Pyramid Power (ARC)

by Dave Freer

  "You have Loki to help. And what is a wall of flame to me?" said a man who had entered behind them.

  Both the Midgard Serpent and Fenrir surged to meet him. The wolf suddenly realizing he had children using him as a hassock, stopped dead, and waited until Lamont set them down. Then Fenrir danced around him and Sigyn like a terrible puppy-dog, jumping over the sinuous coils of Jörmungand.

  "I thought that it was extra cold tonight," said Fenrir, panting. "Fimbulwinter comes!" There was red joy in his eyes.

  Then in walked Thor, bleary-eyed and puzzled looking.

  "Papa-Thor," said Thrúd, going to hug him.

  "Hello, littlest one," he said squeezing her back. "Were is your mama? And where is Marie?"

  Emmitt was not yet entirely recovered from his emotional shock. He walked up to Thor. "You," he said, waggling a forefinger. "I thought you were Thor. But you were so weak you couldn't even stop them kidnapping Marie. You can't not drink, can you? I thought you were someone I could rely on." His tone was bitter, plainly hurt to the core.

  "Sif told me it was medicine. It would stop me craving drink," Thor said humbly. "Look.... I won't do it again."

  The black-elf boy looked him in the eye. "Promise?" he sighed. "My mama promised." It was plainly something too painful to think about, by the way he bit his lip.

  Thor nodded. "It's not easy. But if you'll help me, boy... I'll do it."

  The boy looked at huge papa-Thor. The lad had good shoulders on him when he put them back like that. He looked for a long time. Then he said: "Deal."

  "You can train him up as warrior," said Thrúd. "It'll keep you busy. Get you to lose some of that"—she poked him in the belly—"because Fimbulwinter is here. So is Loki."

  Thrúd was not too sure what she expected from her father at this point. Actually, she had to admit that her feelings were a mess. Trust Loki to stir everything up, especially the bit about Baldr. But he had been, to all intents and purposes, a sort of uncle all her life. He'd helped her out, and helped Thor out and, for that matter Odin, and half a dozen others out, and saved Freyja, and helped Thor recover Mjöllnir.

  Yes, he'd caused a fair number of problems too. But she knew Thor considered the defense of Asgard a sacred trust—even if he seemed to be giving house room to two of the Asinjur's greatest enemies, Jörmungand and Fenrir. It was he who had put a sword in Fenrir's jaws, and very nearly caught Jörmungand while fishing, after all. And now he seemed unsurprised to see them here.

  She was surprised to see her father looking embarrassed and uneasy. "I didn't know what he planned to do," said Thor. "Odin told me what you'd said about Sif. And Baldr."

  "Well, I did say it," said Loki, obviously not going to give Thor any room for comfort.

  "I had to do something after that," said Thor. "But I thought it would be a good beating..."

  Loki shrugged. "He would never have caught me without your strength, red-beard."

  "I know. But I should have stayed after you were caught in the net. Heimdall was getting up my nose, and I thought I should get out of there before I hit him. He's the All-father's favorite... And someone offered me mead." Thor sighed. "It was true about Baldr, though? You caused his death."

  "It was all true, and that was true too. But I had reason. And I had help. Help that betrayed me. Help that I will destroy." Loki smiled thinly, viciously. "And while I might have sent Baldr to Helheim, I wasn't the one who kept him there. I swear to it."

  Everyone had assumed that the giantess Thökk—who had refused to weep for Baldr, and thereby condemned him to remain in Helheim—had been Loki in disguise. So who had it been then?

  Thor looked troubled. "Sigyn. What is this all about?"

  Thrúd had a terrible feeling that she knew, now why Loki had done it. But Papa-Thor was in no condition to go and fight Odin, and all the other Asinjur who would rally to him. She just hoped Sigyn wasn't going to give it all away.

  Yet.

  She'd have to explain it to him sometime, and it wasn't going to be easy. Everything that Loki had said at the flyting was true. Even the parts about her mother, which were painfully obvious now that she'd seen Sif with Odin.

  Sigyn held out her hands. "I am not being drawn into this, Thor. But you know Loki. He is not an oathbreaker. A trickster, yes. But he does not lie to you. He had reasons."

  Thor sighed. "What you said about me was true, Loki. Hurtful but true. But I can't let you loose to bring Ragnarok."

