Zen and the Art of Vampires

I blinked a few times to adjust my vision to the relatively dim light of the library as compared to the bright sunshine outside, smiling at a librarian who glanced up at me as I made my way to the very back of the library where I remembered that a small clutch of study carrels were arranged against the wall. As I thought, the area was empty. I plopped down on one of the carrels and waited.

"There you are!" Marta appeared out of nothing and wafted over toward me. "We were worried when you didn't come back! Is everything all right?"

"As all right as we can expect. I'm sorry I couldn't call you like I did the Brotherhood folk and let you know I was OK, but obviously, that wasn't possible with you all. Where are the others? Oh. Good morning, everyone. Can you gather around, please? I'm going to have to talk kind of quiet so no one overhears. Er… please remain transparent, too. We don't need to wig out some innocent library patron."

The ghosts appeared one by one, forming a small circle around me, each of them with an expectant look that I hated to dash, however briefly. "First of all, I'm very sorry for disappearing last night and not coming back. I ran into a… well, you can call it a situation with Kristoff, and I couldn't get back here until now."

Ingveldur exchanged a knowing glance with Old Agda, who cackled rustily and said, "Had your wedding night, did you? I told you that man of yours looked like a lively one."

My cheeks flared in response. "It wasn't a wedding night."

"Eh? Then why're you blushing like my arse after a soak in the hot spring?" Agda asked.

"It wasn't like that," I said quickly, intending to move on to important points.

"Maybe he wasn't any good," one of the other women said. "Maybe he didn't have stamina. I said it was important. A man needs to be able to last more than a few pokes."

"He lasted just fine—" I stopped myself, closing my eyes for a moment to avoid looking at the amusement in Agda's eyes. "My evening activities notwithstanding, I do have some news."

"You're with child?" Ingveldur said, her eyebrows raised. "That was quick work, although if he was particularly skillful, not surprising."

"I am not pregnant!" I said loudly, running my hands through my hair in agitation.

A woman with a handful of books paused at the nearest aisle and leaned out to look at me. I gave her a feeble smile. "Sorry."

She sniffed and moved away.

"Listen," I said, trying to will the blush to fade. My cheeks felt so hot I could probably fry an egg on them. "Last night I talked with the Brotherhood people. They explained to me how the whole Zorya thing works. I had to get married to one of their people, a man who represents the sun, to start the process of gaining powers. The next step is a ceremony tonight."

"You've gone and been married again?" Hallur asked.

"Is that legal?" asked Ulfur at the same time.

"It's perfectly legal because (A) it's not a real marriage—it's just some ceremony they conduct within their group—and (B) the marriage to Kristoff wasn't legal. I don't think. No, I'm sure it's not, so therefore, I'm still technically unmarried."

"But you've been bedded by your husband," Ingveldur said, frowning.

"Which one?" Hallur asked. "I'm confused."

"The first husband, the Dark One," Agda said. "My gold is on him. He looks to have the wind for a long race."

"What about the other husband?" Hallur asked, still puzzled. "Did he bed you, too? Just how many men have you bedded since you've arrived here?"

"She gets two husbands? I want to be a Zorya!" announced the teenage Dagrun. Her mother shushed her.

"That's not the sort of question you ask a woman," Ingveldur went on to tell Hollur. "And by my count, it's three."

"I didn't sleep with Mattias. And it's only two!" I took a deep breath, trying to calm my frazzled nerves.

"Two in two days. That's a pretty good start, if you ask me," Agda said. "But don't let that stop you bedding your other husband. Try his paces and then make a decision about which stallion you'll keep in your stable."

"I am not keeping a stable of lovers or husbands!" I said, desperately trying to get off the subject.

"You just took another husband," Ulfur pointed out. "I believe more than one would qualify as a stable."

"Will you people just forget Mattias? He's not really important!" I said, wanting to scream and tear my hair out at the same time.

"Well, I think that Dark One of yours'll think he's important," Agda said, nodding.

I opened my mouth to dispute that, allowed my mind to dwell on what Kristoff's reaction would be to the fact that I had taken another step toward gaining Zorya powers, and closed it again.

"Do you think so?" Ingveldur looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding. "Aye, I reckon you're right."

I took a deep, deep breath, involving approximately half of the available oxygen in the room. "Do you people want to go to Ostri?"

They all nodded, including Ragnar.

"Then you need to listen closely. I cannot take you there until I have undergone a ritual."