If it came to it, if he absolutely could not win, Grimm was willing to chop the damn tree down himself. It would be worth it just to watch Tyr burn for stealing Gungnir from him and giving it to Baldur.
Sleipnir whinnied again, the sound so loud it shook the bridge. Grimm grinned as Sleipnir took them over it faster than any could possibly hope to. None had ever been able to match his steed for speed. The day he’d persuaded Loki to give him the foal had been a hell of a triumph in more ways than one. The foal had proven to be swift, loyal…and utterly animal.
And horses loved to nibble at apples, ensuring Sleipnir’s loyalties would forever be to Odin.
He grimaced as Sleipnir’s hooves finally struck the sand and dirt that surrounded the World Tree. He hadn’t been able to give Sleipnir his favorite treat since Baldur received Gungnir. While Heimdall was allowing Odin over the Bifrost to speak to the Norns, he’d denied him access when he’d tried to go see Idunn to take more apples, proving once more that he truly did rule the Bifrost Bridge with an iron fist.
Heimdall was meant to destroy Loki during Ragnarrok. If he had to die, Grimm hoped he lived at least long enough to see that.
Sleipnir picked his way carefully over the loose sand and soil. They’d traveled this way many times before. The horse knew the route almost as well as he knew the way to Odin’s favorite home, Valaskjálf, where the high seat, the magical throne Hlidskjalf, rested. From there, Odin had been able to see the entire world, granting him almost the same gifts Heimdall had. But Odin couldn’t sit on the magic throne often, so, unlike Heimdall, there were things he missed.
Important things like Loki taking Baldur’s place, so that Baldur lived through the death Odin had planned for him. Things like Tyr falling in love with Grimm’s granddaughter, Jamie, and handing over Gungnir to the one person who could stop Odin in his tracks, even if he didn’t realize it yet.
Things like Fenris getting free of his chains.
Grimm shuddered as they traveled across the roots of Yggdrasil. That had given him a nasty turn, knowing the wolf destined to kill him was free. But Fenris had been unable to harm him. Grimm had already won.
Now all he had to do was ensure his victory by keeping Baldur and Loki from discovering any more of the truth than they already had.
“Hail, Odin, All-Father. The Norns greet you.”
Grimm reined in Sleipnir and bowed low. As much as he hated the triple bitches, it wouldn’t do to show it. “Hail, Urdr. How dost thou fare this day?” It always paid to butter up Urdr by speaking in her chosen tone. The Norn appreciated it, and was far more likely to give him the information he sought without a word battle that could take days.
“I fare well, All-Father, thank you. And you?”
Grimm gritted his teeth. He’d have to endure the pleasantries to get to the root of the problem. No pun intended. “I am well, great Urdr.”
“Then come, Odin. Join us in our repast.” The redhead smiled at him and gestured for him to dismount. “Your companions are welcome to join us as well, for what we have to say may impact them as well.”
Grimm dismounted, helping Rina off Sleipnir. “I fail to see how my horse will affect the outcome of fate, dear Urdr.”
Urdr lifted her hand to hide her smile. “Indeed, Odin. Indeed.” She bowed them beyond the curtain that led to where she and her sisters made their home by the well Urdarbrunnr, the Well of Fate. It was from there the Norns took the water they poured over the roots of Yggdrasil, keeping the World Tree green and healthy.
He’d once toyed with the idea of poisoning the well, but the knowledge of what would happen should he do so had stopped him. He shivered hard. Nothing, not even his impending death, could get him to tamper with Urdarbrunnr. The fallout would be far too great. If Grimm fell in battle with Fenris, at least he would still exist in Valhalla. Some part of him would continue for eternity.
But if he poisoned Urdarbrunnr…
Well. Best not to think on that.
Urdr led them to the base of the tree, where Verdandi sat spinning. “Sister, the All-Father is here.”
Verdandi looked up with an expectant smile. “Odin, Rindr. Nice to see you again.” She glanced behind them and frowned at Urdr. “Where’s Sleipnir?”
Urdr’s welcoming smile faded. “He bides beyond the veil to our home, sister.”
“Oh.” Verdandi shrugged. “His loss.”
“Indeed.” Urdr sat beside her sister and adjusted her skirts. She held out a cup to Rina. “Tea, dear Rindr?”
“Thank you, Urdr.” Rina was charming Urdr the same way she did everyone else. What would have been different had he met her first? Damn Frigg and her ways. Baldur would have been Rina’s child, and the prophecy would have been completely different.
“Tea, Odin?”
Why not? It had been a long trip from Midgard to here. “Thank you, Urdr, you’re too kind.”
“What brings you to us, great Odin? What is it you seek?”
He saw no reason to beat around the bush. They would already know why he was there. “Skuld, of course.”
Verdandi muttered under her breath as Urdr scowled. “Of course. As soon as she was found, we became aware of her presence in the world.”
“Which is not what we told those idiot sons of Thor when they got here.” Verdandi snickered. “You should have seen the looks on their faces.” She batted her lashes at Odin. “Oh, whatever shall we do? The future is missing. We’re doomed.” She placed the back of her hand against her forehead, sagging dramatically before breaking out into giggles.
Odin blinked, startled. “Magni and Modi were here?” If Magnus and Morgan had come here, then the others knew the prophecy had been interpreted wrongly.
No wonder they were holding so tightly to Skuld. The woman hadn’t done any of the usual things she’d done since falling to Midgard, or she would already be his.
“Yes, they were.” Urdr sniffed disdainfully. “Great brutes they are, who seek to take Thor’s place. As if any could.” Verdandi nodded, straightening up and returning to her spinning. “The twin sons of Thor may be fated to wield Mjolnir, but they will never live up to their father’s greatness.”
Grimm nodded sadly, even though he disagreed. Thor had been one disappointment after another, but he could hardly say so to two of his greatest admirers. “I know, and I regret that my blow was the one that took him from us.”
Urdr patted his hand. “It is what it was meant to be, All-Father. Of that, we are certain.”
“What did Magni and Modi ask you, great Urdr?”
Urdr shrugged. “They wished to know the prophecy, great Odin.”
Shit. Just what he didn’t want to hear. “And you sent them away with their wish unfulfilled.”
“Indeed.” Urdr handed Rina a plate of tea cakes. “But we know why you are here. You wish to know why Skuld has lost her memories.”
Verdandi snorted. “Of course he does, because he’s not stupid.”
Urdr scowled at her sister before smiling once more at Grimm. “Skuld sought to change that which will be, and in doing so angered the one who placed us in guardianship over the Well of Fate. Her punishment was to lose that which she most treasured.”
“And that would be?” Odin bit into a surprisingly tasty cake. “This is good.”
“Thanks. I got the recipe off of Martha Stewart’s website.”
“Sister, please.”