Blader stepped off the Transriot at the stop nearest Loqé's office, his sword and shield weighing heavy on his back. It was ten minutes before eight in the morning on Baldordagr, and he was ready for his assessment.

Breathe. You can do this. Breathe.

Blader touched the door sensor and waited. No one was in sight, but the graffiti marking the outside of the office made him frown. After meeting Loqé, after all her help, and especially after last night, the degrading runes and slurs sparked anger inside him. She didn't deserve this, any of this.

The door opened and Loqé gestured for him to enter. Blader did, staring at her outfit as he stepped inside. Instead of her typical tunic or her armor, she wore a flared white dress that stopped just past her knees, touching the edges of her tall silver boots. A black and grey belt wrapped around her waist, sporting her sword, and a feathered shawl draped over her bell-bottomed sleeves, the silvery white feathers looking elegant and graceful. Her hair was braided in several smaller braids that cascaded down her back with the ease of a waterfall, rippling and glinting in the light as she moved.

"Are you taking Freyja's advice?" Blader asked.

Loqé shook her head. "No, this is the formal wear for a Valkyrie. Today is a formal occasion. All of us will be in formal dress." She pressed her tongue against the back of her teeth, silent for a moment. "I just said formal a lot, didn't I?"

Blader furrowed his brow. "All of the Valkyries?"

"Yes," Loqé answered simply. "Most of them, anyway. Your assessment takes place before the majority of the order."

"Where?"

"At the Valkyrie's hall," Loqé said. "Gildr Hall. I will be taking you there." She exhaled slowly, closing her eyes for a moment. "All right, let's go."

[----]

Loqé led Blader out through the back of the building, where two winged horses were stabled, one of them Haraun. She pointed to the second horse. "You ride Vaka. Follow my lead."

The horse was already saddled and bridled, and Blader tentatively opened the stall door and led the horse out. She snorted, flexing her wings as he stared at her dubiously. "You sure about this?"

"Yes, of course," Loqé answered, holding Haraun's reins. "Come on, let's go. It's like riding a horse, Blader. Except for the flying part."

The Valkyrie led her winged horse out of the miniature stable and mounted up, appearing to sit comfortably between the wings. Blader frowned and then copied her example, settling himself into the saddle and adjusting his hold on the reins.

"Vaka, follow," Loqé commanded. "Follow Haraun." She glanced at Blader. "Make sure you're holding on."

Blader wrapped a couple strands of Vaka's mane around his fingers as Loqé urged Haraun up into the air. The horse jumped, straightening out her wings as she tucked her legs in. Vaka did the same, leaping off the ground and beginning to circle up into the air as her wings drew down against the air.

"Whoa!" Blader couldn't help crying out as they left the ground behind and took off over the buildings of Njordesden. Loqé looked back at him and he nodded at her. "I'm good."

The two horses flew over the city, heading for the Valkyries' estate on the outskirts of Njordesden. Blader couldn't help looking down, marveling at the view from up in the sky. This is amazing. She gets to do this every day? And I thought riding Fjorsen was cathartic.

It felt like no time at all before Gildr Hall, the large hall belonging to the Valkyries, came into sight. It was built beside the Tidr River, far enough from Njordesden to not be officially part of the city but close enough for a quick response. From what Blader understood, they also had another station within the city itself with first responder Valkyries, a building similarly marked with graffiti like Loqé's office.

Loqé directed Haraun into a descent and Vaka followed. Blader leaned back in the saddle as the horses began to slow before landing, their hooves striking against the ground outside the hall. After a couple steps the winged horses halted, Loqé easily dismounting.

Blader jumped off Vaka, finding it was similar to dismounting from Fjorsen. Turning, he glanced up at the stately hall as a young Valkyrie, dressed in simple grey tunics, came and took the reins from Blader, her eyes wide as she stared up at him. She couldn't have been more than fifteen years old, no older than Hilda.

"Hello," Blader said.

