"She went this way!" A guard's voice echoed through the palace's marble halls.
I whirled around. Armor gleamed through cracks between columns and the stomping of feet told me that there were more than one guard coming my way. One, even two guards I could handle. But a legion? Not so much. I ducked under a rail and paused to gather my dark muffled cloak more securely around myself. It was heavy wearing all that fabric. Too heavy I thought, gotta get rid of it. More footsteps. I ran to the end of the hall and peered over the balcony's edge. Beneath us was a garden. Perfect. I tossed the cloak over and veered out of sight to the left. Now all I was carrying was my regular, stolen clothes: a shirt, a chain maile shirt, a tough leather vest over top, pants, soft knee-high, lace-up boots - which I had swathed in rabbit skins for silence - a belt and shoulder loop, and my daggers. Two daggers were hidden in my boots, one on my belt, a sword was slung on my back, and a few arrows were fitted on back of its sheath.
The garden ruse had bought me time, but not for long. I halted realizing that I'd cornered myself. This was a big mistake. Only the royal quarters were located here. It was a dead end.
"I'm done for." Solder's boots were coming up behind me. No going back now. I turned back to examine my options. Odin the king? Definitely not, he'd be too justice oriented and sentence me himself. From the sounds of things, Thor was buys with his friends and if I could help it I'd only face one person. Freya, the queen's rooms had been sealed up since her death. Nothing there, besides it was guarded. The boots were coming closer. I took a gamble and dash down the passage to the right. This hallway is dimly lit with only candles, which illuminate the exquisite craftmanship in the stone and gold inlay.
"No time for it now" I pant. "Doors, good no guards." I crouch to put my ear to the door, but instead all I hear is that incessant clunck of boots. No time. I yank on the door praying that it'll be open. It is. I bolt inside and quickly close it behind me.
"Hullo, who are you?" I look up as I automatically reach for my dagger and make a frightening discovery. This was Loki's room.
