The Sword of Summer (Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, #1)

by Rick Riordan

“Come on,” I said. “You’re smart. You’re tough. You’re an honest-to-Frigg Valkyrie. And I can’t believe I’m finding reasons to support your arranged marriage….”

My shoulders went numb. My lower back spasmed. Despite the cold, I was soaked with sweat and shivering with exhaustion. I felt like I was reeling in a sunken battleship. From time to time, Sam yelled encouraging things like, “No, you idiot! Pull!”

Sam didn’t hug me, but she managed a smile. She was scratched up and covered with leaves and twigs, but she didn’t look badly hurt. “Magnus, glad you haven’t died yet. I want to be there for that.” “Thanks, al-Abbas. What happened to you guys?”

SAM PICKED THAT MOMENT TO SHOW UP. She shouldered through the crowd, her headscarf pulled low over her face. Her jacket was dusted with ash, as if she’d spent the night in a chimney. I wanted to yell at her for being gone so long, but my anger evaporated when I noticed her black eye and swollen lip. “What happened?” I asked. “Are you okay?” “Little scuffle,” she said. “No worries. Let’s watch the judging.”

I was proud that the four of us responded as a team. In perfect unison, like a well-oiled combat machine, we turned and ran for our lives.

I’M PRETTY GOOD at multitasking, so I figured I could flee in terror and argue at the same time. “A horsefly?” I yelled at Sam. “You can turn into a horsefly?” She ducked as a steam-powered dart buzzed over her head. “Now is not the time!” “Oh, excuse me. I should wait for the designated talk-about-turning-into-horseflies time.”

Junior must’ve sensed my reluctance. “We can take him!” he yelled. “He’s one boy with a sword he doesn’t know how to use!” Sam snarled. “And a former Valkyrie with an ax she very much does know how to use.”

Your sword is floating, Hearth noted. “Your elf is deaf,” Jack noted. I turned to the sword. “I know that. Sorry, introductions. Jack, Hearth. Hearth, Jack.” Hearth signed, Is it talking? I don’t read sword lips. “What is he saying?” Jack asked. “I don’t read elf hands.” “Guys.” Sam pointed behind us. A few blocks away, an iron-plated vehicle with caterpillar treads and a mounted turret was turning slowly onto our street. “That’s a tank,” I said. “Junior has a tank?” “We should leave,” Jack said. “I am awesome, but if I try to destroy a tank, the strain might kill you.” “Yeah,” I agreed.

As my vision went dark, Sam and Hearth helped me leap off the cliff. Because, you know, what are friends for?

His eyes were like Sam’s—bright and intense, the color of burning—but there was something harder and more calculating about Loki’s gaze—something that didn’t jibe with his friendly smile. I remembered how Sam had described him: a liar, a thief, a murderer.

Hearthstone Passes Out Even More than Jason Grace (Though I Have No Idea Who That Is)

“Jack.” The sword hovered next to me. “Yeah?” “You see that massive giantess blocking the river?” “Technically speaking,” Jack said, “I can’t see anything, because I don’t have eyes. But yes, I see the giant.” “You think you could fly up there and, I dunno, kill her?” Jack hummed indignantly. “You want me to kill a two-thousand-foot-tall giantess?” “Yeah.”

“You mean you wouldn’t have gotten kicked out of the Valkyries; Magnus wouldn’t have died; we wouldn’t have half the gods mad at us; fire giants and einherjar wouldn’t be out to kill us; and we wouldn’t be sitting in the wilderness of Jotunheim with a snoring god?” “Exactly,” Sam said. “Life is good.”

“We’ll figure things out,” I promised. “I don’t know about normal, but I’ll do everything I can to help you get what you want—a place in the Valkyries again, your marriage with Amir, a pilot’s license. Whatever it takes.” She stared at me as if processing the words from another language. “What?” I asked. “Do I have goat blood on my face?” “No. Well, yes, you do have goat blood on your face. But that’s not…I was just trying to remember the last time anybody said something that nice to me.” “If you want, I’ll go back to insulting you tomorrow,” I said. “For now, get some sleep. Sweet dreams.”

I swear, these 2 have one of the best platonic relationships ever, this is so sweet.

“I don’t see that we have much choice,” I said, “since we don’t have anyone who can grow wings.” “I will push you off this mountain,” Sam warned.

“Sleipnir was one of Loki’s children. They tend to come out…interesting.” I smiled. “So this horse is your nephew, Sam?” She glared at me. “Let’s not go there.” “How did your dad father a horse?” Blitzen coughed. “Actually, Loki was Sleipnir’s mother.” “What—?” “Let’s definitely not go there,” Sam warned.

Only Sam didn’t seem ruffled. In fact, she seemed exhilarated. Her eyes sparkled and she couldn’t stop smiling. I guess she really did love flying, even if it was a near-death free fall on an eight-legged horse.

“We claim guest rights!” I yelled. The giantess on the left made a sour face. “Now, why did you have to go and do that?” “We want to barter.” I pointed to the birdcage, now so far above us I could only see its rusted base hovering like a moon. “For that swan’s freedom. And also…possibly, you know, if you have any stolen weapons lying around. Like, I don’t know, a hammer or something.” “Smooth,” Sam muttered.

“Let’s put a pin in that,” I said. “Which is only an expression,” Sam added hastily. “By no means is my friend granting you permission to put a pin in anything, especially us.” “Nice save,” I told her. Sam gave me a you’re-such-an-idiot look. I was getting used to that.

“Now left,” I told my friends. “Toward him and up another row.” “What are you—” Sam’s eyes widened with understanding. “Oh, gods, you really are crazy.” “Got a better idea?” “Sadly, no.”

