Valkyrie

by Kate O'Hearn

  With her sword held high, Freya blocked the two innocent victims with her body. She turned to face their attackers. ‘I will give you one warning. Drop your weapons now and leave these people be or you will feel my sword.’

  In the dimly lit street and with heavy rain pouring down, Freya was confident they couldn’t see her clearly. But even if the attackers couldn’t see her wings, she was certain that the victims cowering behind her could.

  She heard their sharp intake of breath and felt their fear change. They were now more frightened of her than the men. Freya turned quickly to them. ‘Say nothing – and, for your lives, don’t touch me!’

  ‘Are you suicidal?’ one of the attackers asked as he turned his weapon on Freya and took a step closer. ‘Or just plain stupid?’

  ‘Neither,’ Freya answered calmly. ‘But I am sick and tired of you humans hurting each other for no other reason than personal gain. These people have done nothing wrong, and yet you intend to kill them to steal their possessions.’

  ‘Us humans?’ the leader called as he laughed and nudged his friends. ‘And what does that make you then?’

  Freya could clearly feel his thoughts. He was preparing to use his weapon against her. ‘What does that make me?’ she repeated as her temper flared. ‘Not human!’

  Freya’s wings flashed open as she charged the men. Stealing a quick look back at the couple, she cried, ‘Get down and stay down!’

  The loud, sharp sounds of gunfire filled the air. Bullets pinged as they struck her breastplate and fell harmlessly to the ground. Odin had been right. As long as she wore the armour, nothing could harm her – no matter where it struck.

  The rules of Asgard said that if she, a Valkyrie, touched a human with her bare skin, or wings, they would die instantly and be sent to Valhalla. But in all her training, she was never told what would happen if she killed a human with her sword.

  Not wanting to risk Odin’s wrath, Freya would do no more than wound. She wielded her sword with precision and she sliced the guns out of the attackers’ hands and left the men on the wet ground, moaning and crying as they clutched their wounds. Freya leaped at the leader and pressed down on his chest with her black leather boot and placed the tip of her sword at his throat.

  ‘Your reign of terror in this neighbourhood ends tonight, human. If I learn of you or your men attacking anyone ever again, I will not be so generous and spare your lives.’

  ‘What are you?’ the leader cried as his frightened eyes lingered on her open wings. ‘I shot you, I know I did.’

  ‘Your weapons are powerless against me. Remember my warning. Bring peace to these streets or you will face me again. There will be no second chances.’

  Freya turned and left the man. She approached the two victims. ‘Come,’ she commanded as she walked further down the street.

  Too frightened not to obey, the couple dashed past the attackers on the ground and followed Freya.

  ‘Thank you, thank you,’ cried the man. ‘I don’t know who or what you are, but you saved our lives.’

  They were only young – not very much older than her, by Earth standards. He was handsome with sparkling eyes and pale, smooth skin, apart from a spread of stubble around his chin. The young woman was pretty and held an air of gentleness. She reminded Freya of a delicate little fawn in the woods. She could feel that they cared deeply for each other.

  In that moment, Freya realized she’d never felt more alive or happy. She shared in their pure joy of existence. They all knew something amazing had just happened – even if the couple didn’t know that she was a Valkyrie: a reaper of souls. But there had been no reaping tonight. Freya had saved lives, not taken them. The feeling was more intense than she could imagine.

  The Angels of Death drew near. The older-looking angel spoke in a grave tone. ‘Azrael will hear of this, Valkyrie. He will not be pleased. You have broken the rules and intervened where you had no right. These streets are ours.’

  ‘Tell Azrael if you must,’ Freya said softly. ‘But I meant no disrespect. I just couldn’t let this happen when it is within my power to stop it.’

  The angel shook his head. ‘You have changed their destiny tonight. They were meant to come with us. Tell them they have new lives and to make the best of them. We will be watching. If they do badly in their new lives, or if their future children do harm, the judgement will be on you.’

  ‘I understand,’ Freya said, bowing her head.

  The two angels bowed, opened their white wings and took to the sky.

