13
Truth and Consequences
Tori Amos once said "Heroines aren't born, they're made." ~ Loki
Rhiannon ran through the halls, her bare foot slapping on the floor. Her heart pounding in her chest and fear lacing through her.
What were you thinking you fool? You are a Half-Breed Commoner. She thought to herself. What if you were recognized?
She felt bad for leaving the ball without telling Loki but at the same time she also thought it was best she stopped this newfound attraction before it could blossom into something more.
He would never have you, foolish girl! she scolded herself, gasping at a stitch in her side. He is a Prince of the blood, even if he is adopted, he is still royal by birth. And royal does not marry commoner, except in storybooks. Only children think such things come true and I am long past childhood.
And yet . . . and yet . . . her foolish heart would not quit leaping with joy every time she saw him.
The feel of his hands on her waist, his white teeth flashing in that smile that could stop a woman's heart . . .and the gentle mischief in his emerald eyes . . She sighed with remembrance. I have danced with the Prince of Asgard! And it will never get any better than that.
She found her way to Sam's rooms, stripping off the dress and putting back on her uniform. She scrubbed her face clean of the makeup, sighing in remembrance of how she looked. Tears form in her eyes and she heard someone coming and runs toward the dormitories, leaving the gown behind.
It was then she realized that she had left a shoe behind in ballroom . . . and the other was still on her foot.
Spite! Now what do I do? How could I have been so careless? She shook her head. She paused and removed the crystal shoe and clutched it to her chest. She would keep this as a memento of her only ball and of the prince who had been so kind to her.
She snuck back into the dorm, hoping not to be noticed by the rest of the staff. She fell on her small bed, settling onto her hard, lumpy mattress and falling asleep.
Loki wandered the halls, searching for his missing lady, her crystal shoe cradled in one hand. He could not understand why she had run off like that and feared he had offended her somehow. But she had seemed to be enjoying herself up until the time he had wished to introduce her to his parents.
Could she have been afraid of Odin and Frigga?
After ten more minutes of futile searching, he decided to go back to his chambers and get some rest. He could ponder Rhiannon's disappearance in the He was tired and his left foot still ached from being stepped on by three clumsy noblewomen. All he wanted right then was a cup of tea, his pajamas, and his bed in that order. He could figure out where Rhiannon had gone in the morning. Surely she would show up then, to ask him about her duties.
He approached his chambers, giving the guards on duty a friendly hello. "All quiet here, Stavros, Medon?"
The guards nodded as he passed, muttering about all being well and they let him in.
He opened the door, freezing as he saw a woman lounging on his bed. She wore nothing but her corset and her underpants, her bare legs curled about his sheets. She giggled at him, licking her lips.
"My Prince. How may I serve you?"
Loki felt his jaw come unhinged. "Who the Hel are you?" he sputtered.
The girl sat up, giggling.
"I am Lady Vika, but tonight you may call me yours."
"I beg your pardon?" Loki began, wondering if he was hallucinating. He rubbed his eyes. "Okay. Did my brothers put you up to this? Because if so, it was a good prank. Now get dressed and get out before you start rumors."
Vika pouted. "Oh, you are so . . . funny, My Prince! I did not need your brothers' encouragement to do this . . . I have longed to get you alone since the welcome feast!"
Loki groaned. "Norns help me! What do you want? My title? My money? Or do you want to rip my clothes off?"
She laid back on the bed, giggling again and beckoned him over.
"How about I start by welcoming you properly?" She asked him and laughed again.
Loki wanted to cover his ears. Nine Hells, she has a laugh like Ed the Hyena on the Lion King! He shook his head. "You must be really desperate to do this. Your father threaten to cut you off unless you ensnared a prince?"
"My father would be delighted if I told him you were betrothed to me!" Vika purred. She reached out and snagged his sleeve. "Now come here, Loki Madokey, and let me show you a good time! I heard your pretty little mystery maid ran away." She made a soft cooing noise. She sounded like a silly woman comforting a child. "Poor baby! But I can help you forget all about her."
Not unless you hit me hard enough to have amnesia!
She kissed him fully, her intentions evident. Loki's eyes went wide in shock. She pulled back, giggling and purring at him.
Her mouth tasted of mead and reminded him suddenly of his ex-wife and how she would get drunk before she would allow him to sleep with her. He fought the urge to gag.
"Madam, I do not know how you were raised, but from your actions I would say on Lantern Street!" He said coldly.
All he could think of was the way Boda used to chase after every man in pants at court, and had probably played this very trick upon many a man. Vika even resembled her somewhat, with her tumbledown pale blonde curls and wide smoky blue eyes.
"I am no strumpet! I am from a good and wealthy family! How dare you!" she shouted, pointing at the door. "Get out!"
"Excuse me?! You are in my bed!" he growled. "You get out!"
"Make me!" she pouted.
Loki gritted his teeth. "I have news for you, my lady! Good girls go to sleep in their own bed. Bad girls sleep in someone else's!"
"You are most rude, you monster!" She spat back, slapping him across the face.
He caught her wrist in his hand. "I wouldn't do that again if I were you," he warned. He would not harm her, but neither would he be anyone's punching bag. "Now, you have two choices. You can leave here under your own power, or I can make you leave. Your choice."
Suddenly she changed her tactics, wrapping herself about him with a moan. "Ooh Loki! You are sooo masterful! Come here, my frosty prince!" She began licking his neck.
What am I, her lollipop? He thought, disgusted. "Your what? Did you just call me a frosty prince? Good gods! My little daughter could think of a better name!"
"Tell me a name and I will call you it, my lord!"
She nibbled his neck, moaning, and Loki had to brace himself to keep from falling over. Help! I'm being attacked by a vampiress!
He jerked his head away. "It's time to go, Vika!" he began walking toward the door, the girl still wrapped about him like a hungry python.
"You wound me, My Prince!" she whined. "You are cold—cold as ice! No wonder your former wife looked for companionship elsewhere!"
She growled at him, scratching at his face with her nails. She dug and broke one, shouting in pain.
"I will tell everyone you took advantage of me!"
"Little witch!" Loki felt his temper skyrocket. "My ex-wife was hornier than a Texas toad! She would have done it with a lamp post if it had offered! Quit that!" He pulled her off him and then tossed her unceremoniously over his shoulder.
"As for being taken advantage of . . .it's the other way around!"
"I will have the maid flogged for this! Let go of me!" She shrieked, beating his back.
"You touch anyone and you will receive twice the stripes you give to them!" he threatened. It was pure bluff, but his reputation as a sorcerer would hold him in good stead.
"I will do it! Put me down now!" She shrieked at him and kicked him in the stomach. Then she yelped. "Oww! I hurt my toe!"
