Gaelinar seemed to take no notice. He finished his housekeeping efficiently, patted the hilt of his katana, and finally turned his attention to his raving companion. "You coming?"
Larson bit his lip, having exhausted his supply of oaths, blasphemies, and affronts. "Where?" was all he managed to say.
Gaelinar studied the foaming hybrid of waters which formed the falls of Hvergelmir. "To Hel. I'm bringing Silme back."
Larson's eyes widened. His nostrils flared. He found himself utterly incapable of speech.
Gaelinar continued. "In the chasm, beyond the Helspring, is a bridge which leads to Hel."
Larson found his tongue. "You're crazy! Vidarr said he couldn't:"
Gaelinar interrupted, his stare distant. " Vidarr's only a god. Together, we've already killed two, Helblindi without even a weapon. There's only one left." His gaze met Larson's, and the elf looked away. Gaelinar's tone went grim. " Allerum, you made a promise to Silme. You vowed that if this quest doomed the two of you to separate worlds, you would find her."
"But that was when I thought:" began Larson in defense.
Gaelinar waved him silent. "You think too much. I'm going after her. Are you coming?"
Larson chewed his lower lip and turned away. He heard the rustle of grasses as Gaelinar walked toward the narrow path into Hvergelmir's valley.
Gods. Larson approached Loki's body, examining the dark blood which had clotted around his fatal stroke Even for the remote possibility of retrieving Silme's soul, I can't face another god.
Can I?
The rush of cascading rivers and the howl of wind were his only answers. Gaelinar's golden figure marched on toward Hel's pathway. Gritting his teeth against what he might see, Larson rolled Loki's body to its back. The god's face seemed as handsome in death as in life. His oddly-colored eyes still glimmered. "Good-bye, noble foe," said Larson softly. He caught Loki's rigid arm and flipped the body into the Helspring.
Loki tumbled limply through the surge of intertwined rivers and was soon lost beneath the boiling current of white water. Larson caught up Loki's sword and scrambled after the Kensei.
Gaelinar stopped as Larson approached. He waited until the elf drew to his side. "Yeah," Larson said softly. "I'm coming." They turned toward the narrow pathway together.
For some distance, man and elf picked their way down the incline in silence. Larson paused a moment in thought, then confronted his companion. "Gaelinar?"
"Hmmm?"
"While we're at it, can we free Brendor, too?"
Kensei Gaelinar's smile was slight, but unmistakable. His arm pressed to Larson's shoulder. "Sure, hero. You can only die once."