by Kate O'Hearn
Then Freya turned and entered the banquet hall alone, curious as to what awaited her.
“Azrael!” she cried.
The Angel of Death threw his arms around her and wrapped her in his stunning white wings. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t help you in Muspelheim. I heard you calling for me, but I couldn’t come. It tore at me to know what Dirian did to you.”
Freya held him tightly. “It’s all right.”
“No, it’s not. I promised I would always help. But Muspelheim is the only realm we angels can’t survive in. To know that you were there and suffering . . .”
“Azrael, I understand. I really do,” Freya said. “I’m just so glad you’re alive. When I didn’t see you again, I feared the worst.”
“Never fear for me. I will always come for you. . . .” He grinned and playfully tweaked her nose. “Unless it’s in Muspelheim again.”
Freya shook her head. “I have no plans to go back there.”
“Good.” Azrael’s face became somber. “Freya, with all you’ve endured and lost, I can’t bear to see you grieving.” The Angel of Death waved his arm in the air and a beam of light appeared. Freya squinted until she could make out two figures emerging from the center of the beam. Dressed in the same brilliant white as Azrael, Skaga and Brundi appeared.
“Skaga!” Freya cried.
The two sisters greeted each other noisily. When Skaga released Freya, Brundi bundled her into her arms.
“I don’t understand. How is this possible?”
Azrael started to chuckle. “Skuld isn’t the only one with powers over people’s destiny. When Skaga and Brundi were killed, there was no returning them to their lives as Valkyries. But there was nothing to say that I couldn’t claim them for my angels.”
Skaga started to laugh and opened her angel’s robes. “Can you believe it? Look, they let me keep my Valkyrie armor!”
Freya laughed with her sister. “A Valkyrie Angel of Death . . . only you, Skaga, only you.”
Skaga held on to Freya’s hands. “Heofon is so beautiful. I hope you can come and see it.”
“I hope so too,” Brundi said. She smiled and opened her new white wings. “Look at this. I can finally fly again.” She looked up at her raven. “And did you see who came with me?”
“Pym!” Freya cried, reaching to stroke her grandmother’s raven. “I’m so glad to see you again.”
“And I you, child,” Pym said.
Freya looked at Azrael. “Can I tell everyone? Mother and Vonni are really suffering.”
He nodded. “Of course. I’m sorry we can’t stay for the celebrations. Earth still needs us. It took quite a pounding in the war, and people are suffering. But when our work is finished, we’ll have a proper reunion.”
Azrael gave Freya a final smile and then disappeared with her sister and grandmother.
Freya stood watching the empty place where her sister and grandmother had been standing. She was overwhelmed. So much had changed in her life. Loved ones lost and new friends found. Would anything be the same again? Did she want it to be the same?
Probably not. After a few minutes, Quinn and Orus entered the banquet hall. Quinn used his dragonfly wings to fly to her. “Are you all right?”
Freya nodded. “I am now.” She looked past him. “Where are Archie and Skye?”
Quinn grinned. “Archie is giving Skye a personal tour of Asgard. Those two really like each other.”
Freya nodded. “Archie and I went shopping earlier. He bought a necklace to give to her.”
“Archie has got it bad for her,” Orus said.
Quinn tilted his head to the side. “What do you think about that? I mean, Archie bears your mark. He should be with you, shouldn’t he?”
“No, it’s not like that. Archie is my best friend, and nothing can ever change that. But he’s free to be with whomever he wants.”
“Just like you?” Quinn asked.
“Exactly.”
Quinn stood beside her and smiled. It lit up his whole face and started Freya’s heart racing. With so much happening, she hadn’t allowed herself to feel anything. But now that the war was over and they were here alone, she realized how much she cared for him.
“Want to go back to the party?” Quinn asked.
“In a minute,” Freya said. She lifted herself up on tiptoes and gave Quinn a tender kiss. She smiled shyly and knew that this was just the beginning.
“Freya,” Orus cawed. “What is your mother going to say about that?”
As Quinn took her hand, Freya looked up at the raven on her shoulder and stroked his smooth feathers. “Orus, I think she’ll be fine.” Her eyes trailed over to Quinn. “We’ll all be fine now.”
