Valkyrie

by Kate O'Hearn

  The Valkyries always won.

  Freya taught them to use anything within reach as a weapon. Failing that, she showed them how to kick in such a way as to bring down even the biggest frost giant. She taught them about pressure points and how to take on opponents much bigger and stronger than they were.

  Despite the seriousness of the training, there was a lot of laughter too. Freya delighted in watching the group of misfits coming together. Friendships were being forged and they were learning to watch each others’ backs.

  When the first training session drew to a close, Freya was touched by their gratitude and waved to them as they dispersed. They were now proud to call themselves the elite members of the Geek Squad.

  ‘That was so cool!’ Archie cried as he practised kicking all the way to Tamika’s house. ‘Just let JP try something. He’s in for a big surprise!’

  Tamika was also practising her kicks. ‘Take that, Mr Developer! You want to steal my house? Try this!’

  Their laughter continued as they reached Tamika’s house. An unfamiliar car was in the driveway. ‘That could be Curtis,’ Freya suggested.

  She was right. Inside the house they found Curtis and his wife sitting in the lounge with Alma. Curtis’s wife cradled Uniik in her arms. Her face was glowing as she gazed down on the baby.

  ‘Greta!’ Curtis cried when he saw her. ‘Come, I want you to meet my wife. This is Carol.’

  Curtis’s wife stood. Her dark eyes were wide and curious and carried a trace of fear. They lingered on the lumps at Freya’s back. Curtis had told her everything and she was trying to see her wings.

  ‘Do you want to see them?’ Freya offered.

  Carol blustered. ‘I – I don’t want to be rude.’

  ‘It is not being rude, you’re just curious.’ Freya removed her coat and freed her wings. ‘See,’ she said, opening them, ‘just ordinary wings.’

  As Carol inhaled, Curtis reached out and took Uniik from her shaking hands. ‘It’s all right, you get used to them real quick. Soon you’ll even forget she’s got them.’ He winked at Freya. ‘Except for when you try to get her into a car. Then that’s all you hear about.’

  He put on a high and teasing voice: ‘My wings this . . . and my wings that . . .’

  Archie started to laugh. ‘You sound just like Gee!’

  Freya also laughed. ‘I don’t sound like that!’

  ‘Sure you do,’ Tamika added.

  Before long everyone was laughing and the tension was broken.

  When they settled, Carol told Tamika what she’d told her grandmother earlier. That she was starting to investigate the developer. She’d heard rumours around town about him, but so far no charges against him had stuck.

  ‘Is there nothing you can do?’ Freya asked.

  ‘I’m only just getting started.’

  ‘You be careful,’ Alma warned. ‘These are bad men who will kill to get what they want.’

  Carol’s dark eyes sparkled. ‘That’s just the kind of challenge I like.’ She opened her briefcase and pulled out an item. It was Freya’s scabbard. The gold casing was intact, but all the jewels had been removed. Carol handed it back to her.

  ‘I hope you’re not offended, but the real value was in all those jewels, not the scabbard itself. I’m arranging their sale. We’ll receive more than enough money to pay off this house. I’ll set up an account for the balance.’

  Alma frowned. ‘What money? Angel, what have you done?’

  Freya smiled at the old woman. ‘I asked Curtis to take my scabbard and sell it. The money will pay for your house.’

  ‘Angel, no,’ Alma cried. ‘That’s yours; I can’t take it!’

  ‘You are not taking it from me,’ Freya said. ‘I am giving it.’

  ‘No, it’s wrong.’

  Freya looked over to Curtis. ‘I told you she wouldn’t want to take it.’ She crossed to the old woman and knelt awkwardly before her chair. ‘Please, Alma, accept this from me. I want to do it. Those jewels meant nothing to me, but they will protect you, and that means everything.’

  ‘But it’s too generous,’ the old woman said. ‘You are giving me all your money.’

  ‘Not all,’ Carol cut in. ‘Just a fraction of it. Greta is very wealthy.’

  There was a sharp intake of breath from everyone in the room.

  ‘Gee,’ Archie cried. ‘You’re rich!’

  Freya shrugged. ‘I don’t want the money. Split it up between Alma and Tamika, Archie and you and Curtis.’

