1 ASGARD
NOW LOKI LAUFEYSON CAME CLOSE TO THE CRUEL DEED ITSELF, AND his hands were shaking.
Deep within the spires of Valaskjalf, his father lay before him encased in a wide tube of pure gold. The room glittered from the shine of it, from the halo around the sleeping figure, the quality of the light ever shifting, one moment soothing and the next bouncing with mischievous flickers and winks. It was gold all around them, lending the room the sense that it was a place out of time. A place of dreams.
A place where anything, really, was possible.
Loki knelt, both elbows digging hard into the kneecap for purchase, hands clasped, though his fingers continued to tremble. He delighted in a moment of destiny, but never worried about the weightiness of consequence. What were consequences to a god? They were little more than inconveniences. And anyway, ruminating ruined the fun. Even this, his most dangerous gambit so far, ought not to be humorless. No, humorless was this god before him, Odin Borson, King of Asgard, his adoptive father. This graying slab of a god, pitted with scars from innumerable battles, adorned with a beard like frosted white lichen. Stony. Unmovable. Odin found Loki’s jokes and pranks tedious, because for all his power and longevity, Loki’s father was a mirthless boar-pig.
What a waste.
What a waste.
“What is the shape of your dream, Odin?” Loki asked. He stood, feeling the blood rush through his legs to his toes. “I can’t tell you the shape of mine, for where there should be color and riot and symbol, there is nothing. Once, I dreamed of a man’s silhouette as he stood over me, and I thought it to be you, but now I’m not so sure. My dreams are empty, Father, so I must create my life to be full.”
“What is the shape of your dream, Odin?” Loki asked. He stood, feeling the blood rush through his legs to his toes. “I can’t tell you the shape of mine, for where there should be color and riot and symbol, there is nothing. Once, I dreamed of a man’s silhouette as he stood over me, and I thought it to be you, but now I’m not so sure. My dreams are empty, Father, so I must create my life to be full.”
The door behind him opened and shut, and Loki hunched up. He glanced over his shoulder, then regarded Odin again. He smiled, faintly, as if briefly distracted by an amusing and distant memory. Clumsy footfalls brought the dwarf to his side. She was of Nidavellir, a brilliant mind sorely overlooked, a surgical solution disguised as a blunt instrument. Loki had discovered her during a day of petitions before the royal court, an exercise his brother Thor detested and avoided whenever possible. As was so often the case, it was left to Queen Frigga to hear the complaints of the highborn citizens and the low and adjudicate them. Loki enjoyed sitting in on these court mundanities, finding value in the injustices brought before the queen—in such times, folk often let their masks slip, driven by sorrow or outrage to say more than was strictly required. Secrets. Crimes. Shames. Of course, Thor saw no worth in that currency. How could he? The golden child of golden gods never would wade into the darker currents running through the common streets and sewers of their society. Thor had no use for secrets or shame.
The door behind him opened and shut, and Loki hunched up. He glanced over his shoulder, then regarded Odin again. He smiled, faintly, as if briefly distracted by an amusing and distant memory. Clumsy footfalls brought the dwarf to his side. She was of Nidavellir, a brilliant mind sorely overlooked, a surgical solution disguised as a blunt instrument. Loki had discovered her during a day of petitions before the royal court, an exercise his brother Thor detested and avoided whenever possible. As was so often the case, it was left to Queen Frigga to hear the complaints of the highborn citizens and the low and adjudicate them. Loki enjoyed sitting in on these court mundanities, finding value in the injustices brought before the queen—in such times, folk often let their masks slip, driven by sorrow or outrage to say more than was strictly required. Secrets. Crimes. Shames. Of course, Thor saw no worth in that currency. How could he? The golden child of golden gods never would wade into the darker currents running through the common streets and sewers of their society. Thor had no use for secrets or shame.
Loki knew better.
Loki knew better.
“Did you bring it?” he asked.
“Did you bring it?” he asked.
“I did.” Kvisa Röksdóttir, heaped in gray furs and leather and chains, produced a slowly pulsing crystal from inside the pouch hanging from her wide belt. The smell of the forges hung about her, a strangely sulfurous perfume. She held up the crystal to him, soot-stained lines of worry etched into her forehead. Before Loki could take the crystal, Kvisa hesitated, tugging it back. “My prince . . .”
“I did.” Kvisa Röksdóttir, heaped in gray furs and leather and chains, produced a slowly pulsing crystal from inside the pouch hanging from her wide belt. The smell of the forges hung about her, a strangely sulfurous perfume. She held up the crystal to him, soot-stained lines of worry etched into her forehead. Before Loki could take the crystal, Kvisa hesitated, tugging it back. “My prince . . .”
“Is it him?” Loki nodded toward Odin. “Ah. His presence bothers you.”
“Is it him?” Loki nodded toward Odin. “Ah. His presence bothers you.”
She flinched. “It does feel strange to be doing this here. He was not the one who rejected my petition.”
She flinched. “It does feel strange to be doing this here. He was not the one who rejected my petition.”
“Queen Frigga speaks for him while he lies in the Odinsleep,” Loki said, impatient. He reached for the crystal again, but she denied him, closing the gem in her fist and clutching it to her chest.
