by Matt Larkin
Musing on cyclic loss and the seemingly insurmountable foe before him was apt to send him into despondency—indeed, it had done so many times over his long years. But if he let that happen now, if he did not treasure these moments with her while he had them, he would be forced to harbor one more regret down through eternity. He shook himself, then doffed his clothes and joined her in the lake.
Sigyn popped up from underwater, then squirted a jet of it through her pursed lips like a fountain. “I heard you lingering there.”
He smiled. “Of course you did.”
“When did you get back?”
“Not long ago.”
She swam a little closer, until but a few feet separated them, both treading water. “What is it?”
“Sigyn … I love you.”
She laughed. “I love you, too. Even if you did take off after Odin without much warning. I suppose I have to get used to that. He’s left Frigg to rule in his stead, and she wants me to advise her.”
“As you will, down through many years.” Many from her perspective, at least. “And I … I want to spend all those years with you.”
That obviously pleased her, and she leaned back, floating. “I already promised to spend eternity by your side.”
Loki swallowed. In some lifetimes, he could not bring himself to ask the question, knowing it would end. It always ended. But this time, she was immortal, would not be taken from him—at least not by age. “Marry me.”
She giggled, dove underwater, and then came up right beside him, clinging to his shoulders. “I was starting to think maybe you didn’t plan to ask.”
He kissed her, using his legs to keep them both afloat. It was awkward. And wonderful. “Sigyn, please … understand. I’ve faced a great deal more than I can—or should—explain to you. I’ve buried my children … too many times. I’ve buried …” Her. His love.
“Other wives?”
He could have told her all his wives, all his loves, were her, always her. But then, she was not ready for that knowledge. Indeed, understanding the cycle of life and death had no doubt proved a burden to Odin. “Everyone I’ve ever loved.”
Sigyn nodded. “I already understood that.”
Always so clever, wise beyond her years. And how much wiser she might grow, given the long life the apple now promised her. “That’s over now. We’re in Vanaheim. We can live here forever.”
Loki shut his eyes. If he believed in the godhood—or at least the benevolence—of any deity, he would have prayed. But he had no one to whom he might pray, and he would not lie. He might deceive by withholding bits of the truth, but he had at least enough honor to not lie, and never to this woman. “You … have forgotten what I told you outside Halfhaugr.”
Sigyn frowned. “What? That naught lasts forever? I remember, but surely that’s changed now.”
“You do not understand. The Aesir taking Vanaheim is not the beginning of a new world. It’s the beginning of the end of this world. It is the first sign of … Ragnarok.”
The Saga continues in The High Seat of Asgard:
books2read.com/highseatofasgardbook
Author’s Ramblings
The Shores of Vanaheim closes the first trilogy (of three) of The Ragnarok Era, ending with Vanaheim becoming Asgard. Odin finally embraces his destiny to become more than just a king, but a king of gods, and begins his transformation into the messianic, magnificent bastard we know in myth.
Of the first three books, this was probably my favorite to write, and the one I consider the best. Everything became more personal in this book, and that’s always a good thing. It also allowed me to reveal a bit more of the connection to other eras within the greater Eschaton Cycle.
Those who follow my readers’ group or have visited my website have no doubt heard me talk about Eschaton. For those who have not: it’s a dark fantasy framework for the retelling and reimagining of real world mythology. Time is unfolding in these cycles of destruction, and the Ragnarok Era represents just one of these periods. The world ends over and over.
Anyone familiar with Norse mythology knows that’s what Ragnarok is—a final battle that destroys the gods and the world. The jotunnar—representing the chaos of nature—reclaim the world, but a tiny fragment of humanity survives and rebuilds a new world. One cycle ends and another begins.
In previous volumes, we’ve seen the Norns and Loki and Idunn all hinting at the nature of the cycle, but in Shores, we finally see Odin glimpse what lies ahead. And that glimpse shapes his actions as he tries to avert the final battle.
When I think about Shores, the other character who comes to mind is Freyja. Freyja is famous for searching the world for her missing husband Od (or Odr), which name is sometimes considered a variation of Odin’s. This is the direction I took. Odin traditionally learns the unmanly arts of seid from Freyja, and they are possibly lovers—sort of uniting the Aesir and Vanir dynasties. In Shores, I traveled this route with a tragic twist, and because of this twist, Odin will do almost anything to fix his mistake.
Which, I guess, is my way of saying that in the next trilogy, we will see a different Odin: one obsessed with the twin missions of getting back to Freyja and averting or winning Ragnarok. And since it will take place decades later, we will finally see the adult children of the characters in this book. So definitely stay tuned, because the epic is far from over.
Again I want to thank my wonderful wife, Juhi, for all her support. And also, special thanks to Clarissa, Clark, and Fred for helping making this the best book possible.
Thank you for reading,
Matt
P.S. Now that you’ve read The Shores of Vanaheim I would really appreciate it if you’d leave a review! Reviews help new readers find my work, so they’re very helpful. Thank you in advance for helping me build and grow my author career!
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Keep Reading
The epic continues with The High Seat of Asgard … or continue your collection with Omnibus Two:
books2read.com/ragnarokomni2book
The Saga Continues …
Dear Reader,
Thanks for reading!
The Vanir are gone.
Odin is king of Asgard.
But it cost him his beloved.
How far will he go to reclaim her?
After decades alone, he finds a man he can use.
Sigmund: a man tormented by his own dark past.
But what will Odin’s schemes cost this man?
Book 4 begins a whole new arc of the epic.
Get it now.
The Saga continues in The High Seat of Asgard:
books2read.com/highseatofasgardbook
OR continue your collection with Omnibus Two:
books2read.com/ragnarokomni2book
Thanks,
Matt
THE RAGNAROK ERA: OMNIBUS ONE
Books 1-3
MATT LARKIN
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Copyright © 2017 Matt Larkin.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.
Edited by Clark Chamberlain and Fred Roth
Published by Incandescent Phoenix Books
mattlarkinbooks.com