"I do what I want!" he shot back and opened the door. "Excuse me, gentlemen, but this little hussy decided to plant herself in my bed in hopes she would gain a proposal from me. But I don't propose to spoiled rich tarts!"
He set Vika down and summoned her clothes to him. "Your clothes, my lady!"
She snatched them her eyes stormy. "Beast! You unnatural cold icicle! I swear you love your magic more than you do people." She glared at him her breast heaving. "Oh and Fandral had wider shoulders and better biceps!"
"Why don't you go back to him?"
"Bastard Jotun! I will flog the bitch myself!" She shouted, glaring at Loki.
"Oh, and mind my words. You flog anyone and you will regret it." He made a little gesture towards her.
The Guards hid their glances at the exposed woman, one of them laughing to himself.
"I pray you never find a woman!" she shrieked at him, using a voice that could shatter glass.
"I pity the man who finds you!" Loki shot back. "The man is going to go deaf before he is two thousand!"
"You are the monster children hide in fear from! It is no wonder your wife slept with others! Your touch is cold and disgusting! Like a dead thing!"
Loki tisked at her. "My, my! If I'm so disgusting why were you in my room in my bed?" He turned to his guards. "When did she get here?"
"Two hours ago, My Prince." one Guard replied, leering at the girl.
"Two hours? What were you doing all that time? Drooling on my pillow? Going through my wardrobe? Dancing in your underwear?"
The guards snickered.
"To Hel with all of you!" She glared at Loki. "No woman would ever love you, not even your own mother who left you to die!"
She stormed away, hitching up her load. "She is afraid of you! Why do you think she ran?"
Loki waved at her. "Bye, Felicia!"
"Remind me never to anger that one." The guard behind him joked. Loki sighed, walking back into his chambers and thought about Rhiannon. Wondering if she did run because she was afraid.
I need a drink! he thought. Then he shook his head. No, I need to sleep!
He pulled off his clothes and waved a hand over his sheets, removing any trace of the woman who had lain there. Then he put on his pajamas and lay down, wincing as the pillow came into contact with his scratched cheek. He turned on his back, too tired to heal his cheek. Then he sank into sleep, the last thing his eyes saw was the crystal shoe upon his night stand.
"Daddy! Wake up! Lucy is sick!" Loki heard, someone shaking him and he could feel the impact of a child on the bed.
He woke sluggishly. "Huh? Aleta?"
"Lucy says her ear hurts and is crying! Daddy, wake up." Aleta said, her eyes going wide at his face. "You have an owie!"
"Okay, spark, I'm up!" he groaned.
"Daddy! You have lots of owies!"
"Yeah, a witch scratched me. Don't worry, I'm fine."
Sam ran into the room, out of breath and shaking.
"Dad! Lucy is getting worse!" she shouted, looking at Loki. "What happened to your face?"
"A witch scratched me," he said. "Give me two seconds and I'll be there." He teleported into the bathroom and summoned his clothes.
"She is crying and has a fever, Dad. I think it is an ear infection!" Sam shouted through the door.
"I'll be right out, butterfly. And it sure sounds like it. You know she gets them sometimes."
"Yeah, Dad! Should I get someone?" She shouted and knocks. "Oh! Your friend left her dress in our room last night."
"She did? I wonder why?" Then he recalled something. "Stupid dress codes!"
"What, Dad?" She asked through the door.
"Dress codes," he opened the door, fully dressed. "Apparently one of the laws that was passed four years ago involves dress codes for both nobles and commoners. And commoners can't wear anything made of silk or satin. Unless given permission by a noble."
"Great. But Lucy needs help! Should I get someone?" She asked him, waving her hands in front of his face.
Loki nodded. "I am going to get Healer Rhiannon. I believe she should be in the servants' dormitory."
"Maybe you should hurry?" Sam said, looking worried about her sister.
"Go back and sit with your sister." He ordered and then vanished in a puff of green smoke.
He reappeared in the section of the palace that the servants inhabited. Luckily that had not changed since he had been gone from Asgard.
Rhiannon dressed in one of her uniforms, tucking her hair under a cap and picking up her basket of supplies. She sighed in the mirror, the dress too big and her old corset cinched tightly.
"You are an employee, nothing more. Remember that." She told herself and left the dormitory. As soon as she opened the door, she was shocked to see Loki standing with a hand raised. She flinched and ducked.
"I am sorry for sleeping late Sir. It will not happen again!" She said quickly.
He lowered his hand. "Relax, Healer. I wasn't going to hurt you. I was about to knock on the door," he soothed.
"I am sorry for the mistake Sir. I was on my way for my list of duties from you." She replied, keeping her eyes low.
"I came here to tell you that my daughter Lucy has an ear infection and a fever. My youngest woke me up and told me."
"I will do my best to help her then, Sir." She replies with a curtsey.
She took her basket, hurrying down the hall and toward the girl's room. Her purpose guiding her to help the ailing child, she turned and nearly tripped walking up the stairs because of the too long skirts.
"Hold on." He called. "Let me fix those." He waved a hand and the skirt was now the proper length.
"Might I ask you something? Why did you leave so abruptly last night?"
"I had to rest, my duties to you as my employer would have suffered." She replied, keeping her head low.
"Then you weren't . . . afraid of me?" he queried softly.
She stopped, looking at him briefly in shock. "No sir, I... I am just your servant. I need to see to the Princess, before she gets worse."
"Of course." he said softly. He turned his head slightly and she noticed the scratches on his face.
"What happened to your face, sir? Those scratches look very sore and may get infected," she asked him, digging through her basket for a wash.
"I had an . . . unwelcome visitor last night." He coughed. "I'm sure you will hear rumors soon enough, but I want you to know that the witch who did this, Lady Vika, came into my chambers two hours before I entered and was lying in wait for me like a black widow spider. I found her on my bed in nothing but her undergarments."
"That is not my place to judge, sir. Your affairs are your own." She replied, finding the bottle and a clean cloth. She started opening the bottle, pouring some of the medicine onto the cloth and pressed it to his face.
"Hold this there, I will tend them after the child, sir."
She put the bottle back, walking on and trying to hurry to see Lucy.
Loki flushed. "I just wanted you to know that when I picked her up and threw her out she scratched me and swore at me."
"What did she say?"
He grimaced and then repeated verbatim what she had yelled at him in the corridor.
"Please talk as we walk, a child needs care. But that is awful, sir."
"Yes, but it is nothing I haven't heard before."
She nodded, shifting her basket. "It is still something you do not say to your better, sir. Could we hurry? I am terribly worried about the Princess, it pains me to see a child ill."
"Would you prefer me to teleport you?"
"If it pleases you sir, but I am forbidden from touching you."
