“That’s a unicorn,” Layla said, pointing to the one closest to her, which was about the size of a minivan.
“Yes,” Kase said. “And they don’t appear to be afraid of me.”
“Not afraid of anything,” said the guard, who’d introduced herself to them as Jidor.
“But it’s a unicorn,” Layla said.
“Horse,” Jidor said. “I’ve never heard of the word you’re using.”
Layla turned to Kase and Harry, who were both too busy being absolutely enthralled with the animals to care much about the technical term for them.
“Fine, horse,” Layla almost whispered, and she saw the ghost of a smile on the face of the guard.
It took Zamek an hour to put together a coach that was large enough for everyone. Tego would have to run alongside it, but she was much faster than they were, so no one thought it was going to be a problem.
“One horse will pull this,” Jidor said, inspecting the coach. “It’s well made.”
“Thank you,” Zamek said, sounding proud.
Layla watched as Jidor harnessed the . . . she forced herself to think of them as horses, not unicorns. The act of harnessing the animal was much simpler than she’d imagined it would be.
“It’s quite gentle,” Layla said, allowing the massive animal to sniff her hand before rubbing it on the nose.
“They are tame,” Jidor explained. “Wild horses . . . unicorns . . . are not so pleasant. If you see one, avoid it. They are known to attack without provocation.”
“Avoid giant killing machines,” Tarron said.
“I don’t think that’s going to be a problem,” Harry said.
“You still coming?” Layla asked Zamek. “Or are you going to use the dwarven gate here?”
“I don’t want to reactivate their gate,” Zamek said. “It feels wrong to do so. I’m with you until we find one I don’t have to piss anyone off to activate.”
“I could take you back through the elven gate and then return,” Tarron said. “I will admit that they might not be happy about it being used so frequently.”
“Let’s not do anything to upset the giants,” Zamek said.
Jidor climbed onto the top of the carriage and took the reins. “I will drive,” she said. “I know the way to Mimir. Most giants do; it’s why we’re able to avoid him.”
Considering Zamek hadn’t spent a huge amount of time on the coach, the interior was spacious and quite lavish, with comfortable seating and curtains that could go across the barred windows.
The group rode through the city, stopping when they reached the gates. Fuvos appeared beside the coach. “I came to wish you good luck,” he said through the open door. “I was surprised to hear that you were leaving so soon.”
“Thank you for your help,” Layla told him. “But we need to see Mimir.”
“The elders are debating the possibility of joining you. I am not convinced the end result will be favorable to you.”
“Thank you for at least trying,” Layla said, feeling a little guilty. She hadn’t come here to ask for their help in the war, but it had seemed like something she needed to try.
“Jidor and Goretis will accompany you,” Fuvos said, pointing to a giant who dwarfed even other giants. He wore metal-and-leather armor, with a dark helm that had a face guard giving him the appearance of a demon. “They’re both excellent warriors and will help keep you all safe. When you return, I will hopefully have an answer. Either way, I’ve also petitioned for the dwarven realm gate to be opened; I would rather the elven gate stay unused for the moment. I told them it was a one-way trip for you.”
The team left the city and rode through the countryside for several hours, passing a large stream and a great plain that stretched for as far as Layla could see. At one point they rode past several unicorns, all of which made furious noises and beat at the ground with thunderous hooves as they continued past them.
“I don’t like unicorns,” Harry said. “Wild ones, anyway.”
“Yeah, they weren’t friendly,” Layla said, glad to have them far behind soon after.
They eventually stopped just as the sun was beginning to set. Getting out of the carriage, they looked around, and Jidor climbed down from her perch. “This is the well,” she said, pointing to a large stone well.
“Okay, I thought it was going to be metaphorical,” Harry said.
“Gotta admit, I didn’t expect a . . . well, a well,” Kase said.
“There’re stairs inside,” Jidor said. “It’s too small for me to walk down, something Mimir did on purpose. I will need to carry on to the entrance to the catacombs, which is just by the hill over there.”
Layla walked over to the well and climbed up the stone stairs that led to the top. She looked down at the darkness beyond and the wooden spiral staircase.
“Is it safe?” Layla asked.
Jidor nodded, climbing back up onto the carriage. “I’ll take the horse to the catacomb entrance.”
“I will stay with it too,” Goretis said. They were the first words to leave his mouth since they’d left the city.
“Tego, go keep them company,” Layla said.
Tego pawed once at the ground and followed Jidor.
The rest of the team slowly descended the stairwell, the lamps on the stone walls bursting alight after only a few feet. It took them some time to reach the bottom, where the well opened up into a huge cavern. Wooden boards had been placed over slippery rock, with rope handles dotted along the rocks to ensure no one fell. It was slow going, and more than once the sounds of something scuttling in the darkness could be heard, but eventually the wooden panels ended and were replaced with a dry stone floor.
“This has been crafted,” Zamek said, placing his hand on the ground. “Dwarves did this.”
They followed the catacombs for half an hour, never worrying about being lost because there appeared to be only one direction they could walk in. Eventually the increasingly narrow walls ended in a large metal door. Layla used her power to push the door open, checking for booby traps as she did, and then stepped into another large cavern; this one was clearly lived in. It was decorated with hanging silk and tapestries that adorned every wall. The floor was made of red brick, and in one corner of the cavern sat a pile of gold and jewels that was easily twice Layla’s height.
“You could have fucking knocked,” a man shouted as he walked toward the group. “I assume you’re here about the dwarves and elves. You must be Layla and co.” He was just over six feet in height, with long dark hair that was adorned with golden beads. His long beard had jeweled rings attached to it, and his every movement drew a noise from the number of bangles and rings he wore.
“Mimir?” Tarron asked.
“Of course I fucking am, you cretin,” he snapped. “Now close the fucking door so we can discuss your future.”
“Can I kill him now?” Zamek asked.
Layla watched the walking jewelry ad move back over to a silk couch. “Maybe later.”
Chapter Sixteen
LAYLA CASSIDY
Realm of Jotunheim
“Do you live here because Odin forced you to?” Hyperion asked as he took a seat on a sofa that he appeared to almost sink into.