir of unease from the men around him, the nobles exchanging glances. It only increased Lezard’s bad feelings, the mage wondering what could have happened. Finally Sameer stood, the man’s expression that of unhappiness.

“I must speak to you at once.” He said. “About the lady, and Mystina’s objectionable behavior.”

Lezard held back a sign, but his exasperation showed in his voice. “What has Mystina done now?”

“She is insolent under the best lights.” Sameer told him. “She speaks carelessly and with malice.”

“Oh she’s malicious all right, but I would hardly call Mystina careless.” Said another noble. “Everything she says and does is designed for impact. It is a pity she choose to employ those skills to hurt you and your betrothed.”

“She hurt Lenneth?” His displeasure showed, Lezard unable to keep to just simply curiosity.

“Her words were needlessly cruel.” Sameer launched into an explanation. “She called into question the nature of your relationship with Queen Hel. Her jealousy and bitterness knows no bounds. Mystina will not be content until she turns Lady Lenneth against you, ruins your chances at a happy marriage.”

“She told the lady you don’t love, That you are incapable of anything but desire.” Added the sole woman still present at the table.

“Love is overrated” spoke Randolf. “You do not need love for a happy marriage.”

“Women would argue with you over that.” Retorted a noble with a laugh.

“My point is desire can be more than enough.” Randolf retorted, a tad defensive. “Lezard is a rich, powerful man. The Valkyrie’s needs will be more than taken care of.”

“And what of her emotional needs?” inquired the woman. “What of those?”

“Didn’t think Valkyries had many feelings…” admitted Randolf. “Thought they were supposed to better than mortal women.”

“Randolf!” The woman glowered at him.

“Calm down Mirrielle.” Sameer advised her. “Randolf often speaks before thinking. We all know that.” He sighed then. “And unlike Mystina, he speaks without the intent to do harm.”

“Mystina won’t get away with this.” Vowed Lezard. “I will find her and deal with her personally.” Some of his anger slipped into his expression, the nobles seeming to shudder as they lowered their gazes.

“Deal with Mystina. But be sure to find your betrothed, and heal some of the damage the wench has done to her.” Advised Mirrielle. “Your lady may be a warrior first and foremost, but she still has a woman’s heart. And it can be damaged if left to fend against such poison.”

“Yes, of course. I shall seek out Lenneth immediately.” Lezard glanced at Randolf. “You’ll have to fill me in on your travels at a later date and time.”

“Go. Find your woman.” Randolf ordered him, a good-natured smile on his face. Other encouragements were given, the nobles seeming heart felt in their desire to see their Lord’s relationship with Lenneth prosper. They weren’t at all like Mystina, actually trust worthy to an extent. He was relieved they had told them what had happened at breakfast, grateful for the chance to attempt to do damage control. He wouldn’t allow Mystina to ruin his chances with Lenneth, wouldn’t allow her to poison the nature of their relationship.

But first he had to find Lenneth in order to soothe her. And no one seemed to know where the Valkyrie had gone. Truthfully he was amazed, wondering how anyone could misplace her. But the few clues to her whereabouts turned up nothing, Lenneth long gone from the library and stables. He would be on his second trip through the castle, when he spied Mystina and her group.

One look at Mystina’s smirking face, and instantly anger flared within him. She knew it too, though the blonde sorceress did not show an ounce of remorse. Instead she boldly met his gaze, expression mocking as she asked a question of him. “Is everything all right, Lezard?!”

“You know damn well everything is not all right!” Lezard snapped at her, voice just short of shouting. Mystina feigned shock, fluttering her eyelashes at him.

“Oh my. Did your meeting with Queen Hel go so badly?”

She would sincerely love it if he fell out of favor with the Goddess. But he wasn’t yet shamed before Hel, and his concerns were more pressing, oriented solely on the offenses Mystina had committed to him and to Lenneth.

“My anger has nothing to do with our queen.” Lezard wanted to reach out and throttle Mystina by the neck. But killing her wouldn’t solve the problems she had caused.

