Chapter 2
Tamsin spent time in Asgard learning about her new skills. Asgard was a lovely place. The people there were mostly warriors that Odin had brought in. Tamsin didn't care much for the warriors that she had contact with. The only things they seemed to like to do was drink and fight. Tamsin loved a good fight, but their fights were usually underhanded and dirty. The warriors seemed to have a kick them when they are down way of thinking. She would join them on occasion to keep her skills sharp. One man made the mistake of thinking she was weak. That would not be a mistake he would be making again.
Tamsin learned many things in Asgard. She learned how to best use her new powers to do her job. She learned really quick how to use her powers of doubt. She didn't believe in fighting dirty but using her new powers was not fighting dirty in her mind. She used them to her advantage on some of the guys. She had taken many of the warriors to the cleaners by using her doubt while playing pool. She knew that they often cheated as well so it didn't seem so bad to give them a dose of their own medicine.
Tamsin often wondered why Odin wanted these warriors. They were very few that had honor and were brave. Tamsin saw them in a very negative light. She had seen them in battle. Some that she was ordered to take would even trip their best friend to get away from the enemy if they had to. Over the centuries Tamsin had witnessed many battles. She was there for the Trojan war, the Battle of Waterloo, the Revolutionary War, and the Civil War. She always knew what warriors to pick because they always had a special glow about them. Tamsin had also learned to look for the most ruthless ones. During the Battle of Waterloo, Tamsin had witnessed one of the warriors she was supposed to take back use a friend of his as a shield in battle. The man that was used as a shield was not chosen after he died. It turned Tamsin stomach to have to take back that man that had done that. It took all of herself control not to drop his soul of the first body of water she flew over. She would have gotten the chance to do it if he didn't have such a death grip on her wings.
The new wings were the best part of the job. They were beautiful black feathered wings. She could even hide them from others when she needed to. They were only visible if she wanted them to be. The wings gave her new freedom. She could move through the human world and Asgard with unmatched speed.
Tamsin liked the job most of the time. Some of the warriors she brought back were worthy but most were not. Along with her wings, she could also see how good and bad people were. She could tell which warriors were good people and the ones that were not. Some of the warriors that she had to reap were full of darkness.
The ones like that were always Odin's favorites. He would set them up special places to live and give them special treatment. Tamsin wondered if the myths about Odin being good were true or not. She couldn't read his nature but favoring these kinds of warriors made her wonder about him. She wondered why he chose these warriors and what his plans for them were. She knew it was not her place to question it but she couldn't help it.
Centuries past with Tamsin working for Odin, and she collected the souls as she was ordered. It was amazing to her that human nature never really changed. There were always new wars and people were always fighting about something. She began to wonder if all people did was fight. It was hard for her to believe that she was once human herself. She was never like the people that she watched. She would watch the battles and would think about how pointless they really were. Battles were fought over some of the stupidest things. They were fought over land and which god to believe in. They would be won by one side or the other and then fought over the same thing just years later.
Tamsin saw no glory in the deaths on the battle field. She would reap the chosen ones but always wondered why the others were not chosen. It didn't seem fair that Odin got to choose the ones that were worthy. To her, there were others that were worthy.
She knew the way that she thought about things could get her in trouble. That was why she started to spend less and less time in Asgard. She was there long enough to train and do as she was told but little else. She preferred the human world. There was good in it even though she saw a lot of the bad. It was complex and surprising. It seemed so different to her in her new skin. Her powers let her see the good in people and the connections between people. It was amazing to see these things. It took her becoming a Valkyrie to see all the good humanity had to offer.
When she was on Earth, she spent a lot of time just observing. She did take up a job now and then. She found jobs in a field where she could help people. It took many centuries for her to get a job in law enforcement. She had to wait for the concept to become part of the human world and for woman to become a regular part of it as well. Being a Valkyrie was also about protecting people that could not protect themselves. She was one of the best detectives in her field and it helped her with her new abilities.
Tamsin was able to settle into a routine on Earth. She fit in with the dark fae and she only when back to Odin when she had to. She liked what her new life had given her. Odin called on her one day for a job that would change everything however.
He called her and she went and found him sitting in his palace. "You called for me?" Tamsin asked as she entered the room.
