PrologueMidgard Odin's Fifth Realm Home of Mankind Ancient TimesHermodan, King of the Orkney Isles, stood alone in the center of the Ring of Brogar. The ring, formed by oblong stones thrown down by the gods eons ago, cast ominous shadows around him. In his hands, he held Odin's Stone, a heavy shield made of carved granite inlaid with bronze and imbued with magic from the powerful all-father god himself."Catriona!" he called. "I challenge you to face me."A witch dressed in an ankle-length black gown stepped into the ring. She had waist-long gray hair and piercing green eyes that blazed with power.Catriona. The most hateful witch alive.Her seven sister witches moved in to stand behind her. They were the last of the Volgrims, an ancient line more powerful than their sister coven, the Tarkanas.Outside the ring, a battle raged on, but Hermodan blocked out the noise. In this, he would not, could not, fail. All of mankind depended on him being brave.Catriona sneered with laughter as she eyed Hermodan. "You think you can defeat me with a chunk of stone? I swore vengeance on you and your kind when Odin removed my father's head.""Rubicus would have killed everyone, even you, with that curse on the sun," Hermodan answered."No. He would have found a way," she spat back. "He just needed time. Now you will have eternity to regret what that insufferable god did in your name. Mankind will crumble at my feet. My army of witches will spread throughout the nine realms until we chase Odin into the netherworld, never to be seen or heard from again.""That's where you're wrong." Hermodan thrust the shield into the sky. "I call on the power of the gods to have mercy on mankind. Protect us in our hour of need."A jagged burst of lightning split the sky and hit the shield, sending a jolt through him that nearly buckled his knees. Pale blue fire erupted from the shield, sending dazzling fingers of light to each of the standing stones in the ring. As the bluish fire encircled the stones, they began to glow from within."Let this be an end to war!" Hermodan shouted. "Send these witches away forever!"The seven witches behind Catriona began sliding backward, each pulled toward a different glowing stone until their backs were stuck against the rocks."Catriona, help me!" one of them called, flailing at the air like a turtle on its back."Agathea!"Catriona whirled, sending out a blast of magic, but before it could destroy the rock, Agathea was sucked inside. One by one, the other six witches were entombed until only Catriona remained.Hermodan turned the full force of Odin's Stone on her, bathing her in a wash of pale blue light. Sweat ran down his face, and his arms shuddered with fatigue, but he held steadfast.Catriona fought against its magic, firing back with her deadly witchfire. She dug her heels in, but even her great power could not withstand the magic in Odin's Stone.Slowly, she slid backward until her back pressed against a rock. Her lower half disappeared first. She strained outward, trying to pull herself free, but inch by inch, her body got sucked inward until only her face remained.Her eyes bulged wildly as she screamed, "I will return one day!"And then she was gone.Exhausted, Hermodan dropped the shield to the ground and raised his hand to signal. From the surrounding hills, trumpets blared out their victory."The war is over!" Hermodan called as the battlefield quieted and the remaining witches and their army of magicked Balfin soldiers slowly lowered their hands. "Let there be no more fighting."He searched the faces of the survivors. The white-haired Eifalians with their gentle magic had lost many today. The fierce Falcory warriors with their hawklike features were few in number. His own Orkadian soldiers had taken a grave toll, with too many fallen to count. The witches huddled together in a knot while their Balfin guards rumbled angrily.A sudden whirling wind kicked up grit, and then in a clap of thunder, Odin appeared inside the ring of stones. The god wore a simple tunic with a golden belt that glinted in the sunlight. He stood tall, his white beard neatly trimmed, but his face was marked with worry."Today's battle could very well have spelled the end of mankind," he said in a booming voice that carried over the battlefield."Thanks to you, Odin, we have prevailed!" came a shout, and a chorus of cheers rang out.Odin held his hand up for silence. "The shifting sands of time decree the gods will not always be around to step in. Therefore, from this day forward, no longer will magic be allowed in the world of man. All who possess it will be stripped of their powers."There was a collective gasp from the crowd and screams of horror from the remaining witches."I am sorry it has come to this," Odin said, "but I see no other way to protect mankind." He raised his hand to carry out his order."Wait!" Hermodan said. "The Eifalians have come to our aid time and again. The Falcory fought bravely by our side. Not all creatures of magic are bad. Surely there must be another way."Odin hesitated. "What do you propose?"Hermodan thought quickly. His kingdom was made up of many scattered islands. Surely, he could spare a small piece of it?"Take some of my islands into Asgard, and with them, all creatures of magic. Give them a safe haven in your ninth realm, apart from mankind."Odin eyed him quizzically. "You would do this? Sacrifice part of your kingdom for these people?"Hermodan looked at his brave friends and nodded. "Again and again. And I will send some of my own people to help in this new world.""Then let it be so." Odin thrust his clenched fists toward the sky.The band of witches hurried into the ring, but Odin cast his hands down."No. Your kind is not welcome."A tall witch with stringy hair cried out, "Would you abandon us? We are nothing without our powers." Her arms were wrapped around two younger witches, who looked terrified.Odin's voice held no mercy. "Would you expect me to let you keep them? There is nothing but evil within you." "No, that was the Volgrim witches. We are Tarkanas,"she said. "We can be different. We can change.""She speaks the truth." Hermodan stepped forward. "I have met some that have the potential to do right. They deserve another chance."Odin's eyes narrowed. "Are you certain this is what you wish?"Hermodan's gaze traveled to his Eifalian and Falcory friends. They didn't look happy, but they nodded agreement. "Then it shall be so." Odin beckoned, and the huddled group of witches hurried forward into the ring.He clasped his hands and thrust them high. The golden belt at his waist began to glow. Bursts of lightning streaked across the sky, and the air gusted around the armies in a swirling vortex. The ground under their feet jolted sharply, as if being tugged by some unseen force.When the winds settled and the dizzy feeling of spin-ning stopped, Hermodan looked around. It was the same but . . . different. The air crackled with a sort of energy and power. The sky was a bright blue that hurt his eyes."Welcome to Asgard," Odin said."Thank you." Hermodan dropped to one knee and bowed his head. "How can we ever repay you?""Don't thank me. This may yet end badly. Now I must go explain what I've done to the Council of the Gods. I expect they will be less than pleased.""What of your Stone?" Hermodan pointed at the heavy shield at his feet. "This war is over. We will never be in danger like that again."Odin looked thoughtful. "I suggest you keep it. With those witches along, I suspect you'll be needing it again someday."

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Excerpted from The Rubicus Prophecy by Alane Adams
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