"Doesn't mean I can't touch you," he said and she blushed.
"No. I suppose it does not mean that, sir." She offered him her elbow, holding her basket with both hands.
Loki gently took her elbow as he concentrated on Lucy and they vanished in a puff of green smoke.
She nearly stumbled over, disoriented and breathing hard. She caught herself, trying her best not to vomit.
"Are you alright?" he asked and she saw the worry in his eyes.
"Yes, sir," she said with a nod.
"It was just an odd feeling, sir. But still very clever. Where is the ailing child?"
"Over here," Loki said, and opened the door into Lucy's room.
"Lucy, I've brought Healer Rhiannon to take a look at your ear. She's just like Dr. Mickleson at home." Loki said as he came over to Lucy, who was in her bed, pale and flushed, her beautiful blue eyes wide with pai
"It hurts bad, Dad."
Loki sat on the bed and held her on his lap. "Will you be my brave Valkyrie and let her see it?" He stroked her golden hair.
"Okay." She leaned her head on Loki's chest.
Rhiannon set out everything she needed, carefully using her scope to check her ear. "This will be uncomfortable. If it hurts too much, I will stop and apply medicine."
She looked through it, Lucy cringing in pain. "It hurts!"
Loki rubbed his daughter's back. "It's okay, sweetie."
"Her ear is horribly swollen. It is a good thing I brought everything I could think of." Rhiannon reported.
"Are there drops you can give her for the pain and swelling?" He hugged his child.
"Yes. The Mullien Flower extract will fight the inflammation. The garlic oil will fight the infection. It is not in the lymph nodes in her neck, so three drops now, three drops before bed should fight it back. I need her to lay on her side."
Loki helped Lucy lie down. "Okay, just lie still, Valkyrie." Lucy gripped his hand tightly.
Rhiannon applied three drops to her ear.
"You should feel relief by afternoon. But don't remove the plug I am going to put in. It will keep the medicine in your ear."
"Okay."
Rhiannon put a bit of clean cotton to plug her ear. Lucy whimpered in pain, but tolerated it.
She gave Loki a bottle of the medicine, some clean squares of cotton, and unwrapped an apple tart, giving the last to Lucy. The petite Healer smoothing the little girl's hair back and soothed her.
"All over, you rest and you will feel better."
"Thank you, Healer Rhiannon." She bit into the tart "Mmm!"
"Thank you for being such a good patient." Rhiannon smiled at her.
"That's my brave Valkyrie," Loki said and Lucy rolled her eyes.
"Daddy!" Lucy sighed and Rhiannon chuckled.
"She will sleep soon. It is best we give her some quiet, sir. Would you like me to tend those scratches?"
"Yes, if you wouldn't mind." Loki answered. He could heal them himself, but he found himself strangely reluctant to do so.
She collected her things, cleaning her scope and returning it to her basket.
"I also need my duty list, and for you to tell me your expectations of me, sir."
"Uh...," Loki stuttered then realized she meant as their healer.
"Sir? Are you well?" She asked, picking up her basket and blinking at him.
"Yes, I'm fine."
"Oh. Shall we go into the hall so I can treat your wounds?"
"Alright," he said and they headed out of the room. He went to sit on one of the high back chairs as she placed her basket on the table next to the chair and looked at his face.
"They are not deep, but they could get infected easily. I need to clean them Sir." She said, pouring more of the solution onto the cloth and cleaning the scratches gently.
He thought how gentle she was as he looked at her and saw she was blushing.
"Are you alright?" he asked.
"Yes," she said with a nod.
She continued cleaning the wound, taking a clean cloth and applying an ointment to it. She pressed her lips together as she worked.
"This will help them heal, sir. Would you explain your expectations of me, sir?"
Loki cleared his throat. Get your head out of the clouds and back on the ground where it belongs, Laufeyson! He thought.
"Well, my children do tend to stay healthy, though, recently, they did come down with a flu virus."
"Did you have any assistance in taking care of them?"
"Yes," he said with a nod. "The one who does tend to get minor injuries is Vince. He isn't called my little daredevil for nothing."
She put her things back in her basket neatly. "I understand, sir. But my conduct, how do you expect me to act?"
"I expect you to act like you normally do."
"Yes, sir. The child who cannot walk, does he have needs that I should be aware of?" She asked him, folding her hands neatly.
"He does have to be careful if he gets a respiratory infection."
"Is he able to sit on the toilet on his own?"
"Yes, he can."
"Very good then. Do you have a list of duties you want me to perform?"
"Other than to take care of us when we're ill, I can't think of anything. Oh. You will be able to have three meals a day, you will be paid if you yourself get ill and you will be paid if you have to work over your normal shift."
"Sir, you are too generous!" she gasped. "That is far too generous in fact, I am content with what I had before."
She lowered her eyes politely, picking up her basket.
"All who work in my house receive the same as what I am offering you. My employees in New York have much the same terms. It is fair. You will also have weekends off unless there is someone sick. Five days a week, eight to ten hours a day."
He is so kind Rhiannon, stop being a fool and say something.
"Thank you, sir. May I be dismissed? I have to... run am errand." She said, holding her basket.
"Of course," he said with a nod. He watched her quickly rush off and he sighed.
Why does she keep running away from me? he thought.
She pushed past the maid as she entered with his breakfast tray, the woman sighing. "Off to see her lover I bet."
Loki stared at her. "Excuse me?"
"No one has ever seen him, but she runs into the city to meet him every week. Good morning, My Prince."
The maid set the tray on the table, Loki nearly falling into the chair. She has someone else? He wondered, and heard a knock at the door.
"Come in," he called.
The maid opened the door and Thor and Balder walked by her.
"Leave," Balder said and the maid bowed, walking out of the room. He checked to see if she was gone before closing the door and Loki gave his brothers an odd look.
"Is there something wrong?" Loki asked.
"Good to see you are not throwing another girl out in her undergarments!" Balder laughed, Thor joining him.
"Norns! Your face!" Thor exclaimed.
"She really worked you over. Was it your Mystery Lady?" Balder inquired, laughing.
"Ah!" Loki said when he realized the guards who had seen him tossing Vika out of his room said something and he sighed. "No, it was Lady Vika."
"She is amazing Brother! A real spitfire!" Balder laughed. "She would have made you forget the other girl."
"Her father has his hands full with her," Thor snorted. "She used to be with Fandral and he said she was like a firecracker!"
"You should have heard what she said about me!" Loki said with a growl.
"You did reject her, Brother." Balder laughed.
"Of course I did!"
"What did she say?" Thor asked his eyes glinting.
Loki told them as Thor and Balder looked at each other and Loki crossed his arms over his chest.
"Nine Hels. I cannot believe she would have that nerve." Thor said, and sighed
"I can. Her father spoils her," Balder said. "Just like-" he stopped.