A GUIDE TO THIS WORLD
Norse mythology is old. It’s not just old; it’s really, really old! It’s also known as Scandinavian mythology and was created, retold, and loved by the Vikings. The Vikings, or Norsemen, settled most of Northern Europe and came mainly from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland.
As you get to know the Norse myths, you might notice there are some similarities to the ancient Greek myths (including flying horses—but not my sweet Pegasus). Here’s a simple comparison.
In Greek mythology, you have the Olympians and the Titans. The “younger” Olympians, in fact, came from the “older” Titans, and yet, there was a war between them and the Olympians won.
In Norse mythology, you have the Aesir and the Vanir. The “younger” Aesir came from the “older” Vanir, and yes, there was a war! But the difference is, in Norse mythology, neither side won—they called a truce.
Here’s a big difference. In Greek myths, you have the place called Olympus. But in Norse myths, there are in fact nine worlds, or “realms” as they are sometimes called. In each of these realms, you have some really weird and wonderful creatures. And you know what? We are part of those nine realms. We’re in the middle bit. And instead of Earth, our world is called Midgard.
Now, some of you may think you don’t know Norse mythology at all. You do, but what you have learned may not be correct.
What’s the biggest mistake I hear all the time? Okay, here is a really big one. I mean big. He’s huge. He’s green and has a bad temper. Yes, I’m talking about the Hulk. He is not part of Norse mythology. Neither are Iron Man, Hawkeye, Black Widow, nor many of the other characters from the Avengers movies. But no matter how many schools I visit, the moment I mention Thor or Loki, the students immediately think that the Hulk and the other characters are part of Norse mythology.
Trust me, they’re not.
Don’t get me wrong: I love the Avengers and Thor movies as much as anyone. But they are the creation of Marvel, Paramount, and Disney. The real Norse myths are much older and have a much richer history.
So, as you enter the world of Valkyrie and Norse mythology, I would like to introduce you to some of the characters you may meet along the way.
Some will appear in this book; others will appear in the later books in this series. But I also encourage you to go to your local library or bookstore and check out more books on Norse myths. Believe me, with all the heroes and monsters you’ll meet, you will soon love them as much as I do!
—Kate
NAMES AND PLACES IN NORSE MYTHOLOGY
YGGDRASIL—Also known as the Cosmic World Tree, Yggdrasil sits in the very heart of the universe. It is within the branches of this tree that the nine realms exist. Yggdrasil is supported by three massive roots that pass through the realms. It is said that the fierce dragon Nidhogg regularly gnaws on one of the roots (when he’s not eating corpses—don’t ask). The Well of Urd, where Odin traded his eye for wisdom, sits on another root. Water from that well is taken by the Norns, mixed with earth, and put on the tree as a means of preventing Yggdrasil’s bark from rotting. They also water the tree. It is said that a great eagle sits perched atop the tree and is harassed by a squirrel, Ratatosk, who delivers insults and unpleasant comments from the dragon Nidhogg, who resides
at the base. Yggdrasil gives the nine realms life. Without it, they and we would cease to exist.
AESIR—This is the name of the group of younger gods, like Odin, Thor, Loki, Frigg, and the Valkyries. These are warrior gods who use weapons more than magic.
VANIR—This is the name of the older gods. Not much is known about them, but there are some familiar names. Vanir-Freyja and her twin brother, Freyr, are two well-known Vanir who were traded to Asgard in a peace exchange after the war. The Vanir are more earthen/forest-type gods who deal with land fertility and use a lot of magic.
ODIN—He is the leader of Asgard, the realm of the Aesir. A brave, strong, and imposing warrior, he presided over the war with the Vanir. He has many sons, most notably Thor and Balder. Odin carries a powerful spear, Gungnir, and wears an eye patch. It is said that Odin journeyed to the Well of Urd, where he exchanged his eye for wisdom. Each night Odin can be found in Valhalla, where he celebrates with the fallen heroes of Earth’s battlefields. His two wolves sit loyally at his side.
FRIGG—The devoted and very beautiful wife of Odin, she is the mother of Balder and is known for her wisdom. Sadly, not a lot more is known about her, other than that she knows everyone’s destiny. In later mythology, she is often confused with Vanir-Freyja and their deeds are mixed.
