Sigyn, as she began to think of herself, soon realized that the business of being a Valkyrie was more work than she had anticipated. Bruni first provided her with one of the Blue Rings of Odin, the powerful device that allowed Valkyries to open a dörr and travel the Black Road.
Then she showed Sigyn to the wardrobe room. "First off, boots," she said, sounding business-like. She soon pulled out two pairs of knee-high black leather boots, virtually indistinguishable from each other. "Perfect for snow or mud or rain. You have to wear tights," she added. "Or leggings, or - something. No bare legs in Valhalla. Here, take a few." She handed her a bag full of stockings."
"Now," she went on, "it's time to find your kjol." She showed Sigyn a rack of beautiful dresses, some brown, some black. "Some of the girls like these," she said, pointing to a few with prominent corsets. "But I think you would like this one." She pointed to a black one that was a little longer. "That would look nice on you, I think."
"What's the cloth?" Sigyn asked, fingering the dark material. "It feels like leather, but-"
"No, no," scoffed Bruni. "It's most like your – what's the word? – Kevlar."
"It's bullet proof?!"
"It's tough," Bruni assured her. "It repels all human weapons, and most Asgardian ones. And it has an innate shield-spell."
Sigyn picked out a couple kjols and modeled them for Bruni. Once she wriggled into them, she felt beautiful and powerful and tough. She waited while Bruni made some adjustments to the chosen dresses with some scissors and a needle.
"Finally," said Bruni, "we need a good helmet for you. A good starter helmet. Of course, as you ascend the ranks of the valkyrie, you will receive better helmets." She smiled at Sigyn wolfishly. "And you will rise quickly, my pet. Let's see – this one will bring out your eyes." She pulled out a silver helmet with wings on the side set with green stones.
Sigyn settled the silver helmet over her red curls. "I feel like I can hear better," she said, amazed.
"Oh yes, that is a side effect of that helmet. I think you'll enjoy it."
"What about weapons?" Sigyn asked eagerly. "I'm a good shot with a bow."
Bruni wrinkled her nose. "Well, I suppose. If you really want to rush into that. You'll have to go to our armory downstairs and pick out what you want. I will give you this, though," she added, pushing a round shield of the same material as her dress,studded with silver and emeralds. "Perfect for blocking."
Ingrid was waiting for her outside. Her eyes widened when she saw Sigyn's outfit. "You look so grown up! Just like a real Valkyrie!"
Biting her lip, Sigyn surveyed her dress. "Yeah," she agreed without much enthusiasm. "So - Bruni said something about an armory?"
Ingrid laughed and draped a long, pale arm around Sigyn's shoulder. "You're just like me – all about the weapons. Come along, we'll get you some real bling!"
Sigyn stared around the Armory in amazement. As you might imagine in a castle of warrior women, the weapons were coordinated by type, purpose, and color. Her mother ushered her to the silver and green section and handed her a scimitar. Sigyn looked at the curved sword in dismay. "I'm really not the sword type," she complained.
"Stop whining," said her mother. "I'll get you a bow as well but you need a shorter weapon too. If you don't want the scimitar that's fine but pick something else out then." Casting an annoyed glance at Sigyn, Ingrid walked over to the bow and arrows and began to pull them out and push them around noisily.
Sigyn surveyed her choices. She knew she did not want a long sword, but perhaps in this bin of daggers she could find something. Sure enough, she found a silver javelin with a curved handle set with jade and emerald that glowed when she put a hand on it.
"All right, I've found it," she said, joining her mother in the archery section.
Her mother's darkened eyebrows rose as she looked at the weapon. "Where did you find that?"
"In the bottom drawer. I had to dig a little, just like when I'm looking for a 32D."She wondered if her mother had ever shopped at Victoria's Secret.
Ingrid nodded approvingly. "Well, that looks like a powerful little dagger. I suppose it will do in hand to hand. Here, I think this bow will be about right."
Sigyn tried the bow and arrows out in the practice room as Ingrid watched and nodded approvingly. Sigyn liked the new bow; it was even better the Diamond Edge crossbow she used for deer season.
Ingrid promised her that they would address the riding part of Valkrie training the next day and brought her to the Great Hall for supper. "But you won't be eating," she told her. "You'll be serving."
Sigyn wrinkled her nose. "Serving who? A bunch of dead men? How does that go?"
Ingrid swatted her lightly across the cheek. "Be respectful. These are the heroes of Valhalla! And they will treat you like the demi-goddess that you are. But no flirting," she added. "Maybe in a few years that will be all right, but right now you are far too young."
The Great Hall was full of men and women dressed in every possible apparel. Some looked like Vikings – Ingrid told her they were the Asgardians. Others wore uniforms, others jeans and T-shirts. The food, to Sigyn's surprise, appeared magically in the midst of the table, great cuts of meat and heaping servings of potatoes.
"You're to pour the mead," Ingrid instructed her, leading her to a side table. "You can pour for this table."
A plump Valkyrie with pink cheeks and flashing eyes poured a tub of golden liquid into a flagon for Sigyn.
