On Astral Tides: From Humble Freelancer To Astral Emperor

The first thing I noticed was that it didn’t seem to be just one item, but several bundles of what looked like fabrics of different colours. I had also been hit by a surge of rich, vibrant and yet ancient elemental energies when the chest slid open, and one of the bundles, a green, almost waxy-looking cloth, was glowing with vivid brown energy, flecked with innumerable shades of other colours, like oil on water. They… wouldn’t have…

“It’s like Christmas. Though you’ve missed it…” Väinö echoed Rose’s cheeky words.

“We did have to send it… oh, my mistake…” Rose cheekily giggled, covering her mouth with one hand, masking a smile. “…we threw some trash out into the deeper Astral, and it just so happened to find its way here. Rather faster than we anticipated, but distance in the Astral is a rather… fluid… concept.”

“Perhaps our wishes guided it here…” Lin added, a rather sappy sentiment from her, and within Wisdom World mini-Run was rolling on the floor, laughing madly. “…after all, we cannot be with you, not in truth. These facsimiles, our thoughts… that is the best we can do.” Her expression was solemn, but her thoughts were warm, and by virtue of her Lovers’ Link having reached Rank eleven, I knew that her doubts were resolved, and she wholeheartedly loved me. As I do you. Everything began because of your choices, because of your bravery, because of your hatred for sorrow and loss…

You flatter me. I just loathed seeing it. We Valkyries Choose the Slain, and it is a noble, honourable thing, yet… those Chosen who fall, carrying our gifts, do not even get that grace, their worlds too far, their fates too grim. I despise that. But… with your aid, perhaps the day is coming where the last will have fallen…

I hope so. But that’s a lot of pressure… I answered Lin’s thoughts, even as I pulled out the glowing green bundle, and my Eyes flared into action, shining amber, even without me willing it. Shit. You did! Is this even sane? Wait… my Eyes…

My choking stress evaporated as the message from my Eyes scrolled across my vision.

Fallen Leaf Of Yggdrasil, Most Perfect Tree Of Wisdom – This smallest of leaves, freshly grown, happens to have fallen, while still retaining the rich and verdant power of Wisdom, and the vivacious, enviable Wood Elemental energy the likes of which has never been seen on the backwater worlds which have not even migrated from the lowest, protected shallows of the Astral.

Such fallen leaves are seen as lucky charms in the worlds of the World Tree Pantheon and treated as great treasures and precious relics. Sometimes they are turned into armour, other times into physical representations of the Runes. But just as Wisdom is without end, the uses for such a treasure, a fragment of the pillar which upholds the numberless worlds and Nine Realms of the Pantheon, is truly limitless, only constrained by the wisdom and guile of the fortunate recipient.

Holding the leaf, I could feel a faint, so very tenuous sense of connection through it. It was familiar, and I realised it was like my Eyes. And the Seeds, of course. The similarities and differences between all of those suddenly snapped into focus, and I could even feel the Seeds of Dorte and her fellow Norse Chosen, as well as what I presumed were the remaining Seeds of our fellows who had perished. Not just those though. Rose and Lin went without saying, but… I could feel the endless millions of Yggdrasil’s separated aspects, and for a moment it was very overwhelming, but I leaned on my Path, and the weight, which felt like I was shouldering not just a mountain, but an entire world or more, vanished, fading to a muted, ephemeral buzz, silver sweat springing up on my brow, all my Split Thoughts trembling for a moment, before settling.

Your idea is… fascinating. I wish you good Fortune, for such a feat is not trivial. Yet the most perfect Tree of Knowledge and Wisdom can perhaps support such…

The last letters were so clear and sharp I swore I almost felt I heard the words, before my Eyes deactivated, and as I unwrapped the giant leaf, unfolding it to the size of perhaps a gilder sail, which even so, was tiny to a Tree whose base was continental, Astral continental at that, for from the brief glimpses I’d seen from the minds of the Valkyries, worlds tended to expand and thus be far larger than Earth, as it was now. Hinata will be rather delighted. Though being fair to her, Mayumi saw the great potential of land expansion. After all, that was supposed to be the one finite product…

My thoughts were still rather disordered, and I was only snapped out of that by the gentle ting of metal striking the ground. I glanced down to see a small, shimmering shard, one that was somewhat familiar to me.