Ungrateful. Impudent. A serpent uncoiled in his stomach, and with it, the ugly but understandable urge to simply take the crystal from her. He could do it.
“Queen Frigga speaks for him while he lies in the Odinsleep,” Loki said, impatient. He reached for the crystal again, but she denied him, closing the gem in her fist and clutching it to her chest. Ungrateful. Impudent. A serpent uncoiled in his stomach, and with it, the ugly but understandable urge to simply take the crystal from her. He could do it.
He should do it.
He should do it.
“We made a deal. To flinch now is cowardice.” His voice was a growl. His hands curled into fists. Ancient, angry magic gathered to him. He wasn’t going to have his lovingly crafted plan unravel, not now, not after he had just knelt by his father’s side and gloated.
“We made a deal. To flinch now is cowardice.” His voice was a growl. His hands curled into fists. Ancient, angry magic gathered to him. He wasn’t going to have his lovingly crafted plan unravel, not now, not after he had just knelt by his father’s side and gloated.
“I don’t know,” Kvisa replied, shying away.
“I don’t know,” Kvisa replied, shying away.
“You do know.” Loki sighed and let his better nature have a rare win. It might have been kinder just to rip the crystal out of her grasp, but there was more pleasure in gaining it correctly. Correctly, with manipulation. She had to give it freely. After all, a piece of Kvisa’s very soul was bound to it. “With your genius discovery,” he whispered, holding out his hand for what he was owed. His vivid green eyes flashed. “We will right many wrongs. Do not flinch, my friend.”
“You do know.” Loki sighed and let his better nature have a rare win. It might have been kinder just to rip the crystal out of her grasp, but there was more pleasure in gaining it correctly. Correctly, with manipulation. She had to give it freely. After all, a piece of Kvisa’s very soul was bound to it. “With your genius discovery,” he whispered, holding out his hand for what he was owed. His vivid green eyes flashed. “We will right many wrongs. Do not flinch, my friend.”
Kvisa didn’t look terribly convinced. Shifting from foot to foot, she gnawed her lower lip and glanced at the sleeping form of Odin. “Can he . . . Can he not hear us?”
Kvisa didn’t look terribly convinced. Shifting from foot to foot, she gnawed her lower lip and glanced at the sleeping form of Odin. “Can he . . . Can he not hear us?”
With a flourish, Loki turned and banged on the glimmering barrier protecting his father. There was no commotion from within, though the noise echoed for a moment around the chamber.
With a flourish, Loki turned and banged on the glimmering barrier protecting his father. There was no commotion from within, though the noise echoed for a moment around the chamber.
“See?” Loki laughed to himself. “No one’s home.”
“See?” Loki laughed to himself. “No one’s home.”
Gods, but she was a stubborn stone of a woman. Kvisa merely frowned, still clutching (petulantly, in his opinion) the crystal to her throat. And so Loki leapt onto the golden bed itself, landing on the barrier, the brightly dancing light bending around him, throw-
Gods, but she was a stubborn stone of a woman. Kvisa merely frowned, still clutching (petulantly, in his opinion) the crystal to her throat. And so Loki leapt onto the golden bed itself, landing on the barrier, the brightly dancing light bending around him, throw-
ing irregular shapes against the walls and ceiling. Kvisa gazed up at him, already short, but now even smaller as he stood triumphantly on top of his father’s motionless body.
ing irregular shapes against the walls and ceiling. Kvisa gazed up at him, already short, but now even smaller as he stood triumphantly on top of his father’s motionless body.
“Speak, petitioner, what is your complaint?”
“Speak, petitioner, what is your complaint?”
Kvisa’s emerald eyes widened, and she pointed to herself.
Kvisa’s emerald eyes widened, and she pointed to herself.
“Yes, you. You, the petitioner.”
“Yes, you. You, the petitioner.”
She smirked, blushing. Was she toying with him? That snake inside hissed, and venom burned through his veins.
She smirked, blushing. Was she toying with him? That snake inside hissed, and venom burned through his veins.
“Svansi, the leader of my forge’s cohort, refuses to integrate my new design for the Destroyer . . .” As the dwarf spoke, she seemed to gain momentum and confidence, her words coming faster, tumbling over one another as she let the hand holding the gem fall to her side. Her knuckles turned white as she clutched it. “He is a fool, and so is the queen! My design is superior in every way, lending far greater control over the Destroyer. Perhaps . . . Perhaps there are minor issues of safety to consider, but such things are the enemy of innovation. To cling to the old way is stubbornness, and our cohort suffers for Svansi’s small-mindedness. He must be taught a lesson, for he will not listen, the queen will not listen . . .” Her eyes drifted to Loki, and a true smile appeared. No more smirking. “But Loki Laufeyson listens.”
“Svansi, the leader of my forge’s cohort, refuses to integrate my new design for the Destroyer . . .” As the dwarf spoke, she seemed to gain momentum and confidence, her words coming faster, tumbling over one another as she let the hand holding the gem fall to her side. Her knuckles turned white as she clutched it. “He is a fool, and so is the queen! My design is superior in every way, lending far greater control over the Destroyer. Perhaps . . . Perhaps there are minor issues of safety to consider, but such things are the enemy of innovation. To cling to the old way is stubbornness, and our cohort suffers for Svansi’s small-mindedness. He must be taught a lesson, for he will not listen, the queen will not listen . . .” Her eyes drifted to Loki, and a true smile appeared. No more smirking. “But Loki Laufeyson listens.”