  The man turned quickly and looked behind him. When he returned to Freya, his eyes were wide. ‘What just happened? Who were you talking to? It felt like someone was standing right behind us.’

  Freya nodded. ‘You are correct. They were Angels of Death, here to take you with them. They have gone now.’

  The young woman cried out and the man put his arm around her for comfort. ‘We, we weren’t supposed to be here,’ he started. ‘We were in our car and got lost. We came to Chicago for our honeymoon. But when we ran out of gas, those men attacked us. We didn’t have time to run. If you hadn’t come . . .’

  ‘They would have killed you,’ Freya said.

  His fear was calming. He looked back and saw the attackers, still on the ground and clutching their wounds. In the distance the sound of sirens filled the air. It was getting closer. He offered his hand to Freya. ‘You saved us, and I am eternally grateful.’

  Freya took a step back. ‘I am not an Angel of Death but if you touch me you will die.’

  ‘What are you?’ The man looked Freya up and down and his eyes settled on her wings. ‘Those wings are real, aren’t they?’

  Freya nodded.

  At that moment, Orus returned to her shoulder.

  ‘Is that a crow?’ he asked. ‘There is a legend about crows and death.’

  ‘Orus is a raven, not a crow,’ Freya explained. ‘But what we are doesn’t matter. What does is that I have intervened on your behalf and broken the rules to save you. From this moment forward, you have new lives. You must take this opportunity to do good work in this world. Teach your children the same. Remember, you should not have existed beyond this night. So any harm you or your children do, I will be punished for. Don’t make me regret my actions.’

  ‘I swear,’ the man promised. ‘From this moment forward, we’ve both been changed. We won’t disappoint you.’

  Finally the woman nodded and spoke. ‘You have our word, Angel. Thank you, thank you for our lives.’

  The sounds of sirens drew closer. Flashing lights raced towards them.

  ‘We’ll be all right,’ said the man as he split his attention between Freya and the approaching police cars. ‘But you’d better go. You saved our lives and we can never repay that debt. But we can try to protect you. We won’t tell them what really happened here. Go now, before they see you.’

  Freya was reluctant to leave. But the flashing lights and noisy sirens were not inviting.

  ‘Live well and live long,’ she said as she stepped back. Freya opened her wings and jumped into the air and started to fly. When she reached the rooftop, she peered over the side and saw the couple waving at her. She waved back.

  ‘We had better go,’ Orus said.

  Freya put her sword back in its sheath. She wanted to stay in this city of darkness and find more people in trouble. Helping that couple had made her feel just as good as when she’d saved Archie. These had been the best things she’d ever done in her life.

  ‘Freya, please,’ Orus begged.

  ‘You’re right,’ she said reluctantly as she took to the air. Stealing one last glance down to the street where the police were climbing out of their cars, Freya decided it wasn’t over. As she and Orus made their way back to Lincolnwood, she knew she would return to the city to help stand guard over its innocent people.

  They arrived back at Archie’s house just before sunrise. Freya was too excited to sit and watch early-morning television with the raven. She had saved live
s – and it felt amazing.

  Freya longed to tell her sister Maya what had happened. She imagined the good the two of them could do together and what a team they would make. She had been gone for two Earth days. But little time would have elapsed in Asgard. Certainly not long enough for her to be missed. Her only worry was Loki. Would he tell Odin what had happened? He did like to stir things up. Even though he had helped her leave and shared half the blame.

  Rolling over to her side, she gazed out the window to the distant dawn. The rain was finally letting up as the sun rose. As its weak rays slowly drove back the night, Freya thought again of Maya, wondering what was happening now in Asgard.

  CHAPTER TEN

  It was deep in the night when Maya returned from dancing at Valhalla and retired to the room she shared with her younger sister. As she changed for bed, she noticed Freya wasn’t there.

  ‘Have you seen Freya and Orus?’ she asked her raven as she settled him on his perch.

  ‘Not since earlier,’ Grul said. ‘I saw them talking to Loki.’

  ‘Loki? Why would they talk to him?’ Maya crossed the room and felt her sister’s bed. ‘It’s cold. She hasn’t been here.’