“Oh, you are angry? I hadn’t realized.” A sly smile from the blonde. She was far too pleased with herself.

“You’ve not yet begun to see the heights of my anger.” He told her, than gave an angry, dismissive gesture. “Ladies, leave us! I would speak with Mystina alone.”

“Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of them!” Mystina protested, as the women began murmuring apologies. Their Lord had spoken, and they would not linger without his permission.

“Their presence won’t save you from punishment.” Lezard told her.

“Punishment?!” She gasped, looking truly dismayed. “I have done nothing to deserve your punishment!”

“That’s not what I have heard.” Lezard retorted. The last of her group disappeared into a nearby room. Lezard had no doubt they would be pressed up against the door, trying to eavesdrop on the conversation.

“It’s lies.” Mystina instantly claimed. “Someone seeks to slander me, to get me in trouble.”

“Oh, so you deny talking to Lenneth?”

“Lady Lenneth?” She faked a frown. “I do admit to sharing some pleasantries with her at breakfast.”

“Pleasantries?!” Lezard snorted. “You call calling into doubt my ability to love, a pleasant topic of conversation?” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Yes, I know. I know all of it. How you so cruelly made insinuations, spoke words meant to hurt Lenneth and make her doubt me. You attempt to ruin my marriage before it is even formed!”

“Why do you even care?” Mystina demanded. “The Valkyrie is just a means to an end. It’s not like you have any real feelings for her beyond lust!”

“I am to marry her! I want civility in my house and in my bed. I will have none of that if you continue unchecked.”

“The Valkyrie will never be happy here. Never be content to be just your wife.” Mystina argued. “She longs for Asgard, prefers the battlefield to that of your bed.”

“She just needs time to adjust to her new life.” Lezard said defensively. “An adjustment she won’t make so long as you continue to pester and hound her!”

“So what would you have me do? Avoid her completely?” Mystina shook her head, her hair bouncing wildly. “I could no sooner stay away than you could! Not when she holds the answers to so many questions.”

“You will make the effort all the same.” Ordered Lezard coldly.

“Think of the opportunities the Valkyrie offer us!” Mystina continued to press him. “If I could study her, experiment on her, I could…”

“Experiment on Lenneth!?” He was aghast. “You will do no such thing. I forbid it.”

“But Lezard….”

“But nothing Mystina.” He stepped towards her with menacing intent. “If you try to harm Lenneth, either through words or action, I will make you pay.” He snarled then. “I will not let you use Lenneth, or harm her in an attempt to get in good with Queen Hel.”

“Your lust has blinded you to the potential the Valkyrie presents us.” Mystina retorted. “Or is it you fear my research? Fear the foothold it will gain me with Queen Hel?”

“There’s nothing a hack with your level of power can do to impress our Queen.” Lezard’s words had anger spiking in Mystina’s eyes.

“You won’t always be the queen’s favorite.” Mystina warned. “Mark my words, someday you will be replaced.”

“But never by you.” Lezard retorted, a cruel smile of his own worn on his lips. Mystina made a disgruntled sound, moving to walk past him. He grabbed her by the arm, halting her escape. Mystina was forced to turn to face him, the woman hissing out her displeasure.

“Let go of me!”

“We are not finished Mystina. Not by a long shot.” Lezard told her. “You owe Lenneth an apology.”

“What? For what?” demanded Mystina.

“For your behavior this morning. And for the malice you harbor against her.” Lezard said.

“If you think I’m going to apologize to anyone, let alone the Valkyrie….!”

“I don’t just think, I know you will. You will heed my command.” Lezard’s voice was low, angry.

“Oh, your command?” She scoffed, her insolence even more apparent now.

“I am still Lord of this castle, still ruler of Flenceburg.” He reminded her.

“Only in Queen He’s place. And only so long as you retain her favor.” She jerked on her arm, trying to get free. “Let go of me you brute!”

