chapter 10

Focus on the table… She tried to take a moment to gather her thoughts as her host sat down at the other end of the table. Don't watch him no matter how good he looks. Focus on the table. Loki was seated just an arm's length across from her.

The table was, simply put, an ornate feast, well a feast for two. There were fresh fruits, roasted vegetable and variety breads, cheeses, meats. There were also some things she was at a loss to name. It was presented in an elaborate display, Keira had to tell herself not to gawk. She had never seen such a presentation. Not only the food, but the room and the man in it, was overwhelming.

In an attempt to change the conversation Keira spoke up, "it seems a shame to eat it, it all looks so lovely."

"If you prefer Keira, we could just skip dinner all together and go directly to dessert." The look on his face made her blush and look down at her plate. Loki gave a quite laugh.

The meal started out in good humor, there was plenty of niceties and small talk. Loki knew how to engage people into conversation, draw words out of them, at times, words they had meant to keep to themselves.

Keira told him how she was taken from her parents when she entered into adolescence. After that she lived with other Oracles. There were only four of us total. All of us had visions, some of us had other gifts too. I found I could do things like manipulating fire to a small degree, just simple things." Her brown eyes looked away, she felt a bit silly talking about it to a god about it all.

After a few questions about the extent of this Midgurdian magic Loki was content knowing it was all children's tricks and even that was very rare among the humans.

"How is your progress coming on learning Asgardian? She shrugged her shoulders, then her eyes found her dinner plate very interesting. After a bit of coaxing though, he got her to recite a poem in his noble tongue. She spoke it well enough, Loki was impressed and Loki was very seldom ever impressed. He eyed her across the table letting her know his thoughts with an encouraging grin and tip of his glass to her. They both drank, Keira finishing hers.

It was something she'd never tried before, warmed spiced wine, deep red in color. With two goblets of drink in her she started to feel more at ease. She was still sober but maybe not as coordinated or quick thinking as she'd like to have been.

Loki's graceful hand took hold of the wine bottle and with a slight smile, emptied it's contents into his guest's glass. It was more alcohol then the other two glasses she'd had so far.

The wine had a strong taste, hints of cloves and ginger. It was then that she realized this was how Loki smelled, like warm spiced wine (and of course the leather he wore). It was one of the most intoxicating things she'd ever inhaled.

Keira sipped her 3rd glass of wine, she seemed to have run out of things to say. Loki seemed to take pleasure in just looking at her, he enjoyed making her nervous.

His rich voice filled the space between them. "Keira, now its time for you to tell me all about these visions, I wish to know what your mind sees, what secrets you hold. I think it only fair seeing as how I am in some way a part of this mystery."

The way he spoke her name made her tingle, made her feel anticipation.

Looking up at him she started in a soft voice "I don't understand it all myself. When I have a vision its only focuses on one person, it shows me the possible outcome of the path they are on. Visions can also be invoked sometimes if someone seeks me out and wants to have me "tell their fortune". But nothing is written in stone you can always change your path."

Keira wrapped her arms around herself as if she was suddenly cold. "Loki, I never have a vision of the same person twice, except you." Speaking his name caused a flow between them, something strong, but it lasted only a moment. She continued, "In fact I've had no visions of anyone else at all since these started. This connection between us, the visions, me coming here, the Powers that Be, Fates, Norns whatever name you give it, something has decided I have a purpose here."

Loki was quiet for several moments, his eyes on the glass he held. Keira had more wine and tried not to look at him in his face, his so very handsome face. Finely he spoke, "and how long has this been going on, these visions of me?"

"Maybe eight weeks give or take a day or two. "

"And what do these visions show you Keira, what do you see as my fate." His voice seemed firm and he was looking intensely in to her deep brown eyes.

With a swallow and deep breath she looked the Prince of Asgard in the face and informed him "No I can never tell what I see, like your mother said, I can only offer counsel. Please, I don't want to talk about it now."

No worry, she'll brake sooner or later.

Again Loki took a moment before he spoke, "alright my darling Keira no more talk of visions tonight."

She replied with a small smile. "I want to thank you very much for dinner, but maybe its best I say good-evening."

"Keira, both of us know you won't be leaving here so soon. He was leaning back in his chair with a casual air. "The evening is still young. But first we must address a more serious issue." He smiled as he got from the table and helped Keira out of her chair.

"Is something wrong?" The look on his faced had changed to something closer to irritation. Keira took several steps backwards, Loki matched her step for step. She stumbled, he caught her by the elbow and backed her into a wall.

"So tell me, how did your practice go? The sword is a difficult thing to master." The tone in which he spoke was low and serious. Still he held her arm with a firm grip.

"I enjoyed it very much." Through her apprehension she managed to look him in the eyes.

"And the attention of Fendral, did you also enjoy that?" His breath smelled sweet and was warm on her cheek. "I saw you with him, letting him so close."

He could almost feel her thoughts. "So what if he did…" They were both startled by the energy in her voice. "I like him. He's shown me nothing but kindness since I've come here. It doesn't mean I'm going too… or I would or..." She put her free hand over her mouth. She was scolding herself, Keira shut up Keira shut up, her mind was trying to keep up with what she was saying… Keira was flushed and shaken by now. Yep it was that third glass of wine that did me in.

Forcibly taking the hand from her mouth, "ah there it is a bit of spirit… it makes you all the more lovely..."

"I want-"

Cutting her off, he spoke with that seductive smile. "We all want Keira…" his eyes moving from her eyes, to her chest, and then lower. His hands were caressing her bare arms, looking back up at her, "Sadly though, I do not make it a habit of in taking inebriated women to my bed. I think you do not hold your wine so well dear."

She was angry and frightened by the way he talked, the way he moved, she found herself turned on by it all… its just the wine thinking for me

Her tongue was not cooperating and her head was not clear. "I want to go into… my rooms… I'm confused… I'm tired of this. … Whatever thing… " she lifted her arms away from him. "I just want to go home." Her tone was stronger again more livid. "I'm not this… something …to be possessed."

With a grin that was outright wicked, Loki replied in turn, "oh but my dear sweet Keira… that's where you are so very very wrong…"