Valkyrie (Kate O'Hearn) - By Kate O'Hearn Page 0,20

him away. I ain’t never seen JP so mad. He says he’s gonna put Daisy in the ground on Monday. Even I’m feeling sorry for him.’

Archie started to tremble in Freya’s arms. Fear was pouring from him in heavy waves. She realized that by saving him today, she’d caused him even more trouble.

When the group of boys gave up the search and left the yard, Freya stood with Archie for several minutes.

‘Where do you live?’ she asked, as he gradually calmed down.

‘Not far,’ he said softly. ‘But I don’t think I can make it.’

‘You can. I will help you.’

‘Freya, what are you doing?’ Orus whispered. ‘It is unfortunate, but you can’t help him. That awful boy is going to get him no matter what you do. You are here to save Tyrone’s family. You don’t have time to help everyone you meet.’

Freya shot him a look, but said nothing as she supported Archie.

It was a long walk to his home along tree-lined streets. As this was late autumn, the leaves were falling. There was a crisp smell of winter coming on. It wouldn’t be long until there was snow.

They walked in silence, but Freya could still feel the fear coming from Archie.

They arrived before a small house and Archie carefully led them up the front steps. Freya looked up at the door.

‘Do you have family here who can help you?’

Archie was hesitant to answer. ‘I’ll be OK. Thank you again . . .’ He paused. ‘I don’t even know your name.’

‘I can’t tell you,’ Freya said. ‘It’s a rule.’

‘Well, thank you anyway,’ he said softly as he approached the front door.

Freya watched him pause before the door and she felt something more than fear. Something much worse – resignation. Archie knew he was going to receive a worse beating on Monday. But he wasn’t going to do anything about it.

‘I could teach you,’ Freya finally offered.

Archie pulled his key from his pocket and put it in the lock. ‘Teach me what?’

‘How to fight and defend yourself against those boys.’

‘What?’ Orus cried. ‘Have you lost your mind?’

‘You would do that?’ Archie asked.

Freya ignored the screaming raven at her shoulder. ‘I have been around battlefields all my life. I would do it in exchange for your assistance.’

A spark of life began to glow in Archie’s eyes. ‘What can I do?’

‘I need to find a family,’ Freya said. ‘I came here to help them.’

For the first time, Archie smiled. It was a beautiful smile. ‘Is that what Valkyries do?’ he asked. ‘They help people?’

‘Not quite,’ Freya answered. ‘But I do want to help them.’

‘And me?’

Freya looked long and hard at Archie. This was madness. She had run away from Asgard to protect one family, and now she was going to take on more? But with all the hope she felt coming from him, how could she say no?

‘Yes, Archie, I am here to help you too.’

Archie unlocked the front door and held it wide as he welcomed her into his home.

CHAPTER SIX

While Archie showered and changed his clothes, Freya looked around the small house. This was the first human home she had ever been in and it was nothing like her home in Asgard. It was a fraction of the size and the furnishings were very different.

Though they were old and very tired, all the furniture and objects were clean and well ordered. As she wandered round the living room, Freya discovered things she’d never seen before and was anxious for Archie to finish bathing so he could explain what they were.

Freya and Orus started to explore the rest of the house. Down a short hall she opened a door and saw a bedroom that seemed very out of place with the rest of the well-cleaned house.

In fact, it was a filthy mess. Clothes were thrown all over the floor and empty drink bottles covered every surface. The bed was unmade and the sheets were stained and smelly.

Freya didn’t linger but moved on and found another bedroom unlike anything she’d ever seen before. The walls were covered in colourful posters and there were hundreds of figurines on shelves. Hanging on the back of the door was a long, floor-length, burgundy-coloured velvet coat, while the closet was filled with strange clothes that had chains and cogs and levers all over them.

‘This is my brother’s room.’

Freya jumped at Archie’s quiet arrival behind her. Her wings flew open in alarm and knocked several figurines off a shelf.

‘Brian is really into Steampunk.’ As Archie bent down to