  ‘Angel, you can’t do that,’ Alma said.

  ‘You all need it more than me,’ Freya insisted. ‘Alma, you can pay for Tamika’s and Uniik’s education.’ Her eyes settled on Archie. ‘And you can open your own hair salon and maybe learn to cook more than macaroni and cheese.’

  ‘You’re giving it all away?’ Carol asked. ‘Why?’

  ‘Because we don’t use human money in Asgard; it has no value there.’

  Curtis rose and approached Freya. ‘Are you sure about this? It’s a lot of money.’

  ‘Absolutely.’ Freya focused on Alma again. ‘But I would be grateful if we could use a bit of it to buy some fabric. I need some more clothes for school. Would you help me?’

  The old woman rose painfully to her feet. ‘Angel, I have been waiting to hear you say those words! I would love to make you more clothes.’

  ‘I know exactly what you’re doing, Angel.’ Alma looked at Freya as she helped the old woman prepare dinner.

  ‘What?’ Freya asked as she chopped vegetables.

  ‘I know, and I am truly grateful.’

  Putting down the knife, Freya looked at the old woman. ‘I really don’t understand.’

  ‘Yes, you do. The moment you found out I had cancer, you were thinking of Curtis and his wife for Tamika and Uniik.’

  ‘You’re busted!’ Orus laughed, using his new favourite expression from television.

  Freya sighed and pulled out a chair for Alma to sit. ‘I promised your son I would see his girls protected. He didn’t know what the danger was at the time, but his family was all he thought about. And I know how much you’ve been worrying about them.’

  Alma shook her head. ‘The thought of my two girls in care is more than I can bear.’

  ‘Tamika is just as frightened,’ Freya said. ‘She knows you are very ill. Though she doesn’t say anything, she is terrified for Uniik. She thinks they will be separated.’

  ‘So you thought of Curtis Banks.’

  ‘Not at first,’ Freya admitted. ‘But from the moment I met him, I knew he was a good man. It was only when I saw him the second time that I put it all together. He and his wife have no children, but desperately want them. Tamika and Uniik have no parents and you are ill. It seems the perfect match.’

  The old woman chuckled. ‘I may not be an angel with the power to know people’s hearts, but I have lived a very long time and met a lot of people. The Bankses are good folk and would care for my girls.’

  Freya tilted her head to the side and smiled. ‘There isn’t an Angel of Death beside you just yet. Take the time you have left to get to know Curtis and Carol better.’

  ‘I don’t have to – I already know,’ the old woman said. ‘But I will take this time before I go to let Tamika get to know them.’

  After dinner, Archie could barely contain his excitement. He practically skipped along the pavement.

  ‘Are you that happy about the money?’

  Archie shook his head. ‘Nope. Tonight you said you’d let me ride your winged horse. I can’t wait!’

  Freya laughed. ‘Then let’s get home and we can go.’

  Sylt had been made comfortable in the garage. But she nickered excitedly when Freya approached her.

  ‘Are you ready to fly?’ she asked the mare. She looked at Archie and saw his eyes were wide and filled with anticipation.

  ‘All right, Archie, I want you to start stroking her neck and then move down to her wings. Sylt has never been ridden by a living human before. Sh
e may be a bit nervous. But if you reassure her, I’m sure she’ll be fine.’

  Archie did everything he was told to do. Before long, Sylt opened her wings and invited him up on her back. Freya helped hoist him up.

  Archie offered his hand. ‘Are you coming up too?’

  Freya shook her head. ‘I’ve got my own wings that I need to stretch. Besides, I can’t risk my hair or something else touching you. But I’ll be right beside you all the way.’

  ‘Me too!’ Orus added.

  They took off from the back yard.

  Climbing high in the night sky, Freya felt all of Archie’s emotions. Fear and great joy all mixed together as he learned to use the reins to direct Sylt in the air.

  They headed over the Chicago skyline. And despite everything she felt rising from the street, Freya remained with Archie. The police would have to take care of the criminals by themselves for one night.

  They flew away from the Chicago area and towards the open fields and farms of central Illinois. Freya watched Sylt closely. When the mare opened her nostrils and started to sniff, she knew they had found somewhere for her to eat.

