Valkyrie (Kate O'Hearn) - By Kate O'Hearn Page 0,2

at the state of her, she’s filthy!’ She snatched up a comb and tried to drag it through Freya’s tangled blonde hair. Just look at the state of your feathers! I’m amazed you can even fly . . .’

‘Mother, please,’ Freya begged. She caught the comb as her mother pulled it through a large knot. ‘I can do this. Just give me a bit of time.’

‘Of all my children, you have always given me the most trouble. Your sisters were dressed and ready to leave at sun-up. They’ve already gone to Valhalla to join the honour guard. Don’t you realize how important this is? You are my youngest child and the last Valkyrie. Today, finally, you will join us in the reaping. It is a great honour.’

Freya opened her mouth to protest, but her sister cut in. ‘Of course Freya understands how important it is. We all do. Just give us a moment to prepare and we’ll meet you at the entrance to Valhalla.’

Her mother seemed unconvinced, but nodded as she reached for her winged helmet. ‘Just don’t keep Odin waiting long. You know how impatient he can be.’ Without a backward glance she crossed to the balcony, opened her wings and leaped off.

‘Remember to bow when you approach Odin,’ Orus warned. Well preened, he sat on Freya’s shoulder as they prepared to leave for Valhalla.

Freya nodded her head nervously. ‘I’ll remember.’

Maya put the finishing touches to Freya’s gold and white gown as she flitted around her. ‘And try not to yawn when he gives his speech.’

‘I’ll try. But why does he always have to talk for so long?’

Orus leaned closer to her ear. ‘To hear himself speak!’ The raven started to laugh and caw at his insult to the leader of Asgard.

‘Don’t let Odin hear you say that,’ Maya warned, swatting at him. ‘Orus, you should show more respect – like my Grul.’ Maya reached up and stroked the raven at her shoulder.

‘Don’t try to educate Orus, Maya,’ Grul teased. ‘He’s too thick to learn anything.’

‘Who are you calling thick?’ Orus challenged, cawing loudly and flapping his wings.

‘You,’ Grul answered.

As the two ravens cawed at each other, Maya held up her hand. ‘Enough! When will you two finally get along?’

‘Never!’ the ravens said as one.

Freya reached up and stroked Orus’s smooth black chest. ‘Calm down. He’s just trying to upset you before the ceremony.’

‘He’s doing a fine job of it,’ Orus muttered. ‘One of these days, Freya, I’m going to show that Grul just how clever I really am . . .’

Ignoring the bickering birds, Maya finished fastening a plain gold chain at her sister’s neck. ‘Oh, and try to look interested when Odin tells the story of Frigha.’

‘Oh no, not again,’ Freya moaned. ‘Why does he keep telling us the same old story every time there is a First Day Ceremony? Surely, by now, we all know it.’

‘He tells the story as a warning to all of us,’ Maya said. ‘So no one forgets what happened to the one Valkyrie who defied him and ran away from her duties in Asgard. You remember what happened to her?’

‘How could I forget? Odin had to summon a Dark Searcher to find her. Then he let loose the Midgard Serpent to punish those who helped hide her from him. Half the Earth was destroyed in his rage.’

‘Yes,’ Maya said. ‘And then he cut off her wings and took out her eyes before he banished the Valkyrie from Asgard for all time. She was left to wander the World of Man – blind, alone and flightless. To lose our wings is a fate worse than death.’

‘I know the story,’ Freya said tiredly. ‘You don’t have to remind me.’

‘I’m just saying that Odin will repeat it. You must show him respect and try not to look too bored.’

‘I’ll try.’ Freya inhaled deeply. ‘So how do I look?’

Maya took a step back and surveyed her work. ‘You look beautiful. Not even Mother could find fault.’

Freya grinned and opened her dark wings. Her sister had applied fragrant oils to the feathers that had them shining brightly. In the full sunlight, the black feathers shone with rainbow iridescence.

Freya looked to Orus. ‘Well, what do you think?’

‘You’ll do,’ the raven said casually. He gave her a playful nip on the ear with his polished long beak. ‘Just as long as they don’t look too closely at your fingernails.’ He cawed in laughter and flew off her shoulder towards the balcony. ‘Now, hurry up before they start the