“Yes. Yes. Let your words darken Odin’s dreams.” Loki laughed, elated. With his right boot, he stomped down hard on Odin’s head through the barrier. “Say it again! Louder!”
“Yes. Yes. Let your words darken Odin’s dreams.” Loki laughed, elated. With his right boot, he stomped down hard on Odin’s head through the barrier. “Say it again! Louder!”
“Loki Laufeyson listens!” Kvisa cried, matching his joy. “He is a god of vision!”
“Loki Laufeyson listens!” Kvisa cried, matching his joy. “He is a god of vision!”
He brought his foot down on his father’s face again and again, and together they laughed. “The only pity, my dear Kvisa, is that Odin will not be awake to see it.”
He brought his foot down on his father’s face again and again, and together they laughed. “The only pity, my dear Kvisa, is that Odin will not be awake to see it.”
“He will know in time,” said the dwarf. Her eyes twinkled with the light blazing from the shielded bed. “Your better cleverness will be known, and so will mine. We will both have our revenge.”
“He will know in time,” said the dwarf. Her eyes twinkled with the light blazing from the shielded bed. “Your better cleverness will be known, and so will mine. We will both have our revenge.”
At last. At last. She raised her callus-hardened hand and opened it, offering him the crystal. It pulsed with temptation. Loki did not flinch. He took the thing from her, a coil of whispers surging up
At last. At last. She raised her callus-hardened hand and opened it, offering him the crystal. It pulsed with temptation. Loki did not flinch. He took the thing from her, a coil of whispers surging up
from the gem, wrapping around his arm. It was Kvisa’s voice in the whispers, but ghostly, as if her soul was screaming.
from the gem, wrapping around his arm. It was Kvisa’s voice in the whispers, but ghostly, as if her soul was screaming.
“Thor departs on the morrow,” Loki murmured, fascinated by the cold power seething within the crystal. The plan would move forward now that he possessed the final piece of “My idiot brother thinks he is bound for Jotunheim, charged with no more than a simple patrol, yet he and the Destroyer will never reach their intended destination and the chaos will be breathtaking to behold.” Loki glanced down past his feet, staring at the face of his sleeping father. “Odin, old boy, your favored child will finally know shame, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it.
“Thor departs on the morrow,” Loki murmured, fascinated by the cold power seething within the crystal. The plan would move forward now that he possessed the final piece of it. “My idiot brother thinks he is bound for Jotunheim, charged with no more than a simple patrol, yet he and the Destroyer will never reach their intended destination and the chaos will be breathtaking to behold.” Loki glanced down past his feet, staring at the face of his sleeping father. “Odin, old boy, your favored child will finally know shame, and there is nothing you can do to prevent it.
“Come!” he called, leaping down from the bed. “Come, there is much to prepare.” Loki could not wait to begin, taking gulping strides, luminous with the lure of imminent deviancy. “We must make certain that this new control system works properly and do all the fussing and so on now.”
“Come!” he called, leaping down from the bed. “Come, there is much to prepare.” Loki could not wait to begin, taking gulping strides, luminous with the lure of imminent deviancy. “We must make certain that this new control system works properly and do all the fussing and so on now.”
Kvisa struggled to keep up, meeting him at the door. Glancing at his father one last time, Loki slid the crystal into his pocket. The ancient magic of before leapt to his grasp; he weaved and controlled with expert and eager hands.
Kvisa struggled to keep up, meeting him at the door. Glancing at his father one last time, Loki slid the crystal into his pocket. The ancient magic of before leapt to his grasp; he weaved and controlled with expert and eager hands.
“How will we reach the Destroyer?” she asked, brow furrowed. “It is never unguarded.”
“How will we reach the Destroyer?” she asked, brow furrowed. “It is never unguarded.”
“You know me better than that, Kvisa, I think of everything.”
“You know me better than that, Kvisa, I think of everything.”
The dark energy of his magic wound around them both, concealing them from any prying eyes as they left Odin behind. Outside, the palace was still, humming softly with far-off voices and the muted pitter-patter of footsteps. The sunshine in the corridor was clear and silver, falling through the high, slender windows mimicking the tall architecture of the hall itself. As they walked, they became nothing more than a trick of the light. They traveled quickly, unnoticed by palace guards or milling courtiers, Loki navigating through the lesser-used arteries of the place. They could not avoid passing by one of the three avenue-wide entrances to the throne room, this leg of the journey by far the most likely to result in trouble.
The dark energy of his magic wound around them both, concealing them from any prying eyes as they left Odin behind. Outside, the palace was still, humming softly with far-off voices and the muted pitter-patter of footsteps. The sunshine in the corridor was clear and silver, falling through the high, slender windows mimicking the tall architecture of the hall itself. As they walked, they became nothing more than a trick of the light. They traveled quickly, unnoticed by palace guards or milling courtiers, Loki navigating through the lesser-used arteries of the place. They could not avoid passing by one of the three avenue-wide entrances to the throne room, this leg of the journey by far the most likely to result in trouble.
As they neared the crystal-white pillar before the opening to the audience chamber, he noted a big white body slumped on the ground. It was Thori, Loki’s hellhound, slumbering with his rubbery jowls draped across the marble floor. Steam rose lazily from his nostrils. He kicked his back feet, lost in dreams, but roused and whined as Loki came near.
As they neared the crystal-white pillar before the opening to the audience chamber, he noted a big white body slumped on the ground. It was Thori, Loki’s hellhound, slumbering with his rubbery jowls draped across the marble floor. Steam rose lazily from his nostrils. He kicked his back feet, lost in dreams, but roused and whined as Loki came near.
“Sleep on,” Loki whispered fondly to the beast. He reached down and, with an unseen hand, gently patted the dog’s head. “There’s a good fellow.”
“Sleep on,” Loki whispered fondly to the beast. He reached down and, with an unseen hand, gently patted the dog’s head. “There’s a good fellow.”
Thori blew out a drooly sigh and lowered his head once more.
Thori blew out a drooly sigh and lowered his head once more.
Just as before, muted voices reached them as they sneaked across the wide, open arch leading into the throne room. There was nothing for it. They had to go that way.
Just as before, muted voices reached them as they sneaked across the wide, open arch leading into the throne room. There was nothing for it. They had to go that way.
Down the long, scalloped carpet to the thrones, Loki spied two figures locked in conversation, their foreheads almost close enough to touch. It was his mother, Queen Frigga, and his older brother, Thor. Irritating. Worse, their murmured conversation reached him with the keenness of barbs loosed from Ullr’s own bow. The cavernous nature of the hall amplified every word spoken, betraying even the subtlest whisper.
Down the long, scalloped carpet to the thrones, Loki spied two figures locked in conversation, their foreheads almost close enough to touch. It was his mother, Queen Frigga, and his older brother, Thor. Irritating. Worse, their murmured conversation reached him with the keenness of barbs loosed from Ullr’s own bow. The cavernous nature of the hall amplified every word spoken, betraying even the subtlest whisper.
“You should take him with you tomorrow,” Frigga was saying. She sparkled, radiant in a crinkled gown of softest turquoise, the train spread behind her like a mermaid’s tail. Behind her, over the twin chairs of Frigga and Odin, the ravens Huginn and Muninn kept vigil. Loki dodged out of their sight, pulling Kvisa to safety behind the pillar on the other side of the throne room arch.
“You should take him with you tomorrow,” Frigga was saying. She sparkled, radiant in a crinkled gown of softest turquoise, the train spread behind her like a mermaid’s tail. Behind her, over the twin chairs of Frigga and Odin, the ravens Huginn and Muninn kept vigil. Loki dodged out of their sight, pulling Kvisa to safety behind the pillar on the other side of the throne room arch.
“I’d really rather not,” Thor replied. He crossed his bulging arms, defiant. His brother was not dressed for travel or battle, not yet, standing garbed in a loose tunic of red silk. It was the sort of thing they used to wear as boys when they wrestled, when Loki learned the hard lesson of what superior size did during such contests. It was said that Odin Borson had adopted Loki from the fallen Frost Giant king partially out of pity; Loki had been but a shrunken thing when he was found, an abandoned sapling too weak to survive winter alone. Thor had proved this, a merciless
“I’d really rather not,” Thor replied. He crossed his bulging arms, defiant. His brother was not dressed for travel or battle, not yet, standing garbed in a loose tunic of red silk. It was the sort of thing they used to wear as boys when they wrestled, when Loki learned the hard lesson of what superior size did during such contests. It was said that Odin Borson had adopted Loki from the fallen Frost Giant king partially out of pity; Loki had been but a shrunken thing when he was found, an abandoned sapling too weak to survive winter alone. Thor had proved this, a merciless
older brother when it came to scrapping and wrestling, pinning Loki to the ground in front of whoever cared to observe, grinding his face into the chalk of the ring, the taste of it lingering in young Loki’s mouth long after the defeat.
older brother when it came to scrapping and wrestling, pinning Loki to the ground in front of whoever cared to observe, grinding his face into the chalk of the ring, the taste of it lingering in young Loki’s mouth long after the defeat.
Odin had taken Loki because he was lamentably frail. But Loki had learned. The lessons were not of his choosing, but he did not forget them.
Odin had taken Loki because he was lamentably frail. But Loki had learned. The lessons were not of his choosing, but he did not forget them.
“I worry about him,” Frigga continued, sighing. “All he does lately is skulk about the palace. I fret over what his mind might conjure in idleness.”
“I worry about him,” Frigga continued, sighing. “All he does lately is skulk about the palace. I fret over what his mind might conjure in idleness.”
“He is a born skulker,” Thor said, laughing. “Let him remain here, under your guidance, where he can do no harm. If he accompanies me to Jotunheim, he will be too tempted toward mischief. Give him some distracting employment here and leave me to my duties.”
“He is a born skulker,” Thor said, laughing. “Let him remain here, under your guidance, where he can do no harm. If he accompanies me to Jotunheim, he will be too tempted toward mischief. Give him some distracting employment here and leave me to my duties.”