"Greetings," she said, ducking her head and scurrying away with the winged horse in tow.

"Haraun, go with them," Loqé commanded, stroking her horse's muzzle and then gesturing after the young Valkyrie. With a nicker, the horse jumped back into the air and flew after the others, keeping close to the ground.

Loqé turned to Blader. "Follow me."

Blader trailed after Loqé as they approached the hall's doors. The hall was built on a stone foundation, the walls made from thick wood. The rune standing for Valkyrie was imbedded in the middle of the doors, lighting up momentarily when Loqé touched them.

Slowly, the doors swung inward on their own, Loqé waiting patiently. When they were fully open, she stepped through, Blader following her. "To the right," she said, gesturing to a hallway immediately branching off that way. "Your physical and mental assessment will take place before the trial."

The two headed down the hallway, Blader marveling at the elegant construction of the hall. The corridor had lower ceilings than the foyer had, but the light from the large windows flanking their right side lit the space up. Torch sconces sat on the wooden panels on the left wall, currently unlit.

Loqé stopped at the end of the corridor, standing before a door marked with another rune. She glanced back at Blader. "Good luck," she whispered before knocking on the door.

"Enter," came the response and Loqé pushed the door open, stepping aside and motioning Blader through.

It was larger than he had expected it to be, with a desk in the center of the room occupied by a Valkyrie. Windows covered one wall, thick curtains flanking them, and bookshelves covered the rest of the wall space with the exception of one corner, which held weights, scales, and other medical equipment.

The Valkyrie rose. Like Loqé, she was in ceremonial dress, except she didn't wear the feathered shawl; it was draped over the back of her chair. Her hair was also completely braided up into a high bun, one long, thick braid loop hanging from it, the bottom of the curve touching her dress in the middle of her shoulders.

"Blader Thrym?" she questioned.

Blader nodded, pulling his tags out from under his tunic. "Yes."

"Doctor Eda, I leave him with you," Loqé said with a bow. "Summon me when you are finished."

"Yes, yes, Recruiter Loqé," Eda said, her eyes scrutinizing Blader. "Take a seat, Thrym."

Blader sat in the single chair as Eda perched on the edge of her desk, her hard eyes still studying him. "Okay, so I'm going to check your physique, make sure you're strong enough to take what serving in the einherjar will put you through. Then I will ask you lots of questions to ensure you are mentally a good fit for the einherjar and not loki crazy. The High King doesn't appreciate chaos, Thrym, so I hope you don't have it in you, for your sake and that of your family." She tilted her head. "I don't want to be the one who tells the world Aetlun Thrym's grandson isn't fit enough for service, do I?"

Blader had a sudden image of Jorid trying to enlist and didn't see him getting past this stage of the assessment.

Eda clapped her hands briskly and the assessment began. Blader completed the physical, passing it with flying colors, and then sat through the mental assessment, answering all of her questions and filling out the forms she handed him. When he finally finished, she looked satisfied.

"You are mentally and physically fit to be einherjar," Eda remarked, signing her name across the bottom of his papers. "A good thing, too. I would have hated to turn away Aetlun Thrym's grandson."

"Did you know my grandfather?" Blader asked quietly.

Eda looked up at him, her eyes narrowed. "Thrym, everyone knew your grandfather. He was the best soldier the einherjar has ever seen, on either side of Ragnarok." She sighed. "It was a tradegy, losing him in the Battle of Sigra." She touched a comm on her desk. "Recruiter, you may collect your einherjar and bring him to the arena."

She didn't really answer my question.

Within moments, Loqé had returned and she offered Blader a quick grin before taking the file Eda handed her. "Good proving yourself, girl," Eda said in an undertone to Loqé, Blader just catching the words. "Getting Aetlun Thrym's grandson? That might be enough to erase your mother's mark."

Loqé pressed her lips together but only nodded, turning to the door. "Come with me."

Blader followed Loqé out of the office, the two continuing down the corridor. He was curious about what Eda had said concerning Loqé's mother, but by the look on her face he didn't think it safe to ask.

