21
Chameleon
It was a few days after the duel, and Loki soon discovered that parenting an active five-year-old boy required much perseverance and patience. Balder rapidly recovered from his illness and was no longer required to stay in bed, and so the boy followed Loki all over, asking myriad questions about everything he saw. He had what a certain mortal writer called "insatiable curiosity" and some adults, like Lars, had no patience for the boy's inquisitive ways, and considered him an annoyance.
Luckily, as a mage Loki had learned patience at Frigga's knee, for magic required that discipline over all. The sorcerer prince also recognized a kindred spirit in the little boy, for he too had asked questions about things as a child, always wondering, always imagining.
Balder came with Loki to his session with Viva, and while he was discussing his past with her, Balder was painting.
The child was quite a good artist, and began painting a picture of himself, Loki, and his mother. He then added Leif in his basket.
Finishing up her conversation with Loki, Viva came over to see what the boy was painting. "That's very interesting, Balder. Who are you painting?"
"That's me and my new Papa and Mama and Leif." He told her quietly.
Viva sensed joy when he spoke of Loki, and sorrow with Rena and a kind of wistful longing when he said Leif's name.
"Do you miss your brother?"
"Sometimes. But I don't want to share a room with him again! He cries and wakes me up!"
"I remember Thor saying the same about me," Loki said, walking to the table and sat down one the chair next to him.
"Mama used to let me help change his diapers. Some of them were really stinky!"
Viva smiled as Loki softly laughed and Balder looked at the painting.
"Papa, can you be Leif's papa, too?"
"Um, I think we will have to talk to Farfar about that," Loki said as he pondered taking care of an infant as well as Balder.
"I don't know. i think you could handle it," Viva said with a grin.
"Maybe. But Leif still has a father, even if he is a no account bilgesnipe. And if Lars has family left they would have a say in who raised the baby."
"Oh," Balder said.
"But it doesn't mean he can't visit," Loki said and Balder smiled.
The child looked at his painting again and sighed. "Sometimes I miss my mama. I wish she didn't go live in Valhalla."
"I wish my mama hadn't gone to live in Valhalla, too," Viva said sympathetically and Balder looked at her.
"Your mama died?"
"Yes. In an accident on the mountain. But I miss her still."
"Do you dream of her? I do sometimes."
"Yes, but not as much as I used to."
Loki saw the sadness in her eyes as he took a blank piece of paper then he brushed some green paint over it.
"What are you doing?" Balder asked. Smiling, Loki moved his finger through the paint when he made a daisy and Balder's eyes went wide.
"It's called finger painting," Loki said.
"I want to try!"
Loki slid the pieces of paper to Balder and Viva and they poured blue and yellow paint on the pieces of paper. Laughter filled the room as they painted with their fingers, but most of the paint ended up on their faces.
"Now we look scary!" Balder giggled. "Grr! I'm a troll about to eat you all up!"
"Eeek!" Viva said.
"No, don't eat us!" Loki said, pretending to be afraid.
"What will you give me then?" Balder growled.
"How about some sapphire berries?" Loki suggested. "We can go pick them in the hills outside the palace. They make delicious pies."
He could remember going berry picking with Thor and his friends as children. They had always had fun.
"Yes! I would like that!" Balder said.
"We need to clean up first," Viva said.
Loki waved a hand and they were all clean from the paint. "See, sometimes it's handy to have magic."
Will I have magic too? Balder wondered.
Would you like me to teach you? Loki sent. He had accidentally heard his thoughts and Balder smiled.
"Yes!"
Loki smiled at the boy's eagerness. "Very well. I can test you to see what magic affinity you have tomorrow, For now, let's go pick some berries."
Viva found some baskets she had stored cat toys and blankets in and handed one to each of them. "I think we're all prepared now, Lead the way, Prince Loki."
Balder squealed and darted to the door. "C'mon!"
Sapphire berries were Asgard's version of a blueberry, but they were larger, sweeter, and were a deep jewel like blue in color.
They headed up the hill when Loki pointed at the large bushes and the berries shimmered in the sunlight.
Balder ran to the bushes and started picking the berries. Then he placed the berries in the basket.
Viva had given them gloves which would help protect their hands and fingers from turning blue and she placed some berries into the basket.
Loki was enjoying spending time with them as he filled his basket, but he also nibbled on some of the berries. His lips had turned blue from the juice as Viva looked at him and she smiled.
