"You people sound akin to our Nord neighbors," he says, pouring out some of the ale before he offers her the bottle. "Every Nord warrior -shieldmaidens included - aspires to an honorable death and a place at Shor's table in Sovngarde." Honor is immensely important to his people, of course, but it's not held as the paramount virtue in quite the same way.

Felix sips as he chooses his words. He understands now how she managed to coax his reticent brother into a theological correspondence: Runa's earnest pleasure in sharing what she knows is genuinely delightful. He's almost reluctant to speak further and risk spoiling it. "It seems much clearer, to hear it explained that way. But I wonder if there's something I'm missing yet. You see, I met a woman recently who claimed to be a Valkyrie herself, appointed by Loki. It seemed peculiar because she was certainly a mortal human herself, and I hadn't thought that was how it worked..." another sip, "and yet, she insisted on it."