The corridor led into a circular, elegant room, with a skylight bringing light in through the high ceilings. The wood on the floors was like glass, it was so smooth and shiny, and the chairs were highly decorated, elaborate carvings crossing the backs and armrests.

Blader glanced over at Loqé as she spoke, continuing to stand. "We will wait here until Master Eirnn arrives to greet you."

Looking at the chair closest to him, Blader studied the carvings. The back of the chair was edged with runes, and in the center was a depiction of a huge battle. The battle was centered around a man on a horse, holding onto the leg of a body that an eagle was struggling to drag away. The man held a hammer in one hand and was raising it to fling at the eagle.

Blader recognized the markers of the famous legend. The fierce warrior who had protected the borders of Midgard from the residents of Jotunheim, Modi Thorson, one of the gods left over from the Old Cosmos. In this story, he was stopping the jotun king, in his eagle form, from stealing the body of one of the valiant einherjar who had taken a blade for Modi.

His eyes wandered to the armrests, showing some of the other exploits of the god, also wielding his hammer, Mjolnir. But before he could examine them any closer, the door opened and another Valkyrie walked in.

Blader's eyes widened. It was the Valkyrie from Thor's Bridge, the one with the silver hair over her ears who had made Blader leave the Transriot without Hilda. Her hair was greyer than before, the silver strands all pulled back into a mass of thick braids, and her green eyes were cold.

Loqé lowered her head respectfully. "Master Eirnn."

Blader wasn't sure how to react. Eirnn, the head of the Njordesden branch of Valkyries, had been questioned for her leadership ever since Thor's Bridge. But even before the bombing, the Valkyrie had rubbed people the wrong way throughout the course of her career. The one time Blader had really heard his father express outward anger to the Valkyries in all of his eighteen years was concerning the Dyr Gunar case, and Eirnn had been the main subject of his abuse that night.

Eirnn flicked her gaze over Loqé like she was an undesirable half-breed. "Recruiter," she greeted, her voice icy, and then she looked over at Blader. Recognition briefly kindled in her eyes.

"Come, child, you are safe now."

"I don't leave until I have Hilda."

Blader knew she was suddenly seeing the kid from the Transriot on Thor's Bridge, eight years ago, finally putting a name to the face.

"Blader Thrym," she said curtly. "Aetlun Thrym's grandson, correct?"

Blader nodded. "That is correct, yes."

"Karl Thrym's son."

"Yes."

Eirnn nodded. "I am Headmaster Eirnn of the Valkyrie of Njordesden. Welcome, Thrym."

Loqé wordlessly handed Eirnn Blader's file and the Valkyrie skimmed it before glancing back up at Blader. "Are you ready for the final test before you are officially an einherjar recruit?"

"Yes, Headmaster," Blader replied steadily. "I am."

"Good," Eirnn said briskly. "Let's get to it, shall we? Follow me." She spun, her white dress swirling out around her ankles as she stalked to the door with nary a glance back over her shoulder. Loqé and Blader fell into step behind her.

Eirnn led them out of the waiting room and down several steps to a large pair of double doors. The oaken panels were carved with scenes from Valkyrie history, but Blader didn't have time to look at them before the doors were flung open and he was following the headmaster out into the sunlight.

They entered a large arena, the ground hard-packed earth and the walls ten feet tall and mounted with spikes. The platforms surrounding the arena were filled with Valkyries, all in ceremonial dress like Loqé.

"Sisters!" Eirnn called, her voice echoing around the arena. "I present to you Blader Thrym for consideration as an einherjar!"

The platforms fell completely silent as all the Valkyries turned their eyes to Blader. Eirnn began to walk over to the grandest platform at the other end of the arena, Loqé gesturing to Blader to stand still. Together, they watched the headmaster reach the wall and then leap effortlessly up to the platform before turning to look back out at Blader and Loqé.