  Soaring closer to Archie, Freya watched the excitement in his eyes. He was having the best time of his life. She hated to end it, but Sylt needed food. Finally she called over to him to let him know they were going down.

  As Freya tilted her wings and descended, the Reaping Mare followed. They touched down in the middle of fields that had recently been harvested. Archie slid off the mare and hugged her neck. ‘Sylt, you’re the best!’

  Sylt turned her head back to him and neighed. Then she focused on eating what was left after the harvest.

  ‘I can’t believe it!’ Archie cried. ‘I’ve never had so much fun in all my life.’

  Freya laughed. His face was flushed from the chill of the night air and the excitement. He could hardly stand still. ‘Can we go out again tomorrow night?’

  ‘Sure. We’ll have to do it every night. Sylt needs food and exercise. But, Archie, we can’t be out as long as this each time.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because you’re human. You need to sleep!’

  ‘I’m not tired.’

  ‘You will be.’

  Archie was still stroking Sylt as she munched on the grain. ‘Gee, you sure are pretty when you fly. That’s the first time I’ve ever seen you do it.’

  Freya grinned. ‘I love flying. Sometimes late at night in Asgard, Orus and I would go out until it was light.’

  ‘I’d sure like to see that.’

  ‘I really wish you could,’ Freya admitted.

  It was getting very late when they brought Sylt back to the garage. Despite the hour, Archie was wide awake. ‘I can’t wait for tomorrow night,’ he said brightly. ‘That was too cool. Best ride I’ve ever had.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Life over the next few weeks entered a blissfully quiet routine. Curtis and Carol spent more time at Tamika’s house as they worked to stop John Roberts Developments. A strange calm had descended from the developers and Carol was getting nervous. Her research showed that the developer was not easily stopped. The fact that the house had now been paid off, with Freya’s money, meant nothing to them. It wasn’t the house they wanted, but the land that it stood on.

  Archie started to join Freya for short patrols of the Chicago streets at night. While Archie remained with Sylt and Orus on the rooftops, Freya would fly down to stop muggings and robberies.

  Before long there were whispered rumours about a costumed, winged avenger patrolling the dark streets of Chicago. Archie delighted in cutting out newspaper articles about it and reading how the police were calling it a hoax – while the victims and criminals were claiming it was true.

  At school, Freya’s grades improved. She stopped arguing with her teachers and focused on her studies. With the threat of Freya’s retribution still in the air, JP and his gang of bullies seemed to be leaving everyone alone.

  Despite the calm, the afternoon training sessions with the Geek Squad continued. Freya marvelled at the changes in her students. They had learned how to defend themselves. But more than that, it was their growing confidence and joy that touched her the most. As the days and weeks ticked by, the Geek Squad began to get very excited about the upcoming winter dance.

  ‘Greta, come quickly! JP’s gang is going after Archie again. The whole Geek Squad is there. It’s a big fight!’ Tamika shouted as she ran up to Freya, who was waiting for Archie outside the school.

  They ran round the building. Up ahead, Freya saw Archie fight back against one of JP’s gang. Leo Max was beside him, fighting with another gang member.

  Elizabeth was trying to pull one of the bullies off Connie. She was using the kick Freya had taught her. With one blow, she drove them away.

  Freya stopped running and slowed to a walk.

  ‘C’mon!’ Tamika called, trying to drag her along. ‘Before they hurt them!’

  ‘No, wait,’ Freya said. ‘Look at the Geek Squad. They’re standing up to the bullies. All of them are working together. I can feel they aren’t frightened any more.’

  ‘But they could get hurt!’

  ‘They’ve already been hurt,’ Freya said. ‘I can’t get involved. They have to do this for themselves.’ Freya pulled the raven from her shoulder and handed him to Tamika. ‘Here, hold Orus for me. If this gets out of hand, I’ll join in. But let them go for a moment.’

  Tamika had long ago conquered her fear of Orus. She held on to the large raven as she and Freya approached the fight.

  ‘Come on,’ Orus cawed, flapping his wings. ‘Get them, Archie! That’s it, Leo Max, hit him!’