The sun was warm on their backs as they filled their baskets with the rich fruit, eating some as they picked. Overhead birds twittered and flew in spirals.
"I'm gonna eat a whole pie!" Balder boasted.
"You do, scamp, and you'll have an awful tummy ache," Loki warned. "Just ask your uncle. He did that once."
"Did you ever eat a whole pie, Papa?"
"No. Never."
Viva knew he was lying as she rolled her eyes, smiled and shook her head.
"Did you ever eat a whole pie, Lady Viva?"
"Yes, I did and I was sick for days," she said.
"Then I'll just eat one or two pieces," Balder said with a nod.
"Good idea," Loki said.
"I don't wanna be sick anymore," the boy declared. "I'm tired of it."
"You won't get sick once you come of age, son," Loki told him. "Then your immortality factor will have awakened." It was that Asgardian trait that prevented them from catching mortal illnesses and indeed almost any kind of illness, unless it was born of a magical curse or infection from a wound or a poison. Otherwise, they were nearly immortal and lived thousands of years, aging so slowly it was almost not apparent until one reached a great age.
"When I come of age? When's that?"
"Oh, not for a long time." Loki said.
"Awww...," he said, folding his arms over his chest and pouted. Loki laughed as he ruffled Balder's hair and Balder giggled.
"I think we have enough berries," Viva said, looking into her basket.
"You're right," Loki said.
Balder popped one into his mouth. "Mmm!"
A sun finch flew down and snatched a berry up and ate it.
"Hey!"
"You need to share, son," Loki reminded.
"But it took MY berry!" the child frowned.
"The berries belong to all of us," Viva said. "The birds like them too."
She picked a berry from the bush and held it up, whistling the same notes as the sun finch. Suddenly a small gold and white bird landed on her wrist and nibbled the fruit from her hand.
"Sweet Valhalla!" Balder gasped. "How did you do that?"
"My mama taught me when I was a little older than you."
"Wow! Can you teach me how to do that?!"
"Certainly. You need to know how to whistle though." She whistled the same four note call again.
Balder tried to whistle, but the sound he made sounded more like he was blowing raspberries and he frowned.
"Watch me," Loki said as he showed Balder how to whistle and Balder made a few small whistles. "Very good."
Balder tried the call again when a small gold and white bird settled on his wrist and he smiled.
"I did it, Papa!" he said.
"Excellent!" Loki praised. Then he gave the finch a berry.
A finch came and perched upon Loki's head, making the Mind Healer and his new son giggle at the sight. Loki fed it and it flew away.
"All right, let's go and give the cooks these berries so they can make them into pies," Loki said, and they started walking back to the castle with their bounty.
Once they had given Helga and her helpers the sapphire berries, Loki suggested Balder go and change since he had gotten berry juice on his clothes.
The boy scurried to do as he was told, and Loki followed more leisurely, wondering if the servants had prepared Balder's room for him.
"Loki!" Frigga called as he went by her solar. "Could you come here for a minute?"
Loki entered her solar, wondering what she wanted. To his surprise he saw Sigyn standing next to the queen. "Good day, my lady," he greeted her respectfully.
"Good day, My Prince," she said, curtsying. She gave him a slightly shy smile.
"Loki, I have been interviewing candidates for a nanny," Frigga began. "And I think Sigyn will do well with Balder. She is young enough to be able to keep up with him playing and old enough to assert her authority when necessary. She also is a green mage, which will be a help if Balder injures himself as children are wont to do."
"Do you like children, Sigyn?" Loki asked.
"I do. I used to look after my little nieces and nephews for my sisters," she replied frankly.
Good then at least one of us has experience Loki thought, relieved.
"That's good to know. I need someone from the time Balder wakes up until he goes to sleep. I believe there is a room next to his that you may have, and the weekends are free for you unless I need you to watch him because I am otherwise occupied."
"I understand, sir. That sounds reasonable."
"My greatest concern, however, is if my son is comfortable with you. He is a good boy, but very inquisitive."
"I think most children are at his age," Sigyn said.
"Yes, but I don't want that curiosity to be suppressed. I want him to feel comfortable asking questions. And if he happens to get into trouble, you may punish him with lectures and time in his room or taking away some privileges but I will not tolerate anyone hitting him. He's had too much of that kind of treatment from his stepfather. And I wish you to tell me how each day went also."