"Yes," Loki said with a nod.
"I will tell the guards to stop talking about you or I will report them to Father," Thor said.
"Oh, that's all I need."
"I am sorry Brother, but you still have your Mystery Maiden." Thor offered, smiling hopefully.
Balder saw the look on his face, frowning. "You are very unlucky Brother. I am sorry."
"Yes. Well, I just hope Vika doesn't cause any trouble."
"Mother will put her in her place " Balder answered.
"We will see to it, Brother. Perhaps, fate has another meant for you." Thor replied, clapping his brother on the shoulder.
"I doubt it."
"Oh, don't sound so downhearted," Balder said.
"Yes. I found Jane. You will find yours." Thor offered.
"Perhaps I am not meant to find anyone. I mean who wants a man with twelve kids?"
"There were a few ladies who were interested. Come now, try them." Balder replied, Thor nodding.
Loki sighed and began to eat his breakfast.
"We will leave you. Brother. Come for a ride with us later." Balder said, taking Thor's arm and leading him out the door.
Loki watched the door closing as he thought about what they said and the image of Rhiannon's face moved across his mind.
Loki thought about riding his beloved mare again. Then he thought about trying to remove the revenant from Odin, many thoughts filling his mind, and swirling about. Somehow, always returning to Rhiannon and how she looked in her gown. Her soft smile, and her gentle voice. Even the musical laugh she had, all of her so very pure in his mind.
A pounding from the door startled him from his thoughts, and shouting from a woman and a man came from the hall.
"Sir! We have made an arrest of a man attacking one of your servants!" The Guard shouted. The female voice pleading with them to let someone go.
"Hold on," Loki said as he got off the chair and headed for the door.
He opened the door, finding Rhiannon standing with two guards, her uniform torn and her eye swelling. Her cut lip still bleeding and she still begging the guard to let a man go.
"He did not mean it, sir! I swear, I..." She said, dropping to her knees. "I beg you to show mercy."
Loki's mind reeled at the sight. She was fine just a short time ago and, now, she had been beaten.
"What...? What has happened?" Loki asked, helping her to her feet.
"She was meeting a man in a tavern, the barkeep reported that he became enraged with her and began beating her. It took the both of us to stop him." The guard replied, bowing.
"What was she doing in a tavern?" Loki thought then looked at the man. The man was older than she was, but the way she looked at him made Loki's chest hurt. "Is this...her lover?"
"Please, show mercy. It was my fault, sir. I beg you." She wept, her swollen eye growing more puffy.
"Damn right it's your fault!" the man said and Loki smelt the sour smell of beer on his breath. "Telling me you're no longer in the infirmary!"
"What does where she works have to do with you?" Loki asked.
"I don't have to explain myself to you, Half Blood!"
"I was dismissed, but my employment is much better now. I promise." She replied, panic lacing her voice. "I can explain sir, but not here."
Loki stepped to the side, gesturing her into his chambers and she walked past him with her head down. He closed the door, wanting an explanation more than anything. She paced wringing her hands and fighting tears.
He walked closer when he gently took her elbow and led her to a chair.
"I beg you again sir, please show him mercy and do not judge me unkindly." She said, sitting down and trying not to cry.
He knelt down next to the chair as he looked at her and waved his hand. A handkerchief appeared and he handed it to her and she took it.
"Thank you, sir." She replied, dabbling her lower lip and then her eyes. "Our relationship has always been... strained, but he never means to be cruel."
"How long have you been with him?"
"All my life."
She looked at her hands, a tear falling down her cheek. "You must think me a fool. But I do beg mercy for my father."
That man is...her father? Loki thought and felt the tightness in his chest lighten. "Your father?"
"Yes sir." She replied, wiping her eyes again. "I take him some of my wages to eat with, I did not have enough this time. Only two copper coins. He was angry..."
She sobbed, holding the handkerchief to her nose.
"He takes your wages?" he asked and she nodded.
"To eat, sir." She said, dabbling her bleeding lip again.
"No man has a right to beat any woman. No matter if it is his spouse, mother, sister or daughter."
"But he is a good man, believe me. And he is all that I have left, Mother being taken to Valhalla... please, sir. He is only an old man, and once served as a guard." She begged, leaving the chair to fall to her knees in front of him.
"Please get up," he said and helped her to her feet. "You are never to kneel before me."
But you wanted people to kneel before you, a voice said in his head and he gently shook his head to silence the voice. When I was controlled.
"Yes, sir," she said with a nod.
"Your father was a member of the Einherjar?"
"Yes. He was one of the elite guard until his drinking got the best of him."
She swayed on her feet, her soft shoes feeling heavy. "Please, he does not mean to..."
She crumpled to the floor.
Loki quickly picked her up when he placed her on the couch and called for the guards. The guards ran in the room as they looked at her then at Loki and he glared at them.
"Fetch a healer!" he shouted then looked at her father standing in the doorway.
His anger raged at the man, feeling he deserved no mercy for what he had done to Rhiannon. He glared the smug man, remembering her pleas.
The guards ran out of the room as he walked to Rhiannon's father and locked eyes with him.
"I could have you taken to the dungeons and beaten, but your daughter thinks I should show you mercy," Loki said.
"Then show it. The little bitch is a failure." The man spat back, the stale ale on his breath. "I should have sold her to a brothel."
"Hold your tongue! And she is not a failure! She is a member of my house and will be treated with respect."
"She is?!" he asked and looked him up and down. "And just what does she do for you?!"
It took everything for Loki not to strike him as he snorted a breath of air out of his nose and her father smiled.
"I guess those rumors are true. You do like to bed trash!"
The man removed a flask from his pocket, draining the contents. Loki fought with himself, refusing to break her heart by beating the bastard himself.
"You want a go at her now? She will not complain." He snorted, putting the flask away. "One silver, and you can do whatever you want."
Loki imagined himself knocking the crude man's teeth down his throat. He's baiting you, Laufeyson. Don't give him the satisfaction.
The guards returned with a healer as Loki looked at them then at Rhiannon's father and her father swore Loki's eyes flashed red for a second.
"Take him to the dungeons. I will deal with him later," Loki said.
"Yes, Sire," the guard said and the guards grabbed her father's arms. He swore as they led him away and Loki led the healer into his room.
"What happened to her sir?" The Healer asked, looking at Rhiannon's wounds.
"She has been beaten," Loki said and the healer looked at him. "Not by me!"
"Of course not, sir," the Healer said. "I assumed by the man who was just arrested."
"Loki!" Thor called out as he ran in the room and saw Rhiannon lying on the couch. "By the Nine, what is going on!?"
"It appears my healer has been beaten by her father," Loki said and Thor's eyes widened.