Shard Of The Shears Ævinleikr…

I bent down to pick up the sliver of metal. “If I’m not mistaken, didn’t you return this to Skuld?”

“We did.” Lin agreed. “Yet Divine Skuld complained bitterly that Ivaldi’s sons, the most famous and potent of the Dvergr when it comes to Divine crafts, were greedy and wished too much to repair the shears. As it functioned without the lost fragment, she decided to get rid of it, lest the reminder of their greed dismays and infuriates her…”

“How interesting.” Ekaterini observed. “I was of the understanding you all worked together…”

“Such is oversimplistic.” Schwertliete grumbled. “You are the ruler of this Greece, yes?”

“Now that’s oversimplifying things.” Ekaterini chuckled. “I have ultimate authority, but I’m beholden to the Parliament, and the peoples. Greece is the home of democracy, to say otherwise would be spitting on my heritage. I can do much, but not everything, else that is dictatorship.”

“It’s much the same.” Schwertliete sighed. “Of course, if it was for the defence of the Nine Realms, or a matter of critical importance, the sons of Ivaldi would yield. But as a personal favour, even to Divine Skuld… well, everyone has their own interests. And it’s not unusual for there to be conflicts even within Pantheons, though they are far less bitter than those without, and currently… such is rather rare, considering external pressures. It’s like the sea…” she sighed, tugging on her blonde braid sourly, drawing a snigger from Väinö. “…if treated with respect, it will reciprocate, yet sometimes… it surges.”

“I don’t quite get the metaphor…” Väinö teased her, getting a stormy glower in return, but in Wisdom World, Run cheerfully explained to me.

“It’s just like Divine Loki, see? Or Divine Surtr. They aren’t well-liked but are necessary.”

I nodded, holding the shard in my hands, and Tsurugi, here in her Astral form, materialised her Tsukumogami, blinking tiredly, though, seeing the shard in my hand, she froze.

“It’s not a sword…” I chuckled, and she puffed out her cheeks, exhaustion evaporating, sharpening into interest.

“I know that, father. Don’t tease me. I let you shave, don’t I? Or use a knife to cut your food!” For a moment she sounded rather more mature, though the effect was spoiled as I gently moved my hand, and her eyes followed the shard like a cat eyeing a laser pointer. “But it is from something that cuts… cuts what… I can’t… I thought I could cut anything…”

Tsurugi seemed affronted by that, and I patted her head here in the Boundary, while I stroked the hair of her sleeping form on the Material. She seemed momentarily delighted, only to pout again. “I’m serious, father! It… can I have it? I feel I need it…”

“This?” I glanced at the shard, and she nodded emphatically.

“Yes! That. It’s not a sword, but…” She transformed her sword form into a naginata, holding it for a moment before returning it back to a sword and replacing it at my waist. “…neither is this, and you tricked me into taking its form before. I don’t mind, but…”

“What is a sword?” Dorte asked. She’d been silent as the box fell to Earth, eyeing Lin with a mixture of exasperation and annoyance. “Swords vary, from great two-handed hulks of metal to slender, piercing rapiers, or curved sabres. Cutlasses, gladii, many more… at its most basic, swords are just a weapon to slice or stab, or even bludgeon, in some cases…”

“I cut…” Tsurugi insisted, but her gaze was hungry. I glanced at Lin, who shrugged apologetically.

“Divine Skuld said since we broke it, we should dispose of it, as looking at it made her angry at the Dvergr and their greed. Of course, the Divine Norns do little without purpose, so… it was clear it was meant to come to you. But why, we cannot say…”

“In that case…” I glanced at Tsurugi. “…are you sure?”

“I want it!” She nodded emphatically, her smile adorable, and so I gave in.

“How can I say no to that?” I chuckled, passing her the shard, which she took with wonder in her gaze.

“Damn, man…” Väinö chuckled. “…have you got kids? I bet you spoil them rotten!”