"Of course, My Prince. You don't have to worry about me striking him, I do not believe in that kind of punishment. My father never punished any of us that way, despite the fact he is a tough old army general. He said fear is a poor way to discipline."
"I happen to agree with him," Loki said, smiling. "Shall we go and meet my son? To see how you get on?"
"I would like that," Sigyn agreed.
Loki held out his arm for her to take, and escorted her to his room. "Let me fetch my son."
Sigyn sat on a chair in Loki's receiving room while he went into the bedroom to call Balder.
Balder ran to him as Loki smiled and he knelt down in front of his son.
"Balder, I have someone I wish you to meet," Loki said.
"Who is it?" Balder asked.
"Her name is Sigyn and she is to be your nanny."
"Is she nice?"
"Yes, she is very nice."
"She won't hurt me?"
"No, she won't. "
Balder held his hand out as Loki stood and he took Balder's hand. They walked to Loki's receiving room as Sigyn looked at them and she smiled
"Greetings, Prince Balder," Sigyn said as she rose and she made a little curtsy. He is adorable! Just like his papa, she thought and then flushed slightly at the surprising turn her thoughts had taken.
"Hello," Balder said with a small nod. She slowly walked toward them when he slid behind Loki and Loki looked down at him.
"It's alright. I told you she wasn't going to hurt you," Loki said.
Balder considered that for a moment, then because he trusted Loki, he came out from behind his father and slowly walked over to Sigyn, who smiled at him pleasantly.
"Do you like sapphire berry pie?" Balder asked.
"I love it!" she said and he smiled.
"We went and picked some berries today and Helga said the pies will be ready by dinnertime! I want to eat a whole pie, but Papa said it would give me a tummy ache. I don't want to be sick again, so I'll just have a piece or two."
Balder had spoken so fast that she only got parts of what he had said and she nodded.
Loki put his hands on his son's shoulders. "Easy there, cricket. Talk slowly, the words won't run away from you."
"Sorry," Balder said.
"It's fine. You were just excited," Sigyn said.
"Now, Sigyn will have the room next to yours and she doesn't mind if you ask her questions." Loki said and Balder frowned.
"You won't mind?" Balder asked.
"No, I believe it is fine for a child to ask questions," Sigyn said.
"And you'll play games with me?"
"Yes."
"And you will draw and paint with me?"
"Yes."
"And you'll read me stories at night?"
"Hey, I thought that was my job," Loki said with a grin.
"Oh yeah," he said, looking at Sigyn. "Papa tells the best stories! He does voices and he can make the character real."
"He can?" she asked, glancing at Loki. He wasn't sure, but a small quiver moved through him and he nodded.
"Uh...," Balder said as he looked down at his feet and she waited for him to say something. "If I'm bad, will you hurt me?"
"No, I do not harm children. Fear is a poor way to discipline. Do you know who told me that?"
"No."
"It was my father. He never raised a hand to me or my sisters when we got in trouble."
"What did he do?"
"He would talk with us, put us in the corner for a time or he took away privileges."
"That's a lot better than what Lars used to do," Balder said. "He used to beat me with a belt . . . or a riding crop." The boy shivered involuntarily.
"That is horrible!" Sigyn declared, her hazel eyes flashing. "No child deserves that, no matter what. I hope he is in prison now."
"He is, and awaiting trial," Loki informed her.
"Good! I hope he rots there!" she said fiercely.
Loki was pleased to find Sigyn was so adamant about not harming a child, so he knew he need not worry about her abusing Balder. He had not truly doubted her, but her display of righteous indignation warmed him to the core.
"I can draw up a contract now if you think you will suit," he said to Sigyn. He named a wage he thought was fair, and her eyes widened at the salary. "If you need more, I could—"
"Oh no, my lord! That is more than generous," she refuted.
"I will also give you time off for holidays and if you would like to have a vacation," he said.
"That would be acceptable, My Prince."
Loki found a form on his desk and signed it, after he let Sigyn read it, she signed it also.
"Oh, I forgot to ask, will I need a uniform?" Sigyn queried.
"Well, not a uniform like the palace maids wear but perhaps a green robe?" Loki suggested. In the hierarchy of servants, a nanny was somewhere between a personal servant and those hired belowstairs.