"Why would he do that?" Thor asked him, looking at the girl. "Put her on the bed at least."
Sighing, Loki explained what Rhiannon had told him while the healer examined Rhiannon and Thor frowned. Suddenly, Rhiannon moaned when she opened her eyes and looked at them.
"What happened? Where is he?" She asked, looking around.
"You are safe," Loki told her quietly.
"Please do not move," ordered the Healer, who Rhiannon recognized as another commoner named Martin. He finished his examination and turned to Loki. "Sir, she has a black eye, split lip, and bruising on her ribs, arms, and face. Her assailant was wickedly quick with his fist, My Prince. But other than that, no major damage has occurred. I recommend a period of rest and then light duties tomorrow, plus hot and cold arnica compresses."
Rhiannon listend, still feeling sick, but agreeing with the diagnosis. Martin is a good Healer, and another one who suffered under Malius and Mythal.
Loki nodded, the treatment one he had used many times for himself, Thor, and Hunter when Hunter had been beaten by the drug dealer back in New York.
"I will see that she rests." Loki replied, looking at Rhiannon and her sad state.
"Where is he, sir?" she asked again, still worried.
She sat up, trying to find the bastard who beat her, glancing around the room in her worry. Dizziness overcame her and she lay back down, shivering with pain.
"Lie down, please. You will hurt yourself worse," Loki said.
"Yes sir. I just need to know where he is." She replied.
"He will not harm you again, Lady," Thor put in. "Loki, go fetch those cloths, you're the medic, you know what she needs."
"All right. In the meantime, put this on your eye," Loki conjured some snow and wrapped it in a cloth and handed it to Rhiannon.
"Yes, sir." she replied, putting the pack on her eye. "Are you going to have him beat?"
"Would you like me to?" Thor asked. "I do not normally do such a thing but any man who harms a woman in such a fashion . . ." He frowned. "It is just wrong. These laws must be changed."
She sat up again in shock, her eyes wide. "Please no! I beg mercy!"
Her head swam again, and she fell back against the couch. She breathed through her mouth, trying to clear her head.
"Thor, you are getting her upset," Loki scolded, returning with the arnica and cloths.
"I only offered to have the bastard that did this beaten." Thor replied. "But she asks mercy. She is very confusing."
Loki sighed. "Why are you protecting him, Rhiannon? No one in my employ is ever treated so shamefully." He soaked a cloth in the arnica and applied it to her bruised cheek.
"I told you why, sir. He is a good man, but very lonely. Please, let him go." She looked at him, a tear falling down her cheek.
"I will not beat him," Loki conceded. "I will, however, hold him at least overnight for drunken and disorderly conduct. He accused me of some nasty things and his drunkeness does not excuse that." He bit his lip, trying to decide whether to tell her that this supposedly "good man" had threatened to sell her to him for a silver piece.
"Thank you, sir. He just gets so angry sometimes. I wanted to give him some food, but two copper coins was not enough. He is hungry as well, may I send him my lunch and supper?"
But he worried about upsetting her further and so decided against it for now. Then too, he knew that if Thor heard that he would go ballistic. "No, that will not be necessary. The prisoners are fed three times a day." To Loki's reckoning the man hardly looked like he was starving, and if he had been taking his daughter's food and money, no wonder she looked like a strong wind could blow her away.
His lip curled inwardly. Damn leech! Living off his child instead of finding work himself. He detested people like that.
"Thank you, sir." She said, her eyes closing. "I am so very tired now."
"If he needs work, we can always use a man to watch the royal horses in the pasture," Thor remarked. "Then you would not need to worry about him going hungry. Is there some reason he has no job?"
"He cannot work sir, he was injured as a guard after Mother died."
Thor had met many down on their luck veterans and helped them. But he had also known just as many drunken bums and malingerers. And something told him that this one was one of the latter kind.
"What sort of injury?" Thor frowned. "He has all his limbs, correct? And seems to have all his wits, yes, Loki?"
Loki nodded. "From what I could tell, yes."
"He never told me, sirs. He is a good man though, please don't be harsh with him." She replied, the couch hurting her ribs and making her shift. "I will go to my bed, sir. If I am dismissed."
"You can barely stand up. Allow me to assist you," Loki said quickly.
His suspicions were growing by the minute about Rhiannon's father. He and Thor exchanged glances and he knew his brother had drawn the same conclusion.
She let Loki help her stand, but her head swam again, her knees buckled under her and she moaned in pain.
"Catch her." Thor said, walking forward to help him with the limp girl.
Loki picked her up easily. "She weighs no more than thistledown," he told his brother.
"No wonder if she has been giving her food away."
"The food Malius gave her wasn't fit for pigs," Loki informed him.
"Where do we put her, Brother? Back on the couch?" Thor asked, putting her hand on her stomach. "We cannot have you carrying a beaten woman in a torn dress through the castle. People will talk and gossip."
"You're right. Even though I would never . . ." he broke off. "People are stupid." He waved a hand and the couch became soft as a goosedown mattress complete with pillows and a blanket. "You are staying here for the time being, Miss. Thor, fetch Halgran to watch her until she sleeps. No one would dare to gossip about her or anyone under her care."
Thor laughed. "She would take a switch to their backsides if they did. She hates gossips worse than the plague."
Loki placed Rhiannon down on the refurbished couch.
"I will return, and I do not guarantee the safety of the bastard in the dungeon." Thor replied, leaving the room and Loki with the sleeping girl. It pained him to see her beaten, her eye swelled shut. He closed his fists, forcing back his anger and sat in his chair. The breakfast tray nearby and forgotten.
Thor returned with Halgran, the older woman angry and her maternal self showing. "Who beat the poor girl? And why is she as thin as a reed?"
"Her father did this. Apparently he was angry and drunk when she went to give him some of her wages. And she has been giving him her food also." Loki said curtly.
"Someone should beat him for this." Halgran replied, sitting next to the bed and using a cloth to clean the blood off her chin. "Poor dear, this is the sweetest girl I have ever met. She was so good to Fenris when he was injured, holding his hand and reassuring him that he would recover. She coaxed him out of the woods Loki, no one knew how she did it, but she did. The boy will be so angry when he hears of this, he will abandon all of us again."
"I agree. Yet she has asked both of us repeatedly to spare him and insists he is a good man who is just hungry and drunk," Thor shook his head. "No man is good who does this to someone. And I get the feeling this is not the first time this has happened."
"No, it's probably not," Loki declared. "She has most likely suffered abuse like this her whole life. I know the signs, nobody knows them better than I do. I will speak with Fenris."
"He will listen to you, Loki," Halgran said approvingly.
"Loki, why would she insist that he is good?" Thor asked, puzzled.
