6
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We reached the Valkyrie Stronghold without incident. It was late afternoon, as far as I could tell. The group that Rae had sent to meet us contained more Valkyries I knew, such as Billie and Nadia. They were dressed in full battle regalia, this time with headgear in the form of metal helmets, minus the bristles. It definitely sent a message to the gaping bystanders who watched us go by.
Once we passed through the invisible gates, a click sounded.
Rae was front and center, hands on her hips. “Any more threats arise since I last spoke with you?”
“No, none,” Ingrid said. “But we can’t take any chances. Calling a battle meeting as soon as possible would be good. We must be prepared for Fenrir’s hearing tomorrow at dawn, and then Phoebe’s right after.”
“Yes, a battle meeting is essential,” Rae replied. “But first we train. Being idle is poison for a Valkyrie.” Rae addressed the Valkyries. “One hour on the field, strategy meeting for the battle guard after.”
The Valkyries dispersed immediately.
As we walked toward the field, I was able to take in the Stronghold in all its glory. It was truly magnificent. It was nothing like the rustic compound in New Mexico. This facility was state-of-the-art, with sleek buildings and manicured parks. As we moved through, my gaze darted around, each view better than the last.
Sam took in a sharp breath, letting me know she felt the same way. “This is like if Disneyland built a training facility for Valkyries.”
“I know,” I said. “It’s beautiful, and so modern. It seems Asgard doesn’t have one single architectural sense. In the short time we’ve been here, we’ve seen cottages, concrete structures, and now this.” We stopped in front of a three-story building that seemed to effortlessly exist, the columns no wider than two-by-fours. A wall of glass drew the eye all the way to the top.
“These are the bunkhouses,” Ingrid said.
“They’ve gotten an upgrade since I saw them last,” Grete commented.
“Yes,” Rae said. “We’ve done much renovation over the last twenty years. We had to keep up with the times. We now have indoor and outdoor training stations with the latest technology aiding us.”
“Why would you choose to train in New Mexico if you have this at your fingertips?” I asked. “It seems counterproductive.”
Rae shrugged. “Because you lived in Midgard and we’d been on the hunt for Leela for many years. Midgard offered us little distraction. When we are home, here in Asgard, there is much to take away from our focus. I deemed it necessary to remain there, and I believe it was the right choice.”
“It was,” Ingrid agreed. “We accomplished our goal and became stronger for it. But it’s good to be home.”
We continued walking past the bunkhouses toward a large grassy area. It was the size of several football fields. Even from this distance, I could see the designated fighting areas, with Valkyries already practicing. After all, how one trained with a saber was different than how one trained with a bow and arrow. “Those mannequins look lifelike.” I squinted into the distance. “Not like the bales of hay we used in Midgard.”
Rae nodded. “We could’ve brought some of these things with us to New Mexico, but if we started doing so, the Valkyries would have had to shuttle necessary supplies daily. It was best to use what we had available there. Those mannequins are made of something not available on Midgard, a heavy, dense rubber that mimics armor.”
Sam chuckled. “The mannequins we had at Macy’s would’ve exploded like fireworks under Valkyrie firepower.”
“Exactly,” Ingrid said. “That’s why we used hay. It was good enough, but this is better.” She extended her arms. “Welcome to paradise.”
* * *
After an hour of grueling training, I was exhausted. I hadn’t worked out that hard in a few days. I tossed my short sword on the ground, unimpressed with how it had handled itself. There were a number of gouges in the blade. I sprawled out next to it on the bright green grass.
“We need to get you a new weapon, pronto,” Ingrid said. “That one’s a joke.” I’d sparred with a few different Valkyries, ending with Ingrid. “We have a vast weapons room here you can rummage through.” Ingrid sat next to me, her breath a little uneven. I was proud of myself for wearing her out, even at the cost of nearly killing myself. “You can take your pick.”
A clash of swords sounded in the distance, and I sat up. “Is that Grete sparring with Rae?”
Ingrid replied, “It appears that way. I didn’t know Mom had gotten into the ring. Let’s go check it out.”
We made our way across the expanse. A crowd began to gather quickly. I spotted my mother walking toward us.
Grete was amazing to watch. She matched Rae swing for swing, her hair flying out behind her. Her body was still fluid, strong, and fast. It was clear she had been a valiant Valkyrie in her day.
“You’re making me think we should rethink age of retirement,” Rae called as she blocked a strike. “Your strength is impressive, as are your moves. You are as fit as any Valkyrie here.”
“Once a Valkyrie, always a Valkyrie,” my grandmother replied, barely out of breath. “I practice daily, as does any Valkyrie worth the skin she occupies. Valkyries should be allowed childbearing years, then they should be welcomed back.” Grete dropped her sword and took a step back, bowing her head in respect. “Our laws are outdated. You should revisit them.”
Rae sheathed her katana. “I will do that. You’ve given me much to think about.” To the rest of the Valkyries, she announced, “Battle squad assembles in the conference room immediately. One-hour break for feeding for everyone else, then everybody back on the field. Training will last until lights out.”
