the Dark Searcher was through with the Valkyrie, he gave her back to Odin, who punished her by cutting off her wings and blinding her. Then he banished her to Earth to wander alone for all time.’
Archie sat speechless, just staring at her.
‘Go on,’ Orus prodded. ‘Tell him about the Midgard Serpent. He is human and deserves to know what Odin will do to Earth if he finds out.’
‘And,’ Freya continued hesitantly, ‘after that, Odin released Loki’s son, Jormungand – the Midgard Serpent – from his prison. He commanded him to punish those who had helped the Valkyrie. The Midgard Serpent is a terrible monster who can devour worlds. The last time he was released, he destroyed half the Earth. The only thing that stopped him from devouring it all was Thor. The two hate each other. But it takes all of Thor’s strength just to subdue him.’
Silence filled the kitchen.
Finally Archie spoke, his voice no more than a faint whisper. ‘Gee, your sister is right, you must go back – right now.’
‘I can’t,’ Freya said. ‘I promised Tyrone.’
‘You must,’ Archie insisted. ‘It’s too dangerous. Go back before Odin finds out.’
It felt like someone had just punched her in the stomach. Archie was telling her to leave. His face was red and he was growing angry. His emotions were coming at her in waves too fast for her to understand.
‘Don’t you like me any more?’ Freya asked in a shallow voice.
‘What?’ Archie demanded.
‘Is that why you want me to go? You don’t like me and have been waiting for a reason to send me away!’
‘Is that what you think?’ Archie cried. ‘That I don’t like you?’
Freya couldn’t face him. Instead she just nodded.
‘Gee, no.’ Archie moved his chair closer to her and took her gloved hands. ‘You’re the first friend I’ve ever had. I care more for you than I’ve ever cared for anyone in my whole life! You mean everything to me.’
‘Then why are you sending me away?’
‘I don’t want to,’ Archie insisted. ‘But you must go back. I couldn’t bear it if Odin did to you what he did to that other Valkyrie. It will kill me when you leave, but I’d rather lose you now, knowing you will be safe, than see you hurt.’
‘But I won’t be hurt,’ Freya insisted. ‘Archie, time moves differently between Earth and Asgard. It is still the same night that I left there, while days and days have passed here. There is plenty of time for me to do what I came here for. Asgard’s dawn is still Earth-weeks away.’
‘But, Gee, if you get hurt, I couldn’t bear it.’
‘I won’t,’ Freya insisted. ‘And I know I’ve got to go back – but can’t we have just a little more time? Please, Archie, let me stay.’
‘Do you promise you’ll be safe?’
Freya nodded. ‘I promise. Just a little while longer, that’s all.’
Archie nodded. ‘All right, as long as you are safe.’
Freya and Archie realized they had another big problem. A problem that looked like a horse, but one that had black- and chestnut-coloured wings.
‘If my mom comes home and sees her she’ll have a fit!’ Archie said as he stroked the mare’s soft muzzle.
‘But if Sylt returns to Asgard she could be used to lead others to us. Look how easily Maya found me. Keeping her here is the only way. Besides, your mother hasn’t been home since I arrived. Perhaps she won’t return until I’ve gone.’
Archie didn’t look convinced. ‘What do we feed her? I don’t have a lot of extra money to buy straw or hay or whatever she eats. What about exercise? She can’t spend all the time in the house.’
‘Simple,’ Freya said. ‘During the day while we’re at school, we can hide her in your garage. We’ll leave bowls of whatever we eat and water. Then at night I can take her out to find grains and grass and other food. We can do this, Archie, I know we can.’
Archie was stroking the mare’s neck. ‘I’ve never ridden a horse before.’
‘Then tonight, after it gets dark, if you want you can ride her while we go find food.’
CHAPTER TWENTY
After school Freya stood in front of the Geek Squad in Leo Max’s back yard for their first self-defence session. There were even more kids than Freya first met and she was now faced with eleven students. Mostly boys, but both Elizabeth and Connie were there too – looking just as frightened and anxious as everyone else.
Archie and Tamika were also there,