Valkyrie (22 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

‘
V
alkyrie!’ Odin roared as he climbed down from Sylt.

A large eagle touched down beside him. Moments later it changed. Freya’s heart sank at the sight of Loki’s grinning face.

Freya turned back to Tamika and Leo Max. ‘Whatever happens, stay here with the angel; he’ll protect you. Odin does not forgive. It won’t matter that you are young and human. He’ll punish you too.’

She looked at Archie, pulled off her glove and offered him her bare hand. ‘We may not have much time left together. But I don’t regret a moment of what we’ve had.’

Archie pulled off his glove as well and for the first time they actually held bare hands. He nodded. ‘Me neither.’

Together they walked to Odin. They both knelt before the leader of Asgard.

‘You were warned,’ Odin boomed. ‘You know the punishment for running away.’

Freya raised her head. ‘I do, Great Odin. But I beg you, please don’t punish Maya. She has done nothing wrong. She came here to bring me back to you. Not to stay. She did not run away. And Orus could not stop me, though he tried. This isn’t his fault.’

Odin looked back at Maya as she struggled in the Dark Searcher’s arms. ‘Your sister is far from innocent in this. She released all the Reaping Mares from the stables in a futile attempt to delay the reaping. They have caused havoc in Asgard. Even now, half of them are still flying wild. She tried to disguise her crime, but there was a witness.’

Freya looked at her sister in shock. ‘She couldn’t have done it. She was with me. Who saw her?’

‘Me,’ Loki said proudly. ‘I knew she would try something to protect you. But she made a terrible mistake.’

‘He’s lying!’ Freya shouted.

Odin’s face went red with rage. ‘She has confessed her crime! That she convinced Heimdall to go along with her is further evidence of her deceit.’

Freya was left speechless. Her eyes sought her sister in the Dark Searcher’s arms. Maya had endangered herself for her sake.

‘As for your raven,’ continued Odin, ‘he will be punished with you.’ His harsh blue eyes blazed as he drew his sword. ‘Open your wings!’

Freya struggled to open her badly broken wings. She dropped her head and bent forward to offer them up to him.

‘No, sir, please don’t!’ Archie cried.

‘Archie, no!’ Freya warned. ‘I knew the penalty for breaking the rules. Odin must take my wings.’

‘No!’ Archie shouted. ‘It’s not fair. Gee isn’t a runaway, she came here to help. She’s helped Tamika’s family and she helped me!’

‘Archie, be quiet!’
Orus cawed.

‘She helped you to your grave, boy!’ Odin spat. ‘If you think I am going to allow you to stay in Asgard, you are sorely mistaken!’

‘I gave him my true name,’ Freya said softly.

‘What?’ Odin shrieked.

‘Freya, no!’ her mother cried, coming forward. She was still dressed in her nightclothes. ‘Tell me you didn’t!’

Freya raised her head. ‘Yes, Mother, I did. And I don’t regret it.’

‘Freya,’
Orus warned.

‘Impudent child!’ Odin shouted. ‘If you have given him your true name, so be it. He will join you in your banishment!’

Odin raised his sword higher. Just as it was swinging down to cut off Freya’s wings, the Angel of Death blocked the blow with Freya’s sword.

‘What is this?’ Odin roared. ‘Azrael, you have no right to halt my justice!’

‘In this case, Odin, I believe I do.’

‘
Azrael?’
Freya was in complete shock as she gazed up at Archie’s Angel of Death. ‘You are Azrael?’

The angel’s gentle, warm eyes sparkled and he chuckled. ‘Fooled you, didn’t I?’

‘I don’t understand,’ Freya said.

Azrael bent closer to her. ‘I wanted to meet the Valkyrie that was causing so much mischief and interfering with my angels’ work. You were so passionate, so determined to help these people.’ He rose and faced Odin. ‘She has done you proud.’

‘She has betrayed me,’ Odin spat. ‘Broken the rules.
My
rules.’

Azrael shook his head. ‘You are Odin, leader of Asgard. Freya is a Valkyrie. That is understood. But she is much more than that. She came here with good intentions. She has saved lives and enriched the existence of all who know her.’

‘What does that matter to me?’ demanded Odin.

‘It should mean everything,’ Azrael said. ‘For too long we have resented each other. We serve the same purpose and yet there is animosity between us. This one Valkyrie has changed that. Look . . .’

The angel pointed to the others encircling the Dark Searcher. ‘I did not command them to do that. They wanted to. They all know what Freya has done. Though she has interfered with their duties, she did it for the right reasons. They have come here to protect her. We are all pleading on her behalf. If you will not allow her back in Asgard, I will gladly claim her for my own.’

Odin looked at Azrael in disbelief. ‘You would claim a Valkyrie?’

Azrael smiled lovingly on Freya. ‘I would gladly ask her to join us and be grateful if she did. You should be proud of her, Odin, not punish her.’