He didn’t relax his grip, knowing she would surely come away from this encounter bruised. “You’re right of course. But the fact remains, I am still the one in charge. You will apologize to Lenneth. You will put away any further thoughts of using her for your own ends. And you will avoid her as much as possible.”

“I will not!”

“You will! Or else I will strip you of your title, collect on your fortunes, and leave you to flounder penniless in the gutter.” Lezard was cold as he said this, even as his anger inside him flamed so hot it was burning him alive.

It was no idle threat he made, and Mystina understood that. “You would go that far?” He only smiled in return, a nasty, unpleasant smirk. “Queen Hel would never allow you to throw away someone of my talent! You are a fool if…”

“It is you who is the real fool Mystina!” Lezard spoke over her. “You place too much value on yourself. You think you are special, and yet there are hundreds of others just like you, all greedy and ambitious, grasping for power. You wonder why Hel has never elevated you beyond what you think you deserve. But the simple truth is you matter not one bit to her!”

Mystina’s mouth opened and closed, her eyes intensely angry. But he had cut her to the quick, and all because he spoke the truth. “Fine….fine!” Her eyes blazed, her voice sounding near animalistic in her growl. “I will do as you ask. I will play nice with your precious Valkyrie and apologize for hurting her feelings!” She gave a violent jerk on her arm, Lezard letting go so suddenly that she stumbled forward.

Mystina would catch and right her footing, turning to glare at him one more time. Mystina looked as though she had more to say, but he was in no mood to hear it. Lezard stalked past Mystina, hearing her let out a low voiced scream she tried to muffled with her hand. She was just as infuriated as Lezard, maybe even more so. She was a dangerous enemy to have, her ambitions and jealousy being the defining force that kept her going. Lezard knew he would have to tread even more carefully around Mystina, the sorceress eager for his fall from grace.

And it seemed she wasn’t just hungry for Lezard’s blood, but Lenneth’s as well. Lezard seethed with rage, all over the nerve of Mystina. As if he would ever consider experimenting on Lenneth, even to please his Queen. The very thought had him shaking, a violent tremble he could not control. Anymore than he could calm down the worse of his anger, Lezard’s eyes violent with it.

The look on his face had many of the servants frightened, the men and women doing their best not to further rouse their master’s displeasure. Lezard knew he would calm down some if he could find Lenneth, but the woman continued to be elusive, never staying in one spot for long. It was as though she was looking for something, though Lezard didn’t dare hope he was what she searched for.

But he wouldn’t give up, stopping everyone, both servant and noble. All to inquire if they had seen the former Goddess. Their words sent him scurrying all over the castle, until finally he was in the wing that was reserved for him and him alone. Not many ventured to this part of the castle. Not without reason, and certainly not without permission from Lezard. And yet the reports he had been given all strongly hinted this was the last place Lenneth had been seen.

He stepped quicker through the corridor that would lead him to his workshop and bedroom. Would he find his quarry at long last? Did he even want to? What would Lenneth think of his workshop, of the experiments laid out in the open for her to view? He remembered the body spread out on the table, and inwardly flinched. He instinctively knew Lenneth would not approve, even if that body was simply that of a monster’s.

And yet perversely, there was pleasure in thinking of her situated in his private chambers. Of seeing Lenneth among his things, the woman venturing where few others had dared to. Even worse, his thoughts turned from his workshop to the bedroom that lay beyond it, Lezard wanting to see Lenneth inside it. To see her sit on his bed, lay back with a smile as she invited him near.

He wasn’t so deluded to think their relationship was anywhere near that point. But it was a nice thought to linger on, even as he pushed open the door. She appeared not to notice his arrival, Lenneth’s back to him as she studied one of his experiments. She looked without touching, keeping her hands behind her back as though fearing contamination from the objects that lay on the table.

Lezard stood for one moment just staring at her. He was so greedy for Lenneth that even the sight of her back stirred him, though it would never be enough. Looking wouldn’t content him forever, he needed a connection between them. Needed touch added to sight, wanting the intimacy of true lovers. That desire is what got him to step towards her, allowing the door to slam shut behind him.