  "What I said about everyone was true. I left some of the best bits out though," said Loki with a wicked grin. "I'm saving those. But I've had a little talk with a sorcerer. A little Midgard fellow who called himself Jerry."

  Thor shook his head. "I knew a Jelling once. At a place in Jutland."

  "Not quite the same, red-beard. This Jerry talked me into forgoing Ragnarok and settling for revenge."

  Thor shook his head. "Can't be done. You know Odin as well as I do. He'd rather bring Ragnarok than lose. Loki, I must hold you. This time I'll see to it that it's at least comfortable. Otherwise... give it up. Give me your word and go into exile in Midgard. It's not so bad. I spent a few years cadging drinks there. I'll be going too. This mortal's wife"—he pointed at Lamont—" was captured and taken from my house. I owe him a double debt: for the evil done to his wife and for help that she has given me. I honor my debts."

  Loki shook his head ruefully. "You never change, old friend. You remain honorable... and a bit dim. Has it occurred to you that you're standing with my son and my daughter, and without Mjöllnir, or the Menginjörd, or the gauntlets of iron, or Grid's rod?"

  "He has me," said Thrúd.

  "And me," said the boy black-elf.

  Liz walked into the fray. "Excuse me," she said, crossly. "Stop this, right now."

  She turned on Loki. "You owe Jerry. He got you out of your prison. You owe it to him to get him out. You won't do that by starting a fight with my friends. Now just put a plug in it. You've been looking for a fight ever since you got here. And Thor, I know Jerry Lukacs. Trust me, just because you can't think of how to do something, doesn't mean he can't. Jerry has out-thought two sets of gods already. So you just concentrate on hard stuff like staying sober, and then if Jerry can't produce, then you worry about it. Got me?"

  Whatever else Papa-Thor had got, he hadn't quite gotten used to women like this. He gaped.

  But Loki started to laugh. "You know, Öku-Thor, she's right. I was looking for a fight, I suppose. And yes, this Jerry was clever enough to get me free. That means that he is technically cleverer than me, because I couldn't."

  "And Papa-Thor," said Thrúd, taking the bit between her teeth, "Uncle Fox was telling the truth about mama."

  "I know, little one," said Thor gently. "I'm not all that clever, but I knew something was going on. He didn't have to shame her in public though. Things... things haven't been too good between your mama and me for some time now. But she's still my wife."

  Thrúd took a deep breath. "And... maybe... I think I understand about Baldr. It... well, it was my fault, papa."

  "Oh, I had my own axe to grind too, Thrúd," said Loki. "And don't pester Thrúd about it, Thor. We all do things we regret later. I'm an expert at it."

  Thrúd found herself getting a squeeze from her father. "If I understand this right, and I'm not quick about these things, it's a good thing Loki got to him first. And you can tell me about it if you want to, when you want to. It's over now."

  "Even Mjöllnir wouldn't have hurt Baldr, Thor," said Loki.

  "Umph," grunted Thor irritably, knitting his brow. "True. You could have told me, though."

  "I don't want to rub you up the wrong way, old friend, but I do things my way, and you do them in yours—which is charging in like a bull at a gate. That wouldn't have worked."

  "This is very interesting," said Liz, "and you can all talk about your misunderstandings, and kiss and make up... later. Jerry is still a captive over there. We've got that horn. We need to arrange a trade. And we need to rescue Marie
."

  "Horn?"

  "That gold-toothed creep's tootle-pipe," said Liz.

  Loki nodded cheerfully. "Heimdall must be swearing most beautifully by now. Take my advice, Thor. If that wench kisses you, don't hold her, hold onto your pouch with one hand and your hammer with the other or she'll steal both."

  Thor rubbed his head. "This is all too fast for me. Let's take it slowly. The All-father has this Jerry prisoner. You have Heimdall's horn. You want to exchange the two."

  "Yep," said Liz. "For starters anyway."

  "Well, I'm not that clever," said Thor, "but I think most of the Asinjur will just come here and take it from you, and imprison you or kill you."

  "Even here? Take someone from Bilskríner?" Thrúd said, incredulously.

