The Love Of a Trickster

7

    Asena's words stuck with me throughout my training session. You're the only one besides Frigga who has tamed the beast. I have no clue what she means by that and I decide to ask her as soon as I can. I grunt as another Valkyrie, Eira, knocks me to my feet. I groan and stand up. Her name does not suit her! For a woman named after mercy, she is not very merciful.

    "I expected more out of you. After all, aren't you..."

    I break in before she can finish her sentence. "Don't. Even."

    "Don't even what?" She asks, innocently.

    "I know what you were going to say so don't say it. If you want more from me, come and get it!" I hold my arms out and take a few steps back, lengthening the distance between us.

    "With pleasure." Eira bows mockingly and rushes me, sword angled towards my heart.

    With my mind refocused on the exercise, I am able to spot her weaknesses in plenty of time. She's left her legs unguarded, her wings are tucked in and ready to lift, her one hand is in a fist. I immediately catch on to her battle tactic. I duck and roll as she sweeps herself up on her wings and angles her foot and fist for me. She whirls around, surprised that I evaded her. My fist connects with her nose. She lurches back as blood spurts from it.

    I wipe my hand off and angle my sword towards her. She's still preoccupied by her nose. I sweep her legs out from beneath her and point my sword at her. "How's that?" She glares at me. I just smile coyly. The beginnings of a bruise fringe her nose. "That's going to leave a mark for a while."

    She spits at my feet and stands. "Don't think you're better than us just because you're Loki's favorite. His opinion doesn't mean much around here anymore."

    "I don't think..." I break off as she stomps past me, not even listening. I sigh and shake my head. Asena looks Eira over as she approaches me.

    "She seems mad. What's that about?" She asks.

    "I beat her in our duel."

    "Ah, that explains it. Eira doesn't take well to defeat." Asena glances around, making sure no one is listening. "Between the two of us," she whispers, "I think she's jealous of you."

    "Jealous of me? Why?"

    "Well...it's nothing important." Asena smiles mischievously at me.

    I roll my eyes. "Sure. Whatever you say. By the way, what do you mean about me taming the beast?"

    "I wondered if you'd catch that. Well, come on. Loki is the notorious God of Mischief and whenever you scold him, he looks like a puppy who got in trouble. He does basically whatever you tell him to. I mean, he used to be so mean and cruel, always playing stupid mind games with us here and then you come and he leaves us alone! Well, more than he did in the past, anyway," she says.

    "He does not listen to me!" I burst out laughing. "He does the exact opposite of everything I tell him to do!"

    "Maybe while you're around, but as soon as you leave he fixes everything you told him to."

    "I don't know if I believe that."

    "You should, but I can't make you believe it. Just wait; you'll see." Asena punches me in the arm playfully. "Come on. We have the rest of the day off. We don't have to go reaping tonight. Let's do something."

    "Such as?"

    "Let's go to one of the taverns or fight rings!" She suggests.

    "Not really feeling that," I say.