"He has been recruited by Loqé to join the ranks of the einherjar," she continued, her voice easily reaching everyone. "He's a legacy, grandson of Aetlun Thrym and son of Karl Thrym. Should he succeed and earn the rank of recruit, he will be sent to Vigrid to prepare for the Reenactment. Should he fail, however, he will be sent home with a mark of shame and Loqé will be marked with her failure."

Blader's eyes widened. Although he knew the "mark of shame" for himself would only exist in the minds of the Valkyries, considering no one in Njordesden respected them anyway, he had not been aware of Loqé's share in the shame. He glanced at her, questioningly, but she mutely shook her head, indicating he should look back to Eirnn.

"Recruiter Loqé, you may join your sisters now."

Loqé started to walk forward, eyes pinned on Eirnn's platform. Her steps were resolute as she reached the wall and jumped, grabbing a spike and swinging herself effortlessly up to take her place beside the headmaster, looking back down at Blader.

"Blader Thrym, are you ready?" Eirnn asked.

"I am ready," he called.

"Arm yourself."

Blader slung his shield and sword down from his back, quickly fitting the shield to his arm and lifting his sword into a defensive position. There was a deafening silence for a long moment after he took up his weapons, as no one, not even him, moved.

Eirnn's voice was terrible when next she spoke. "Begin."

Suddenly, the arena was filled with the intonation of voices as some of the Valkyries began to speak, the sound of the voices louder than the words they uttered. Within moments, figures had appeared in the arena, flesh solidifying over the runes that had summoned them.

Blader turned, eyeing the runic warriors, the rekkr, that now surrounded him. There were three in total, standing in a ring around him.

"Blader Thrym," Eirnn directed. "You shall have to prove yourself as a warrior by defeating these three rekkr. They have been animated to fight on their own and no Valkyrie shall manipulate them in any way.

"You may start."

The runic warriors began to move towards him, one armed with a sword, the other with an axe, and the third with a bow. Blader stood in the center of their circle, shield covering his midsection, his sword ready to swing into a block or a strike, his eyes shifting from one rekkr to another. He waited.

The bow rekkr raised his bow, aiming for Blader's skull and quickly, Blader moved. He brought his shield up, catching the arrow on it and deflecting it, and sprinted towards the bow rekkr, thrusting his sword through its chest before he could draw another arrow. The other two runic warriors jolted into action, rushing Blader as he twisted away from the bow rekkr, the bow rune flickering vividly on his chest as the warrior collapsed, his body fading away into nothingness.

The other two rekkr approached Blader from two different angles, the sword coming in on his left and the axe on his right, and again, Blader's mind kicked into overdrive. It was like he was back by the creek, fighting the wolves, and he knew exactly what he needed to do in order to defeat them. It was instinct.

Twisting, Blader fell to one knee, bringing his shield around to block the overhead axe blow from the first rekkr, driving his sword up under his outstretched shield arm to deflect the blade of the second one. He threw himself into a forward roll as he withdrew his sword, jerking the axe out of the hands of the one rekkr as it remained impaled in his shield, and he came up on his feet, the sword rekkr right behind him.

Blader whipped his shield around, the axe handle catching the blade and forcing it down just as he buried his sword into the runic warrior's stomach. The rekkr dropped to his knees, the sword rune flickering as he faded.

Blader turned to face the last rekkr, who was now unarmed. The axe rekkr simply stood there, looking like he wasn't sure what to do. For a moment, Blader saw the flash of something in the rekkr's eyes.

Fear.

Blader unbuckled the shield from his arm, allowing it to drop to the ground with a clang. The arena was hushed as they waited to see him kill the runic warrior. Even the rekkr was watching Blader, not even trying to run. There was nowhere to run to, nowhere to seek cover. Blader killing him...it was simply inevitable.

The sword rekkr's blade, lying on the ground where the runic warrior had dropped it, caught Blader's eye, and he bent down to pick up the weapon. Holding it in a backhand grip, he looked up at the last rekkr.