"She is a kind heart. And sees the good in everyone that others do not." Halgran said, covering the girl and removing her shoes.
"Because you tell yourself lies in order to survive something like this," Loki replied. "And because you are conditioned to believe it is your fault when your abuser hurts you. I've gone through this with Max. And myself. But no one deserves what their abuser does to them. No one."
Halgran looked at him. "Let her sleep, she feels a bit feverish."
"Does she need some medicine? I have some in my backpack," Loki asked, thanking the Norns he had brought Motrin and Advil with him on this vacation.
The old woman sat in another chair, groaning with age. "Let us see if it passes. Am I incorrect in thinking that you fancy the girl, Loki?"
The God of Mischief flushed red as a sunset. "I . . . like her. But I am afraid that nothing can come of it unless I get Father to change the laws regarding nobles and commoners."
"Or you could take her away from Asgard. Let her live in Midgard." Thor suggested.
"Then we would have a Prince accused of kidnapping, Thor. Use sense, boy." Halgran scolded.
"I was only suggesting, madam. It is good to finally see... this was the girl from last night. Wasn't it?" Thor asked, looking shocked.
Loki nodded. "Yes. Halgran's right. I can't just take a lady away from her home. No, I am trying to help Father and I believe I know what is wrong with him. Once I fix it, he will revoke half these outdated restrictive laws. I just need time." He studied Rhiannon again. "The thing we both should be considering is what we ought to do with her father. I am all for keeping him locked up so he cannot hurt her again. Perhaps when he is sober again he will sing a different tune than he did when I spoke with him."
"What did he say?" Thor asked, keeping his voice low.
Loki heaved a sigh. "I really shouldn't tell you. Because you will have a canary. As it was I almost lost my temper."
"Very well, but this man will not leave the dungeon until he is sober." Thor warned, sighing at his brother.
"Agreed. And if he says anything to make me believe he will keep on blackmailing her he won't be leaving his cell."
"I should change her clothes. Sleeping in a corset is torture, Loki." Halgran said, sighing.
"I hate those cages," Loki muttered. "Very well. Thor, let's go and find Fenris. Before he does something to the bastard that is permanent. I don't want my sixteen-year-old up on murder charges."
"Yes, brother. Fenris is very friendly with her."
"I want to talk to you Loki, you hurry back.!" Halgran said, starting to walk to the servants quarters to get Rhiannon's shift.
"Yes, ma'am," Loki replied, responding automatically to the authoritative tone in her voice. Then he shook his head. "It's been over fourteen hundred years since she was in charge of me and she can still make me jump with that tone."
"Me too," Thor admitted. "But do not ever tell anyone I said that."
The woman turned the corner, when Loki saw Fenris coming towards them.
"Oh Hel. He knows." Thor said.
"Fenris," Loki began.
"I will kill him myself! She is my friend!" He snarled at Loki. "Where is he?"
Loki put his hands on his son's shoulders. "He is locked up and awaiting judgment," he soothed. "Calm down. You aren't killing anyone. Even if he deserves it."
"How badly was she beaten, Father?" Fenris asked, searching his father's face.
"Nothing was broken. It's mostly bruises, a black eye, and a cut lip," he told the angry teen. "The guards stopped him before he did worse."
"He is still a bastard! I swear I will see him flogged!" Fenris shouted, clenching his fists.
"The Healer assured us she will be fine in a day or so," Thor added. "And we have Halgran looking after her. She could not be in better hands than the old hearth witch's."
"You're lucky she isn't around to hear you say that, Thor." Loki chuckled.
"That's why I said it when she wasn't," the Thunder God smirked.
"Fenris, relax," Loki said quietly. "Before you wake Rhiannon. Come, let's go to Thor's room and talk."
"How can you be so calm?" his son demanded. "I want to tear that scum's throat out!" he hissed, his amber eyes glinting.
"I am calm because it will do me no good, and Rhiannon no good, if I am in jail for murder," Loki returned. He put his arm around his son. "Come on. Believe me, your uncle and I wanted to beat him too."
"I still want to kill him! I told her to never go near him again!" Fenris shouted.
"Hush!' Loki ordered, hurrying into Thor's room. He cast privacy wards as soon as they were inside and Thor locked the door. "Sit down. Now tell me what you meant by that last statement."
"I know the bastard! He is her father and was once a guard! He takes her money and beats her, she blames the drink but the truth is that he hates her." Fenris raged.
"Loki, you were right," Thor murmured.
"He treats her poorly, trying to sell her to a Madam until I threatened him."
"I knew it. I have seen it before. On Midgard," his brother said softly.
"He WHAT?" Thor looked like he was going to start breaking things. "Is that what you wouldn't tell me, Loki?!"
"Yes. Because I know how you would react. And we cannot kill the bastard! Not like this. We need to abide by the law. Besides, Rhiannon would hate all of us if we committed murder, no matter how justified we think it is."
"What do you plan then, Father?" Fenris said, crossing his arms.
"I think the best action is to keep him in the dungeon." Thor said, scratching his beard.
"The problem here is that the laws as they stand now permit him to beat her with impunity. As written, they state that a father may use force to correct behavior in their child. We all know that is wrong. But the law permits it.
However, right now we have him in custody for being drunk, disorderly, and for insulting a prince of the realm. The law does not state that we must release him anytime soon. We can keep him there indefinitely, pending a trial for his repeat offenses."
"But when you let him go, he will keep hurting her," Fenris objected.
"Let your father speak Fenris, he is clever." Thor said, raising a finger in warning.
"Go ahead Father."
"I am aware of that," Loki responded. "It would give me great pleasure to turn him into a slug and squash him." He coughed. "What we need is for the laws regarding the treatment of parents and children to be changed. Which means convincing your grandfather to alter them. Something I know I can do if given time. "
"He made them, why would he change them?" Fenris asked.
"Because, Beta, he did NOT make them. The revenant controlling him did." Loki revealed the secret he had discovered.
"The what?" Thor asked in shock.
"The revenant. The term means an unquiet evil spirit. Father is possessed by it and has been for a very long time now. I theorize since our sister Lanie died and he first sought OdinSleep to deal with his grief. This spirit is very old and powerful. It has hidden within his mind for centuries and it only reveals itself when it chooses to.
It is why Father has headaches sometimes. And why at times he acts totally counter to his true self. When the revenant is in charge, it influences him to do things like create laws that are harsh and cruel. Or do things that are harsh and cruel. Like what he did to me."
"Loki?" The commanding voice of Halgran shouts on the hall. "I need to see you at once."
"Coming!" he called back. "Let me go and see what she wants. We can continue this discussion as soon as I get back," he said, rising to his feet.
