Nigkala Tales Pt. 34: Life as a Valkyrie

That took nearly a month. Before I went forward, I made another bunch of pearls. Walking into Central Park, I went into the future by a year. Returning to real time, I rented a hotel room. I converted as many pearls as I could to cash, then went to the company and gave them the cash to invest in the same companies, adding to the shares I bought. I continued skipping ahead by about a year, and increasing my investment each time. I also used an illusion on myself to look a little older every few times I leaped time.

Finally, I was within a year of when I was kidnapped. I chose to see if I could advance only a few months, and so I carefully counted the days. When I was about thirty days away, I stopped. I successfully timed it, as I was only twenty seven days away. I sent a letter to the watcher house for the Norse watcher. In it, I asked for a meeting with Thor. I said an old friend would be there. I set a date a few days after my kidnapping. From a hotel room, I proceeded to sell the company, and placed the value in one of my other accounts. Dealing with the taxes took most of the time I had left.

I left the city the day after I was kidnapped, and took a train to my home anonymously. I used cash, and my ability to command. I arrived, and called Filipe to meet me in the back yard. He was shocked at my appearance. "What happened to you?"

"I was kidnapped and taken back in time. I have spent many years getting back."

"Do you know who, or why?"

"Loki, and his obsession for generating trouble, especially for his brother, Thor."

"Well, you're back. Let's go in, and tell the others."

"Yes, but you go first. I'll follow in five minutes, so you can tell the others I have aged."

"Okay." He left, and I followed. Everyone was together in the larger living room, including Cleopatra and Layla. There was a collective shock, when I arrived in the room.

"Yes, family, I have aged over fifteen years in only a few hours. What some of you do not know, is that time travel is possible. I have so traveled three times now. First when Inanna called me from the past. The second time was to assist Isis in reviving Osiris. And now, I have been kidnapped by Loki. Unlike the other times, I had to figure out my own way back. It took a long time figuring out how, but that is not why I am so aged. Loki also gave me amnesia, so I forgot who I was for over a decade."

Filipe asked, "Who did you think you were?"

"I became Ricci Olafdottir, a Norse mercenary. My skill brought me to the attention of Odin, and I became a Valkyrie. Only later, did I regain my memory."

Cleopatra said, "You were a Valkyrie? That's so cool. What's it like."

Lalya added, "Yeah, cool. Tell us everything."

For the next three hours, I told stories about my time as a viking. Finally, I said, "Enough for now. I need to unpack and rest. I'll tell more tales later."

Filipe followed me to our room, and so did Isis. While Filipe helped me unpack, Isis said, "I might be able to help erase those extra years."

I turned and said, "How?"

"When first we met, I wiped a few years off of your body. As my priestess, I can do that again."

Filipe said, "Let her do it. Don't let Loki win. Take back the years he took."

"Are you sure you want me to do that?"

"Yes."

"Okay." Turning to Isis, I asked, "What must I do?"

"First, we need to go to Egypt, and get some water from the Nile."

"No we don't. I have some here." I then cast my fetch spell, and brought the globe of Nile water and handed it to her.

"Full of surprises, aren't you?" I smiled. "Now we need a suitable vessel to hold this. Do you remember the font in my temple?" I nodded. "Good. Where shall we place it?"

"How about next door? When the remodeling is over, it will be your place. Having a shrine on the property would be appropriate."

"You're right. Let's go."

I followed her, and we went next door. She chose a place out back for the shrine. I offered to create it, and with the aid of a series of illusions, we settled on a design. Then I created the shrine, with a good foundation, and made of stone, wood, and assorted metals. That I created it in under an hour impressed her. Once built, a little larger than a small garage, we designed the font. When it was built, she placed her hands on it, and I felt a wave of divine energy infuse the building, and a separate enchantment on the font. She had me remove the top of the ball, then she levitated the water out, and into the font. When the ball was empty, she asked me to take care of it. So I just reshaped it into a glass sculpture of her, and placed it by the wall. She smiled at that.

"Let me control your body, and I will take care of the rest."

I nodded. Suddenly I levitated, and my clothes were stripped off and laid aside. Then I was moved over the font. She reached out and touched the water, and it glowed. Slowly, I was lowered into it, and it tingled. Despite it being only about three inches deep, I continued to go down without touching anything but water. I could feel the current of the Nile. When my head went under, I kept my eyes open. I could see it was a different time of day wherever I was. When I was fully below, I could tell I was subtly glowing. Suddenly, I could feel the water flowing through my body, passing through every part. I saw some of the water leaving with a different glow that diminished, while at the same time, the glow on me also diminished. When the last of the glows left me, my body rose up. She then lowered me back on the ground.

I used telekinesis to strip the water from my body, and placed it back into the font. When I could feel almost no more moisture on me, I asked, "Would you like to add a full length mirror here? I want to see myself."

"Hmm... Yes, over there."

I created it, and matched the feel of the shrine, then looked at myself. I looked years younger. When I looked back at her, I said, "Thank you, Lady Isis." I also bowed.

"Undoing the bad effects of your kidnapper is a pleasure. As to what to do with him, that in another thing."