From beneath the earth, the roaring increased. The ground trembled and the street cracked further as the Midgard Serpent shot like an erupting volcano to the surface. It looked like a giant snake, but with long, sharp fangs and flaming red eyes. It loomed several storeys high as it pulled itself from its prison deep within the earth. Slithering through the streets, its long tail grazed a tall building. Within moments, the building collapsed to the ground in a demolished heap.

The Midgard Serpent roared in delight at its destructive freedom. Its red eyes blazed and its long fangs dripped acid on to the ground. It slid through the streets of Chicago, biting huge chunks out of buildings and devouring the military trucks like they were sweets.

‘Send him back, Odin,’ Azrael ordered. ‘There has been no crime committed here. The world has done nothing to deserve this punishment.’

‘Only Loki can command his child,’ Odin said.

Loki stepped forward. ‘And I won’t stop him until this place is in ruins.’

Freya pointed an accusing finger at Loki. ‘But it was Loki who helped me come here. He’s just as guilty as I am. He should be punished too.’

‘What?’ Odin demanded. ‘Explain yourself!’

‘Go on, Loki,’ she challenged. ‘Tell him, if you dare.’ She turned to Odin. ‘I would not have come here if it weren’t for him. He suggested I see the World of Man for myself. It was Loki who gave Heimdall the sleeping powder that allowed me to cross Bifröst. He said he always does that whenever he wants to come here.’

‘
Loki?
’ Odin repeated.

‘It is true,’ Azrael agreed. ‘Loki is the one who has betrayed you, not Freya or Maya.’

Odin’s face went red with rage as he faced Loki. ‘Explain yourself!’

‘They’re lying to you,’ Loki cried as he backed away. His eyes were wild and desperate. ‘You know I would never betray you.’ After several more steps, Loki transformed into a hawk and flew away.

Odin turned to Thor. ‘I will see to him later. Go get the Midgard Serpent. Without Loki here to stop him it’s up to you to drive him back to the pit! And don’t be too gentle.’

Thor nodded to his father. He raised his hammer and gleefully chased after the disappearing serpent. As everyone stood together, they could hear the roaring sound of destruction at the fight starting between the two.

‘They’ve always hated each other,’ Freya whispered to Archie. ‘I just hope there’s something left of Chicago when they are finished.’

‘Silence!’ Odin commanded. ‘Rise, Valkyrie.’

Freya climbed painfully to her feet. Archie stood at her side, holding her hand tightly while Orus remained loyally at her shoulder.

‘Azrael has pleaded for mercy on your behalf,’ Odin started. ‘I will grant that mercy. But you cannot go unpunished.’

Freya dropped her head. ‘I understand.’

‘I am stripping you of your powers,’ Odin continued. ‘They will not be returned until you can prove to me that you have earned your place among the Valkyries. From this moment forward, you and your human companion will work in the stables of the Reaping Mares. You will be servants to the Valkyries, but not hold any of their privileges. You are banned from Valhalla and will not be welcome at any of the reapings or celebrations. Until further notice, you are nothing more than a simple citizen of Asgard.’

He turned back to the Dark Searcher holding Maya. ‘You have served me well, Searcher. Release her, your duty is finished. You may return to your home.’

The Dark Searcher released Maya and Grul. Her mother and sisters flew instantly to Maya’s side to support her.

Odin then faced Azrael. ‘Your words hold power. Perhaps it is time we considered working together and not against each other. Will you release my Searcher?’

Azrael bowed. ‘As you wish, Odin. Release him,’ he called to his angels.

The angels encircling the Dark Searcher nodded their heads and separated. Opening their wings, they took to the sky and disappeared.

‘You are also excused,’ Odin called to the Searcher.

The dark creature growled at Freya and Archie and raised a threatening hand. Then he opened his massive wings and took off.

‘It is time we left this place to the humans and returned to Asgard,’ Odin continued. He walked back to Sylt and caught her by the reins. He handed them over to Freya. ‘From the look of your wings, you are going to be grounded for some time. I will allow you to keep your reaping mare.’

Freya’s heart was pounding so ferociously she was sure Odin could hear it. ‘Thank you,’ she said respectfully.

Odin came forward and touched Freya on the head. ‘I remove your powers, Valkyrie. Your touch is no longer lethal and your senses are dulled. You are no better than a human.’ Odin turned abruptly and approached another Reaping Mare. Climbing up, he ordered the mare into the sky. ‘To Bifröst!’

Freya’s mother gave her a disapproving look as she helped Maya up on her Reaping Mare. ‘Do not test his generosity,’ she warned as she opened her wings and launched into the sky. ‘Follow us! We have much to discuss.’

‘Yes, Mother,’ Freya said softly. She looked at the angel. ‘Thank you, Azrael. Thank you so much.’