"I can do that, sir," Sigyn said, and waved a hand, changing her purple day dress to a simple green robe like she used to wear as a student at the Mage Academy. "How's this?"
"Perfect," Loki said approvingly. Then he added, "You may take meals either with Balder in the nursery or in the hall with the rest of the family. I will send a porter to help you move your things into your quarters. If you need anything, you have but to ask Ravn, he's my valet."
Loki summoned Ravn and introduced him to Sigyn, then sent a porter to go to Tyr's house with Sigyn to take her clothes and other personal effects back to the palace. While that was being done, he checked on the progress being made with Balder's new room and Sigyn's. Finding all was well, Loki sent a messenger to Ironwood with a letter explaining to the nanny what had occurred, requesting she continue to care for Leif, and also pack up Balder's clothes and toys and whatever else he might like and send them with the messenger to the palace.
By lunchtime, Balder's trunks were in his new room, and Maisy, a young maid, had put everything neatly away, leaving only a brown fuzzy stuffed bear on the bed.
"That's Bjorn," Balder told Loki and went to hug the bear. "I named him after my papa that died."
"He's a fine bear and will keep the monsters away at night," Loki said.
Balder grinned. "Yes, sir!" His stomach rumbled. "Uh oh! My tummy is talking!"
"I think it's saying it wants lunch," Loki chuckled. "Come on, let's go to the private dining hall."
In the hall they found Thor, Frigga, Viva, and Odin.
Balder happily chattered away to his uncle and grandparents, telling them about painting and picking sapphire berries. The three adult gods found the boy charming and sweet and informed him they would look forward to the pies at supper.
While the newest member of the royal family talked everyone's ears off, three servants were eating in the main hall discussing what they had learned that day about the rumors circulating about Prince Loki. They were the maids Dravina and Grezti and the personal groom Knut. They had been assigned to discover who was behind the awful stories by the king himself as a way to atone for their awful behavior towards Loki, but so far they had found nothing but more stories.
"It's been a month now since we started and still we are no closer to finding who began this," Knut said, frustrated.
"Aye. We're lucky the king has not thrown us in the dungeon." Grezti muttered.
"The king knows we're trying," Dravina sighed. "But whoever this is he or she's a clever one. Like a fox!"
What the older maid said was true. Each time they thought they had gotten close to finding the source, it turned out to be another dead end. The three sleuths felt woefully inadequate. But they dared not give up. What had begun as a means to restore their loyalty and reputation had now become a matter of pride.
They noted the rumors, which had at first targeted Loki as someone who was mad, had now changed somewhat as the prince recovered from his ordeal. Now the rumors stressed the fact that Loki was half-Jotun, a monster born of a monstrous liasion. They cited his injuring Lars as proof he was unstable and dangerous, despite the fact Lars had cheated during the duel
Now the rumors were substantiated by stories of the murdering Frost Giants, and all the old gory tales were brought to life again.
"Whoever it is reminds me of a phantom," Knut whispered. "The minute we get close it vanishes."
"I agree," Grezti said.
"So what should we do?" asked Dravina.
"We shouldn't give up," Knut said.
"Maybe we can ask Ravn for help?" Grezti suggested. "I know he don't like us much but he wants the rumors to stop too."
"Yes, we should ask him!" Dravina agreed.
"Who should ask him?" Knut asked.
"I'll go ask him," Grezti said, rising from her chair then she left the main hall.
Knut bit his lip. The young baron was not his favorite person but beggars couldn't be choosers. He hoped the young maid could get the prince's valet to assist them. He hated to admit it but Ravn was smarter than he was.
Grezti had asked one of the Einherjar where Ravn was as she stood outside the door to the royal dining hall and she saw Ravn standing behind Loki's chair. He glanced at her when he frowned and she signaled him to go out into the hallway. He excused himself while Loki frowned then Ravn left the room, following Grezti down the hallway.
"What do you want?" Ravn asked and she looked up and down the hallway.
"To speak with you, sir. But not here." She pointed to an empty conference room.
Against his better judgement, he followed her into the room and she walked to the table, leaning against it.
"Well?!" Ravn asked, folding his arms over his chest.
She told him of their mission from Odin and how they were struggling to find the person spreading the rumors. "Please, if you could help even a little, I would be very grateful. Not for me, but for Prince Loki."
The valet considered, tapping a boot on the floor.
"You are not lying to me?" Ravn asked.
