"Father!"
A distressed female burst out of the home, throwing her arms around Geirrodr's shoulders.
"Father, Gjalp, she hasn't come back yet! You don't suppose she crossed Vimur again, do you?!" the woman worried, eyes wide and tearful as her chest heaved.
"I doubt it, Greip." the warrior replied grimly.
Laufey watched as the woman's eyes turned to him. Her worry seemed to double, gaze flickering about their party. "... Gjalp... has she done something wrong...?" she questioned of him, voice wobbling.
Choosing his words carefully, Laufey replied, "No. We merely have reason to believe that she found something of great importance, and wish to retrieve it."
Before any of the community-members could do anything, Helblindi gave a jerk, stepping away from him and frowning.
"What is it?" Byleister asked.
"... Just now... I thought I saw a witch standing at the corner...?"
Oh, that had been close.
"What is it?" Loki hissed.
"Can't you see?" she replied.
"... Is that... Laufey...?!"
"And his sons, no less. Since they're with my father and talking to my sister... damn, are they searching for me already?" Gjalp cursed. "Okay, change of plans."
"Searching... you're not wanted, are you?"
"Not particularly. But if your Asgardian fellows want you back, I can guess that they'd strike up some sort of deal with—"
She fell silent, jumping to the roof of the home next to her as the warriors came to where they were. The two of them may have been layered with invisibility, but she didn't want to take any chances.
"Gjalp?" her father called, looking about and sounding rather testy. "Gjalp, if you're here, come out this instant, you understand?"
Yeah, she didn't have time for this.
Standing up, Gjalp moved carefully along the roof and jumped to the next dwelling. And the next. And the next.
Then she slipped down, back onto the ground, and bounded on all fours towards the food-store.
"Very not good at respecting authority," Loki commented as she slipped the eel into the meager supplies, "What had you been saying?"
"That your precious Allfather probably bribed Laufey to find you. But I still need to see about that spell, and who can guarantee how well Laufey'll treat you bargain or not." Gjalp said simply, giving him a moment to readjust himself on her back. "Which isn't to say that he's a bad king— You're just technically trespassing and could be considered a prisoner of war."
Loki was quiet. Hearing someone coming, Gjalp was grateful for that, and jumped up to cling to the rocky wall of the store.
It was the first prince, Byleister.
Gjalp held her breath, watching.
He was currently the most-vied for warrior among women. Tall, strong, fast and rugged-looking, he was a fighter and a member of court as the heir apparent. Gjalp personally preferred the second prince, Helblindi, but neither was particularly her type. She was honestly more interested in the dag of Laufey's court, Vafthruthnir.
Below, Byleister had found the faint scuff her jump had left in the snow. Gjalp uttered a mental curse— She'd been trying very hard not to stand in the snow! For this exact reason!
The prince looked up. Gjalp could see the beginnings of a counter-spell on his lips, and hurriedly made an enormous amount of snow fall on and flatten him. As he struggled to stand, she pushed off from the wall, very carefully jumping onto his back and pushing him back down. Falling onto all fours, she bounded away, heading for Vimur.
"What're you doing?!" Loki demanded, his arms tightening around her neck.
"Escaping!" Gjalp replied. "Hold your breath!"
Loki didn't have time to respond as she dove into the river.