He smiled warmly and kissed Freya lightly on the cheek. ‘There is no need to thank me. Remember, my invitation is always open to you. Just call my name and I will come to you.’ His smile broadened as he looked from her to Archie. ‘Have fun in Asgard, you two.’

Freya grinned as Azrael opened his wings and vanished.

Moments later they were alone. Shattered glass and rubble surrounded them. Fires blazed while dust was still settling from the collapsed building. The sounds of Thor fighting the Midgard Serpent could be heard in the distance while police and fire sirens blared.

Tamika and Leo Max ran up to Freya. ‘Are you going to be all right?’

Freya nodded. ‘Odin has removed my powers. I’m just like you now.’

‘Except for the wings,’ Leo Max commented, grinning at her.

‘Is Archie still here?’ Tamika asked.

Freya offered her arm, but when the others touched it, they couldn’t see him. ‘I guess without my powers, you can’t see him any more. But I promise you, he’s right here with me and always will be.’

‘Freya, we had better go,’
Orus warned.
‘It won’t take much to get Odin angry again.’

Freya nodded. She inhaled deeply and looked at her two friends. ‘We must go.’ Once again, pain clutched her heart at the painful goodbye. ‘Will you be all right getting home?’

Tamika nodded. ‘I’ve called Curtis. He’ll be here soon.’

‘Just stay hidden until he comes,’ Freya warned.

Tamika nodded again. ‘We will.’

Freya inhaled deeply. ‘I am going to miss you both so much.’

Forgetting the danger, Tamika threw her arms around her and hugged Freya tightly. She kissed her on the cheek.

Terrified at first, Freya now realized she could touch her friends. She pulled Tamika closer. ‘You take good care of your little sister and give Alma a big kiss from me. Please let her know I will treasure every moment we had together. And say my farewells to Curtis and Carol.’

Tamika sniffed. ‘I will.’

Leo Max’s face went bright red as he faced her. ‘Bye, Greta. I’m sure going to miss you.’

Freya pulled him close and held him tight. ‘I’ll miss you too. Take good care of the Geek Squad – I’m counting on you.’

Leo Max nodded. ‘I will.’

Freya smiled and gave him a big kiss, right on the lips.

‘Wow!’ he sighed as he staggered back. He grinned at Tamika. ‘My first kiss and it was a Valkyrie. How cool is that!’

‘Freya, we must go,’
Orus prodded.

Freya nodded and reached for Sylt. Archie was the first to climb up. It took Freya longer, as every part of her ached. Finally she took her place right behind him. ‘Archie and I will remember you both always.’

Tamika and Leo Max waved and chased after Sylt as the Reaping Mare opened her wings and started to run.

Archie and Freya waved back as they climbed higher in the sky. Rising above Chicago, they could see that Thor had managed to trap the Midgard Serpent on the edge of Lake Michigan and was driving the monstrous beast back underground.

More police and military vehicles surrounded him.

‘Will Thor be OK?’ Archie asked.

Freya slipped her arms around his waist and rested her weary head against his back. ‘He’ll be fine. With Thor’s temper, it’s the humans we should worry about.’

Archie burst into laughter as he whooped happily. Before too long, his eyes went wide at the sight of the shimmering Rainbow Bridge.

‘Is that Bifröst?’

Freya peered over his shoulder and nodded. ‘Welcome to Asgard, Archie,’ she said gratefully. ‘Welcome home.’

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

T
his has been the hardest book of my career to write. Normally I love to visit the places I write about. For the
Pegasus
series, I enjoyed going back to New York, then to Las Vegas and, finally, I was thrilled to visit Greece.

Then I started
Valkyrie
and planned to go back to Chicago for research – I lived there as a kid, but I couldn’t remember it enough to write about.

But just before I was meant to fly out there, my father became seriously ill. In fact, he needed three critical operations. During that time I couldn’t write, let alone go on a research trip.

Were it not for the skills and care of my father’s amazing surgeon, Professor Peter Taylor, and the staff at St Thomas’ Hospital in London who pulled him through, this book would not have been finished.

‘Pro
f
’, I am eternally grateful to you! (And I hope you enjoy your appearance in this book.)

I would also like to give a very special thanks to Dr Linda Klobucher – who at the time of writing
Valkyrie
was a principal in a Chicago area school before being promoted. Linda became my long-distance
tour guide and a good friend. While I stayed in the United Kingdom while my father recovered, she was always available to talk to guide me through the school system and answer any questions I had about what a Principal would and wouldn’t allow – especially if a Valkyrie showed up on her doorstep!

You were invaluable, Linda. Thank You! And look, you’re back in a school!

Finally, I would like to give extra special thanks to my dad, for surviving the operations that would have killed a lesser man. He is still my biggest supporter and best friend.

I love you Dad . . .