Chapter 31

Bryndísar Family Farm, Iceland

Wednesday, October 26th, 2050

“Mr. Maki, what a pleasant surprise!” I picked up the phone and forced a smile to my face when I recognized the caller ID. I tried to sound as enthusiastic as I could, and while he couldn’t see me, the smile helped.

I tucked the phone into my shoulder as I hauled the freshly split logs into the farmhouse under the other arm. It must be lovely to have your own trees. I must have made some noise, since I could almost hear him frown. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”

“Of course not, sir. Your timing was spot on.” It was still dark out, but I had nearly finished my morning chores. Since the farmhands had returned with the new sheep in tow, we cadets had found ourselves under a lighter burden. I wondered if a call from the Divine Blade meant it was all ending.

“Careful, Marlowe, you don’t want to get that nose too brown.”

I was laying it on a bit thick, wasn’t I? Too used to placating devils. “Wouldn’t dream of it, sir. To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“I have some news for you.”

“Good news, I hope. It’d be a nice change.”

“Well, we haven’t had any sign of activity from the Beckers’ compatriots, if they even exist. I’ll leave it up to you if that’s good or bad.”

My shoulders slumped, and I very nearly lost my phone. “Then I imagine we’re still stuck here.”

“Chin up, Marlowe. It won’t be forever. It’s possible the spooks will decide that the Beckers were rogue agents and give you the all-clear. Some people turn rotten without the Horde ever reaching out to them directly.”

I scowled into the phone. They called me Malthus. There’s clearly somebody helping them from occupied Europe. Not that I can tell him that. “One can only hope, sir. How are things going on your end?”

“You seem pretty well read; I’m sure you’ve heard the old saying that war is ‘months of boredom punctuated by moments of terror’?”

“Yes?”

“Right now, Henrik and I are immersed in the months of boredom part, just like you. Only your scenery is nicer.”

I felt my mouth spread into a wry grin as Heida opened the door for me. “Right again, sir.”

“Pass the word along about the investigation; I’m due for another round of readiness drills soon.”

I noticed that Heida relieved me of my phone rather than help with the firewood. She replied in Icelandic, and the only bit I could make out was ‘Olvirsson’. “Oh, it’s you, Corpsman Maki? No, I’m obviously not disappointed. How much longer are we… Uh huh? Uh huh? Nothing? Really? Yes, everything is going well. No sign of any trouble, sir. No, Marlowe has been on good behavior. Are you sure you aren’t disappointed? You too, sir. Goodbye.”

“I take it the news is bad?’

“God, still no word on when we get out of here.” She stuck out her tongue and blew a raspberry as she returned the phone to my pocket. “What did you ever do to get the Divine Blade on your ass?”

“What do you mean?” I asked, feeling a bit ill at the g-word.

“Every time I report in, he specifically asks about you. He’s sure you’re up to something.”

“Is he wrong?” I asked, waggling my eyebrows.

My attempt at deflection prompted another raspberry. “He sure is. We’ve been here for a week, and you haven’t made any moves on me.”

“You and your father were both clear that wasn’t welcome here,” I said, finally arriving at a metal bin near the fireplace. After I deposited my load in there, I set one of the fresh logs in.

Heida sidled up behind me as I worked, getting delightfully close. “That’s when I thought we’d be here a few days,” she said, her voice matching her pout. “And you spend more time with Kowalski and Yamada than me.”

“They’re both still working out their affinities. Besides, you haven’t been around at all.”

“Ugh,” she said. “I’m still getting calls from cranks seeing sword whales in the harbor and pterosaurs attacking their sheep. More of that last one; I think there’s a whole group on SatoChat that likes to share around blurry photos of nothing, and they just scare themselves more.”

“Sounds like a vicious cycle,” I said.

She rolled her eyes again. “Tell me about it. I have to explain that I’m not available, and then they want to speak to my supervisor… It’s a whole mess.”

“Perhaps you ought to shut off your phone,” I suggested.