  ‘You know Freya. She’s probably gone for another long flight. Orus is always putting her up to these things and leading her astray. I’m sure they’ll be back soon.’

  ‘I hope so,’ Maya agreed. ‘We have another reaping to attend in the morning. I don’t want her to be late.’

  Maya started her nightly procedure of combing out her beautiful, long flaxen hair and grooming her wings. She put fragrant oils on her feathers and preened them until they shone. As she climbed into bed, she looked over at her sister’s empty place. ‘Don’t be too late, Freya,’ she muttered softly. ‘You know how angry Mother gets.’

  But even as Maya lay her head down, she knew she wouldn’t sleep. Freya hadn’t been to bed. Grul said he’d seen her and Orus speaking with Loki earlier that evening. But Freya had no business talking to that troublemaker.

  She rolled over and tried to force herself to sleep. But it didn’t work. Thoughts of her sister wouldn’t let her rest. Freya constantly worried her. All her life, she had been different. Somehow lost and unable to find her way. She wasn’t happy being a Valkyrie and longed for more.

  Though Maya tried her best to help, nothing she did could ease her sister’s loneliness. Freya was searching for something in her life. But no one seemed to know what it was – least of all Freya herself.

  Finally Maya gave up trying to sleep. She rose and got dressed.

  ‘What’s happening?’ Grul said as he was roused on his perch.

  ‘I’m going to find Freya.’

  ‘Why? She’s probably just out flying again, just like she did on the eve of her First Day Ceremony.’

  ‘No, this is different,’ Maya said. She reached for her armour and pulled it on. ‘Last time, I could feel her and knew where she went. But now I feel nothing – as though she doesn’t even exist.’

  ‘Freya wouldn’t go anywhere,’ insisted the raven. ‘Orus may be incompetent and ill-tempered but he would never let her get into trouble.’

  Maya shook her head. ‘I know my sister, Grul. Something is very wrong. Freya has always been restless, but she’s been worse since she reaped that soldier. She’s distracted. She goes off flying alone and has private conversations with Loki. Something is up and I must know what it is. I won’t be able to sleep until I know she’s safe.’

  Grul made an impatient huffing sound, but flew on to Maya’s shoulder. ‘Why are you wearing your armour? You don’t need it here.’

  Maya reached for her winged helmet. ‘Because I have the strange feeling that Freya isn’t here any more.’

  ‘Do you mean, not in this house?’

  Maya shook her head as she leaped out of the window and spread her wings. ‘No, I mean not in Asgard.’

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  It was the early hours of Monday morning and Freya was nervous for her first day at school.

  She dressed carefully in clothes that Alma had made her. A slipcover for her wings and a lovely, long, chequered Steampunkesque skirt. She’d also given Freya elbow length, burgundy-coloured leather gloves so she didn’t have to wear Archie’s winter pair. Then she pulled on one of Brian’s altered frilly tops over her breastplate.

  ‘You are wearing your armour to school?’ Orus asked. ‘What are you expecting? And don’t tell me you are taking your sword!’

  Freya shook her head. ‘Not my weapons, or my helmet. But remember, the bullies said they would get Archie today. I want to make sure nothing happens to him.’

  Orus hopped across the bed and picked at a feather poking out of the duvet. ‘You really like him, don’t you?’

  Freya paused. ‘He’s all right, for a human.’

  Orus cawed in laughter. ‘No, you really like him! I can see it.’

  ‘You don’t know what you are talking about.’

  A knock at the door cut off further conversation and Freya was grateful for the interruption. ‘Come in.’

  Archie entered. ‘I’ve got the papers folded and set to go. Are you ready?’

  Freya nodded. ‘All set.’

  They delivered the newspapers in record time and found Alma and Tamika waiting for them on their front porch.

  ‘My, my,’ Alma said as she looked at Freya. ‘You look lovely. Skirts suit you much better than those leather trousers. More feminine – and they hide all the right things.’

  ‘What things?’ Tamika asked. ‘Grandma, Greta doesn’t need to hide anything.’

  ‘Of course,’ Alma said. She focused on Freya. ‘Well, Angel, are you ready for your first day at school?’