“Not yet, though I’ve some on the way…” I began, at the same moment Tsurugi insisted that indeed I did have. There was laughter from Rose, before I clarified.

“I suppose Tsurugi’s certainly close enough. But yeah, one of my fiancées is pregnant. I’m both nervous and elated.”

Carrie, Ekaterini and Astrid exchanged amused glances. “I’d bet you are.” Astrid agreed. “But don’t worry, women do most of the work anyway.”

“Besides, rumour is you dote on your sister too much anyway…” Carrie giggled. “…you danced very nicely with her at the Honours ceremony. I saw it on the TV…”

“That aside…” I watched as Tsurugi eyed the shard, before, in a swift motion she popped it in her mouth and began to chew.

“Ouch. It’s tough!” Tsurugi complained, but she didn’t stop, teeth grinding like metal on metal, and faint droplets of blood were welling up over her lips, running down her chin, but she didn’t slow her chewing, an expression of great determination on her face. I reached out, using Soullight Healing on her, and her expression softened. She gripped my hand, and continued eating, before swallowing finally, and she was surrounded by a glow of adherence so thick it was almost visible.

“Are you okay?” I asked, worried, and Tsurugi nodded.

“I am, father. It was tough, but I can cut anything!” She was back to that, having forgotten her admission from a moment ago, perhaps. “But I’m full… and so… sleepy. Father, hold me…” She leapt into my arms, only to vanish, in the Material as well, just leaving her sword forms belted at my waists, and as I stroked her hilt, I could feel her deep slumber, but my Eyes could see the flow of her energies had changed, her Chakra network having shifted.

“There’s no getting it back now then…” Rose watched the scene for a moment, smiling warmly. “…that sword, no… Tsurugi, since she has awoken an existence just as real as ours… is indeed a treasure of the Gods, not a replica for you mortals to wield. It makes me wonder, just why did those of the Eight Million Invitations leave her and her sisters behind? There’s a lot I want answers to…”

“Hey, so, what else is in there?” Väinö asked boisterously. “I’m getting invested, and my Valkyrie’s too stingy to send me anything…”

“Maybe if you had a way for us to navigate such here, I would have sent you a token of my approval. I suppose you’ve done well, even if your manners leave a lot to be desired…” Schwertliete grumbled, and then her mood changed as swiftly as the seas. “…but compared to Akio, you’ve done nothing of note…”

“That hurts my feelings! Jumalauta, I need a damn drink.” he complained.

“That reminds me… like you said, the gift box did get here quickly…” I finished stroking Tsurugi’s hilt, leaving her to sleep, her mental snores and unintelligible mutterings very cute. “…I wonder, I used to play a famous roleplaying game when I was a lot younger, my mom brought the books with her when she came to Japan…”

“Your mom’s a bit of a geek, huh?” Väinö chuckled, and I shrugged.

“You’d not know to look at her, and I think it was mostly to connect with me, my sister and Eri when we were kids, but she does still like to read fantasy books and stuff. Anyway, my point was, they had the Inner Planes, places made of pure elements. They were infinite, but… still somehow had borders. I never quite got how that works, but…”

“I see.” Rose agreed, laughing. “We would hardly claim that the Astral is infinite, even if none have ever explored it all, but yes, space, distance, time, all are malleable, and the speed of traversal is hardly limited to your Material laws, such as the inviolability of light. Rest assured, the distance that it travelled, after we… tossed out some trash…” She winked playfully. “…was suitably immense. It caught the tides, you see. And just so happened to have been attracted to our Connection and found its way here.”

“I’m glad it did. Anyway, Väinö, I admit I’m curious too.” The shard was gone, but Ygdrasil’s leaf was far in advance of anything I’d imagined getting, the shard of Skuld’s shears too. I pulled out another bundle, shimmering, silky cloth tied with ribbon. I untied the ribbon, and purple sparks cascaded, and suddenly I was surrounded by bolts of cloth in many colours, some that didn’t even exist on Earth, ones our brains struggled to process.