“I wish. The Outreach office is shut down, but I still have to log the complaints, just in case there’s some clear danger. You know, maybe somebody could help me out with that…”

“Sorry, but I have my orders just like you have yours, and I’m apparently a full-time magic tutor.” I almost wish I’d never helped Rose out. The school got wise to what I could do after that. Proves that no good deed goes unpunished.

She pressed herself against my back. “Are you sure that’s it? Maybe you’re getting tired of me.”

“Oh, I assure you that isn’t the problem.” After checking that Bryndísar was nowhere to be seen, I gave her knee an affectionate squeeze. “I simply prefer to keep all my parts in one place, and your father has one heck of a grip.”

“Then we’ll have to get creative,” she replied. “How about tonight in Viktor’s barn?”

“It’s a date.” I chanced a quick peck on her cheek before finally standing upright. I turned to leave, but stopped short. “Actually, there is something a little more wholesome you could help me out with, if you have a moment.”

Heida raised an eyebrow. “What would that be?”

“It involves a saddle,” I replied.

“I thought you said it would be wholesome,” she replied, giggling at the obvious bait.

How Bryndísar thought he could protect this one is beyond me.

*************

Viktor and I stood in his paddock. I’d brought him an offering of alfalfa to keep him occupied, but I needn’t have bothered. He’d been excited to see the leather saddle slung over my shoulder, like a dog who understood that a held leash meant it was time for walkies.

Can’t say I blame him, the way he’s been cooped up for so long. At least he’s holding still; this is difficult enough.

“It doesn’t fit right,” said Heida, admiring my handiwork from the other side of the fence.

“Not surprising,” I said, making the dozenth adjustment to the saddle. “It’s sized for a horse, which our dear mackie most certainly is not.”

Viktor snorted through his trunk and gave me what he meant as a light swat on the shoulder. I winced at the stinging blow, taking the hint that no, that was not comfortable. I loosened that strap.

Heida chanced a step closer. Viktor gave her the stink-eye, but didn’t make any moves. “How does the Horde do it? He has that sloped back; it can’t be comfortable.”

“You should see the working breeds; some of them have a full hump over the shoulder,” I replied, stroking the Motlhyder’s splotchy side. “This is generations of breeding at work to make him a proper riding animal. I think I’ve just about got it, though.”

“You talk like you’re an expert,” she said, sounding somewhere between impressed and skeptical. “More little lessons you picked up in the Horde’s stables?”

“There was a slavedriver who spoke a bit of English,” I said, giving one last adjustment. “Anyway, that’s not important. What’s important is, he’s ready for a quick ride!”

I sprung up and, in a single motion, I was astride the mackie’s back. Viktor let out a contented bleat, leaving his snack half-finished. I squeezed his side with my legs and he ambled forward. I could feel his excitement as his muscles tensed up, ready to work out their energy. “Heida, be a dear and get the door for us.”

“You’re sure Pabbi approved of this?” she asked. “There’s a reason we don’t let Viktor out much.”

“Approved of it?” came an unexpected voice from behind Heida. Bryndísar’s walked from around the barn, supporting his weight on the enchanted cane. “Whose saddle do you think it is?”

“Mamma’s,” she replied, in a tone that made it clear this woman was in the past tense.

Bryndísar frowned for a moment, before turning his attention back to me. “I’m impressed, Skjor. The last one who tried that little maneuver got thrown off in ten seconds flat.”

Our slow circle around the pen had brought us back in front of the pair. “Haltur.” Viktor followed the order reluctantly. “It’s all a matter of speaking their language. Say, do you mind if I let him stretch his legs a bit? It’ll do wonders for his mood.”

“As long as you don’t leave the property,” said Bryndísar. “Heida, go get the barn door for him.”

“Alright,” she said, grudgingly. I passed through Viktor’s barn, ducking my head to avoid bumping it in the doorway. A barn designed for sheep wasn’t easy to ride through, but I also didn’t feel like getting back on again.

When we came out through the main door, I saw that Heida was a good ways back. Far enough that I had to shout. “What’s the matter, my dear?”

