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TO THE ENDS
Chapter 37 - Freyas

Chapter 37 - Freyas

Several years ago, in a simple room, a teenage Freya sat at a table. The room had little decoration outside of photos of Tyr, Juuka’s family, and another young man that resembled them. Freya looked freshly showered, with a towel wrapped around her neck and her skin flushed. Tyr, whose appearance differed little, handed her a bowl of pipping hot stew. He then sat down with a bowl of his own. She gave him a look, her eyes gleaming.

“Alright, where we’d leave off?” Tyr asked.

“You had him in a headlock,” Freya said excitedly.

“Right.”

For several minutes, Tyr continued a story while they ate. He looked quite expressive in his descriptions while Freya had a bright smile. They occasionally shared a laugh. Then, a digital doorbell rang. Tyr got up and moved toward a wall. Freya stopped eating as her joyous expression evaporated.

“Yes?” Tyr asked, interacting with an intercom on the wall.

“Tyr,” a woman’s voice responded. “The All-Father has summoned your Freya. For the night.”

“Understood.” Tyr paused. “She will be out soon.”

Tyr returned to the table and grabbed the dish-ware without looking at Freya. She sat frozen in abject despair. He walked toward the kitchen.

“I will await you in the morn for the usual regiment.” He deposited the dishes and returned, placing a hand on Freya’s shoulder, whilst brandishing a distant look. “It’s best not to keep the All-Father waiting.” She looked up, opened her mouth, but then closed it. He removed his hand. She rose to her feet and followed him to the door, where a female attendant waited on the other side.

The woman clicked her tongue at the sight of Freya. “Unacceptable. Hurry now, seems I must make you presentable to the All-Father.”

The woman grabbed Freya by the wrist and pulled her. Tyr continued to avoid her solemn gaze as she left with the attendant. He stood still for a bit, then as he reached to close the door, Juuka walked into sight. They shared a quick greeting of embrace. Juuka glanced down the hall.

“Ah, guessing your Freya’s gone for the night, eh? So I can actually come in for once?” Juuka asked while he entered.

“Yes. The All-Father summoned her.”

“Figured as much. Poor girl. Rare to see such a pretty face looking so down. Still, I’ve got girls at the club who would literally kill for her position.” They proceeded to the kitchen. “Can you believe some of them have asked if I could talk to you about them being a ‘Freya’?”

“So it’s spread to even them?” Tyr pulled beers from his fridge and passed one to Juuka.

“Bro, it’s been what, a month or so already? That shit started within the first week. If anything, should be surprised it didn’t spread quicker.”

“You haven’t?”

“What? Told them the end of the road is a deathmatch? Fuck, no. I wouldn’t risk being the leak there. Give me some credit. That’s still managed to be kept under wraps. Of course, there’s a lot of rampant speculation among the more savvy.”

“You know I had to ask. What do they even think is going on, then?”

“Somehow they think it’s like a friggin beauty pageant or something. No idea how that came about. But hey, how is your Freya? At least she’s got you, right? ‘Tara Aesir’.”

Tyr grunted. “She listens well enough.”

“Always so talkative. Maybe she’s not so lucky?” Juuka chuckled. Tyr shot him a cold glare. “You know I’m just fuckin’ with you. I know you pretty well, man. I bet you’re prioritizing her winning for her life, over you becoming the de facto captain. Am I right?”

Tyr nodded.

“Figured. Hey,” Juuka lowered his voice to a near whisper. “Is it true the Freya’s look similar to one another? I’ve only seen your’s, obviously.”

Agitation swept across Tyr’s face as he stood in thought for a moment. “Thor?”

Juuka chuckled. “Of course it was, piss drunk and loose lips as usual.”

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

Tyr sighed. “What else did he say? Are you at least the only one?”

“Yeah, I got to him in time, don’t worry. But since I know, you can at least confirm, ay? What I gathered was, Odin bought the four Freyas, gave you captains each one and declared they’d train under you until fighting one another to become his ‘warrior goddess’, his ‘bardagagyðja’. I’m sure I butchered that. Winner becomes All-Mother and her teacher becomes Captain. The ‘Formaðr’ becomes second only to Odin. Some other insignificant details, so not a whole lot I didn’t already know.”

“I see.”

“Does Odin really even know Old Norse, or does he keep just picking out shit that suits him?”

“No comment.” Tyr gave Juuka a stony stare.

Juuka shrugged. “Fine, I get it, out of line. Anyway. Doubt it all stays under wraps, anyway. You think Odin even cares?”

“Unlikely. The All-Father has been more…erratic, since the All-Mother passed.”

Juuka took a long swig, then shook his head. “Can’t help but feel bad for the girls. But at the same time, them being bought means they had shit lives ahead of them. Least now they got a chance to have it made.”

“Hm.”