“We want wedding gowns too…” Rose smiled at Dorte meaningfully. “You may think us shallow and reckless, for abandoning our duty, but… Divine Frigga wishes all to find happiness, join as Verr and Brúðr, and produce offspring. As for our duties…”

“Yes, you think he can help you do more, and better. If so, I suppose I have no right to complain…” Dorte crossed her arms defensively. “…this is… a great deal of cloth for two. Or even for ten.”

“Of course. It would be selfish of us to outshine the other Brúðr on that most blessed day.” Lin explained. “So we provide enough for all. Divine Taṇhā would be most displeased too, and since she is a fellow Brúðr, despite her nature and Panethon, we should be kind.”

My Eyes told me the cloth was woven from wools and silks from numerous strange creatures. “I don’t exactly think you can call this garbage that you are throwing away.” The ribbon itself was like my Spatial Storage Rings, so I retied the bundle, and the cloth vanished, barring the single bolt.

“Blame Run. She probably was playing a costly prank.” Lin made an excuse, to satisfy the Compacts. “Yes, we spent much of our hǫggsilfr procuring such, amongst other items, but… what use wealth if not to be spent, yes?” It seemed the word Lin spoke literally translated to hacksilver, as in torcs and bracelets worn to be sliced up and used as money, similar to how the Vikings did it here on Earth, but I suspected there was more to it.

“Even in times of war…” Helmwige intoned sorrowfully. “…the arts, music, poetry, dance, weaving, carving, forging… none can be neglected. The spinners still spin and the weavers weave, so such cloth is still produced. As is…”

I rummaged around in the chest and found a beautifully inlaid and decorated board of dark, polished wood and sone unknown type of stone, as well as an array of fine carved pieces. “Is this a… Hnefatafl board…?” I asked, and Rose nodded.

“I do very much enjoy a game. So I thought you should learn so you can play with me. This one is rather special though… as is…”

I noticed another item and pulled it out. It was an elegant locket on a small, delicate chain. Glancing at Rose and Lin, I opened it up, only to be shocked as a life-sized holographic projection, using what seemed like light element, appeared of Rose, wearing a cute gown I’d not seen her in. Oddly, the image wasn’t static, she was waving and smiling silently. Inside was a tiny wheellike switch, and I turned it, and suddenly Rose’s illusion vanished, to be replaced by Lin in a vivid golden gown, sitting on a chair with a book in hand. She glanced up and smiled warmly at me. I continued to swap images, until suddenly Run, wearing rather less than she should, appeared, and I quickly shut the pendant, the image vanishing in a spray of indigo sparks.

“That was… unexpected…” Väinö smirked. “Blue, huh?”

Back in Wisdom World, Run pretended to cry. “Oh no, another man saw my undergarments! Even if only for a moment… Akio, beat him senseless for me, so he forgets, and then take responsibility…”

“It seems I shall have to use my winds and waters upon him. I know that can make him unable to recall…” Shaeula grimaced then. “Wait, just how do I know that? I suppose it does not matter…”

Fortunately that underwear was actually very modest. It was only for an instant, and you’d show more skin wearing a bathing suit on the beach… I consoled her, only for Run to grumble.

“That’s not the point! If I was littlest sister Lin, or Rose, you’d get justice for me!”

Hang on a minute, why were you in here anyway?

“Run loves her pranks.” Rose giggled back in the Boundary. “Looks like she got caught out by her own mischief this time.”

“I have a question…” Carrie, as Bragi’s Chosen, was extremely interested. “…the images seemed to move and react to Akio’s gaze and expression. So… they aren’t preprogrammed?”

“As expected.” Helmwige approved. “You have a keen sense of artistic curiosity. Indeed, no, the images are loaded and then controlled by the Ratatoskr.”

“I presume you aren’t talking about the squirrel said to clamber amongst Ygdrasil’s branches in myth.” Dorte asked, and Rose, began to explain, even as my Eyes identified that the locket and board indeed contained such.