  Freya nodded. ‘I’m a bit nervous.’

  Alma’s eyebrows shot up. ‘You, nervous?’ she cried. ‘Sweet child, there’s not a thing to be nervous about. Just follow Archie and Tamika’s lead and you’ll do fine.’

  Getting Freya registered into the school was easier than everyone expected. No one questioned the falsified documents, and with Alma’s talent for telling sad tales about the loss of Greta’s family in Denmark and her long list of illnesses, by the end, the office staff were looking at Freya with great pity.

  ‘All right, Greta Johnson,’ the secretary said loudly and slowly as she handed Freya the school schedule. ‘I understand you speak English?’

  Freya nodded, unsure why this woman thought she was deaf and slow-witted. ‘I do.’

  ‘Good,’ the secretary said slowly. ‘As your great-aunt suggests, I think it’s best if we keep you with Archie until you get to know your way around an American school. Will that be all right with you?’

  ‘Yes . . . it . . . will,’ Freya said with equal slowness.

  Archie sniggered and nodded. ‘I’ll show her around.’

  ‘Will you be OK getting home, Grandma?’ Tamika asked as they walked Alma to the school entrance.

  ‘Course I will. God gave me two good legs and I’m going to use them.’

  Freya felt great warmth towards this kind old woman. ‘Thank you, Alma, for everything.’

  The old woman’s eyes fogged. ‘No, Angel, thank you.’

  When she was gone, Tamika turned to Archie and Freya. ‘We have the same lunch hour. Want to meet up?’

  Archie nodded. ‘Let’s meet at the old oak tree in the front yard.’

  Tamika nodded and smiled at Freya. For an instant, Freya saw Tyrone Johnson shining in her face and eyes. ‘Good luck with your classes.’

  When she was gone, Archie caught Freya by the arm. ‘Well, Gee, this is it. Math is our first class.’

  Hidden from inside her coat, Freya heard Orus moan, ‘It would have to be, wouldn’t it!’

  By the lunchtime bell, Freya’s head was spinning. Each class she entered seemed worse than the one before. Every time she and Archie showed the new teacher the note from the school’s office, explaining her strange dress and seating requirements at the very back of the room, the teacher wou
ld give her a curious look that suggested they would have found it easier to believe she had wings.

  Once they got past the class introductions, there was her lack of comprehension of what was going on. Archie had tried to prepare her, but it hadn’t worked. There were four different classes in the morning, and although she had a perfect understanding of Geography, she was lost when it came to Maths, English and something called Humanities.

  ‘I don’t think I can do this,’ Freya said as the lunch bell sounded. ‘I’ve only been here half a day and already want to fly home screaming. This is nothing like my education in Asgard.’

  ‘Don’t worry about it,’ Archie said. ‘First days are always the worst.’

  Freya leaned her forehead against her locker and sighed. ‘But it’s like I know nothing! I have lived over six hundred Earth years and yet I still don’t understand what Humanities mean. You are already human; why do you need a class to tell what it is to be human?’

  Archie put an arm around her. ‘Humanities aren’t about being a human, it’s human philosophy, literature and language. It’s not really hard once you grasp it a bit more.’

  ‘But I’m not human,’ Freya exclaimed. ‘How can you expect me to grasp something I’m not?’

  ‘I know you’re not. I also know you don’t like us. Maybe in the Humanities classes, you will learn why you should like humans.’

  ‘I doubt that,’ Orus called from under her coat. ‘Now, will you please take me outside before I suffocate under here?’

  Tamika was already waiting by the old oak tree at the front of the school. Freya opened her coat and released Orus as they joined her.

  ‘Why did you bring him?’ she asked, eyeing the raven skeptically.

  ‘I told you before, I go where he goes and he goes with me.’

  ‘Why? It’s really weird.’

  Orus stretched and flapped his wings. ‘Tell her she’s the weird one,’ he cawed irritably.

  They found a private place to eat, but Freya was unable to sit on the ground. With her wings restricted uncomfortably in the coat, there was no way she could get down, let alone get back up again. Instead she leaned against the school wall as she ate her packed lunch.