He walked into the hall, Halgran standing in it with a corset small enough to fit a child. "This is what she was wearing. It hardly fits her!"
Loki looked appalled. "Mimir's Beard, why? Surely even her Healer's pay allowed her to buy a garment that fit. No wonder she always seemed half out of breath and fainting."
"She said she was only given a copper coin every week for pay. This one was dug from the garbage! Her shift is no better! It is threadbare and patched. This is very unacceptable for the poor girl." The matronly woman said.
"Gods and hells! This gets worse the more I hear about it. I will have a seamstress come and measure her for new undergarments. That is just disgraceful. A dung sweeper is treated better."
"I will have it done. She wants to be taken back to that straw mattress she calls a bed as well."
"No. Not until she has rested a full night here. The Healer gave me specific orders." Loki refuted. "If need be I will bunk with Thor until tomorrow morning to avoid gossip. And you may stay with her, Halgran."
"It is shameful. All the other girls have soft beds but her!" The woman nearly shouts, waving the undergarments around.
"Halgran, people will see," Loki whispered. He gestured and it seemed as if his old nanny was waving a book around. "I will get it fixed. I shall see about finding her a room nearby."
"I will take her to my son's farm. He needs a kitchen maid, and she will be treated fairly there." She replied, looking at the heavily patched garment. "She tried to sew the boning into one piece after it broke. Nine Hels!"
"Halgran, she's my family physician. So I can provide for her without it being improper," Loki told her.
"Do so, or I offer her that position at the farm. I warn you, boy." She threatened, waving the corset inches from his nose. "This is very unacceptable for a lady to wear!"
"Yes, I understand. I just hired her yesterday, so I haven't had a chance to do everything I need to. But it will be done. You have my word. And you know that despite what people say, my word is good."
"I know that, boy. Sometimes I just need to light a fire under you."
She shoved the garment into his chest, storming off and leaving him holding the corset. A maid stared, unable to believe someone would talk to a Prince that way.
"What did you do to anger Halgran now, Loki?" Balder asked, walking past.
Loki chuckled ruefully and opened the door to Thor's room."It wasn't me, Balder. It was someone else." He beckoned his brother. "Come in here. I need to tell you something."
"What is going on?" Balder inquired looking at the very angry Fenris.
Loki quickly summed up what had happened, informing his eldest brother about the revenant as well.
"Nine Hels. It is never dull in this family is it?" Balder said, rubbing his face.
"You want dull you should have been born into a different family," Thor chuckled.
"Thor, can you summon your page for me?" Loki requested. "I need to send him on a few errands for me."
Thor went and pulled a velvet red tassel in the corner and soon there was a knock and a pre-teen in Thor's red livery appeared. "You rang, My Prince?"
"Yes. See Prince Loki, Errol. He needs your assistance," Thor told the gawky boy.
"How may I assist you, sir?" Errol asked, bowing before him.
Loki told him to send a seamstress to his chambers and speak with Halgran and also to make inquiries of the Steward about an available privarte room near the royal enclave.
"Do it quickly and I will give you a reward for your swiftness." Loki told him, fingering some candy in his pockets.
"Yes, sir. Is this about the nearly naked girl sneaking down the hall?" He asked, shifting uncomfortably.
Loki's mouth fell open. "I beg your pardon?"
"She is in a terrible state. Wearing a shift and limping toward the dormitories."
"By the Nine," Loki sighed.
Thor laughed. "Oh this is the first time I have heard of a girl sneaking away from our rooms."
Half-running, Loki found Rhiannon leaning against the wall and she gave him a slightly frightened look.
"There is no need to be afraid," Loki said with a smile.
"Sir..."
"Yes, I understand, but please go back to my room."
"I need to return to my bed, sir. It is not proper for me to be in your rooms, and dressed so." She replied, trying to move on."They will say that you had me, and that I am a whore." She whimpered, her fingers clutching the wall for balance.
"I am not in my rooms right now. You need a comfortable place to recover so I have arranged for my old nanny Halgran to stay with you until tomorrow. Now please, let's not debate this in the hallway." He waved a hand and it appeared as though Rhiannon was in her uniform. "Come, I will not have it said I do not treat those in my employ well. And anyone who knows me knows I do not sleep with my help."
She shook her head, nearly crying. "It is not proper."
"I am not going to stay in there while you are there. I will stay with my brother. There is nothing improper about what I propose."
She looked down at her feet, knowing she cannot disobey. "As you wish, sir."
Loki took her elbow as he led her back to his room and she went inside.
Halgran appeared a few moments later. "Rhee, my lamb what are you doing out of bed? You are still unwell, lie down before you fall and injure yourself worse!"
"I did not want to sully Prince Loki's name by the rumors of something improper happening." She replied, nearly crying.
"Oh," Halgran said, giving her a hug.
"Madam, I am still bleeding. I might dirty your dress." She said, her eyes closing.
"Not the first time someone's bled on me," she said as she glanced at Thor and Loki.
"Take her back, and see that she rests." Thor said, looking at the sad state of the girl.
"That's true," Loki agreed. "Halgran, please tell her no one will dare to gossip about us with you here."
"Prince Loki is right," Halgran said, looking Rhiannon in the eyes. "If anyone speaks ill of you or Prince Loki, they will feel the sharpness of my tongue."
Rhiannon heard the truth of her words and gave a small giggle.
"There! That's much better! Come along Little Flower. You need your rest." Halgran said, putting strong arms around the girl.
Nodding, Rhiannon followed her into Loki's room and Halgran closed the door behind them.
Behind them, Fenris growled deep in his throat. "I will kill him!"
"All right," Loki said to Thor. "Let us go back and finish our discussion. I know you are dying to find out what I plan to do. And there will be no killing," Loki said and Fenris sighed.
"I say we let that bastard rot in his cell then." Fenris growled. "Look at her face! She was in better shape after Thor and Balder were done with her. At least they did not beat her within an inch of dying!" The boy shouted, Thor and Balder looking ashamed suddenly.
"I'm not blind, young man," Loki snapped. "But that piece of crap is not worth us going to prison for." He stared at his brothers. "What in Yggdrasil's Name is he talking about?"
"After you fell, and were in prison... we found out about another Jotun hybrid... we arrested her and Father put sanctions on her. If she steps out of line, she will be executed." Thor said, looking shamed.
"You pulled her from her bed in the middle of the night. She was screaming!" Fenris shouted.
"Flaming Hells! Not here in the damn hallway," Loki snarled. "All of you get your asses in Thor's chambers. Move!" His tone was ice and steel, and all three men stiffened and obeyed as if he cast a spell on them.
"We had to take her in! She was hiding what she was and deemed a danger by Father!" Balder shouted back once they were inside Thor's chambers.
