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Eir threw one last look over her shoulder before nudging Nightmare into a sudden leap and taking to the skies.
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“This is your last chance, Valkyrie. Bring back the warrior… or else.”
When the king of the gods stared down at you with his one glittering, all-seeing eye, the mighty spear Gungnir clutched ominously in one fist, there was no place to hide and nowhere to run.
Odin did not have to explain what “or else” meant. Eir was well aware.
Not one to make false promises, letting actions speak louder than words, she simply lowered her eyes and bowed solemnly.
A fraught, breath-held silence ensued. Even the air was still.
Until finally, Odin released a weary sigh.
She felt rather than saw Odin’s dismissal and didn’t bother to confirm. She turned on her heel and walked briskly out of the Great Hall in long, ground-eating strides. Five of her Valkyrie sisters fell into formation, following closely behind.
There were eleven of them in all at any given time. The other five covered the West and South, while Eir led her sisters in the North and East.
After they had exited the palace of the gods, when they were beyond spying eyes and ears, one of her sisters asked, “What will you do, Eir? You cannot delay forever. It is his Fate.”
This, Eir well knew.
The Norns did not lie. Nor were they particularly patient when they’d identified a soul for reaping but were then denied.
Repeatedly.
At least this time, she had the excuse that he wasn’t there on the field. It had been a battle of epic enough proportions that she’d have expected him to be there.
She released a deep breath, deflating her chest. The lessening of pressure must mean that she was relieved after all.
But the earth dragon would return…soon.
She could feel it. As if they were somehow tethered to each other. She’d been feeling his pull more strongly with each of his appearances in her realm over the years. She’d avoided marking him for Valhalla all this time.
If it wasn’t for the fact that Eir was Odin’s favorite, as well as popular amongst most of the other gods, especially Freyja, she would have been punished severely or extinguished many times over by now.
But next time…
Next time would be the last.
She did not answer Hildr’s question. She had no reply that made any sense, or that would satisfy those who asked.
“We have work to do,” she said instead of answering her comrade.
“Make preparations. We ride north on the morrow.”
Giving Eir a long look but holding her peace, Hildr inclined her head in acknowledgement and led the other Valkyries away.
Eir looked after her sisters in arms fondly. Hildr, Herja, Kara, Mist and Rota. They were family.
Despite that they were created and existed only to serve the gods, to carry out their particular task, they understood the bonds of sisterhood, having fought, lived and loved together these countless years. Nothing could break them apart. Not even the gods and their commandments.
But if Eir didn’t complete her mission next time, she knew Odin would not be forgiving, as he had been to date.
After all, didn’t she fill the golden halls of Valhalla with the most magnificent warriors from all the worlds? Didn’t she and the Valkyries win the gods’ wars, often leading the charge themselves as shieldmaidens in the most critical battles?
Yet, there was only so long Eir could avoid bringing to the god of gods the one warrior across time that he wanted most. A warrior with the spirit of the fearsome earth dragon, a being whose creation predated even the Æsir and the Vanir.