"May I try some?" Sigyn asked her mother.
Ingrid chortled. "I should say not! That's for the heroes. But here, you can have some ambrosia." She handed Sigyn a glass of something pink. "This is what we drink. And eat, for that matter."
"What is it, a protein shake?" Sigyn asked, looking longingly at the table.
"Kind of," said Ingrid. "But better. Come, just take a sip."
Sigyn tried the beverage and found it unspeakably good, like a fruity cream soda. Once she had finished the glass, she found she was not hungry at all. "No wonder you stay so skinny."
Ingrid patted her arm and told her to get to work. Sigyn began to pour mead for the heroes and chat with them a bit. They were friendly and welcoming.
As she chatted with a couple of fellows who looked like Civil War reenactors, another Valkyrie approached – a tall blond with eyes the color of blue ice. "Who are you?" she asked coldly.
Sigyn looked up at her uncertainly. "Sigyn. I'm Ingrid's daughter."
The icy Valkyrie sniffed. "I'm Nelsa, not that it matters to you. Half breed." She stalked away as Sigyn stared after her, amazed.
"There's mean girls everywhere," said one of the nearby fellows. "Don't let her get to you."
"Yeah, honey, we'll help you kick her ass," said another.
After helping to clear away the meal, Sigyn felt exhausted. She followed her mother back to the Valkyrie palace. Her mother showed her to her own room in a garret, where Sigyn collapsed onto a tiny cot without any complaints or conversation.
"Well, did you have a good time serving last night?" her mother asked the next morning as she led Sigyn to her riding lessons on a flat plain a few miles from the Great Hall.
Sigyn nodded. "I met Nelsa. She wasn't very nice."
"Oh, she's a bitch," Ingrid agreed. "Don't pay any attention to her."
She led Sigyn to the center of the great, flat valley. "Now, don't be surprised if it takes awhile to get used to our horses," she cautioned.. "They're a bit more spirited than the Midgard variety."
Ingrid whistled and a herd of sleek, beautiful horses trotted into the plain. Ingrid whistled again, a particular tune, and a black mare trotted out of the rest and bowed her head before Ingrid.
"This is my mount, Brisa," Ingrid said. "I believe she will let you mount her." She stood back, looking a little nervous, as Sigyn approached the horse.
Sigyn reached out to the beautiful mare. She had never been afraid of horses, and this lovely creature was no different. The mare stood calmly as Sigyn stroked her. Sigyn pulled herself onto the mare's sleek back. "Let's go," she murmured and the horse began to walk around the plain.
"Wait!" her mother said. "She'll run off with you."
"She's not going to run off with me," Sigyn assured her. But to pacify her mother, she slid off of the horse and gave her a pat. "There, is that enough for today? You know, I have ridden horses before. Maybe next time we could try a trot?"
"No sarcasm from you," said Ingrid. "I think that's quite enough for today. You definitely show the Valkyrie talent for riding. Very well, let's move along to your magical assessment."
She strode away purposefully, and Sigyn had to jog to keep up. "Wait. Magical assessment?"
"Yes," said her mother. "All of us Valkyries have some sort of magic."
"I'm not magical," protested Sigyn. "I would have noticed by now."
"Not on Midgard," laughed Ingrid. "Untrained and unprepared? Mortals don't know magic when it hits them across the nose! No, mark my words, you'll have a talent for some kind of power. Earth, wind, fire, water... I can't really tell with you. I'm a fire mage, so that's my bet."
She ushered Sigyn into a beautiful, well lit room at the top of one of the towers. The room was filled with bizarre contraptions and old, dusty-looking books.
The plump Valkyrie from the Great Hall, Alaina, doubled as the magical assessor. She studied Sigyn and then laid out several different items - a candle, a bowl of water, a pile of earth, and a glass jar filled with gray sand.
As Sigyn touched the candle, it seemed to burn brighter. She looked up at Alaina hopefully, but the Valkyrie pursed her lips and shook her head. "No, that's not quite it."
Nothing happened when Sigyn touched the earth. When she touched the water, she felt the bowl get hotter, but Alaina again shook her head. "No, if you were a water mage that stuff would be raining right now. No, it must be wind."
Sigyn grasped the glass jar and tried to channel her energy into it. But the gray sand did not move, not in the least. Holding the jar, Sigyn closed her eyes - she was a failure after all. Would she be sent back to Midgard? She knew that stupid Nelsa would laugh if she heard about this.
Alaina's gasp of astonishment shook her out of the revery. "What? What?"
"You- the light-" Alaina murmured, pointing at the jar.
Sure enough, the jar was glowing as though filled with sunshine. And then it burst, the shards of glass dissolving in a brilliant ball of light.
"Am I a wind-mage?" Sigyn asked hopefully, looking up.
Alaina edged away from her. "No, you're nothing I've seen before. Your talents seem to be with light." She looked around nervously. "You'd better go. I haven't seen this before. You're - different."
"Tell me something I don't know," grumbled Sigyn, walking towards the door.