  Thor nodded gloomily. "Loki's right about the state of things. My halls are empty of warriors. I don't know what's happened to the belt of strength. I can't find my iron gauntlets. I'm afraid I, uh sold Mjöllnir for drink. And Odin can call to muster all the Ás, all the Vanir. I don't have a lot of friends left. I know. It's my own fault."

  "Well, it's gonna change," said Emmitt belligerently.

  Loki nodded. "Well said, boy. But for now, we need to flee this place. There are places in Midgard and yes, in Jotunheim, where we can find shelter. Where even the Ás will not follow. And there is always Helheim."

  Thor shuddered.

  "There is just one awkward detail. We have to get there," said Jörmungand. "And getting out of the gates of Asgard could be tricky. I can go by water, but you can't."

  Thor shrugged. "We hitch my goats to the chariot, and charge."

  "And end up full of Ull's arrows," said Loki, "spitted on one-eye's spear, and getting chopped into dog-gobbets by Heimdall and the rest of the Einherjar. Remember we have mortals here. And they can be killed very easily."

  Thor sighed. "All right, Loki. You always come up with some sort of plan. I am just not dressing up in women's clothes and pretending to be Freyja again."

  Loki chuckled. "But you looked so good in a dress. You've got such pretty ankles."

  Thor took a swing at him.

  "He's just teasing you papa."

  "I know. But it's like that damned punning. The only way to get him to stop is to hit him."

  "Punnish him," said Lamont.

  Liz groaned.

  Loki smiled. "And you must be Lamont. Jerry said you were a man after my own heart, but hopefully not on a platter. He also said that you were a practical man. How would you get us out?"

  Lamont shrugged. "Camouflage. The ladies dresses might even work, but I also swore that they'd never get me to do it again. A distraction would help. A few smoke grenades. I gather archery is problem. Something to keep the heads down for a bit. Are these gates closed?"

  Thor nodded. "Between dawn and dusk, yes."

  "And when do you think they'll get here?" asked Liz.

  "Possibly before dawn. Not much, though. They will assume that Loki has taken one of his forms and flown. After first light someone may track the missing horses."

  "But it is pretty dark out there. We can go out and get ready to rock and roll on those gates at dawn," said Lamont. "Now, we're going need to get some things ready. Have you got a smithy and some tools?"

  "And how do we stop them chasing straight after us?" asked Liz.

  Loki shrugged. "Let them try."

  "I plan to discourage it," said Lamont.

  Thrúd had more faith in the black-elf. Loki tended to leave the ends of his plans to chance.

  Chapter 23

  Liz might have guessed that Lamont's plans would involve a serious shortage of rest. He had her and Thrúd making caltrops. At least in myth-Greece they'd kept him away from a workshop.

  After a while Liz curiosity got the better of her. She asked Thrúd what all this stuff about Baldr was about.

  "I was... involved with Baldr." She sighed. "I was still quite young. We Æsir do not age as you mortals do. And Baldr was even more handsome than Loki was before Skadi's snakes. But Baldr was married to Nanna. And Papa-Thor and Uncle Fox were like two old mother-hens about me. From what I can work out Loki went to Odin to get Baldr to back off, before Papa-Thor found out. I was still quite young. The mistletoe... well, it grows on the oaks. Odin's grove-trees. Baldr was protected against harm from anything else. Papa-Thor would have fought Baldr. Thor could not win, so Loki dealt with him. I don't know if he meant to kill him. He doesn't always think of consequences."

  Liz thought that was the understatement of the generation. "But what did all of this have to do with Odin?"

  "He is Baldr's father. And Baldr is foretold to rule of the Æsir after him. What Loki is saying is... horrible. He is saying Odin plotted for Baldr's death so that there would be no challenge to his rule."

  Liz gaped. "His son?"

  "One of them," said Thrúd. "And no, I'm not still in love with him, whatever Loki thinks. Baldr broke it off just before he was killed. I... I was glad he got killed. He used me. I was just another bit of fun, and a way of getting at Papa-Thor. He taunted me with that," she said, colors flying in her cheeks.

  Mocking Thor's daughter was probably a seriously bad idea.

  They worked on while Loki and Lamont competed in ingenuity and puns. Liz had to be glad of it. It might keep him from thinking too much about Marie.

