Note: This contains an important splot spoiler. It is left to the reader to figure it out, but hints and clues are given throughout the book itself. If you don’t want the spoiler, skip this part. The second book will have most of this information as things playout. This interview is something I wrote simply for fun and to clear some writer’s block.

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Author: Hello everyone. How did you like the first book? The first screenplay was written about seven years ago, and the main bulk of the book started to gain traction some three years ago during COVID. Writing is a lot of work, and sometimes writers block gets in the way of anything creative. That said, one way I like to alleviate this is to do something fun such as interviewing characters in the novel.

Author: Speaking of which, we’re here today with Valkyrie Strife, aka Alice Verdandi. For those just tuning in, she is the mentor of our novel’s star, Sweiza Serif. Incidentally for those also not in the know, Lady Strife also lead the Valkyrie Rebellion against Odin some two hundred years ago. She is known for not saying much unless absolutely necessary and prefers to let her actions speak louder than her words.

Strife interrupts.

Strife: What the author really means to say is that I would rather be seen and not heard.

Author: Yes, about that.

Strife: It comes from carefully observing other people. I am am of noble blood after all.

Author: Yes, you mentioned that you were a Valhallan Noble. Were you born in Valhalla or Maria Village?

Strife: My family is from Valhalla; I was born in Maria Village. That is where I met Sigurd.

Author: What is your history with Sigurd?

Strife: He was a soldier of Muspell during the Muspell-Valhalla War. He was injured and found himself in neutral territory.

Author: Neutral territory?

Strife: That would be Maria Village. It is located on the Dawez continent, which is a subcontinent to greater Midgard. For all intents and purposes, it is still considered part of Midgard, despite part of it actually being in the realm of Muspell.

Author: Interesting. One thing I’m sure most people…

The author points to the camera.

Author: …would like to know is if Sigurd is still alive.

Strife: Sadly no. He was taken from me. He was poisoned. As such things go, it was an act of war. I was willing to throw away my nobility to elope with a man I’d barely met. It seemed like the right thing to do at the time. However, once word came of my parents being killed on a merchant ship, I felt I had nothing left to live for. I was suicidal.

Author: That is where Salmira came in, isn’t it?

Strife: Yes, she presented herself to me at that legendary tree that so many citizens of Maria Village know about. Incidentally, Salmira’s original name is Maria Sallastare, but she doesn’t share that with just anyone.

Author: Does that mean Maria Village is named after her? Would that make it an important village?

Strife: I’d like to think so. I had heard legend of Salmira and her meddling with Odin. Supposedly she has been messing up his plans for several millenia, ever since she formed the Valkyrie as his vanguard. It seems the Valkyrie observe tradition, but also function independently. However, Salmira was finally removed from her station and removed from Valhalla.

Author: …for reasons of?

Strife: High Treason. The same thing I am guilty of. I found out under Odin’s watch my parents’ and Sigurd’s deaths could have been avoided.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Author: How so?

Strife: Odin is the allfather and all knowing; he hung from the tree of Ymir, drank of its sap and gave up his eye in order to be able to predict the future. It seems he has two Ravens, among other things, that bring him all of the best news worth knowing around the world. In a word, he knew damn well what could happen. I suspect Odin had something to do with it, otherwise I wouldn’t have joined the Valhalla Military. That is part of the reason I helped stage the coupe. Odin’s ways are not wise. He has gone paranoid because of that witch (Salmira). He can only predict the future so far, but she has the power to alter time.

Author: Wasn’t your excuse that Salmira made you do it?

Strife: Yes. I was only given a light punishment; namely he lopped off the tip of my ear.

Strife instinctively reaches up her left hand to preen her hair over her left ear.

Author: About that, don’t you have elven blood?

Stife: Yes, and might I say so, creating that plot point with the moon Lokul is a bit much.

Author: As in it could use more sugar?

Strife: Yes, an old habit that I picked up because of ‘her’.

Author: Who is ‘her’.