"No, sir, I am not."
The valet thought for a few more seconds when he sighed and went to stand next to her.
"Very well then. I will meet you in the Servants Hall once I am off duty tonight."
"Thank you, sir! Thank you!"
Ravn nodded as she ran out of the room then she headed back to the main hall. Knut and Dravina were still sitting at the table as she sat down next to them.
"Well?!" Knut asked.
"He agreed to meet us in our Hall when his shift is done." Grezti smiled triumphantly.
"Yes!" Dravina said.
"Thank the Norns," Knut said.
Ravn was thinking all the while he was serving that evening. Finding the source of the rumors both intrigued and challenged him.
After his shift was over, he headed for the Servants Hall and he saw Knut, Dravina and Grezti standing at the center of the room.
The three shuffled their feet rather like nervous students seeing a strict schoolmaster. He fought to keep from rolling his eyes.
"Tell me what you have so far," Ravn said, walking over.
"Not much," Dravina murmured. She told him what they had noticed.
Sighing, Ravn started pacing. The rumors were growing worse and it was only a matter of time when Loki would hear about them.
Right now his master was occupied with Balder and his new nanny but Loki would eventually hear the whispers and Ravn did not want him to suffer a setback from the vicious gossip.
"Have you tried the marketplace in the city?" That was a popular gathering place for the nobles and commoners alike.
"No, we have not," Grezti said.
"We thought it would have started in the palace. Or the Hartshorn Tavern," Knut said, naming a popular drinking hole Thor and the Warriors favorited.
"We even checked the stables, but nothing," Dravina said.
Ravn shook his head. He had a feeling their quarry was clever enough to forgo those haunts. "Let's go down now to see what we can find."
"Right now?" Knut asked.
"Why not? The Night Market is open," Ravn pointed out. He knew several merchants did a brisk business at it and many people would be gathered there after leaving work.
Nodding, they followed him out of the room and they left the palace.
As predicted the Night Market was thriving, with merchants from all over Asgard and the Nine buying and selling and sharing gossip.
Ravn led them through the market as they chatted with merchants and customers and he prayed they would find someone who was talking about Loki.
Suddenly they heard Loki's name mentioned.
They moved closer when they saw two men beside one of the stands.
"Did you hear how Loki nearly went crazy and tore apart Lars?" one asked.
The other gasped. "Really? I heard Lars cheated and Loki almost skewered him."
"That's not what I heard!" said the first one. "I heard that after Lars cheated, Loki took his Frost Giant form and almost ripped Lars in half!"
"Sweet Valhalla on a ski sled! That Loki is dangerous! I always said you can't trust those Jotun. Not for a minute! Turn your back and they will kill you and use your bones for toothpicks!" He shuddered dramatically while his companion nodded like a marionette.
The listeners scowled but forced themselves to remain to see what else was being said.
"I never agreed with making peace with those animals," the first man continued. "I always said we should have exterminated them all. King Odin's gone soft in the head."
"Yes, and he should have left Loki to die in that temple. Who needs a half-breed Jotun bastard?"
The other man clapped his friend on the back. "Come on, let's go get another tankard of mead. My throat is dry. Then we can go and listen to the Storyteller in The Forked Beard. I hear he has a good story tonight!"
"All right, let's go!"
As they moved off, Ravn hissed angrily, "They have it all wrong! I was there at the duel and I saw what really happened. The only part they got right was Lars cheating."
"Never mind that now," Knut argued. "Let's follow them and see where this Storyteller is. That's the first I've heard of him."
The four crept after the drunken men and made their way into the tavern. It was dim and slightly smoky inside. Patrons sprawled about on stools and benches, the lighting was poor, except up near a raised wooden platform where a man dressed in gray and blue sat, tuning a lyre. He looked perfectly ordinary, with the kind of face that blended into a crowd. Ravn would have paid him no mind except for the fact that he was sitting on the platform.
"That must be the Storyteller," he whispered to Dravina.
"Go get us some drinks," Knut said, and handed her some coins.
Soon they were sipping mead and listening to the patrons, most of whom were drunk, discuss everything from someone's wife running off with someone's friend to failed crops, to a win at a horserace, to a new policy the Council had passed. But then the Storyteller strummed a few notes on the lyre and all the talk ceased.
The Storyteller began telling the tale of "The Mad Jotun" in a powerful mesmerizing tone.