“I have a long-distance relationship with Viktor,” she called back. “Let’s keep it that way.”

“How I raised such a worrywart is beyond me,” said Bryndísar, coming around the barn again.

The blonde girl didn’t respond, aside from hugging her sides. A bleat from beneath me reminded me that I had something else to focus on.

“Let’s see how fast you really are,” I said. I gave the reigns a good snap and kicked his sides twice. “Schnen!”

I’d been right that Viktor was well trained. No sooner had I said the High Demonic for ‘go’ than he was already galloping at full speed. I had to lean over and grip tightly. “Rather rude of you! You need to let me ease into it when I’m so rusty!”

The beast didn’t reply, of course, but I swear he was pleased by his little ‘joke’. There was something in the cant of his head and the gleam in his eye.

There wasn’t time to dwell on it though, not when Viktor was devouring the distance between the barns one stride length at a time. By the Dark Lord, it felt good to ride again. A statistician would tell me that animal riding was much more dangerous than flying in an airplane, so I ought to have been petrified. Not if you know what you’re doing, I’d have replied. Devil and beast working together gave me control.

Viktor took my guidance well as we circled around the next nearest barn. I saw a few of the hired hands, who called out at me with clear concern. I wondered if they even saw me on Viktor’s back, or if they thought the mackie had gotten loose? Either way, I was out of range too quickly for it to matter. We also passed by Kowalski and Lilja, who were guiding one of the herds to a fresh pasturage. The two waved to me, but the sheep clearly did not approve of the bizarre, gigantic creature in their midst, scattering in all directions.

Feeling, pardon the pun, a bit sheepish at making their work harder, I swung by the farmhouse. A familiar brunette was doing the dishes in the kitchen window, but dropped what she was doing to run outside.

“Viktor, no! You… oh, I missed you there, Kasasagi.”

“No worries, my dear,” I said, bringing Viktor to a halt. His sides heaved with the effort. I’d worked him a bit too hard, perhaps, but I don’t know if I could have made him run any slower. “Everything’s under control.”

“I see that,” replied Mariko, sounding impressed. Devilmaids were always impressed with a good mackie rider, and it seemed the human girls were no difference.

“Wait,” I said. “What was your plan if Viktor was loose?”

“I am not sure,” she admitted. “Maybe tangle him up with a Spectral Web?”

“He’d snap that in a moment,” I said, speaking from personal experience during the campaign in England. “And you’re rather lucky he’s in a good mood right now; mackies don’t like having their shoulders touched.”

“Ara! Sorry, Viktor,” she said. “Where should I pet him?”

My first instinct was nowhere; he’d tensed up when she approached. However, it might be a good idea to get Viktor acclimated to humans while I was there. I did still have designs on owning the Motlhyder, and I didn’t want to be liable for his bad behavior. “The ears, if you can reach them.”

Mariko held up a finger. “I think I have a better idea.” She dashed back into the kitchen, returning with a green apple. “Viktor, how would you like a—”

Very much, as it turned out. His brown trunk had already grabbed the fruit from her hand, and it vanished down his gullet. In an instant, he lowered his head and probed her hand and arm with his trunk, seeing if there were any more of the fruits.

“Sorry, that is all I can spare from lunch. Ooh, that tickles!” She giggled at his ministrations as his trunk probed her apron’s chest pockets.

Oh sure, if I touched her there, I’d get slapped. I thought back to Mariko’s confession. Unless… no. Don’t let yourself get tempted.

“Viktor, opar!” He raised his head at the command. “I’ll leave you to your work; we don’t want to overdo it on his first ride in years.”

“Is there room up there for me?” she asked.

I raised an eyebrow. “Have you ever ridden an animal before?”

“Not once,” she replied. “That is what would make it doubly, no, triply special.”

The Japanese woman seemed so excited that I couldn’t bear to say no. Soon enough, the two of us were riding back to the barn at a slow trot. Viktor kept wanting to go full tilt, but I held him steady.

