New Normal

This flash piece is a rough draft of a scene from the prequel novel of The Prophecies of Ragnarok, a Norse mythology-based new adult series I'm currently writing with Marie Sinadjan. It may or may not end up in the final version of the novel.

Here are the shorts we've written so far for the prequel, in chronological order:

• Birthright
• Ice Queen
• Quiet Time
• Tyr Lends A Hand
• Big Sister, Big Brother
• Prison Break
• Escaping Asgard
• New Normal (this story)
• Marriage Plans
• Brother's Keeper
• Final Hour
• Resistance and Steps
• Forsaken
• Revenge Served With Rage
• Goodbye, Good Friend
• Inheritance
• A Winter's Bargain
• Death Finds All
• Homecoming
• Reconnection
• The Hour of the Wolf

Hotel Fen, the first published book of the series, follows after this point.

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

Hodr pivoted on his heel and raised the sword up, the clang of metal ringing loud as the blow from the sparring partner was blocked. Using the momentum, he swung the swords with a roll of his wrist to shove the brunette back a few steps. The move separated their swords and gave him an opening to push forward with his own attack.

Not that the blow hit, her own sword blocking his before she dipped and her leg swept his legs out from under him.

“Getting sloppy. Usually means you’re tired.” The tone held a fondness but also a teasing as she rolled the wrist of her sword hand.

A soft grunt left Hodr when his back hit the ground, and then again in answer to her words. Before she could advance too close, he rolled his body and pushed himself up off the ground with the momentum. “Not too tired to kick your ass.” He rolled his shoulder with a grin, knowing his back was now covered in the dust and dirt of the training courtyard.

He’d ditched his tunic a while ago when it had started to cling to him because of the sweat. He might ignore it, but he was also aware that was about the time the pair had gathered an audience too. Mostly valkyries interested in watching the now bare-chested Odinson practice because it showed off the muscle he’d honed in the last six months.

Ever since Geiravor was collected back to Jotunheim, Hodr had thrown himself into his training. Once his back had healed at least. It still bore the scars of his punishment for helping her escape. Not that anyone ever asked about them, most knew not to ask about the scars that tended to litter the Odinsons and Einherjar, it tended to be a mixed back for where they had come from.

The Valkyrie he was training with, Yrsa, had become a good friend in the six months he’d pushed himself to be better. To be the best, really. They’d trained every day, she was the only one that hadn’t been scared to hurt him when a good leg sweep could have opened his back up some. Taking him at his word that she needed to push him.

“You are more than welcome to try,” she quipped as she feigned an attack just to back off as he shifted to defend the blow that never came.

“Hodr. Yrsa.” The names were neatly barked out like an order from the side of the courtyard. Baldr stood with his arms crossed, chin jerking slightly to motion them over.

Hodr sighed as he glanced over at his brother. “Looks like you’re saved by the Baldr.” His wrist rolled, hilt of his sword rolling along the back of his hand until it was back in his grasp. Though when they grow closer, he slides it into the weapons stand.

Hands-free, he motions to Baldr in their silent talk. What is it?

Baldr’s eyes are mostly on Yrsa, even as his arms uncross and he signs back to his brother. Father wants to talk to you both. Mission. “Don’t forget your shirt, brother.”

He frowned at the information, but nodded slightly. Though, his words earned a frown. What mission would his father trust him with that he might finally give Hodr something to do outside Asgard, or at least outside the palace grounds.

The comment about his shirt has him turn to glance where he’d left it on a railing that was now being leaned on by a couple women. “I’ll get a new one. No worries.”

A quirk of Baldr’s lips earned a punch to his shoulder as Hodr passed him. “Don’t want to fight the girls for it?”

“By all means, you fight them for it if you want me covered. Or I can just head to father like this.” Hodr moved past his brother and into the hallway he knew would lead to his father’s study.

Baldr’s mouth opened to argue but snapped it shut at a glance of the two women. “Your shirt, your argument.”

There’s a soft snort as he hears Yrsa’s steps fall into place behind him. Though when he glances over his shoulder, he sees her walking backwards so she can keep an eye on Baldr. “What’s wrong? Worried he’s gotten better looking than you?” She laughed and turned around properly to throw an arm around Hodr’s shoulder to whisper to him, “He’s just jealous!”

Not that it was a whisper, because Baldr grumbled as he quickened his step and pushed past them so he could lead them to Odin’s study. Hodr in response, couldn’t help chuckle as his arm settled around Yrsa’s waist so the two walked down the hall almost like they were lovers despite neither having gone that way.

Yrsa on a mission a few months back had confronted him on her interest, but he’d shot her down kindly. Letting her in on what happened with Geiravor, where his heart rested, what he wanted and what he couldn’t give. And his honesty had been rewarded with a good friend who’d fallen more comfortable into friend zone together.

He’s pretty sure some of the valkyries were whispering the two were sleeping together, but all the better because it kept other women away from him so he didn’t have to deal with it.

“You could act like you’re a Prince.” Baldr grumbled darkly from in front of them. Though, he didn’t turn around to actually look at them.

Hodr shook his head as Yrsa smirked. “And Father could act like a King, but the last time he called me into his office for something, Gullveig was riding him at his desk. So I don’t think me shirtless or amused with something Yrsa said is any worse than that.”

Tension settled in Baldr’s shoulders and Hodr was pretty sure it was more at Gullveig sleeping with their father than his being flippant about his address of their father. No one else could get away with the remark, but ever since he’d been punished for Geiravor’s escape, he’s been a little less careful about what he says in regard to their father.

Hodr knows it grates on Odin’s nerves, but he’s swallowed a lot of his frustration because Hodr hasn’t tried to escape again. At least not that he’s seen. There’ve been a couple tries that have failed but he’s been able to persuade the Einherjar that caught his moves to keep it to themselves with some good reports that allow them to get promoted.

Shifting from Yrsa, he sped up his steps so he could settle an arm around Baldr’s shoulders as they walked. Odin’s study door was in view, almost there. “Breath, brother. Do you know what this is about? Where, I guess, is a better question?”

Baldr slowly relaxed under the weight of his brother’s arm, shaking his head. “No. Father just said to collect you both. He will be asking about at least one Einherjar to bring with you, but I think he’s letting you pick for the mission.”

Yrsa settled on the other side of Baldr, but didn’t move to touch him at all like she tended to freely touch Hodr. “I can think of a couple that would be good choices for working with us.”

Hodr grinned over at Yrsa, “Oh I bet you do.” He leaned over to not quite whisper to his brother, “She has one she’s been eying.”

“Just don’t let father know. He’ll never pair you on missions together if he knows.” Baldr warned with a strained smile to Yrsa. “He feels it can get in the way of the mission and focus.”

Yrsa cut Hodr a look, but the edges of her lips quirked just a little to say she wasn’t actually mad at him. “It’s fine. We know how to work well together.” She motioned to the door as the guards pulled it open. “Let’s get this show on the mission.”

Hodr let go of his brother, letting Baldr enter first before the two followed him in and shared one last glance as the doors closed behind them.