  More and more kids surrounded the fight and cheered them on as the Geek Squad all joined in to protect their new friends. Freya strained to see JP among his fighting gang, but he didn’t seem to be there.

  She stood back, watching her students proudly. They were using all the moves and self-defence techniques she had taught them to protect themselves. Their days of being victims were over.

  Suddenly a powerful blow cut across her back. Freya was knocked to the ground. This was followed by a second, more powerful strike across her wings.

  Howling in pain, Freya looked up to see JP looming above her with a baseball bat.

  ‘Not so tough now, are ya, Freya?’ He lifted the bat and brought it down again.

  Freya raised her arm and blocked the blow. The bat struck her painfully in the wrist.

  ‘Gee!’ Archie cried when he saw her on the ground. ‘Leo Max, look! JP’s got Gee!’

  Archie fought free of the boy he was wrestling, charged over to JP and tackled him to the ground. Leo Max was right behind him and jumped on top. When Kevin joined it, JP was pulled away from Freya.

  Freya used this opportunity to climb to her feet. Her wings felt like they were on fire and screaming to be freed from the coat. The armour she wore protected her from serious injury, but it didn’t stop the intense, bone-searing pain of the bat’s blows to her wings.

  Gang members came to JP’s aid and pulled Archie, Leo Max and Kevin off their leader. Within moments, JP was back on his feet again and holding the baseball bat. He moved straight in on Freya.

  ‘This is it, Freak, you’re gonna die!’ he threatened.

  ‘And you are too stupid to live!’ Freya responded as she prepared to take him on.

  At that moment Mr Powless arrived. The History teacher saw JP with the bat, advancing on Freya. He grabbed JP’s arm to stop him, but JP turned quickly and raised the bat to the teacher.

  With little time to think, Freya jumped in front of her History teacher and took the blow. It struck her full in the chest. The twanging sound of the wooden bat meeting her silver armour rang out.

  It startled JP for a moment. In that time, Freya caught hold of the bat and wrenched it away from him. ‘I have had enough of you, human!’ she shrieked in rage. Tossing the bat aside, she lunged forward and caught JP by the coat. Hoisting him easily over her head
, she let out a loud Valkyrie howl as she threw him across the yard.

  ‘Wait here!’ Freya ordered Tamika and Orus. ‘It’s time I finished this!’

  Freya charged at the bully and, tearing off a glove, exposed her bare hand. But just before she could reap him, Archie darted in front of her.

  ‘Gee, no!’ he cried. ‘Stop – everyone’s watching you!’ He caught her by her coat and turned her round. Archie held up the glove. ‘They’re all watching. Here, put it back on before they see.’

  Everyone in the yard was staring at her.

  ‘Please,’ Archie begged. ‘Don’t expose yourself, not now! It’s over. Mr Powless saw what happened. JP will be expelled. He won’t be allowed back here. We won!’

  Orus returned to her shoulder. ‘It’s over, Freya,’ he cawed. ‘Calm down.’

  Freya was shaking with rage. Her wings were agony and her arm was swelling from the blow. She wanted desperately to share that pain with JP.

  ‘Greta!’ Dr Klobucher ran between the gathered students. When she saw Freya’s bare hand, her eyes became fearful. ‘What are you doing?’

  ‘Nothing,’ Freya muttered tightly as she pulled the glove back on. ‘JP attacked us.’

  ‘I just heard. Are you all right?’

  Freya nodded. ‘I am. But he got me right where it hurts.’

  The Principal leaned closer and whispered, ‘Your wings?’

  Freya nodded.

  ‘I’ve got to stay here with JP. We’ve called the police and they’re on their way. I don’t want you here when they arrive.’ The principal turned to Archie. ‘Would you take Greta inside and see that she’s OK? Then get her home.’

  ‘Sure,’ Archie agreed. ‘Come on, Gee, let’s get you inside and see the damage.’

  ‘I’ll come too,’ Tamika offered.

  Everyone was staring at Freya as she stormed down the school’s hall. Word of the big fight was spreading faster than a wildfire and all the students wanted to see her. Stopping at the girls’ bathroom, Archie shoved open the door. ‘Is anyone in here?’