I followed a group headed toward a low building directly across from the field. It was designed in the same style as the bunkhouse. The entryway was almost undetectable because of all the glass.
Inside, the large room was filled with a huge conference table and seating for forty. Rae sat at the head, Ingrid to her right, Leela next to her, then me and my grandmother on the other side. This battle squad was made up of fifteen other Valkyries, some of them familiar and some not. Those who didn’t know me from New Mexico glanced at me curiously, but weren’t unfriendly.
“Let’s get right down to business.” Rae placed her palms facedown on the table. “Protecting Phoebe is first and foremost.” Her gaze landed on each and every Valkyrie. “We have our work cut out for us, as the Norns have had a jump on exciting the masses. There’s already been one attempt on her life, and tensions are running high. You may have already heard the lie going around that Phoebe is responsible for triggering Ragnarok, which is fundamentally untrue. Ragnarok is a fated event. Anyone here who does not believe that to be true can find the door.” She made a sweeping gesture toward the exit. No one moved. “Good. Then we’re all on the same page. Once Odin and Frigg decree their punishments, Phoebe’s fate will be locked in stone, and no one will dare interfere. Until then, things are uncertain. Lucky for us, Fenrir’s hearing is at dawn tomorrow. That should speed things up. Odin likely knows this is a precarious time, which is why he is seeing to things so quickly.”
Leela cleared her throat, and Rae took the cue, nodding at her to continue. My mother glanced around the table before she spoke. “Protecting Phoebe is not a dangerous mission, not like ones you’ve been involved with before. It’s a mission of the heart. We will attend the hearings, not only to keep her safe, but also to support her. I will be speaking on Fenrir’s behalf, as will Ingrid.” She nodded toward her sister. “It’s unprecedented for Valkyries to vouch for another, but Fenrir is deserving and is Phoebe’s only chance of surviving Helheim, where it’s certain she will be exiled.” Murmuring erupted, some of these Valkyries hearing my projected sentence for the first time.
“Yes,” Ingrid said. “Let that sink in for a minute. My niece is going to be sent to Helheim because Frigg deems it so. We must be one hundred percent united in true Valkyrie fashion. There is no room for error or opposition to our cause.”
Once again, no one moved.
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. I wasn’t looking forward to being exiled to Helheim. I’d been told that no one who had ever gone there willingly had returned. The only thing running in my favor was that Helheim was run by Hel, Fen’s sister, the daughter of Loki and the giantess Angrboda.
Our loose goal, once we arrived, was to convince Hel to release Baldur. If we could do that, then maybe we would gain Frigg’s forgiveness and be allowed to come home—that is, if we didn’t die first.
If we couldn’t free Baldur, we would likely be stuck there forever.
“I’m going to need a vote,” Rae said. “Just to be sure. All those in favor of this battle mission, say aye.” A chorus of ayes echoed around the table. “All those opposed, nay.”
For the first time, I realized my nemesis Anya was not in the room. I leaned over to my mother. “Anya’s not here. Isn’t she usually included in the battle missions?”
“She opted to stay in Midgard. Rae put her in charge of the few remaining Valkyries who stayed in New Mexico.”
Interesting.
Sam was going to love hearing that.
No one opposed the mission, so Rae continued, “You will head back to the field to continue training and await my orders. Phoebe, Ingrid, Leela, and Grete will stay and go over their testimony. Everyone else is adjourned.”
The Valkyries stood and filed out.
Once they were gone, Rae addressed Ingrid. “Do you have something prepared for tomorrow?”
Ingrid shrugged. “Nothing fancy. I’m planning to tell the truth and let Odin know in no uncertain terms that Fenrir saved his daughter’s life three times and has proven himself loyal. He hardly seems the feral wolf they portrayed him to be all those years ago.”
“Did you know him back then?” I asked.
Ingrid chuckled. “No, he was sent away long before I was born. But the rumors stay fresh. Tyr had disappeared by then as well, but would pop back in now and again. All anyone had to do was note his missing hand and jagged scar to be reminded of the ferocious god-eating wolf and thank their lucky stars Fenrir had been kept far away from their precious children.”
Poor Fen.
He never had a real shot.
“What are the chances anyone is going to believe he’s changed?” I asked. “It doesn’t seem feasible that he will ever get his life back. It’s completely unfair.”
“Phoebe,” Leela said, “we’re going to do the best we can to change public sentiment. If anyone can sway Odin’s mind, it will be you. He will see the love and trust you put in Fenrir, and that will mean something.”
“If the wolf really saved your life three times,” my grandmother said, “that will carry a lot of weight with Odin as well.”
It was weird that I was going to meet my father for the first time in such a formal setting. I cleared my throat. “I hope I’m able to convince my father that Fen is no longer a threat to anyone. If I can’t, he’s doomed.” That was, if I was even allowed to speak at his hearing.
My mother patted my hand. “Don’t worry, dear daughter,” she said. “We will use this time to go over everything. All will be well, I promise.”
“I hope you’re right,” I said. “His life depends on it.”