“Stop that; we have to be gentle.” Mariko arms were wrapped around my chest, and she was firmly pressed against my back. I’ll admit that the sensation of her compressed endowments was just a tad distracting.

Stop it. You told her no, and it’s for her own good. Besides, there’s someone else to worry about.

The glare that Heida was shooting us as we neared the barn again confirmed my thoughts. “I see you’ll go riding with anyone.”

Mariko bristled at the catty shot across her bow, but I piped up. “Care to take a turn?” Best to get some distance between those two.

Bryndísar helped a reluctant Mariko down, but Heida surprised me by hopping to the front of the saddle and taking the reins.

“I thought you said you had a long-distance relationship with Viktor?” I teased.

“But it’s a chance to spend some time with you,” said the blonde. “So, I’ll risk a little danger.”

Easy for her to say. Bryndísar’s wasn’t glaring at her. Mariko wasn’t either, but a pacifist’s ire didn’t worry me as much.

“Nice to see you taking an interest in something around here,” said Bryndísar. “You sure you can handle him?”

She stifled a giggle, revealing a her delightfully dirty sense of humor. “It can’t be that different from riding a horse, and we used to have Bruno,” she replied, turning to face me. “This was his saddle.”

“Bruno was a good horse,” said Bryndísar. I noticed he’d put himself between Mariko and the mackie. “Y’know, I always hoped Viktor or the other Macrauchenia could take his place. Imagine running around town riding that.”

“It’d certainly get attention,” I said. Heida’s shoulders slumped ever so slightly. “Now, let’s be careful. Whatever you do, don’t—”

“Schnen!”

Hm, she had been listening. I was forced to lower my head and hold tight as she sent the mackie trotting ahead. More slowly than on my first ride, due to the extra weight, but still.

“How do I slow him down?” called Heida.

“It’s a bit late to ask now!” I cried out.

“That isn’t helpful, Soren!”

“Fine, pull the reins back and say langsa.”

She followed my instructions, slowing Viktor to a trot. “I really had you scared there, didn’t I?”

“Of course not,” I said. “I was simply a bit startled.”

“Uh huh,” she said. “You haven’t noticed your hands have had a death grip on my tits for the last kilometer.”

“Wait, what?” Blast her, she made me look. I had them around her waist, like a gentleman.

Well, perhaps a bit lower than was strictly gentlemanly. But, gentlemanly for a devil.

She giggled again. “You’re too easy, Soren. That’s what’s so great about you.”

“Harumph.”

“Aw, don’t be like that,” she said. “I’ll make it extra special tonight, okay? I wouldn’t want you giving Yamada another ride.”

“You’re a jealous one, aren’t you?”

“What can I say? You’re a lot of fun, and I hate sharing. Sorry to ruin your fantasy.”

I tried to think of baseball; it seemed boring enough to keep me from having a, shall we say, involuntary reaction to the idea, and she’d notice rather quickly. “I didn’t have that fantasy until you put it in my head.”

“Aw, sorry to tease you,” she replied.

“You’re a poor liar, my dear,” I replied. “You live for that. We ought to go back.”

“Yeah,” she said, bringing Viktor around. “Hm, Viktor’s pretty easy once you know how to manage him.”

“He seems to like apples and ear scratches,” I said. “Also, he likes hearing words in Demonic.”

“Hm…” She reached out and was just able to reach Viktor’s ears. She said something I couldn’t make out a word of, earning a pleased bleat from the mackie. “Sounds like he doesn’t know the difference between Icelandic and Demonic.”

“Or you’re good with your hands,” I said, glancing around. Seeing nobody about, I let my hands move up her taught stomach. Might as well be hung as a goat than as a sheep. “I’m not bad myself…”

“Hold it, Magpie,” she said. “Tonight. We’re out in the open right now, and I know your luck. Pabbi or Yamada would come out of nowhere, and then we’d have something awkward to explain.”

“Oh, very well. I’ll be good,” I said. At least I’d managed to allay her jealousy for a while. However, I added that to her tab to work off later.