Valkyries generally do not get involved in public politics of the Scanian state, although there is nothing to prevent them from doing so, aside perhaps from a personal belief that they are above such things. In return, the state doesn't attempt to curtail the behaviour of the Valkyries, although again, there is no explicit rule saying they are above the law.

--Scanian Valkyrie Relations Primer, page 51

***

Mother was pretty good at speeches, at least, so it wasn't much of a chore to listen to her speak about how she'd improve things, the oversights she'd correct and so on. Not that there was anything majorly wrong, but there was always efficiencies to gain, as Mother liked to say.

After two hours, I'd had my fill of being a novelty for people to gush over, so I packed up my swarm and prepared to leave. Mother saw me packing, and excused herself from a conversation with a group of people to come over to me.

"Good work today, Sylvi. Your presence here drew in a lot of spectators, and if today was any indication, by the end of this little string of events I'll be well positioned for my promotion."

"It was no big deal." I said, feeling wrung out.

"Good. Now, before you leave, we just have a few photos to take. I noticed you changed your armour without notifying me."

"Yeah, the old one was a bit banged up, so..."

"That's nice. Over here, please." She said, having already turned away.

After a few photos, Mother had other things to attend to, so I was finally free to leave. I had to walk across a skybridge to a different building, since the roof on this building was a rooftop park not suitable for parking. I walked past a bakery and had an urge to eat something sweet, but felt a bit awkward about taking off my helmet in public to do so. I debated it briefly, but in the end decided to wait until I got back to Valhalla with finding a snack. So, I made my way there, through the not-quite-crowds, being intensely aware, through my expanded field of view, of how many people were staring at me, pointing me out to each other.

***

It was a bit crazy how fast you could get used to something. Here I was, sitting in a couch in Valhalla with a plate of chocolate, missing the presence and warmth of Katherine, something I'd only really started experiencing this week. I'd substituted a blanket and some pillows, but it really wasn't the same.

"Looks cosy." Val said from somewhere behind me.

"It's alright. I miss her, though."

"Of course you do, but she'll be back before you know it. Mind if I join you?"

"Sure. How was your day?"

"Atrocious. I've had enough of politics for the month." She sat down next to me.

"Aww, need a hug?" I asked.

"Always." She said and glommed onto me.

I worried a bit at the blanket, and finally managed to get enough of it free to wrap us both in it. This was much better.

"Chocolate?" I offered.

She took a bite.

We sat in companionable silence for a bit, just enjoying the warmth.

"So, who exposed you to politics today?" I finally asked.

"I don't want to talk about it. Let's just say that while we Valkyries are sort of free to do as we please, things go a lot smoother if we consider the plans of the rest of the city as well. How about you, how did your day go?"

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"I had an okay time, talking to strangers for what seemed like all day."

"Oh, was that publicity event of your mother's today?"

"Yeah. It was both better and worse than I'd feared. People were so excited to see me, you know? But it was exhausting, too, trying to be pleasant, answering the same questions over and over again."

"Yeah, I know. That's part of the reason why we hide out up here. At least you have your helmet to hide behind, people might not recognize you without it yet."

"I don't like the sound of that 'yet'". I said.

"Well, it's probably inevitable that someone digs up photos of you eventually, especially now that they know exactly who you are. But still, if you keep your helmet on during public appearances, that should do much for your anonymity."

"Mmm." I hummed in agreement.

After that, we just relaxed, letting the stress of the day melt away.

***

At the next publicity event, this time in a food court, things were even busier. I guess people had figured out there was an actual Valkyrie to meet, then. The photos I was handing out had been changed to reflect my new suit, and the pattern I was flying over the crowd was quite a bit simpler, meaning I was less distracted and irritable. Things were going fine, until I was asked by a man with a drone hovering behind him whether I supported my mothers policies.

"I don't know, I don't really know what they are." I replied truthfully.

"I see. That's a bit surprising." He said. "How close would you say you are to your mother?"

"We're close enough." I deflected, a bit uncomfortable. "Why are you asking me these questions?"

"Well, it's not every day we see a Valkyrie endorse a prospective sector administrator. I figure the citizens of Scania would like to know what this is all about."

"Look, I don't know about all of that. I'm just here as a side show, to drum up some interest, as it were."

"Really? That wasn't the impression I got. So you're saying you don't endorse your mother, is that right?"

"I-I'm not sure I'd put it like that. I just don't feel like I know enough to say, one way or another."

I see. That's very interesting. Thank you so much for your time." He said with a nod, then went in a bee-line towards Mother, who was currently doing the rounds, chatting to people and shaking their hands. I worried that this might be trouble, while the next person in line stepped up and requested I take a photo with them.

Through my drones, I could see the man approaching Mother and asking her a question in a confrontational tone.

"So, I hear you're really just abusing your daughters new-found status without her actually supporting you. Any comments?"

"What? That's ridiculous, of course she supports me."

"Not according to her. She says she's just here to make you look good, but doesn't know anything about your policies."

"She's spending her valuable time here, she's helping me entertain people and raise awareness for the administration of this sector, and she's my dear daughter. I think that paints a clear enough picture, don't you?"

"As hired help, sure, or maybe not even that. Is she even being compensated for her time?"

"That is absolutely none of your business. We're done here."

She turned to leave, as the man turned to his drone and did a little spiel summarizing events, then started asking the people around him questions about their views on the conversation that had just happened. It was a bit of a mixed bag, with most people not really caring one way or another or refusing to comment, but a few were disappointed in Mother wasting the time of a Valkyrie like this.

Seems I might have made a bit of a mess, there, but at least he didn't stick around for too long after that. The rest of the event was uneventful in comparison, with Mother holding more or less the same speech as last time, and finishing off with another tour of the room.

As I was finally getting ready to leave after the queue in front of me had emptied out, Mother pinged me a message asking me to come see her.

I did so, expecting some sort of trouble.

"Sylvi. I expected you to at least pay attention when I gave that speech two days ago. Did you catch my policy program this time around, or do I need to assign you some reading?" She said.

"I think I have the gist of it. Why, though? I thought I wasn't expected to talk politics?"

"You should at least know enough to not cause another scene like today."

"I didn't cause a scene, that man did!"

"And what was that about you not supporting me, anyway?"

"Well, I don't know who the other candidates are, nor what they're like." I said reasonably.

"I see." Mother said frostily. "And don't you think that's a little bit ungrateful?"

"I didn't sign up for choosing a side, here. I'm just here because you asked me to be."

"Choosing a si... Sylvi, I'm your mother."

"And I'm a Valkyrie, now. I probably shouldn't even be getting involved in this to begin with." I said with frustration.

"So that's how it is. You gain a bit of good fortune, a measure of power, and you throw your family to the side."

"I'm not... Look, I just don't want to get involved in your career, okay?"

"This isn't just my career. It's my life, Sylvi."

"Yeah, well. I sometimes wish you had a life outside of your career, too." I said bitterly.

"You're overstepping yourself."

"If that's what it takes to make you understand, then so be it."

"I thought I raised you better than this." She said with venom in her voice.

"You barely raised me at all! You were never there in the first place." I yelled.

She didn't have a response to that.

"Whatever. I'm leaving. Don't expect me at the next event."

I turned and left, leaving her staring at my back with a complicated set of emotions on her face.