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Brothers, Loki and Byleistr, Chapter 9
Life is made of surprises.
Greip finished examining Angrboda and said, "Duchess Angrboda, I am healer Greip. I believe you will heal without long-term consequences. But I would recommend for you to rest for the next week, and if you permit, I would like to recheck you in about a week."Angrboda smiled at Greip and said, "Thank you, healer Greip, I will do as you suggest. Do I have any dietary restrictions?" "No, you do not, but I would suggest that you start with soup and move from there if you tolerate it." Greip excused herself and left to find some food for Angrboda.
Loki took Angrboda's hands in his and said, "So Angrboda, will you let me court you?" Angrboda gave him a mischievous smile and said, "Hmm…what to do? Let me think you are handsome, funny, strong, smart, and you Sedir responds to your every wish. Well, I guess I have no other choice but to allow you to court me." Loki smiled and said in a serious voice, " Well, I am glad you have noticed some of my many qualities. I am fortunate to have no defects." Angrboda touched his nose with her hand and said, "Is that so, you have no defects?" Loki broke out laughing, followed by Angrboda.
A few hours later, the spaceships landed on Begavelse. The citizens were waiting for them. With the help of Loki, Angrboda was able to walk out of the ship. Loki would have preferred to carry her but knew she was a proud and strong woman that would not want to appear weak before the citizens.
Loki walked to a podium, followed by Byleistr and Angrboda. He said, "I am happy to report that our mission had been successful. We have rescued over one thousand Skuffelse without any casualties. We had a few that were injured, but they will recover. I ask you to help the new citizens of the realm to adapt to their new circumstances. We will have an official ceremony for our new citizens to swear their allegiance to our realm in one week."
Loki insisted that Angrboda retired to rest. He personally walked her to her house and asked the healer to stay with her for the next week until she was fully recovered. Angrboda wanted to protest, but Loki seemed worried, and she did not have the heart to refuse the help. Greip agreed to stay with Angrboda. She requested that the two injured skuffelse be given accommodations in the same house so she could care for them. Angrboda said they could stay in one of the bedrooms.
As much as Loki and Byleistr would have liked to rest, they had much work ahead of them. They needed to make sure that the Skuffelse had a place to relax, food to eat, and the basic necessities. Thankfully the military complex had enough housing for the new citizens, and the Begavet that had stayed behind had prepared enough food for everyone beforehand. Loki decided to have communal meals for the next few days until they could distribute provisions to all the families. Atla was also busy as she became responsible for 80 more orphans.
Late at night, Loki and Byleistr were finally able to go home to rest. They had barely gotten home when they heard a knock at the door. Loki sighed and went to open the door. He found Atla at the door accompanied by a young girl. Loki invited them to come in. Before Loki could say anything, Atla said, "Loki, I must talk to you and Byleistr immediately. It is a matter of great importance that concerns you both." Loki went to look for Byleistr, who was enjoying a snack in the kitchen.
The two brothers walked back to the receiving area. As soon as Atla saw them, she started talking. "Your majesties, I believe this girl is your half-sister, and I thought I should inform you as soon as I found out, so you could decide what you want to do. Of course, I will be happy to care for her with the rest of the orphans, if that is what you want."
Byleistr immediately walked toward the girl and knelled near her, looking at her markings. Loki was too shocked to speak. After carefully examing the markings of the girl, he stood up and told Loki," I think Atla is right; she is ou half-sister." Loki looked at the girl. He thought she could not be any older than three hundred years. She was looking at them with big scared eyes.
He approached her slowly and kneeled so he could be as close as possible to her eye level. