Loki

by Vasich, Mike

  But it was over, and the end result was as he knew it would be, despite the power of the giant. When Thiazi had seen the lightning that heralded Thor's return, he knew short work would be made of the mason. The hated Thunderer was the strongest being in the Nine Worlds, and nothing could stand against him.

  But that would change soon enough.

  The mason had fulfilled his role. He had caused the gods to feel fear, to worry about what may soon follow. If the giants could send one like the mason, could they send dozens? Hundreds? Such a threat could not be ignored, and Thiazi knew that it would not be. They would not send armies to Jotunheim—not yet, anyway. Some would argue for that course; Thor would be one of them, certainly. But Odin would not be persuaded to take rash action by his hot-headed son. He would want to know the threat first before committing to action. He would send one who he could be certain would not attack, one who would discover what needed to be discovered and then return.

  And he would send him alone. That would be the key to their downfall, for once Thiazi had ensnared Loki, the eventual death of the gods would not be long in coming. The one-eyed one would think himself clever and cautious, but he would discover that even he could be outmaneuvered. As wise as he may be, he still failed to realize his most dangerous enemy had been in Asgard for ages.

  At the foot of Bifrost, Heimdall could hear the steady sound of horse's hooves striking dirt. He had first heard the sound hours ago, as the animal made its way towards Asgard, led by a lone male traveler by the sound of his gait. At first he thought the man led two horses, but the hoof beats sounded odd. They were spaced too close together, as if one horse were nearly on top of the other. As the beast came closer, almost within sight, he realized that it was one horse, not two. But how to account for the multiple hoof beats? He wasn’t certain, and didn’t like to hazard guesses too soon.

  He could first see two small specks coming toward him on Bifrost, one larger than the other. Soon enough he recognized them as man and horse, although he could not make out the particulars of either. The horse was large, but the awkward, unpracticed gait marked it as a foal. He smiled to himself when he realized why it had sounded like two horses, but his face quickly turned sour when he recognized who led the horse.

  Half a stone’s throw away, Loki stopped short, weighing his welcome back onto Asgard. Heimdall folded his arms and stood at the edge of Bifrost, cutting an imposing figure. He was almost as large as Thor, well-built and powerful, and he was very nearly the perfect guardian for Bifrost, the only way to reach Asgard.

  Loki took several more steps forward. “Am I still welcome here?”

  Heimdall’s expression did not change. “That is not for me to decide.” It was clear to Loki that Heimdall did indeed wish it was for him to decide, and it was just as clear what the answer would be.

  “You think me at fault for the mason,” Loki said.

  Heimdall did not answer.

  “Maybe you are right to blame me. It was on my advice that the Allfather accepted the bargain, and the mason's price as well.”

  Heimdall's lip curled up. His hatred of Loki was legendary. “Do you seek to give me further reason to scorn you? There is no need. You can sink no lower in my estimation. A worm can only burrow so deep into the muck.”

  “You do me wrong. Look on Asgard and see the wall that now stands. When the giants march at Ragnarok, remember that the wall is there once more because I proposed the bargain. And the cost was nothing more than a few thunderbolts from Mjolnir.”

  Heimdall sneered. “You risk much when it is not your own hide at stake. Where were you when the mason attacked?”

  Loki ignored Heimdall's accusing tone. Much as he desired to explain what he had sacrificed, he knew that his role in defeating the mason could never be revealed. Savior of Freyja or not, they would kill him if they knew giant blood ran through his veins.

  “I am not here to argue. I seek only to bring this foal to Odin, as a gift.”

  “So that we can forget how you bargained with one of our hated enemies?” Heimdall narrowed his eyes at the horse. “Where did you get it?”

  I birthed it myself after coupling with the mason's horse, he thought. He would have relished the look on Heimdall's face, but that moment would be cut short when the guardian withdrew his sword.

  “It is the spawn of the mason's horse. It will be a fitting steed for the Allfather.” It was a partial truth, at least.

  “That explains little. Why does it have eight legs?” Heimdall's tone was laced with suspicion.

  “I didn't ask.”

  Heimdall sneered. “Your mocking words will be your undoing one day.”

  Exasperated, Loki abandoned any attempt at conciliation. He adopted Heimdall's tone instead, striking him where he knew it would hurt most. “You seem to have healed well from the battle. Perhaps you could tell me your role in slaying the mason?”

  Heimdall's teeth gritted and he let his arms drop down to his sides, hands curling into fists. “You know well enough that I could not leave Bifrost.”

  “Oh yes, there may have been some other danger.” Loki nodded in mock understanding. “And what threat did you repel while your comrades were being pounded into the floor of Gladsheim?”

  Heimdall's quiet seething gave Loki some satisfaction, but not much. Mocking him only partially assuaged his irritation, but he took some solace in the fact that he had at least shut him up.

  Heimdall took a step closer, hands still gripped tightly into fists. “I would not be surprised to discover that this was all your doing. Your schemes know no bounds. I honored my duty at Bifrost to keep Asgard safe from the likes of you.”

  Loki shook his head. “Heimdall, you are ever the brilliant tactician. This lone foal and I did indeed plan to take over Asgard by force. Unfortunately, we could not realize our plan because of your unwavering duty.”

  Heimdall glared at him.

  “Since my evil scheme to destroy all that is good has been thwarted, I suppose I will make my way to Gladsheim, unless you feel the need to draw your sword and end my terrible threat.” He paused, palms up in a gesture of supplication. “No? Then I suppose I'll abandon my evil plans for now. Maybe next time we meet I'll be leading an army of giants across Bifrost.”

  Loki led the foal around Heimdall, who merely stood there. After a few dozen steps, he turned and looked back. “Are you certain that I am not a giant in disguise, Heimdall? I would hate for you to be fooled by the same trick twice.”

  The guardian did not turn, but Loki could see the corded muscle on the back of his neck stand out with the strain of containing himself.

  After Heimdall’s reaction, he knew he could expect no better from any of the others. They would see only what they wanted to see, and would fail to listen to any words to the contrary. Still, there was little choice but to face them. He would explain what he could, present his gift to the Allfather, and hope for the best.

  He made his way to Gladsheim. The hall had been rebuilt since the attack, and from afar it looked as well-constructed and intact as it had ever been. Einherjar stared at him as he passed, but did not interfere. He was surprised to recognize the bald one who had threatened him months ago. The warrior stared at him blankly, but Loki ignored him as he led his gleaming white foal through the meandering streets of Asgard.

  The massive wooden doors of Gladsheim slowly opened, and he entered the hall with the foal in tow. He walked confidently towards the Aesir seated around a large table near the front of the hall.

  Odin was at the head of the table, and also seated were Tyr, Balder, Frey, and Thor. The other seats were empty. The remains of a large meal was scattered across the table and on the floor around them, and servants scurried to and fro cleaning up the mess.

  Odin’s ravens squawked and flapped at Loki's approach. Odin looked up and brought the attention of the others who sent sour looks his way. They remained calm and seated, but Loki could see the anger and resentment. It was plain that they blamed him for the
mason’s attack, and it was just as plain that they ignored the rebuilding of the wall and the saving of Freyja.

  Balder spoke up as Loki drew closer. “The Sly One returns after nearly causing the destruction of Asgard. What clever bargains will you propose today? Will you invite the rest of the giants as our guests and give them our women?”

  Loki ignored Balder and addressed Odin directly. “Allfather, it is true that I erred in judgment.” There were grunts and snorts of derision from the other gods. “I, along with others, failed to see the mason’s true nature,” he made brief eye contact with Balder, “and there was a price to be paid for this failure. As a gesture to show my regret, I humbly ask that I be allowed to present you with this gift.” He indicated the foal.

  “You have caused much mischief,” the Allfather said.

  “My lord, I only wished to have the wall rebuilt for our continued defense.”

  “You let the enemy onto our sacred ground.”

  Loki bit his tongue. Why was Heimdall not to blame for this mistake? Why was he not here to face Odin’s wrath?

  “Perhaps you are right, Allfather. I should have seen through the mason’s guise. I realize this one small gift will not make up for the damage caused, but it is a worthy gift.”

  Balder said, “So you bring an unnatural creature here to Asgard to curry favor with the High One? Where did you get this beast?”

  Loki did not immediately answer. He considered how they would react to his change into a mare, his birthing of the foal, and knew that that fact alone would be enough to cause disgust.

  “The foal is a gift for the Allfather. It is the—”

  Balder cut him off. “You still do not tell us how you came about this horse.”

  Loki bit back an angry retort. “The Norns gave me the foal,” he said. “In a sense.” The gods quieted down and eyed him carefully.

  “You have been to the Norns?” Tyr asked.

  “Yes. They told me of a mare with . . . certain qualities that could lure the mason's horse from its work. I used the mare for this purpose. Without his horse, he was not able to complete the wall.”

  “And this foal is . . .?” Tyr asked.

  “The product of the two.”

  Frey spoke aloud to the others. “It is likely true that failing to have the use of his horse prevented the mason from completing the wall. We all saw the power and speed of his horse, and how much slower he was without it those last few days.”

  Balder could not contain his disgust. “This story casting Loki as the hero is ridiculous.” He turned to Loki. “Nothing could be more absurd than any vision of you as the savior of Asgard.”

  Loki's irritation rose, as it had with Heimdall. “And what was your role in defending Asgard, Balder? Did you slow the giant down by getting in the way of his fists?”

  Balder stood up, his fists clenched. Before he could draw his sword, he was halted by one word from Odin.

  “Hold.”

  Balder stared hard at Loki, but reluctantly retook his seat. He turned to Odin, nearly spewing venom. “He should not escape punishment for his role in this, father.”

  Thor spoke up for the first time. “I tire of this. A giant arrived in Asgard and we killed it. What else is there to say?”

  “There is much to say,” Frey said, “if Loki is responsible for this.”

  Thor pushed his chair back from the table. “Bah. Even if he is, what can mere words do? Jotunheim sent the strongest giant any has ever seen to destroy us, and now his brains are scattered across Gladsheim. I hope they send more. I would like to face a dozen like him.”

  The others ignored Thor's boast. Frey said to Loki, “You hide something, that much is true.”

  Loki successfully prevented himself from sneering at him. He glanced at Odin. The High One stared at him without expression, but he knew the truth. As ever, though, he would not reveal his secrets to the other Aesir. Loki was glad for once that Odin did not tell all. If he were to reveal Loki's secret, death would be the least of his punishments. He was confident, however, that the gift of the foal would allow Odin to smooth the way for him with the others.

  “I cannot reveal all the Norns told me. They were clear on that. I regret hiding things from the Aesir, but I was made to swear an oath before they would agree to help me.”

  Balder was not satisfied with the answer. “Half truths are nothing but lies by another name.”

  Loki ignored him and spoke directly to Odin. “Allfather, I offer you Sleipnir. He will one day be the fastest horse in the Nine Worlds, and he will be able to carry you farther than any other. I have cast the runes and seen that he is destined for greatness. He will be a fitting steed for the High One.”

  Sleipnir stepped forward without any nudging and presented himself to Odin. The other gods, except for Balder, could not help but admire the animal, and there was some quality about it that echoed Loki's words. Its presence was imbued with an ephemeral power that was clear to nearly all assembled.

  Odin seemed to truly see the horse for the first time. If he found the eight legs unusual, he did not indicate it. After appraising the animal silently for long moments, he spoke. “I have seen that he will serve me well. The normal boundaries of the Nine Worlds will not contain him, even while his destiny is intertwined with their ultimate fate.” He stood. “I will ponder on your own fate, Loki. Go now. I will summon you when I have reached a decision.”

  Loki stood for long minutes, feeling that more needed to be said. Finally, realizing that his audience and plea was done, he turned and left. Cold stares followed him as he walked out the doors of Gladsheim, uncertainty about his fate growing within him.

  It was not been long before Loki received Odin’s summons. A wizened old servant led him beyond the main hall of Valaskjalf and to one of Odin's private chambers. They stood before a black door with carved runes. The servant opened the door and Loki stepped inside, the thunk of the door's closing breaking the silence inside.

  He was in a round chamber with runes carved on the floor and walls. He looked up to see the darkness of a cloudy night sky. When he had first stepped into Valaskjalf only moments ago, it had been midday.

  Mimir's head was on a pedestal in the middle of the chamber, but there was no one else in the room. Loki approached the head. The eyes were closed and it looked lifeless, but this was not the first time he had been here. He knew that Odin counseled with the head. Mimir had been wise in life, and Odin relied on that wisdom in death—or whatever this was—as well.

  The eyes popped open and stared at him, the mouth moving soundlessly.

  “Do you have any words of wisdom for me?” he asked it.

  The mouth continued to work while the eyes stared at him. Loki heard faint whispering and leaned in closer.

  “ . . . chaos rages within you . . .”

  Loki narrowed his eyes.

  “Mimir sees you clearly.”

  Loki turned, surprised by Odin's voice. The Allfather stood just behind him, although he had heard no one enter the chamber. He wondered how long he had been there. Recovering quickly, he bowed his head.

  “You sent for me, High One?”

  Odin moved past him and lifted Mimir's head from the pedestal, cradling it gently in the crook of his arm. He walked to a chair that Loki did not remember being there and sat down, placing the head on his knee. He made a gesture with his free hand, and Loki turned to see another chair next to him. As he sat down, he wondered if the seat had been summoned, or if it had been there the whole time and he had missed it.

  “You have changed since you visited the Norns,” Odin said.

  Loki paused, pondering what Odin meant before answering. “An audience with such beings would change any, my lord. Except you, of course.”

  Odin was looking down at Mimir's head, the mouth now closed. “They see what no others see. They are unlike any other beings in the Nine Worlds.” He lifted his head to stare at Loki. “But I see even what they do not.”

  Loki looked dow
n.

  “I sacrificed myself on Yggdrasil for nine nights, and much was revealed to me.” He turned back to the head on his knee. “Mimir, what does the future hold for Loki?”

  Mimir's mouth moved again, the whispering louder than before. “ . . . the treasure of Jotunheim . . . the youth of Asgard . . . the golden flesh of the goddess . . . will be taken . . . he will consume fire . . . twilight will come . . .”

  “What do you make of these words?” Odin asked.

  “Nothing, Allfather. I am sure his wisdom speaks to one such as you, but I cannot make sense of it.” Mimir's words echoed the Norns' in some ways, and he thought he understood some of it. Twilight referred to Ragnarok, and he wondered if the youth of Asgard meant Balder, the youngest of the Aesir. Was the goddess of the golden flesh Freyja? As with the Norns, however, Mimir spoke in riddles that could have many meanings.

  “All is laid out for you in his words. You have only to pierce their meaning.” Odin had a faraway stare in his eyes, a sure sign that he was seeing more than what was presently there.

  “I am not wise enough to understand, my lord.” He was always careful to subjugate himself when in the presence of Odin, cautious not to overstep boundaries.

  “ . . . you are one and many . . .” Mimir mumbled.“ . . . legions will follow . . . you will ever be alone . . .”

  Loki did not like hearing Mimir. Like the Norns, he spouted riddles and half-truths that could be interpreted in many ways. “Is Mimir always correct, Allfather?”

  “What do you know of your parents?” Odin asked, ignoring Loki's question.

  “My lord, you know well—”

  “Answer.”

  “I know nothing of them. Yours was the first face I remember seeing. I was raised under your auspices.”

  “And who have you served for as long as you remember?”

  “You, my lord.”