The tale started with Odin bringing Loki home as an infant then how the infant terrorized his nanny by freezing her solid.
"Lies," Ravn growled,, but the audience seemed mesmerized by the tale.
"Odin should have killed him the moment he found him." someone said.
"I agree," said someone else.
"How long has this been going on?" Grezti hissed.
"He's been here for months," the woman next to her whispered then hushed her.
"Who is he? These stories are nothing but fiction," Ravn scowled. "And speaking slander against the royal family can get you thrown in prison."
"I don't know his name. He just showed up. Maybe Oztor will know. He's the bartender," the man next to him whispered and he pointed to the tall man with long red hair who was tending bar.
Ravn quickly made his way to the bar, ordering another drink. As he did so, he asked who the man telling stories was.
Oztor gazed at the Storyteller while he cleaned the glass then he turned to Ravn.
"He said his name was Lore. Thought it was a weird name, but who am I to judge? He came here a few months ago and asked if he could tell his stories. I didn't see no harm and said he could as long as he didn't cause trouble."
"He is slandering the royal family," Ravin said with a growl to his voice.
"It's just stories."
"Stories people are believing!"
"Can't help what people think. All I know is they spend coin after he's done and that's good for business."
"Do you know where this Lore is staying?"
"He has a room upstairs."
Ravn nodded, deciding he must find this room and see if this man had any sort of letters or correspondence from someone, like another noble with a grudge.
He returned to the table when he placed the drinks down then sat on the stool.
"Did you find out anything?" Grezti asked.
"Yes." He told them all the bartender had said. "We need to get inside that room and search it. Any ideas?"
"You and I could go upstairs. No one will care. They would think we're just going up for some fun," Dravina said and his eyes widened.
"I will not soil your reputations like that!" Ravn said.
"I am willing to be labeled something I am not in order to repay Prince Loki for what I have done."
Ravn heard the honesty in her voice and he felt whatever anger he had melt away.
"I think we should do that same," Grezti said, looking at Knut.
"I agree. We can cover more rooms that way," Knut said.
Sire, Ravn sent to Odin using the communication ring the king had given him when he learned Ravn was assisting his three sleuths, and he leaned back in the chair.
Is everything well? Odin sent and Ravn told him what was going on. No, I will not risk any of your reputations. I will send guards to the tavern and arrest this Lore.
He will vanish once he senses something is wrong.
I have an idea. Have Grezti and Dravina go up as maids. No one will notice and they will be able to go into the rooms without anyone saying anything, Odin sent.
Yes, that might work. Thank you, Sire.
Ravn told them what Odin said and the women agreed.
"What should we do?" Knut asked.
"We will keep an eye on Lore. If he heads upstairs, I will distract him while you go get them," Ravn said.
Grezti and Dravina stood as they headed for the stairs after Grezti picked up a pile of clean towels which were sitting on the table near the stairs and they headed up to the rooms.
Ravn and Knut listened to more of Lore's tale as Lore told how Loki betrayed Odin to Laufey and it was Loki not Laufey who nearly killed Odin while he was in Odinsleep.
"Another lie!" Ravn growled and took a deep drink of mead
Upstairs, Grezti and Dravina had checked several rooms, some which had couples enjoying private moments, when the came to a door, but the door was locked.
"Now what?" Grezti asked.
Dravina pulled out a hairpin.
"We pick the lock," she answered. Then she jimmied it open. "Cheap!" she snorted.
"Where did you learn that?"
"My father was a locksmith," she replied.
Smiling, Grezti shook her head and they slipped into the room.
The light from the hall lit the room as Grezti lit the candle in the stand on the table near the door and the room was lit in a soft glow.
"Now what?" Dravina asked.
"We do as Ravn said. We search the room and try to find anything suspicious," Grezti said.
Carefully, they searched the drawers, the trunk at the foot of the bed , the mattress, and the wardrobe when Dravina heard footsteps.
"Someone's coming," she said and Grezti closed the door. They stood against the door as the footsteps grew closer and Grezti swore she saw mist moving under the door.
The footsteps stopped in front of the door as they held their breath then the footsteps slowly walked away. Grezti slowly opened the door, but the hallway was empty and she sighed.
"They're gone," she whispered.
"Let's do one more look then go back to Ravn and Knut," Dravina whispered.