“No, though since Wisdom goes into the creation, the name has rather stuck.” Rose chuckled. “You see…”

A Ratatoskr is an artificial spirit, imbued with limited Wisdom and Knowledge, capable of automating certain tasks and responding to basic commands. In these cases, one Ratatoskr is tasked with animating and reproducing behaviour from images using Light Elemental energies, while the second can simulate an opponent at Hnefatafl and create additional specialised pieces if information is provided. The fruits of Wisdom are not inferior to your Science.

Yes, yes, I get it. You’re amazing…

I couldn’t help but respond dryly in my mind. It seemed that the World Tree was rather more expressive now I’d felt the additional Connections through my Path.

… … …

That wasn’t sarcasm. I’m genuinely impressed at what your Wisdom can accomplish…

… … …

Shaking my head, I let Rose finish explaining proudly, before adding my own viewpoint. “So it’s like an Artificial Intelligence, some sort of Large Language Model. I suppose it makes sense that aetheric technology, like Mortal Engineering, would follow similar routes. Anyway, thank you for the gifts. They must have cost you more hǫggsilfr…” I pronounce the word rather clumsily, drawing smirks and laughter from those who spoke Nordic languages here.

“The board was one of mine… the locket… Lin bought it from one of our older sisters, who was gifted it by an Einherjar who tried to court her in the past. It didn’t work out…” Rose giggled. “…we shall, however. But… the box is not yet emptied.”

“It’s true. Huh, a pair of glass bottles. One full of a reddish liquid shimmering with brown and golden motes… huh, is it blood?” I asked, stunned, and Lin shook her head.

“Not strictly. More like… it is an adherence-filled representation of blood. For fertility and good fortune. Getting some, when it is not our role to partake in such ceremonies yet, as the older sisters do, was… challenging… not that any would refuse us, but… awkward questions are something we wished to avoid.”

Jarðarblóð is ceremonial blood, given freely by spiritual beings, and imbued with a potent Adherence, rich with Growth, Fertility and Wood Elemental energies. It is used in ceremonies such as the Dísablót, appeasing and paying homage to the female spiritsand Valkyries of the World Tree Pantheon. When sprinkled upon the altars and shrines, the crops and ploughed fields, growth is accelerated, and crops will be nurtured as if with inspired, Divine vigour.

Glancing at the leaf, I had an idea of just what this was all for. Then more information caught my eyes, and amidst a pile of metallic offcuts, which didn’t seem like anything found on Earth, I found some shining golden hair tied into a small bundle.

Gullinbursti’s Golden Bristles are strands of golden fur shed by the great Gold Mane, the Fearsome Tooth and Tusk. These bristles carry the Elemental Light of Fertility and Adherence of Freyr, as well as the Adherence of the legendary Boar himself. When sown, the energies will be released, and all the light touches will be healthy, blessed and fecund.

Yeah, as I expected. “So, this is about the Rhyming Trees, isn’t it?” I asked, and Lin nodded.

“We had considered filling a box with Etherites, if we are honest. Speeding you through your early trials. But… such is problematic.”

“Those resources are in constant demand for the ongoing strife, and even in times of peace… it would be difficult to justify.” Schwertliete agreed. “Even then, mere indigo Etherites would be of little use… but a violet one…”

“Sure, it’d kickstart your advance to Rank Five…” Rose agreed. “…but it still wouldn’t be enough. It would have to be a mythical prismatic Etherite, above the extremely rare violet, and not even Proud Sigrún or the Divine Norns claim to have ever found one…”

Prismatic Etherites do certainly exist… my Eyes flared with amber letters without me asking. …violet shades with red, then orange… presumably above this would be adding yellow, green, blue, and indigo, but such are purely theoretical, never having been seen within the Pantheons… such would be an unimaginable bounty of ether, enough to shape worlds and win wars…

“Besides, there is a saying here… give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Schwertliete added. “The seas are indeed bountiful.”

“Hey, you heard that from me…” Väinö teased, getting a cold glare in return.