Strife: My friend Vorkera. She is that mysterious girl that appeared one day. I came up with that name you know; she was hesitant to give me her real name for some reason, I’m not sure why. She simply said that her friends call her Sera. I said that wasn’t a proper warrior’s name. So I noted she was Voracious, Tenacious and Careful. I see those words and the name Sera as being Vorkera.

Author: Isn’t that a major plot point?

Strife: Maybe.

Author: Speaking of plot points, you seem a bit more talkative than usual.

Strife: Well, when engaging with people I know, I tend to revert back to how I was over two centuries ago: a bit more ignorant and naive about the world.

Author: Ah. Speaking of naivety, how did Surt take your first meeting with him and your plan to overthrow Odin?

Strife: The whole Muspell-Valhalla War began because of migrating dragons being driven further from the desert in Muspell and into the land of Midgard. Odin doesn’t like enchanted creatures because they threaten his power. Large dragons are even difficult for some of the military machines. Surt was simply a creature that got caught up in it all. He is an actor of the stage of fate, a victim of it if you will; same as me. There was also the matter of trade being affected. You get the idea. Odin can’t meet his grand plan; whatever that is.

Author: Grand plan?

Strife: He is supposedly building that large tower as an extension of his castle. He is concocting all manner of evil up in that planning room of his. I’m sure having such a large tower helps him to see everything around him, even further than normal. I also seem to recall some kind of rainbow-like light that appears on occasion. I’m not sure what that is for.

Author: Ah, that sounds like the Bifrost Bridge.

Strife: I have no idea what you are talking about.

Author: The joys of being an author. Say, I was wondering, Salmira sent your child into the future. Doesn’t that mean Salmira has the ability to alter everyone’s fate?

Strife: Yes. Valkyrie aren’t allowed to have children. I was pregnant at the time I was knighted. I just wasn’t aware of it. Salmira presented herself to me again and did me the honor shortly after she (daughter) was born. I hope to meet her someday, but Salmira being her crooked self, will not always twist fate to my desires.

Author: What do you mean by “Your desires?”

Strife: If I could have my way, my daughter, parents and Sigurd would all be alive. I believe Salmira has the ability to make this happen. Also importantly, she might be able to remove some of these scars from my body; I wouldn’t mind having the tip of my ear back.

Author: He took the tip of your ear because it closely resembled an elf, is that correct?

Strife: Correct.

Author: Lady Strife, I was also wondering. You have elven ears and Sweiza has elven ears, do you think there is a connection?

Strife: I believe we might be related, if however distant. Two hundred years is a long time for bloodlines to become diluted and that is about eight generations difference between us.

Author: Wasn’t there some verdict as part of your punishment that you would be granted amnesty from your rebellion as long as you served field loyalty to Odin?

Strife: Yes, it is part of the reason I train young Valkyrie.

Author: Incidentally, isn’t the punishment for defying Odin, death?

Strife: It is, but as I mentioned, I swore field loyalty to Odin. In exchange for being spared, I was allowed to stay alive.

Author: I see. Now didn’t something happen between you and Salmira concerning your daughter?

Strife: That witch of a woman told me the last Valkyrie that I train as part of my punishment, would be my daughter. But it would be some two hundred years in the future.

Author: Ah. So that means Brynhilde?

Strife: Yes, I believe it to be her. She is of nobility and has the mannerisms.

Author: What about Sweiza?

Strife suddenly stands up as if the author hit a nerve. Strife bows, then stands up straight as she clicks her heels together. She about faces and walks out.

Author: Well, there you have it ladies and gentlemen. She is quite to the point and gets to the heart of the matter. It’ s just a pity she didn’t give us any stats.

Strife pops back in.

Strife: My bio is at the end of the first book. Don’t miss it.

Author: It has some info that we didn’t cover!

Strife: Consider this your punishment for being so nosey!

Strife clicks her heels together again, about faces and walks out.

Author: Good grief.