"Yes. I have a special assignment for you my little Valkyrie. You're one of my most talented Valkyries and this is an important reap. There is a female soldier I need you to go and get. She is fighting in a war in the Middle East. She is very important. You'll know her when you see her. Just bring her to me," he told Tamsin.
"Of course,' Tamsin answered as she left to do as she was told.
Tamsin went on her way to collect the soldier that Odin had asked her to. The war he sent her into was one of the worst she had seen in many years. The weapons that humans were now using were so much worse than they used to be. They could kill others too well. They were using weapons that not only killed other soldiers but also killed many innocents as well.
It was horrible to watch but Tamsin just tried to focus on the task at hand. She looked around the battle field for the woman she was supposed to reap. She scanned the field and it wasn't long before she saw the person she was looking for. The aura around her was very bright. She could see that this woman was very good. Tamsin watched her for a few minutes and she could see how brave she was. She was able to take out several of the enemy easily. She was fearless and she was the leader of the group.
Tamsin watched as the group of soldiers found themselves in the middle of a town. Most of the innocent people had already left the area, but Tamsin spotted a small child that had been left behind by mistake. She wasn't allowed to interfere in these battles or Tamsin would have saved him. Tamsin had to fight the urge to disobey anyway. She was about to go save to boy when her soldier ran over to the child.
The boy was right in the line of fire. The soldier ran toward him and picked him up. She ran with him to get him out of danger. She soon found the boy's mother who was fanatically looking for him. She ran toward the boy's mother with the child in her arms. She was able to hand him over to her and he was unharmed. The soldier had taken a shot to the chest as she passed the boy off and fell to the ground.
Tamsin knew that the shot would kill her. This is why she was here at this moment. Tamsin couldn't take a soldier to Odin unless they were dying. Every soldier that she had taken before had died directly in battle but this woman was different. This woman was protecting an innocent when she took the shot that would kill her.
Tamsin rushed to the woman's side. People couldn't usually see her when she was on a reap unless they were the person she was there to bring back. The woman could see her and there was fear in her eyes. Tamsin knew it must be fearful to see a woman with wings running to your side. The woman was leaning against a building as she watched Tamsin come closer. Her eyes were wide as she took in the sight of her. Tamsin kneed in front of the woman and looked at her wounds. The woman was holding her chest and applying pressure as best as she could.
"Don't be afraid of me. I'm here to take you away from this world," Tamsin told the woman.
"How are you and what are you? Are you an angel?" she asked.
"No I'm not an angel, but I will take you to a better place. Odin has sent me to take you back to his world. Many brave warriors are there."
"Will I see my family?"
"No. Only soldiers are allowed in his world," Tamsin answered.
"Then I don't want to go. I want to be with my family."
"I'm sorry. I was ordered to bring you back," Tamsin answered as she thought about the soldiers she had brought back before. They never left Asgard. They never got to see their families again. She had never thought about it before. She couldn't let that happen to this woman. She deserved to be with her family if that was what she wanted. Tamsin knew she would have to go against Odin if she did not take this woman back with her. She had to do the right thing. Taking her back to Odin would be like taking her to prison. Tamsin couldn't do that.
"I'm dying then?" the woman asked.
"Yes. I promise it won't hurt."
"I want to go and be with my family. Please don't take me," she begged.
"No I'm not going to take you, but I'll stay with you until the end if you wish."
Tamsin lay back against the wall and tried to comfort the dying woman. She didn't know what would happen if she didn't take her back but she was going to find out. They sat there for what seemed like hours. Tamsin could see the woman's aura growing dimmer. She knew it wouldn't be long now.
Tamsin looked up to see a beautiful sight coming toward them. It looked like a Valkyrie only she had white wings. She was beautiful. Tamsin knew that she must be here for the woman beside her. She must be an angel. The angel walked up to the woman and gave her her hand. The soldier took it and they flew up into the sky. Tamsin watched as they grew smaller and smaller.
Tamsin knew she had done the right thing, but she didn't know what she would have to face when she came back to Odin. She had broken the rules. He could have her killed or take her powers, but she would do it again if she had to. This would not be an easy night for her, but she felt better than she had in a long time.
Author's note- I know my time line is a little weird, but I had to do it that way to do what I wanted. I hope it's not too confusing and that you still like the story. Let me know what you think. I always love to hear from you guys.