Frigga shook her head and seemed suddenly sad. “He is too clever for his own good.”
Frigga shook her head and seemed suddenly sad. “He is too clever for his own good.”
“Pah.” Thor pretended to spit at his own feet. “He will never use that cleverness for good, and thus you are charged with his confinement. For the peace of Asgard and all realms, such measures are necessary.”
“Pah.” Thor pretended to spit at his own feet. “He will never use that cleverness for good, and thus you are charged with his confinement. For the peace of Asgard and all realms, such measures are necessary.”
“I am his mother,” Frigga chided firmly. “Not his jailer.”
“I am his mother,” Frigga chided firmly. “Not his jailer.”
Thor had no answer for this. He shrugged and turned to go. “Jotunheim awaits,” he called back to her.
Thor had no answer for this. He shrugged and turned to go. “Jotunheim awaits,” he called back to her.
“Of course. Go with my love,” she said.
Her love. Thor was so used to having it, he did nothing but wave it off.
“Of course. Go with my love,” she said. Her love. Thor was so used to having it, he did nothing but wave it off.
Loki dragged Kvisa away from the throne room. His brother’s footsteps were growing closer and louder.
Loki dragged Kvisa away from the throne room. His brother’s footsteps were growing closer and louder.
“They might include you in such discussions,” said Kvisa, clucking her tongue.
“They might include you in such discussions,” said Kvisa, clucking her tongue.
“That is family loyalty for you. Did your parents treat you with respect?”
“That is family loyalty for you. Did your parents treat you with respect?”
Kvisa hesitated. A shadow flickered over her face, visible only to Loki. “My father was a man of invention, too, though he died
Kvisa hesitated. A shadow flickered over her face, visible only to Loki. “My father was a man of invention, too, though he died
when I was very young. Mother was more interested in the power of the gods, in magic. She, too, was taken from me too soon.”
when I was very young. Mother was more interested in the power of the gods, in magic. She, too, was taken from me too soon.”
“How fitting, then, that this invention of yours is science and magic in one.”
“How fitting, then, that this invention of yours is science and magic in one.”
Kvisa grunted. “Perhaps they would be proud.”
Kvisa grunted. “Perhaps they would be proud.”
“What luxury!”
“What luxury!”
“Is that what you want?” Kvisa gestured toward the crystal in Loki’s pocket. “For the king and queen to look on you with pride? How will shaming your brother accomplish this?”
“Is that what you want?” Kvisa gestured toward the crystal in Loki’s pocket. “For the king and queen to look on you with pride? How will shaming your brother accomplish this?”
“Do not question me,” Loki sneered. “Do you want revenge on Svansi and my mother or not?”
“Do not question me,” Loki sneered. “Do you want revenge on Svansi and my mother or not?”
The dwarf quieted and looked down at her feet.
The dwarf quieted and looked down at her feet.
“That’s what I thought.” Loki shook his head, troubled by her distracting questions. “Now forget you heard their poisoned words.” Together, they moved on, rounding the corner. “And do not speak of their prattling again.”
“That’s what I thought.” Loki shook his head, troubled by her distracting questions. “Now forget you heard their poisoned words.” Together, they moved on, rounding the corner. “And do not speak of their prattling again.”
“But—”
“But—”
“Never again,” he hissed. “Be silent, follow, and do as you are commanded.”
“Never again,” he hissed. “Be silent, follow, and do as you are commanded.”
He pushed Kvisa ahead of him, and she stumbled to a stop. The unsettling feeling of being watched came over Loki and he paused, then turned and craned his head around the hall corner. Thor left the throne room and made for his private chambers. Loki observed him leaving. When he was little, he would lie awake at night and listen to his mother’s voice through the wall. Next door, she would be sitting snuggled against his brother, telling Thor a bedtime story. Frigga would sometimes do the same for Loki, though he disliked her stories. They were too hopeful, too full of heroes who never doubted and never lost. He didn’t recognize himself in the things she said. Often, Frigga would regale him with all the amazing deeds he might accomplish when he flourished and grew. She never spoke of his birth father or the Frost Giants. No, in her stories, Loki was one of them from the beginning, and destined to feel as they felt, think as they thought, and act as they acted. The Queen of Asgard never stopped to consider that the little thing tucked up
He pushed Kvisa ahead of him, and she stumbled to a stop. The unsettling feeling of being watched came over Loki and he paused, then turned and craned his head around the hall corner. Thor left the throne room and made for his private chambers. Loki observed him leaving. When he was little, he would lie awake at night and listen to his mother’s voice through the wall. Next door, she would be sitting snuggled against his brother, telling Thor a bedtime story. Frigga would sometimes do the same for Loki, though he disliked her stories. They were too hopeful, too full of heroes who never doubted and never lost. He didn’t recognize himself in the things she said. Often, Frigga would regale him with all the amazing deeds he might accomplish when he flourished and grew. She never spoke of his birth father or the Frost Giants. No, in her stories, Loki was one of them from the beginning, and destined to feel as they felt, think as they thought, and act as they acted. The Queen of Asgard never stopped to consider that the little thing tucked up
against her side was not a helpless pup, but a wolf waiting for his fangs to grow in.
against her side was not a helpless pup, but a wolf waiting for his fangs to grow in.
