CHAPTER 10–DISTRACTION – page 39
by AndyOH! from on (#45THN)
In Gni's hall a great table had been set, Gni at the head, Hans to her right. To her left, sat Za, unarmored and dressed in an unadorned blue kimono, though her sword was still at her side. Tiek, assuming that she hadn't traded colors with her twin, stood between Hans and Gni, and Kiet, between Za and Gni. Hans mused that there must have been close to a hundred women in the room.
"I hope you do not mind giving your usual place at the table to Lord Madison, Captain Za."
With affable formality, Za replied, "It is ever the custom for the guest or champion to sit at My Lady's right. I have no trouble giving my place to one who is both." The corners of her mouth twitched up in an almost smile.
Gni turned to Hans. "I pray the food is to your liking, My Lord? I fear there is no meat among our fare but you'll find it hearty nonetheless."
He held up his fork with what was clearly a variation on tofu, though its flavor hinted at walnuts.
"My friend, Hasaki, doesn't eat meat either, so I've gone vegetarian before. It's a welcome enough change, but I have to warn you, if you didn't like the smell of bacon on me, you aren't going to care for the effect of beans either."
Gni laughed, a lovely laugh, but not the music that was Seidr's. Hans thought that it had a strange edge to it. But then she was surely under a lot of stress, eight centuries worth.
"That would be poor diet at cause. Worry not. As my champion you will be fed well and rightly."
Hans frowned, "You talk like I'm a prize bull or something."
Gni placed an elegant hand softly on Hans' wrist. He tensed momentarily, but she ignored it.
"You are a great prize, indeed, Lord Madison. But you may do as you will, come or go as you wish, none will stop you."
Gni breathed audibly. "I spoke to your dear Seidr while you were bathing. Alas you had finished your bath when I finished my business with her. So this is my first chance to say she sends her love, but will not leave her cave."
"What is it about her cave anyway?"
"She has little power outside it. Aelfheim is a higher realm and so Necromancy would be of little use here, much as my powers would likely be useless in Nifelheim, the low realm she comes from.
"Then there is Urd's Well. It fascinates her. She says she must protect it, but I sometimes wonder if it is for herself instead of for the future, as she claims. Still, she has done me a great favor in finding the pieces of my mirror."
Gni tapped a box setting on the table.
Za commented, "It was originally our mother's mirror. I was there when she saw Ragnarok in it and smashed it. She would never tell me what she saw."
Gni frowned. "How fortunate that Urd collected the pieces. That the last shard turns up just as Lord Madison joins us can only be a good portent."