“The point is, your Trees are special.” Lin explained. “While there are many like them in the World Tree Pantheon, in a world only now shedding its Boundary, they should not exist. I suppose this is a blessing since it is a second Boundary world. Though… for them to survive the starvation of ether is a strange coincidence…”

Hardly a coincidence. Shaeula’s thought to me was proud. The Seelie Court sheltered them. Of course they still exist. As do we…

“I see. But… is it safe? We were certainly tempted to tap more adherence from the Tower of London, but… we don’t want to overload Asha or her Tree.” I warned, and Rose shook her head, shooting me an amused look.

“Of course we would not endanger Asha, not her Tree. We would protect and treasure our fellow sisters, those who are your Brúðr too. After all…” She glanced at the locket I held. “…we left plenty of space within the Ratatoskr for you to record them all, so you can have our comfort whenever you are lonely… best learn and not do what Run did though…”

Rose then winked playfully. “Gullinbursti’s Bristles, getting them was… beyond our power. Yggdrasil often sheds small leaves, and they are often turned into amulets and charms, or used to craft physical Runestones or the like. So having a leaf drift to us would raise no eyebrows, merely have us congratulated for unexpected Fortune. But getting those, and what lies in the other bottle…”

That’s right, I forgot to check. Lifting out the bottle, about the size of a wine flask, my Eye shone.

Realm-Stabilising Alchemical Elixir [Item Class: Imperious] [Item Type:Rule]

This Elixir is created by blending a number of specific ingredients by a master of the Six Noble Pursuits, specifically Refining. This substance, when poured out, will expand, and one can both bathe in it and drink it, alleviating the pressure of a sudden increase in strength which can occur after a Cultivation breakthrough done imperfectly.

“It’s… a Cultivation potion?” I asked, and Lin nodded.

“We seldom practice such in our Pantheon, it is the province of the Six Paths. Yet… the effect of your excessive League and the pressure it is putting upon your Vessel, Divine Urðr proclaimed that it is not dissimilar to this. It will not be a miracle cure, nor even a solution, but it should alleviate some pressure and adapt you a little more to the strain you have pushed into the future, Divine Verðandi suggests. Therefore, Divine Skuld did search the treasures of the World Tree and find this. But… alas, by mistake we threw it away…” Lin astonished me with her joke, her smile rather unlike her.

I know you find me stern and strict, unbending and rigid, like Divine Tyr, and… perhaps I am... Lin admitted silently. But I do feel like smiling, even laughing, now, despite nothing being resolved. Perhaps that is the power of hope.

I’d prefer you said it was the power of love. I answered her silently, and she flushed, before waving one hand dismissively, to hide her embarrassment, no doubt. “Now, the metals are nothing special to us, scraps and waste from Dvergr forges, yet they could have great value here for you.”

I nodded, scooping up the ingots and chunks of metal. Most were Dwarven variants of gold, iron, copper and silver, but there were several interesting elemental ones, like Thunderburst Copper, and Flame Iron.

“Yes, actually, I’ll need to take some time to consider it, but I do have an upcoming project these might help. The rest, I can share with Bjarki.”

“Then it’s settled.” Rose chuckled. “Though don’t expect another gift soon. We are quite poor now…”

“Don’t worry, I’m not a kept man, when I get up there, I’ll pay you back.” I promised, and Lin shook her head.

“If you pay for a gift, it is no longer a gift, is it?”

“I know that. I have learned some things by being a harem bastard.” I chuckled, finishing stowing everything but the leaf and the bound cloth in my storage. “I meant I’ll shower you with gifts to show my own love and care. Though it’s also good manners to return favours to those who help us for other reasons too. Not sure what the Norns could want I can give, but…” Glancing down at sleeping Tsurugi in her sword form, I nodded. “…they’ve done me quite a few good turns, and I’m no ingrate.”

“Fine then…” Lin sighed, and Väinö spoke up.

“This is depressing, don’t you think? No presents for us…”

“Be worthy of them.” Schwertliete added unhelpfully, and he shrugged.