That dirty old fuck is probably sampling the goods, Juuka thought. Knowing Tyr, that’s why he’s somehow even quieter than usual. He’s not stupid, but he’d never shit talk Odin. I should change the subject, get his mind off it.

“So, you’ll never guess what Levi and Lyly did this morning—.” Juuka continued into a story of his children. Tyr’s demeanor changed completely, listening intently as they talked for several hours.

Early in the morning, several months later, Tyr instructed his Freya on fixing her form while lifting weights in a gym. Soon after, they sparred in an open training room. Similar scenes played out for several more months until one day, a distraught Juuka burst into the room. He struggled to catch his breath as sweat drenched expensive tailored clothes. Freya and Tyr ceased a bout.

“T-tyr!” Juuka yelled, coughing. Tyr approached. Juuka caught his breath after a few moments, focusing on breathing. “Fucking knew you’d be here when I couldn’t get ahold of you. Why you gotta turn everything off, man? Fuck.”

“Distractions are—.”

“I know, goddamnit. I’m just pissed I had to run here. Probably ruined my fucking suit. Whatever. Listen, bro, you gotta get out of her and lie low. Odin’s on a warpath. He’s fucking lost it. He might’ve summoned you already. But you can not go. Who knows what he’ll do?”

“Slow down, Juuka, what’re you talking about? What’s happened?”

“Thor and his Freya got found fucking. Odin executed them on the spot, supposedly! The fucking psychopath. I only know because one of his personal guard owed me a favor and decided to warn me to clear his debt, knowing you’re my brother. But by the time I gave up getting ahold of you and decided to run here, orders were already issued to detain you and Loki. Loki killed two of his own escaping, by himself. Fen prefers men, so, you know, probably why he’s excluded.” Juuka paused, his rapid speech having caught up with him. He almost vomited. Tyr looked at a bewildered Freya, then back at Juuka.

“Juuka, sorry to ask this of you, but you still have the bag I gave you, yes?”

“Huh? Uh, yeah? You need it? What’s even in it? I forgot to snoop.”

“No, it’s for you and your family. You’ll find all you need inside to go underground for a while. A safe house, credits, everything. Please, forgive me for asking this, but I have to take Freya into hiding. I don’t even want to risk you becoming a target.”

“Shit, I didn’t even think about that. I wouldn’t put it past Odin. There’s nothing to forgive, but what’s your plan? Wouldn’t taking her make things worst?”

“Odin will cool off. However, I’m not willing to risk her safety in the interim. Don’t worry, you won’t lose the club. I’ll negotiate with Odin once I deem he’ll be receptive.”

Juuka shoved Tyr. “Fuck you, man. I don’t give a shit about the club. Don’t think so little of your little brother, asshole. I’ll trust you to figure this shit out, like you always do. And I’ve even got my own go-bag too. What now, motherfucker?”

The brothers shared an acknowledging grin with one another. They grasped each other’s hand and pulled into an embrace while patting the other’s back. They separated, locked gazes for a moment, and then Juuka left without another word. Tyr briskly walked over to Freya, who had an even more perplexed expression than prior. He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled as he walked past. She resisted moving. Tyr turned to her.

“What is it? You overheard most of that, did you not? We need to be going immediately,” Tyr said.

“Yes, Master,” Freya said. “But, I don’t get it. Why’re you taking me with you? Your brother said it himself. Won’t this make things worse for you? The All-Father is…” Her words drifted off as her expression changed.

“Don’t worry about it.” Tyr gave Freya a forceful yank that easily pulled her off-balance into following him. She stared at his broad back. Despite the dire situation, she appeared to be smiling.

Freya stood on an illuminated arena floor facing two other women. She had aged into a young woman. They all shared similar facial features, hair and even eye color. They wore modified Aegis armor that made them appear as if they were Valkyries plucked from Norse myth. Each held a shield and a transarm spear. All three trembled beneath the lights as a commanding voice hung in the air above them.

When the voice stopped, the other two women lunged at Freya. She deflected both with ease. A brutal, desperate battle ensued between the three. After several minutes passed, Freya stood resolute above the bodies of the other two women. She huffed exhaustively, drenched in blood from head to toe. She appeared to be in a trance, glancing between the other’s lifeless forms, as if they would move any second. Her battered shield lay atop one of the women, while her spear stuck out from the chest of the other. She had no visible wounds. The commanding voice rang out.

“The All-Mother is born anew! Have you ever seen a creature so beautiful?”

The voice shook Freya from her trance. Lights filled the room as the voice continued. She immediately turned to a specific spot amongst a great deal of people. There sat Tyr, expressionless. He gave her a slight nod. Her eyes widened in shock betwixt the drying blood surrounding them. She fell to her knees. She punched the ground with her fist.

Still nothing! Freya screamed in her thoughts.