The Sword of Summer

Despite having been in Valhalla for 500 years, Gunilla finds herself turned around on the tour. She accidentally opens an elevator onto Muspellheim (the realm of fire), and she sustains burns. Magnus touches her and heals her wounds.

Healing Gunilla leaves Magnus exhausted, but he sustained no injuries of his own from the fire. As they walk, Gunilla speculates about Magnus’s abilities, considering Frey’s power over moderate climates as explanation for Magnus’s tolerance to extreme temperatures. Gunilla also expounds on the divide between the gods: Aesir (gods of war) and Vanir (gods of nature). Even after years of peace, the two groups are still segregated in some respects. Vanir children don’t typically go to Valhalla when they die bravely. More often, they go to Folkvanger (Freya’s hall of the slain). Gunilla blames Sam for bringing Magnus to the wrong place and believes that her doing so was part of her plan to “bring the war before we are ready” (140). Magnus keeps his recent discussion with Loki to himself.

Gunilla brings Magnus to the roof of Valhalla. There, she shows him Valhalla is but one building amidst golden palaces within the enormity of Asgard (the realm of the Aesir gods).