THOR—The son of Odin, he is known as the thunder god and is often compared with Zeus from the Greek myths. Thor is impossibly strong, with flaming red hair and a raging temper. He is known for being a fierce but honorable warrior. Thor is a sworn enemy to the frost giants, but calls Loki (who is part frost giant) a friend. They had many adventures together. Thor is also known for his mighty hammer, Mjölnir, which was created by the dwarf brothers Sindri and Brokkr on a mischievous bet with Loki. After its creation, they gave it to Thor, as he was one of the few strong enough to wield it. (By the way, Loki lost the bet and the two dwarfs sewed his mouth shut.) Thor is actually a married man—his wife is Sif, and they have three children. Note: We use the name Thor every week, as Thursday was named after him. Just think: Thor’s day.
BALDER—Son of Odin and Frigg, he is known as the kindest of Odin’s sons. Balder is a devoted brother to Thor and can calm his brother’s fearsome temper. Sadly, within the mythology, Balder died, and it is widely believed that Loki caused his death and was responsible for keeping him dead.
LOKI—He is the trickster of Asgard. His origins are a little unclear, but it’s said that both of his parents were frost giants. He is by turns playful, malicious, and helpful, but he’s always irreverent and self-involved. Loki likes to have fun! He enjoys getting Thor into trouble, but then he helps Thor out of the same trouble. Loki is a shape-changer and appears in many disguises. For all his troublemaking ways, it is written that Loki is tolerated in Asgard because he is blood brother to Odin.
HEIMDALL—Ever vigilant watchman of Bifröst, Heimdall has nine mothers but no father. He is a giant of a man and amazingly strong. Heimdall requires less sleep than a bird, and his vision is so powerful, he can see for hundreds of miles, day or night. His hearing is so acute that he can hear grass or wool grow. It is written that he carries a special horn, Gjallarhorn, that he will sound at the start of Ragnarök when the giants storm Bifröst.
VALKYRIES—Choosers of the slain, the winged Valkyries are an elite group of Battle-Maidens who serve Odin by bringing only the most valiant of fallen warriors from Earth’s battlefields to Valhalla. There, the warriors fight all day and feast all night, being served food and mead by the Valkyries. In early mythology, the Valkyries could decide who would live or die on the battlefield, but later this was changed to only collecting them for Odin. The Valkyries arrived on the battlefields riding blazing, winged horses, and their howls could be heard long before their arrival. It is written that the Vanir goddess Freyja, who was traded after the war, was in fact the very first Valkyrie. Again, within the mythology, she gets to keep half the warriors she reaps—but it’s not written what she does with them. The other half go to Odin.
FROST & FIRE GIANTS—Throughout the mythology, the frost and fire giants often appear, and there are many stories about Thor’s encounters with them. Fearsome, immense, and violent, they each live in their own realms. Frost giants are from Utgard in Jotunheim, and the fire giants come from Muspelheim. Though there are some peaceful giants, most seek to conquer Asgard. To offer an idea of size, there is one story in which Loki, Thor, and two humans venture to Utgard to meet the frost giant king, but get lost in a maze of tunnels. It is later discovered that these tunnels were, in fact, the fingers of a frost giant’s glove.
DWARFS—Both good and bad, dwarfs play a large part and fill an important role in Norse mythology. They are the master craftsmen and architects of the building of Asgard. It was dwarfs who created Thor’s mighty hammer, Mjölnir, and Odin’s spear, Gungnir. There are many stories of the dwarfs and their amazing creations.
LIGHT & DARK ELVES—These are the two contrasting types of elves. Dark Elves use dark magic, cause a lot of trouble, and can be very dangerous; they are hard to look upon and seek to do harm. Whereas the Light Elves are fairer to look at than the sun, use their magic for good, and help many people.
MIDGARD SERPENT—Also known as Jormungand, the Midgard Serpent is the son of Loki and his giantess wife, Angrboda. The Midgard Serpent is brother to the giant wolf Fenrir and Hel, Loki’s daughter and ruler of the underworld. It is written that Odin had Jormungand cast into the ocean, where he grew so large, he could encircle the Earth. There is an ongoing feud between Thor and the Midgard Serpent. It is written that Jormungand is big and powerful enough to eat worlds.