Dravina looked through the papers on the desk when she found a letter and she turned to show it to Grezti.
"Look at this," she said.
"We should show this to Ravn," Grezti said, peering at it.
Dravina straightened the desk as they walked to the door and Grezti looked into the hallway. Nodding, she walked out of the room and Dravina followed her. She had closed the door as they headed down the hallway and down the stairs.
Lore was telling his audience about Loki attacking Lars as the crowd grumbled and whispered to each other and the women quickly walked to the table were Ravn and Knut were sitting.
"Did you find anything?" Ravn whispered.
"Yes," Grezti whispered and Dravina slid the letter to him.
Ravn unfolded the letter and examined it. "This is written in elvish. I can't read it, but someone in the king's Secret Service can. He has people who are fluent in all the written languages of the Nine. I'm sure this is important."
He used his communication ring to send a message to Odin telling him what they found.
Odin instructed them to leave and bring the letter to the palace, where the spymasters could examine it and decode it if necessary. Ravn promised to do so, then he memorized the Storyteller's nondescript features so he could identify him again.
"Come on, let's go. I'm tired and want to rest," Ravn said loudly.
None of the patrons paid any attention to them and they left the tavern quickly, returning to the palace.
They reported to Odin in his study. The king had Lord Marple, one of his best agents, there with him. Marple was a tall skinny man with blonde hair and gray eyes, he looked like the kind of man you could pass on the street and not bat an eyelash at. But his eyes were penetrating and sharp.
"Show Marple the letter, Ravn," Odin ordered, and Ravn gratefully surrendered it to the spy.
"Can you tell us what it says?"
Marple rapidly scanned it and said, "I was a cryptographer before I was Chief Agent. So yes, I can translate this. It's written in Dark Elvish, in code, but give me an hour and I can break it. It doesn't look too difficult. Whoever wrote this didn't want to be too complicated."
The agent took the letter and retreated to a corner of the desk to decipher it. Odin dismissed Ravn and the others, saying he would let then know what the letter said as soon as Marple figured it out.
"You have done well," the king added as the four started to leave the study. "It seems like this Lore is the one who has been spreading all these rumors about Loki. Now we need to find out why. I hope the letter may shed some light upon it."
"As do we, Sire," Ravn said, giving his monarch one last bow before he returned to prepare Loki's chambers for the evening.
Less than an hour later, Marple looked up from the letter and smirked. "By Yggdrasil, I have it!"
Odin turned to his agent. "What does it say?"
"The letter is addressed to someone called Chameleon, obviously a code name," Marple explained. "It details instructions on what he is to do once he infiltrates Asgard. This is an undercover agent, my liege, who has been working to undermine your authority and the prince's reputation for months."
Odin's mouth tightened in a grim line. "Who does he report to?"
Marple coughed sharply. "He was given his assignment by none other than Malekith himself. Malekith has awakened, Sire, I know not how, and he has sent his agent here to sow the seeds of discord and hate upon our realm, so that we may fight each other and thus be divided when he comes to conquer us. At least that is his plan."
Odin scowled blackly. "How is it that bastard has awoken from his sleep? It must be because the Aether has been found!"
"But found where? By whom?" Marple asked shrewdly. "This is the first I have heard of it, and it is apparent the Dark Elves do not have it, or else they would have marched upon us already."
Odin sighed heavily. "We must find out what has happened with it. Long ago my father Bor stole it from Malekith and hid it somewhere without telling anyone. If it has been found, I hope it is not by one of our enemies."
"As do I. That would be an unmitigated disaster."
"Send some of your agents throughout the realms, Chief, to discover where the Aether might have been found," Odin ordered. "Meanwhile, I will send guards to capture this spy Chameleon. I'm sure he has information we can use against Malekith."
"Undoubtedly," the Chief said. "Under truth spell he will tell all."
The king nodded his agreement. Then he summoned a contingent of the King's Watch, which were the local police force in the city, and told them to arrest Chameleon, AKA Lore, and to question the owner of the tavern where he had been staying to determine if he had become a traitor to the crown.
The Forked Beard:
The man known by some as the Storyteller and others Lore, whose true name was Chameleon, sought his bed after telling one last tale which he hoped would stir up the crowd against the king and his adopted son. In his experience, people were only too willing to believe lies if couched in half-truths, especially if they centered about one who was different than they were. In another month he was sure he could foment riots in the city, and once that happened, he would tell his master that Asgard was ripe for invasion.