"I already have plans."

"Oh?"

"Yes. I think a summit with you, Inanna, Filipe and I to discuss it would be best. Would after dinner be good?"

"Yes. I shall bring Osiris as well, as he is family."

"Good."

We then left the shrine. I used telekinesis to retrieve my clothes, but chose to stay naked. I briefly went in to show Filipe, and put the clothes in the laundry hamper, then went swimming until dinner. After dinner, still naked, I spoke my plans, and intent. They gave some additional refinements, but thought the plan was good. Unfortunately, my letter was either ignored, or intercepted, as the meeting time came and went without anyone showing. A second meeting with Inanna and Isis came up with the modification of me using my second gate to go directly to Asgard, as I knew it well.

So I took out my Valkyrie uniform and weapons, and spent two days making them clean and gleaming, as though just made. I then visualized the field I ran in most days for exercise. When it locked in, I stepped through. I then had Smoke show as a winged horse, and I mounted him. We then flew to Odin's palace, and landed. Then I dismissed him.

I asked the first guard I came to, "Is Odin here today?"

"He is. Who are you? I don't recognize you."

"I am Ricci Olafdottir, a former Valkyrie. I have business with the Allfather."

He realized that I must have done something important to look this young and be retired. So he straightened his spine, and said, "Go on in, he may be with Thor, as he also arrived recently."

"That is good, as my business may involve Thor, as well. Thank you." I nodded then went in. Further in, I was briefly stopped, as I was not known to the inner guard, but when they scanned my attire and magic, they realized it was authentic, if antiquated style. Then they let me by.

I heard Odin with Thor before I saw them. I waited a few steps away, hoping they would stop arguing long enough to acknowledge me. After a minute, I gave a short cough, and when that didn't work, I gave a louder one. Both looked irritated as they looked at me, but first Odin, then Thor, recognized me.

Odin said, "Ricci? Is that you?"

"Yes. I have finally arrived home where I belong. It is time to give your other son his reckoning. I lack the power to do much of anything to him, except maybe giving him a beat down. However, he deserves something stronger. For that, I require your consent and aid."

Thor said, "What has he done to you?"

"You met me a long time ago, but I was born less than a century ago. He took me back in time, and away from my family, without my knowledge or consent. I was here for over a decade before I knew who I was, as he had given me amnesia. I spent well over a year creating a way to return to my own time. He kidnapped me, and took years of my life. I am not a mere peasant, but the high priestess of the goddess Inanna, the high priestess of the goddess Isis, a priestess of the god An, a priestess of the goddess Aja, and finally a priestess of the divine mountain Everest. I also am a close friend of a dragon, and of Lord Monkey of the Celestial Empire. My name is Becky Sue Tate. Yes, the same one that the divine conference was concerned with. I am the mother of Cleopatra and Layla, both full goddesses. Allfather, your son has attacked one who is highly valued, and should pay for it. Will you grant me justice?"

"Thor, our... discussion... can wait. Loki is currently elsewhere, but when he is next found, he will be brought before me, and answer for his crime."

I bowed, and said, "Thank you, Allfather. I trust you will give him what he deserves. I do have one small personal favor to ask. The gate I used to get here is one way. If I could be shown a way home, I would be thankful. Anywhere on Midgard is fine, as once I am there, I can make my way home easily."

Odin asked, "You used a gate that leads here?"

"Yes, one I made years ago."

"How did you know you needed to come to Asgard?"

"I did not. The gate will go wherever you can show it. I have strongly hidden it, and also made the activation difficult to guess. Only a few know of it, and I trust them to be silent about it."

"Where did you arrive? The city is watched for rogue portals."

"When I was active as a Valkyrie, I would go on long runs outside the city. I know that land, and that is where I arrived."

He nodded, and said, "That was wise. Had you arrived in the city, you would have seen a strong reaction. Thor, why don't you take Becky Sue with you and send her on her way. Perhaps visit a few places, for old time's sake. I will consider further your points on our... discussion."

"I will, father."

"Again, thank you, Allfather." I followed Thor.

We walked to another part of the building. He said, "I have some warriors I want to introduce you to."

"I think it might be best to refer to me as Ricci. I don't want to confuse people who only know of me as Ricci, and Becky Sue might get unwanted attention."

Thor introduced me to a number of his friends as Ricci, and I welcomed them. We swapped stories for a while, then went elsewhere and repeated the tale swapping. At the last place, he spotted a Valkyrie, and he asked her to take me to their place to reunite me with old friends. He also delegated my safe return to her. It didn't take long for me to reunite with some of the women I had worked with long ago. I noted their armor looked a lot more modern, including winged helmets. The most common question was how I was here after so long since I was human. I just replied that magic was responsible. At one point, I was taken to the smithy, and I saw my portable forge was still there.

Finally, I saw an elder who knew where a suitable portal was. She indicated it was several hours of flight, or a few-days-ride away. She asked what kind of mount I had. I told her I could summon a winged horse. She invited me to spend the night. The next day she led me to the gate, and I thanked her.

At last, I was home. Several months later, a messenger came and related to me what happened to Loki when they caught up to him.

But that is another story...