"Poor excuse!" Fenris growled. "Grandfather is now looking for any excuse to separate her head from her body!"
"That wasn't our father who made that decree," Loki interjected. "It was the spirit possessing him. The same one who thought it a fitting punishment to lock a shifter away in a windowless cell for life."
"We only followed his orders, Brother." Balder said, angry and shaking.
"Did your orders include throwing her into a garbage pile before you took her before Odin?" Fenris demanded.
"Balder! By the Nine!" Loki scowled.
"We were drunk when we went to get her." Balder admitted, hanging his head.
"And that excuses what you did?!"
"No! No, it doesn't!"
"No wonder she is so insecure."
"How were we to know you would end up wanting to bed the girl?" Thor spat back.
"I... I never said I want to do that," Loki said, getting flustered.
"She means that much to you, Father?" Fenris asked.
"Yes, she does," Loki said and Thor and Balder looked at each other.
"Norns Thor! Don't be crude." Balder said, groaning into his hands.
"And you of all people know better than to accuse me of sleeping around with anyone," Loki snapped. "After what Boda did . . ."
Thor and Balder nodded as Loki sighed and tried to calm down.
He recited runes silently until he felt his temper retreat back behind the steel walls of his mind.
"We have a bigger problem." Balder said, sighing.
"We do." Fenris agreed.
"Okay. I know what you want to ask me. How do we get rid of the revenant inside Odin? But the problem there is complicated. It's not as simple as just calling a priest and performing an exorcism."
"What do we do?" Thor asked.
"How then?" Balder asked, collapsing into a chair.
"Listen closely. The book I read said specifically that an ancient revenant can only be defeated by two things. One, a mage of sufficient strength to battle the fiend in the Astral. That would be me. And two, a Lorekeeper that knows the spell to banish it. That means Belle. But she is not a full Lorekeeper."
"How does she become a full Lorekeeper?" queried Balder.
"She has to pass a Test. And then summon the regalia to her." Loki explained. "Once the regalia accept her she will be a full Lorekeeper with access to all the knowledge in the Crown of Knowledge."
"Well, we now know why Father had all the Lorekeepers banished or killed." Balder sighed.
"That's exactly why. I also suspect that this revenant is our grandfather, Bors."
"He was a beast!" Balder exclaimed in shock.
"Yes. But all of that was covered up," Loki acknowledged. "And he had as his advisor a half-breed fire giant shaman called Vreykul. Vreykul is the one who enabled him to become a revenant after he died when Father ousted him from the throne. He was a necromancer."
"This shaman . . . is he still living?" Thor asked.
"No. He was killed in a Duel Arcane by my mother Astra after she became Archmage."
"Good." Fenris replied.
"There is another condition that must be met before Bors can be gotten rid of," Loki warned. "Father must be asleep and not be allowed to wake. If he does he will fight us because Bors will make him."
"Should we do this during his Odin Sleep?" Thor asked.
"We might not be able to afford to wait for that," Loki said. "I could spell him to sleep . . . if I had a good enough reason. Like he was injured and needed rest or something."
"What if . . . what if Healer Rhee were to tell him he needed to take a sleeping draught or something in order to help his headaches?" Fenris suggested. "The you could make up a potion, Father, to keep him asleep and he would take it without a problem."
"That could put her in danger." Balder said.
"Not if Father gets rid of the revenant." Fenris said.
"She is in danger now if Bors takes control," Loki reminded them.
"True," Thor said.
"Hels. This is a quandary." Balder groaned, hanging his head.
"But we have no choice," Fenris said.
Kathy
"All right. Here is what we need to do. I need about three days, maybe four at the most, to prepare Belle for the Lorekeeper Test. Rhiannon needs at least a day or two to recover. I have the Steward looking for a private room for her so she can move out of the dormitories. In the meantime, I suppose she can stay in the dormitory.
While I am doing that I need all three of you to watch over my kids, Rhiannon, and Father. Father is easy. You just need to observe him for any sign that Bors is back in his head.
I will speak to Rhee myself about his headaches and see if he will consent to let her examine him after Belle has passed her test and claimed the regalia.
"I'm sure my siblings will obey me, Father. I am the Beta after all," Fenris said and Loki softly laughed.
"You have only spent a short time with them, Fen. You are going to need all the help you can get," Loki said.
"Jorgy and Sleph could help me."
"Good idea."
"I can help also," Thor put in. "They listen to me . . .usually."
"When they aren't tricking you," Loki smirked.
"Yeah," Thor sighed and Balder lightly shoved him.
Loki's stomach growled.
"Sounds like someone is hungry," Balder said.
"I forgot to eat breakfast with everything that happened," the Archmage admitted. "And I need to go check on Lucy. She's sick with an ear infection."
"Did Rhiannon treat her?" Fenris asked, nodding.
"Yes. That was this morning. After that she went to the tavern and met her father. What is the man's name anyway?"
"Rurik Lyr," Fenris spat.
"Now that I know I can look up his name on the disability scrolls for the Einherjari," Loki said. "To see what the Hel sort of injury enables a man to not work and requires his daughter support him."
"Laziness," Fenris suppiled.
"I figured as much. But I want to have proof. So I can show Rhiannon how he lied to her all these years. She believes he's crippled or something. And uses that as an excuse as to why he can't get work and is always drunk and nasty."
Just then Errol returned. " I have done as you requested, sir," he told Loki, bowing.
"Wonderful." Loki reached into his pocket. "Here is a Midgardian candy bar for your promptness."
"Thank you, My Prince. I will share with my sister. Is there anything else you need?"
"Actually, yes. Bring me up a tray of food please."
Errol bowed and raced off.
"You know he will now believe you hung the moon," Thor laughed. "That boy is perpetually hungry."
"That is normal for boys his age. He looks to be the same age as Hunter."
"He may be. What room did he find?"
"The Steward will inform me when it is ready. I think it is right around the corner from ours." Loki answered.
"That's good. The jealous bitches in the dormitory treat her like a pariah," Fenris snapped.
"Language, young man!" Loki scolded.
"Sorry, sir," his son apologized."But they make her sleep on the floor on a poor straw mattress."
"We will get everything worked out," Loki soothed. "All we need is faith, trust, and pixie dust."
Thor rolled his eyes. "Norns, Loki! Now you are quoting Peter Pan?"
"He is." Fenris said, crossing his arms.
"Well, that's what happens when Aleta makes me read the story nearly every night," Loki said with a laugh.
"She told me she can't stand that Hook character," Thor said.
"She can't. I don't like him either." Loki replied.
They all heard a scream from Loki's chambers, a woman shouting after that.
"Now what?!" Loki sighed as they headed down the hallway.
A/N: Thanks for help from ninewood! Hope you all liked!