RAVENS—Ravens play a large part in Norse mythology, and Odin himself has two very special ravens, Huginn and Muninn, who travel through all the realms and return to Odin at night. They sit on his shoulder and tell him everything that is happening in the other realms. They are known for their wisdom and guidance.
VALHALLA—Odin’s Great Heavenly Hall for the heroic dead has a curious problem. In the mythology, there is a question of where Valhalla actually is. Most say it was part of Asgard, but others suggest it is in Helheim, the land of the dead. One thing is clear: Valhalla is a wondrous building where the valiant dead from Earth’s battlefields are taken. Here they are served and entertained by the Valkyries who delivered them there. They drink and feast with Odin and continue their training until the day comes when they are called back into service to fight for Asgard during Ragnarök.
BIFRÖST—Also known as the Rainbow Bridge, this is a magnificent, multicolored bridge that links Asgard to Midgard and some of the other realms. It is said to have been created by the gods using the red of fire, the green of water, and the blue of air. Bifröst is guarded by Heimdall the Watchman.
THE NORNS—There are three Norn sisters who dwell at the Well of Urd at the base of Yggdrasil. The oldest is Urd, the middle sister is Verdandi, and the youngest is Skuld. These are the goddesses of destiny, similar to the Greek Fates. Urd is able to see the past, while Verdandi deals with current events. Skuld is able to see everyone’s future. It is said that they are weavers, weaving people’s destiny. If a thread is broken, the life ends.
RAGNARÖK—Also known as the apocalypse of the Norse gods and the end of everything, Ragnarök (in the mythology) is said to have been started by a very insane Loki and his wolf son, Fenrir, along with the frost and fire giants. They took on Asgard, and during the war all the gods were killed. Odin was killed by Fenrir, who was then killed by another of Odin’s sons. Thor and the Midgard Serpent fought a battle to the death in which they managed to kill each other. Heimdall was the last to fall at the hand of Loki. It is during Ragnarök that Odin called on the warriors of Valhalla to fight for Asgard—but there were no winners. And it was from the ashes of Ragnarök that a new world was formed from the survivors—the world that we inhabit today.
DARK SEARCHERS—The Dark Searchers did not actually exist in Norse mythology. They are my creation because, in all my research, I couldn’t find a mention of
Odin’s police force. So I created them for that purpose.
AZRAEL & THE ANGELS OF DEATH—Now, some of you may already know that Azrael and the Angels of Death don’t come directly from Norse mythology. That’s very true. But as they are known all over the world in almost every culture, and since they do similar jobs to the Valkyries and have wings just like the Valkyries, I thought it would be fun to mix things up a bit. To avoid confusion, I set it up so that the Valkyries only deal with the most valiant warriors reaped from Earth’s battlefields, who are then taken to Valhalla—thus staying true to Norse mythology. Azrael and his Angels of Death deal with everyone else—thus staying true to many other cultures.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Life is filled with many challenges.
This was never more evident to me than when I was writing this book. I had only just started it when two of my brothers (one here in the UK, the other in New York) became unexpectedly but gravely ill. One came out of it—scarred but alive. The other didn’t. I lost my oldest brother, Pat, before Christmas 2014. And for the first time in my life, I found I couldn’t write. The words were gone.
This is why I want to thank my editor, Naomi Greenwood, and everyone at Hodder Children’s Books for their patience and for letting me take the time I needed to heal—so the words would return. They did. This book was so late being delivered, but not once did I hear a word of complaint from my publisher.
My wonderful agents, Veronique Baxter and Laura West, were equally supportive during this dreadful time, and continue to be just as supportive as the rough waters finally start to calm.
This just goes to show the resilience of our hearts and spirits. Terrible things do sometimes happen, but somehow we get through them—even when we think we can’t.
Should you, my sweet readers, ever face these terrible times—and a lot of you will—just know the days do get better. I promise. You are not alone.
Normally about now, I would start talking about protecting horses, dogs, marine animals, all endangered species, and doing all you can to protect our Mother Earth. But for now, instead, I will leave you with a few words to my brother. I have never claimed to be a poet, but for you, JP, I will try.