“Speaking of unthinkable,” I said, “Surt is going to release Fenris Wolf tomorrow night.” “Tonight,” Sam corrected. My stomach dropped. “Isn’t it Tuesday? Freya said the full moon was Wednesday—” “Which technically starts at sundown on Tuesday,” Sam said. “The full moon rises tonight.” “Well that’s just wonderful,” I said. “Why didn’t you say so?” “I thought you understood.” “Silence, both of you!” Gunilla ordered. “Magnus Chase, you’ve fallen for the lies of this daughter of Loki.” “You mean the full moon isn’t tonight?” “No, it’s tonight. I meant—” Gunilla scowled. “Stop confusing me!”

You ever do the right thing, and you know it’s the right thing, but it leaves you feeling horrible?” “You’ve just described most days of my life.” Sam pulled up her hood. “When I became a Valkyrie…I’m still not sure why I fought that frost giant. The kids at Malcolm X were terrible to me. The usual garbage: they asked me if I was a terrorist. They yanked off my hijab. They slipped disgusting notes and pictures into my locker. When that giant attacked…I could’ve pretended to be just another mortal and gotten myself to safety. But I didn’t even think about running away. Why did I risk my life for those kids?” I smiled. “What?” she demanded. “Somebody once told me that a hero’s bravery has to be unplanned—a genuine response to a crisis. It has to come from the heart, without any thought of reward.” Sam huffed. “That somebody sounds pretty smug.” “Maybe you didn’t need to come here,” I decided. “Maybe I did. To understand why we’re a good team.” “Oh?” She arched an eyebrow. “Are we a good team now?”

These 2 are actually the best.

“I know what it feels like to be an empty cup, to have everything taken away from you. But you’re not alone. However much magic you need to use, it’s okay. We’ve got you. We’re your family.” Hearth’s eyes rimmed with green water. He signed to us, and this time I think he actually meant I love you and not the giantesses are drunk. He took the rune and set it between the prongs of his new staff. The stone snapped into place the same way my pendant did on its chain. The symbol perthro glowed with a gentle gold light. My sign, he announced. My family’s sign. Blitzen sniffled. “I like that. A family of four empty cups!” Sam wiped her eyes. “Suddenly I feel thirsty.” “Al-Abbas,” I said, “I nominate you for the role of annoying sister.” “Shut up, Magnus.”

AWWWWWW

“Oh? Have you made common cause with the fire lord who killed you? Or perhaps that was part of the plan from the beginning—to get you into Valhalla.” Sam sighed. “For a child of Thor, you think too much.” “And you, daughter of Loki, listen too little.

T.J. dangled four sets of handcuffs from his finger. “Here’s the thing, Magnus: Gunilla made it clear that if we don’t prove our loyalty to Valhalla by apprehending you, we will spend the next hundred years in the boiler room shoveling coal. So consider yourself under arrest, blah, blah, blah.” Halfborn grinned. “But the other thing is: we’re Vikings. We’re pretty bad at following orders. So consider yourself free again.” T.J. let the handcuffs slip from his finger. “Oops.” My spirits lifted. “You mean—” “He means, you idiot,” Mallory said, “that we’re here to help.” “I love you guys.”

I looked at Sam and Blitzen and Hearthstone. I looked at my hallmates from floor nineteen—T.J., Halfborn, Mallory. For the first time in years, I didn’t feel homeless. I bowed to Odin. “Thank you, All-Father. But wherever these friends of mine are—that’s my home. I am one of the einherjar. I am one of your warriors. That is reward enough.” The whole dining hall erupted in cheering. Goblets banged on tables. Swords clattered against shields. My friends surrounded me, hugging me and clapping me on the shoulders. Mallory kissed my cheek and said, “You are a huge idiot.” Then she whispered in my ear, “Thank you.” Halfborn ruffled my hair. “We’ll make you a warrior yet, Frey-son.”

“By Gungnir, the hallowed weapon of the All-Father, I declare that these seven heroes shall have full rights of passage through the Nine Worlds, including Valhalla. Wherever they go, they shall go in my name, serving the will of Asgard. Let no one interfere on pain of death!” He lowered his spear. “Tonight, we feast in their honor. Tomorrow, our fallen comrades shall be given to water and flame!”

“And you have a boyfriend to deal with,” I said. She blushed, which was kind of cute. “He’s not…All right, fine. Yes, I should probably deal with that, whatever that means.” She poked me in the chest. “Thanks to you, I can fly again. That’s the main thing. Try not to die too often until I see you again.” “When will that be?” “Soon,” Sam promised. “Odin wasn’t kidding about the high-risk assignments. The good news is”—she put a finger to her lips—“I can pick my own strike force. So all of you…consider yourselves warned.” I wanted to hug her, to tell her how much I appreciated everything she’d done, but I knew Sam wouldn’t be comfortable with that. I settled for a smile. “Any time, al-Abbas. Now that Odin has given us permission to travel the worlds, maybe I can come visit you in Dorchester.” “That,” she said, “is a truly mortifying idea. My grandparents would kill me. Amir would—” “Okay, jeez,” I said. “Just remember: you’re not in this alone.” “Noted.” She bumped me with her elbow. “And what about you, Magnus—back to Valhalla for the feast? Your hallmates have been singing your praises. I even heard a few Valkyries speculating that you might be made a thane one of these centuries.”

“How much you want to bet?” I said. “Bring it on, cousin.” “Lunch?” I suggested. “I know a great falafel place.” “You’ve got a bet,” she said. “Let’s hear what you’ve been up to.” “Oh, no,” I said. “Your story is so amazing? You go first.”

Little does he know . . .