And what a uniquely maternal unkindness, he thought, to ask a child to be anyone other than themselves.
And what a uniquely maternal unkindness, he thought, to ask a child to be anyone other than themselves.
During that eavesdropped story time, to the comforting lilt of her wall-garbled words, Loki would make a list of all the things that were small but very dangerous.
During that eavesdropped story time, to the comforting lilt of her wall-garbled words, Loki would make a list of all the things that were small but very dangerous.
Wasp, spider, scorpion . . .
Wasp, spider, scorpion . . .
Once, when the brothers were teens, Thor had returned from a scouting mission to Midgard with an odd tank filled with water. He gifted it to Loki with a smirk, for it contained a tiny tentacled thing. Thor called it a blue-ringed octopus and informed him that it was to be Loki’s new best friend, for it was almost invisible to the eye but powerfully venomous. Fandral and Volstagg, Thor’s clodpoll buddies, had a good laugh over the stunt. The laughing went on until Loki found a way to extract some of that venom and slip it into Thor’s porridge.
Once, when the brothers were teens, Thor had returned from a scouting mission to Midgard with an odd tank filled with water.
He gifted it to Loki with a smirk, for it contained a tiny tentacled thing. Thor called it a blue-ringed octopus and informed him that it was to be Loki’s new best friend, for it was almost invisible to the eye but powerfully venomous. Fandral and Volstagg, Thor’s clodpoll buddies, had a good laugh over the stunt. The laughing went on until Loki found a way to extract some of that venom and slip it into Thor’s porridge.
Loki pulled himself back from the memory. A moment later, Thor disappeared through another archway and the palace fell uneasily silent. If all went to plan, Thor would be detained on Midgard, or injured, or, ideally, so humiliated by the destruction and pandemonium that he would never show his face in the halls of Valaskjalf again.
Loki pulled himself back from the memory. A moment later, Thor disappeared through another archway and the palace fell uneasily silent. If all went to plan, Thor would be detained on Midgard, or injured, or, ideally, so humiliated by the destruction and pandemonium that he would never show his face in the halls of Valaskjalf again.
Goodbye, brother, he thought. I will not miss you.
Goodbye, brother, he thought. I will not miss you.
EARTH
2 EARTH (MIDGARD)
(MIDGARD)
THOR ODINSON WAS FALLING.
THOR ODINSON WAS FALLING.
He had been falling for what felt like an eternity. It was disorienting at first, and confusing, but this was not the first time the proverbial and literal rug had been pulled out from under him. Thor was, after all, the God of Mischief’s older brother. There was nothing for it: He laughed—laughed and then belched. The free falling was doing strange things to his stomach. He would chuckle with Sif about it later over eight to twelve tankards of mead. Tumbling cape over hammer for well over two hundred thousand miles had been novel once he adjusted to the speed, but now the ground was coming up on him and coming fast. A cityscape spread out beneath his feet, and at this speed his arrival might be catastrophic for any living creatures nearby. With a shout, he threw his weight back as hard as he could, raised his hammer, Mjolnir, toward the clouds, and let the song of storm and fury that lived in his blood rise behind him, filling the space he had fallen through. Like sought like, and soon that song chained to the storm clouds gathering in a far-off system, the storm responding to the hammer, summoned to it in a heartbeat. A sizzle of electricity raced along his arms, a familiar, galvanizing thrill, and Thor greeted the storm, tracing the lightning back up toward the clouds, controlling his velocity just long enough to avoid total disaster.
He had been falling for what felt like an eternity. It was disorienting at first, and confusing, but this was not the first time the proverbial and literal rug had been pulled out from under him. Thor was, after all, the God of Mischief’s older brother. There was nothing for it: He laughed—laughed and then belched. The free falling was doing strange things to his stomach. He would chuckle with Sif about it later over eight to twelve tankards of mead. Tumbling cape over hammer for well over two hundred thousand miles had been novel once he adjusted to the speed, but now the ground was coming up on him and coming fast. A cityscape spread out beneath his feet, and at this speed his arrival might be catastrophic for any living creatures nearby. With a shout, he threw his weight back as hard as he could, raised his hammer, Mjolnir, toward the clouds, and let the song of storm and fury that lived in his blood rise behind him, filling the space he had fallen through. Like sought like, and soon that song chained to the storm clouds gathering in a far-off system, the storm responding to the hammer, summoned to it in a heartbeat. A sizzle of electricity raced along his arms, a familiar, galvanizing thrill, and Thor greeted the storm, tracing the lightning back up toward the clouds, controlling his velocity just long enough to avoid total disaster.
The silver bolt from the heavens connected, his body coming with it, and Thor slingshotted back down until he landed with a booming ca-crack in the discord and clutter of a human city. The road beneath him burned with ozone, scorched, and shattered. His cheeks burned from the cold whip of the wind. The distance from the Bifrost bridge to Midgard was vast, and the fall would have turned just about anything else into pulverized jelly.
