Page 75 of Valkyrie Renewed

Astrid’s brow furrowed, but she did as I asked. “What’s this idea you have?”

“I don’t think this way of teaching you simple tricks, like a cute light, is working for you. I think you need something practical to start with.”

Aya shook her head. “I don’t like that idea, Tyr. Magic is dangerous if not used properly. She’d be better off learning something small and simple until she understands how her magic works this time. I can tell her all I like to just think of the thing she wants and the magic will do it, but until she understands her power at all, that won’t happen. That’s the purpose of this light-creation exercise.”

“And what if her magic doesn’t work that way?” I asked. “This clearly isn’t working for Astrid. It’s only frustrating her.”

“This way worked for her before.”

Astrid shook her head. “But we can’t treat it like before. I’m not that person. How I learned then was even different from how my mother during that life had learned. I want to hear Tyr out on his idea. It’s better than beating my head against a brick wall.”

I smiled at her, grateful for her support. I may not understand magic like Aya, but as a war god, I knew a poor plan of action when I saw one. And I was sure, if Aya wasn’t so close to this magic conundrum, she’d see it, too.

“You were angry two of the times you used your magic, and distressed the other.”

“And scared the first time, when I was a kid,” Astrid added.

I nodded. “All are potent emotions. I’m not about to put you in a situation that will frighten or distress you, and I don’t like it when you’re mad at me, but it’s rather easy to simulate the feelings of anger.”

Astrid’s brows pulled together. “You want me to get angry?”

I summoned my shield and held it in front of me. “I want you to simulate that anger and attack me with magic.”

She took a step back, her eyes going wide. “Were you hit on the head or something?”

Aya, Fen, and I chuckled. I tapped my head with a finger. “A number of times, before and after you were around to accelerate the healing process.”

Astrid narrowed her eyes. “I’m not going to attack you.”

I repositioned myself into a defensive stance, using the shield. “I want you to.”

“No. This is stupid.” She turned to Aya. “Tell him this is stupid.”

“Oh, it’s stupid,” she agreed. “You should do it.”

Astrid stared at our friend, her mouth agape, while Fen roared with laughter.

I smirked at Astrid when she turned her attention back to me. “Come now, Valkyrie, you know you want to. I know you’ve got some sort of irritation toward me over something that you can use to fuel the anger.”

To my curiosity, that didn’t bait her. She crossed her arms and held a serious expression about her. “No.”

Before I could question her stubbornness, a phone rang. Astrid snatched hers from a nearby table and shook her head. It wasn’t her phone. Fen and Aya checked their own. It was Aya receiving a call.

She answered and listened to the person on the other side. “Okay, I’ll be right there to check it out.”

Aya hung up and grabbed Fen’s arm. “I might need you. Tyr, stay here with Astrid.”

And then they were gone.

Astrid pursed her lips. “I wonder what that was about.”

I made a thoughtful noise in agreement, feeling as though something big was happening.

“Now what?” she asked.

I shook my thoughts free and focused on Astrid. “Now, we try my theory.”

She rolled her eyes. “No. I’m not going to attack you. Or your shield while you hold it and possibly hit you on accident.”

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