He climbed the stairs, making his way to his room, rubbing his eyes which were threatening to close. Because of that he was less aware than he normally was, and so missed the fact that he hardly needed to key to unlock his door. Once inside, he locked the door and went immediately to his desk to write out another report.
As he shuffled through the papers, most of which were decoys put there to fool anyone glancing at the desk, he noticed in alarm that the most recent letter from his master was missing.
At first he thought it was simply misplaced, but after a thorough search he concluded it was gone. He swore softly in his native tongue. The letter would appear innocuous enough if translated—as it was intended to be. However, if anyone like Chameleon came into possession of it, they would know that Lore was no simple bard who told stories for a living.
Fearing his cover had been blown. Chameleon began to pack, throwing everything of importance into a simple brown satchel. Everything else could stay behind, but he knew it was time to cut his losses.
Just as he descended the back stairs of the tavern and made his way to the stables, he heard the unfamiliar clatter of hooves in the yard and an authoritative voice order, "Open up in the name of the king!"
Hellfires! It's the Watch! Time to disappear! The spy mounted his horse and put his heels to its flanks, making the horse whinny and run along the cobbles of the alley.
Suddenly a hue and cry went up and Chameleon rode faster, trying to put distance between him and his pursuers. The way out of Asgard was further than he liked, and he worried he might not make it before he was caught.
"He's gone, sir!" a Watch member yelled to his Captain.
"Vali, release the hounds!' the Captain ordered after letting the dogs smell a shirt that they had found in Lore's room.
The dog handler knelt and unsnapped their leads. "Track!" he ordered.
The dogs put their noses to the ground and bayed.
Chameleon raced down the streets, hurling debris and a low stone wall before managing to get free of the city. Beneath him, his horse blew sharply, breathing hard for it was not used to running for so long. The spy ignored the horse's distress, intent only upon running as quickly as possible from the Watch.
He urged the horse up a small rise and into the woods, where branches smacked his face and tore at his long hair.
The Dark Elf could see perfectly fine in the darkness of the wood, but he neglected to recall that his mount did not have the same advantages. The baying of the hounds increased and Chameleon knew they had picked up his trail again.
He pushed the horse down a narrow winding trail. Almost there! Almost!
Suddenly his horse stumbled, unable to see in the gloom it had put a hoof into a badger hole.
Swearing, Chameleon was catapulted from his mount and landed on the ground, slightly bruised but otherwise unharmed. He grabbed his satchel and began to run, leaving the injured horse behind.
A few moments later, the hounds found the horse.
"We're getting close!" cried the Captain. "Go on, dogs! Seek!"
The hounds cast about, then tore off down the trail, the scent hot in their nostrils.
Chameleon staggered through the forest, panting, as the baying of the hounds grew louder.
Frantic, he stumbled into a clearing with three ash trees, and moved towards the last one in line.
His hand reached out to touch it, when two hounds burst into the clearing, ears flopping and teeth bared.
"Hold!" yelled a voice.
Chameleon gave the voice the finger then slammed his hand down upon the ash trunk and called out a word in Dark Elvish.
The tree shimmered and he fell through the portal just as the first hound leaped for him.
The dog yelped as its teeth closed upon empty air.
"Hel! He got away somehow!" the dog handler cried. "Must have used magic."
"Slippery bastard! The king won't be pleased," sighed the Captain.
The dog handler shrugged. "Nothing we can do. We didn't know he could use magic."
He whistled the dogs in and gave them treats, then put their leashes back on and they all headed back towards the city.
Bifrost:
Heimdall scanned the realms when he noticed something on Midgard which made his blood run cold. He had heard Bor had hidden the Aether on Midgard from his father, but he was assured no one would ever find it.
What he saw was Jane Foster and her team and Jane became very curious to what they had found.
"What is this?" Jane asked.
"Looks like a red rock," Darcy Lewis said.
"Careful, Jane," Doctor Erik Selvig said.
Heimdall watched in horror as she reached out and touched the Aether.
"My Prince, you must come to Bifrost immediately!" he sent to Thor.
"What is the matter? Are we under attack?" Thor sent.
"No, it has to do with the Aether!"
"What about it?"
"It has been found!"
"By who!?"
"By Jane Foster!"
"I'll be right there!"