The silver bolt from the heavens connected, his body coming with it, and Thor slingshotted back down until he landed with a booming ca-crack in the discord and clutter of a human city. The road beneath him burned with ozone, scorched, and shattered. His cheeks burned from the cold whip of the wind. The distance from the Bifrost bridge to Midgard was vast, and the fall would have turned just about anything else into pulverized jelly.
Not so the God of Thunder.
Not so the God of Thunder.
The thought disquieted him—not the jelly bit, but the Midgard part. He shouldn’t be here; this was not their destination. Either the mistake was his, Heimdall’s, or some fell mischief was to blame. Thor landed on his feet. An instant later, a complement of soldiers and the Asgardian Destroyer arrived, too, announcing their coming with all the subtlety of an asteroid impact. They had less luck controlling their descent.
The thought disquieted him—not the jelly bit, but the Midgard part. He shouldn’t be here; this was not their destination. Either the mistake was his, Heimdall’s, or some fell mischief was to blame. Thor landed on his feet. An instant later, a complement of soldiers and the Asgardian Destroyer arrived, too, announcing their coming with all the subtlety of an asteroid impact. They had less luck controlling their descent.
Midgard. New York City, more precisely. Yes, he knew this place. He had been to this curious realm of Yggdrasil many times before. He recognized this very street. The earthlings had a regimented system for traversing their cities, as this vast metropolis was nothing like the ethereal gardens of Asgard, with its unhurried thoroughfares and ageless trees of copper and bronze. The two places were alike only in their taste for glass spires. Everything in New York City ran at the speed of blur, except the traffic of their wagons and carriages, which crawled along, the meticulous numbering of the streets paradoxically lending no ease or convenience to travel.
Midgard. New York City, more precisely. Yes, he knew this place. He had been to this curious realm of Yggdrasil many times before. He recognized this very street. The earthlings had a regimented system for traversing their cities, as this vast metropolis was nothing like the ethereal gardens of Asgard, with its unhurried thoroughfares and ageless trees of copper and bronze. The two places were alike only in their taste for glass spires. Everything in New York City ran at the speed of blur, except the traffic of their wagons and carriages, which crawled along, the meticulous numbering of the streets paradoxically lending no ease or convenience to travel.
As such, the Asgardian Destroyer had made landfall in the middle of a long, white carriage. Bus. He knew the words, but it was easier to think in his native tongue while his mind scrambled to take in his unexpected surroundings. This patrol was meant to harmlessly exit the Bifrost onto the frozen wastes of Jotunheim, not bend a bus in half like a horseshoe as they exploded onto the cosmopolitan chaos of Midtown Manhattan.
As such, the Asgardian Destroyer had made landfall in the middle of a long, white carriage. Bus. He knew the words, but it was easier to think in his native tongue while his mind scrambled to take in his unexpected surroundings. This patrol was meant to harmlessly exit the Bifrost onto the frozen wastes of Jotunheim, not bend a bus in half like a horseshoe as they exploded onto the cosmopolitan chaos of Midtown Manhattan.
Screams. Screams and smoke. Car carriages veered into each other, horns blaring as the intersection filled with piled-up wrecks
Screams. Screams and smoke. Car carriages veered into each other, horns blaring as the intersection filled with piled-up wrecks
and earthlings. Some gathered, clutching their heads; others ran, yanking little squares out of their pockets and pressing on them furiously. The other Asgardians, draped in red cloaks and shielded with thick, golden armor, turned to him for commands.
and earthlings. Some gathered, clutching their heads; others ran, yanking little squares out of their pockets and pressing on them furiously. The other Asgardians, draped in red cloaks and shielded with thick, golden armor, turned to him for commands.
“Peace!” Thor called. He climbed on top of one of the abandoned car carriages and spread his arms wide, partially in greeting, partially in surrender. “Citizens of Midgard, we mean you no harm or distress! Please remain calm, we come to you not with violence in our hearts—”
“Peace!” Thor called. He climbed on top of one of the abandoned car carriages and spread his arms wide, partially in greeting, partially in surrender. “Citizens of Midgard, we mean you no harm or distress! Please remain calm, we come to you not with violence in our hearts—”
That did nothing to stop the screaming. Frustrating. Citizens poured out of the misshapen bus. The cursed, bloody horns honked and shrieked, all at different speeds and pitches. Thor squeezed his eyes shut briefly, gathering his wits. A craft like a dragonfly flitted noisily down onto the street, hovering before banking to the side, a door sliding open and revealing several men in black armor. A rope was expelled, and they began to slide down it.
That did nothing to stop the screaming. Frustrating. Citizens poured out of the misshapen bus. The cursed, bloody horns honked and shrieked, all at different speeds and pitches. Thor squeezed his eyes shut briefly, gathering his wits. A craft like a dragonfly flitted noisily down onto the street, hovering before banking to the side, a door sliding open and revealing several men in black armor. A rope was expelled, and they began to slide down it.
“Again! Peace! Peace, people of Midgard!” Thor cranked his voice above the horns and the panic of the crowd. The soldiers dropped down onto the street, carrying what he knew to be weapons. He watched three of the twelve soldiers with him raise their halberds. “Lower that!” Thor called. “We will not engage!”