  * * *

  "The big problem," said Loki, "is Jörmungand. She's not very fast on land, and her wings are too small for her to fly with. I can transform myself, and her. It's not easy, but I can do it. I transformed Idun into a nut once." He grinned. "Mind you. I am not sure that she got better. Of course if we get Jörmungand into the water there is no catching her. Fenrir can outrun even the arrows of Ull."

  "We need to attach some armor on this cart," said Lamont, "that's not going to weigh it down too much."

  "Don't let Thor hear you call it a cart, for Hel's sake. He's terribly proud of his title Öku-Thor—charioteer-Thor."

  Lamont shrugged. "Call it whatever you like, it could use some improvement. Leaf springs for starters, and a better way of attaching the goats."

  Loki laughed. "He's a traditionalist, is our Thor. And spring is the time of leaves, yes, and they would hide us, but this is Fimbulwinter. It will be snowing before morning. Asgard is unused to snow."

  "Snow..." mused Lamont. "Chariots don't do too well in deep soft snow, do they?"

  "Depends on how deep," said Loki. "It was clear out when we rode over, but the snow is coming. There are long watches to the night."

  "That's going to make tracking horses tricky. And Marie... will she be all right?"

  "She lies behind an eternal wall of flames. She will be warmer than we are."

  "She's not well," said Lamont, biting his lip. "I need to get back to her."

  "All the more reason to get out into Midgard, snow or no snow," said Loki.

  Lamont's eyes narrowed. "I'm going to have a look."

  It might have been clear when Liz had come back from Vallhöll, but now it was as black as the inside of a cat out there, and snow was falling as if it had a deadline to meet. It was a regular blizzard now. If it kept up like this it was going to be axle deep on the cart in no time. Lamont refused to call that thing a chariot. It was more like a two-wheeled farm-wagon. And the snow was soft and powdery. The goats would almost have to swim through it. What they needed was a skidoo... He might as well wish for a ski-plane.

  And into his fertile mind an idea was thrust. The Midgard serpent's tail was definitely a lot higher than it was wide. "Just how well will Jörmungand cope with that soft snow?" he asked Loki. "It won't be quite swimming, but no one is going to walk on top of it for a while."

  Loki shrugged. "Let's ask her."

  Jörmungand went out and showed them. A patch of the floors of Bilskríner were never going to be quite the same again, but Lamont had the design for a giant mythological skidoo. All they needed was a broad sled, with one wide skid with a high but gently sloping prow. Jörmungand coul
d put her head and a little of her upper torso on that, along with them. A hundred and fifty feet of tail could push the skid along.

  Now all he needed was to construct it before morning. Fortunately, there was a half-built boat in Thor's work-room. It had plainly been abandoned long ago, when the bow had been completed and the rest still needed to be clinker clad.

  Thor was easy about the idea of them using it. "A snow dragon-ship! I like that idea. I'm never going to finish the ship anyway. And the timbers are old already."

  Jörmungand liked it too. "I tend to dig in to drifts," she said. "This should stop that."

  At length they were ready, and Lamont went to have another look outside. It was still snowing, but less heavily. The snow was lying nearly four feet deep. There was also a hint of sullen daylight. They'd been at the preparations for longer than they'd realized. He sighed. Well, he'd better wake the children. Emmitt had passed out quietly in a corner a few hours back. Thor had carried him to sleep with the others. Red-beard liked that boy.

  When he went through to the room where the straw pallets and goose-down covers had been laid, Lamont realized two things. Firstly he was very tired. Secondly he had real problems because Tolly and Ty were not in their beds. Just as he was setting out full of panic, the two came in.

  "There is snow! I had never seen snow until I came to this place. And there is so much of it!" said Tolly excitedly.

  "We found this belt thing, Pa," said Ty, hefting a broad gold and leather belt. "It's pretty cool, hey." He held it against his waist and grabbed his father's arm... and pulled Lamont off his feet.

  "I think Thor is looking for that," said Lamont in a controlled voice. "And now do you think you could put me down? That's his belt of strength."

  Thor was delighted. "Where did you find it?"

  "I'll show you," said Ty.

  They followed the boy to a room on the back of the huge hall.

  "Thjalfi's lair," said Thor. Already, with the great belt—it looked like a championship prizefighter's belt—he looked less like a has been and more like Thor, god of thunder.

  The room yielded quite a trove. There were the iron gauntlets, and an iron rod. "He told me I'd lost them!" said Thor, incensed.