“If that’s a roundabout way to persuade me to seduce you, then Jumalauta, I think I’ll pass unless you curb that temper…” he burst into laughter at her scowl. “…relax, just a joke. Now then, let’s head back, I’ve seen enough…”

“You should.” I agreed. “Dessert should be arriving any minute…”

“I could use something sweet to calm my nerves. This is the big leagues…” Carrie agreed, and soon everyone had returned to the Material to see me still sitting there, Tsurugi’s sword form at my waist, glowing faintly. In the Boundary I headed for the overlap at the Goring, to use the Ring Gate to take my bounty home once I was done here.

“So then… are we going to work together?” I asked, when everyone was settled again.

“If you can make it so I can come and go…” Carrie nodded. “I’m not leaving my family.”

“I have the intention to do so.” Ekaterini nodded sharply. “So long as Greece, and indeed I, gets the support required. You strike me as a fair man, and I have seen myself the relationship you have with wise Rossweisse…” Said Valkyrie’s image, who had returned with us, smiled playfully.

“I know I seem rather… ordinary…” Astrid added. “…but I assure you, I can be useful. I certainly wouldn’t mind some help securing my grandchildren’s futures though. Perhaps at your training school, when they grow older?”

I nodded at that. “Yes, that’s fine. Carrie, give it a week or two and I should be able to arrange that. As for treaties and the like…” The waitresses brought in our desserts, as well as a massive selection of cheeses, chutneys and seasonal fruits, a British after-dinner staple at a luxurious meal, and we fell silent until they left. “…I leave that to wiser, more politically minded people. But if you negotiate in good faith, then we’ll do the same. And we have a lot in common.”

“We do indeed. Both of us have Rossweisse’s favour. You’re a very lucky young man, it seems.” Ekaterini narrowed her eyes playfully, seeming younger.

“No kidding. It’s galling, but…” Väinö added, devouring his heaped, quite alcoholic Black Forest gateau in-between words. “…hey, what do I have to lose? Being the big boss is cool, yeah, but so long as one of us wins, then our job is done, don’t you think?”

“Exactly!” Rose approved. “Say what you like about him, sister, but he gets it!”

Schwertliete snorted, before glowering at him. “Don’t think it’s over when this world is claimed. I’ll put you to use battling upon the seas, rest assured!”

“Start paying me like they do Akio here, and I’m all in…” he joked, and that just left the silent Dorte.

“I… don’t object in principle.” she began, and the look in her blue eyes was a familiar one to me. “It would be folly for us to clash, there are no benefits to anyone in that. But working together…”

“You’re not rushing back to Norway, are you?” I interjected, and she shook her head.

“Great.” I continued. “In that case, why not visit the Palace and meet Shaeula and the others in person? They’re more persuasive than I am.”

“Can I go?” Väinö asked, and I nodded.

“I don’t see why not. That extends to all of you. I’m sure Ellie and her family will make everyone welcome. Get a feel for the group dynamic. And…” I smiled menacingly at Väinö, who grinned back. “…if you really want to see if I’ve got the strength to be worth following, you don’t even need to see me fight. Tomorrow, come along and witness my girls. Even those who didn’t have Favours to start with will impress, I guarantee it!”

“A confident man is best…” Astrid smiled, and soon everyone had agreed, except Dorte, and after a moment, she nodded.

“There’s no harm in it. Constantine and Sophia were annoyingly persistent, but they spoke well of you. And if not one, but two Valkyries claim to have fallen for you, and seven others support your cause… I suppose I shall have to see for myself whether, as Väinö here puts it, you are a man worth following.”

“That’s all I can ask, that you keep an open mind and look fairly.” I reached out and shook her hand, and as we finished off the dessert, I slipped out to pay the bill. Ekaterini watched me go with some amusement, but I felt that a goodwill gesture made sense. Compared to a very expensive dinner, having these Chosen on our side and at our disposal is worth a million times more…

Once I returned, we polished of the rest of the wine and champagne, before I gave my apologies.

“Oh? Not coming with us?” Väinö asked, and I shook my head.

“Unfortunately, I have one more engagement today. And I can’t say I’m overly thrilled about it.” Taking out my phone, I texted who would be accompanying me, and she replied quickly with a promise to be there with a car shortly, and one to take my fellow Chosen to the Palace too. “No, I’m not thrilled about it at all…”