“Again! Peace! Peace, people of Midgard!” Thor cranked his voice above the horns and the panic of the crowd. The soldiers dropped down onto the street, carrying what he knew to be weapons. He watched three of the twelve soldiers with him raise their halberds. “Lower that!” Thor called. “We will not engage!”
He noticed a black car near the gathering soldiers in the intersection. A man climbed out of it, holding one of those square devices to his ear. He seemed dazed, gazing around with unfocused eyes, one hand knitted in his thick head of hair. A gash on his forehead wept blood. He either didn’t notice or didn’t care about the black-clad soldiers forming up behind the car beside his. One of them, behind a mask and helmet, screamed at him, gesturing for the man to get down.
He noticed a black car near the gathering soldiers in the intersection. A man climbed out of it, holding one of those square devices to his ear. He seemed dazed, gazing around with unfocused eyes, one hand knitted in his thick head of hair. A gash on his forehead wept blood. He either didn’t notice or didn’t care about the black-clad soldiers forming up behind the car beside his. One of them, behind a mask and helmet, screamed at him, gesturing for the man to get down.
“Their weapons cannot harm us,” Thor cautioned the Asgardians. “No matter what, we do not resort to violence.”
“Their weapons cannot harm us,” Thor cautioned the Asgardians. “No matter what, we do not resort to violence.”
A shape slammed down onto the roof of the carriage behind Thor. He hazarded only the briefest glance. Sif the All-Seeing had come, clad in white tunic and leggings and a silver breastplate winking with gems. Her black hair was twisted into a crown on
A shape slammed down onto the roof of the carriage behind Thor. He hazarded only the briefest glance. Sif the All-Seeing had come, clad in white tunic and leggings and a silver breastplate winking with gems. Her black hair was twisted into a crown on
her head. Unsheathing a sword from her belt, Sif stayed low to the ground, never rising from the position in which she’d landed. Her blade gleamed with a crust of ice crystals.
her head. Unsheathing a sword from her belt, Sif stayed low to the ground, never rising from the position in which she’d landed. Her blade gleamed with a crust of ice crystals.
“You’re late,” Thor growled.
“You’re late,” Thor growled.
“Ha! I saw the bridge fade and your little tumble,” she replied, breathless. “’Tis another scheme of Loki’s, yes? Naturally, I went to question him about it.”
“Ha! I saw the bridge fade and your little tumble,” she replied, breathless. “’Tis another scheme of Loki’s, yes? Naturally, I went to question him about it.”
“And? Did you find him?”
“And? Did you find him?”
“What do you think?” Sif rolled her eyes. “I’m here now, we can twist his head off his shoulders later.”
“What do you think?” Sif rolled her eyes. “I’m here now, we can twist his head off his shoulders later.”
“Woe to the man who incurs your fury. Has Heimdall regained control of the bridge?”
“Woe to the man who incurs your fury. Has Heimdall regained control of the bridge?”
“No, so perhaps he will have killed Loki before I get my chance.” She noticed the patch of scorched and splintered road, shaking out her long black hair with a snort. “Your doing?”
“No, so perhaps he will have killed Loki before I get my chance.” She noticed the patch of scorched and splintered road, shaking out her long black hair with a snort. “Your doing?”
“It was that or tunnel my way through to the subway, Sif!”
“It was that or tunnel my way through to the subway, Sif!”
“To the what?”
“To the what?”
“It matters not!” There was no time to explain to her the complex tunnels filled with trains and rats that ran beneath the city. Thor gestured carefully—slowly—toward the mess of cars, glass, and mangled concrete twisted up before him. Most of the civilians had fled the immediate area, though more of those dragonfly machines with the noisy spinning tops had come, the din rising in ever more incredible peals, echoing off the sheer walls of glass on both sides of the road. Helicopters, they were called. Midgardians used such funny words for their designs, and sometimes he had trouble recalling them all. “Aid me. Perhaps your charms will prove more persuasive. The Midgardians are unmoved by my pleas.”
“It matters not!” There was no time to explain to her the complex tunnels filled with trains and rats that ran beneath the city. Thor gestured carefully—slowly—toward the mess of cars, glass, and mangled concrete twisted up before him. Most of the civilians had fled the immediate area, though more of those dragonfly machines with the noisy spinning tops had come, the din rising in ever more incredible peals, echoing off the sheer walls of glass on both sides of the road. Helicopters, they were called. Midgardians used such funny words for their designs, and sometimes he had trouble recalling them all. “Aid me. Perhaps your charms will prove more persuasive. The Midgardians are unmoved by my pleas.”
“You’ve called down a storm, smashed up their roads, and frightened their people. What do you expect?” Sif stood and lowered her sword, the sheen of frost along the blade dazzling in the morning sun. “I suggest you first call the Destroyer back to Asgard—they cower from its mere presence.”
“You’ve called down a storm, smashed up their roads, and frightened their people. What do you expect?” Sif stood and lowered her sword, the sheen of frost along the blade dazzling in the morning sun. “I suggest you first call the Destroyer back to Asgard—they cower from its mere presence.”
“Quick thinking, as always.” Thor grinned and ducked toward the Destroyer construct, which waited for commands. The As-
“Quick thinking, as always.” Thor grinned and ducked toward the Destroyer construct, which waited for commands. The As-