"I will not kill an unarmed man," he said. He tossed the sword towards the rekkr. "Pick it up and face me."

The spark of gratitude in the eyes of the runic warrior was strange as he picked up the sword. Blader hadn't been expecting to see any emotion in the rekkr, considering as they weren't actually alive. He didn't know they could feel fear or thankfulness. He wondered if they felt pain.

Blader charged the runic warrior, his first strike blocked by the other's blade. The clashing of the swords rang in his ears as he parried and jabbed, thrust and deflected, the crazy dance of death drowning everything out around him.

At one point, the two warriors crossed blades, each pressing against the other, and Blader heard his own harsh breaths for the first time. His eyes bored into the ones of his opponent, gritting his teeth.

Then, with a step to the side, Blader slid his sword away from the rekkr's, twisting it around as his opponent stumbled forward and slashing his blade into the back of the rekkr's neck. The warrior dropped to the ground, but the flicker of the axe rune was more blurry than the last two runes, the body taking a second longer to fade.

There was silence in the arena as Blader looked around, still holding his sword. He looked over to where Eirnn and Loqé stood, waiting for someone to say or do something.

"Blader Thrym."

Eirnn's voice boomed around the arena. "Through your actions, you have demonstrated skill and strength with a blade as well as an honorable mind. You have shown yourself worthy to be granted the title of recruit, still to prove himself in the Reenactment."

Standing beside Eirnn, Blader could have sworn Loqé was smiling.

"Recruiter Loqé shall issue you your Ragnarok tags and your official orders. From now on, she shall be your point of contact among the Valkyries. Go forth, Blader Thrym, and when the time comes, fight and die honorably."

Blader bowed his head as Loqé leaped lightly down into the arena, crossing the hard ground quickly to reach him. Her lips still curved into a grin, the Valkyrie gestured to him to follow her and she led him out of the arena, all of her sisters still silent as Blader scooped up his shield, the axe vanishing from where it had been imbedded in its surface.

As soon as they were inside again, Loqé turned to face him. "You did it," she said. "You're officially a recruit now." She held out her hand, suddenly back to business. "Tags. I need to give you your new ones."

Blader handed her his probation tags and she headed off, motioning him to follow her up into the waiting room. There she left him, heading out a different door.

The room was silent as Blader looked around, not sure if he should sit or remain standing. He glanced at the carved chair across from the Modi one and he wandered over to it, looking at the carvings.

The engravings on the chair showed the gods sitting on the plain of Vigrid, a broken spear at Baldor's feet, his booted foot casually resting over the break. Nanna, his queen, was holding onto his right arm as she sat beside him and the other gods were assembled behind and around them, all directing their gazes to Odin's son, the new High King.

Blader was still studying the image when Loqé came back into the room, holding his tags. The probation tag still hung on the chain but the Ragnarok tag had been added, engraved with his name, his number, and the Ragnarok rune, coupled with the einherjar one. Blader took the chain from her and slipped it over his head, a sudden weight settling on his shoulders with the realization of what his victory meant.

"You are to report to my office tomorrow morning, at six," Loqé said. "I know it's Soldagr, but we're catching the early Transriot to the border. Make sure you're there, make sure you're packed. We're off to Vigrid to prepare for the Reenactment."

"We?" Blader repeated.

Loqé nodded. "I'm coming with you. I'm your recruiter – hence I will stay with you through your training at Vigrid. All recruiters travel with their recruits, although most have more than one."

"I'm glad," Blader said. "It would be nice to have a familiar face there."

"We can take Haraun and Vaka back to your farm," Loqé said. "I can drop you off there. That way you don't have to go through the city and risk seeing people not happy with your enlistment."

"All right," Blader said. Freyja will love to see the horses again, anyway.

Loqé tilted her head towards the exit. "Let's go, then."

/**/

So Blader's off! What did you think of the assessment, of getting to see more of the Valkyries?

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Sorry this is a day late! Thanks for reading and please vote and comment!

Skylar Wittenborn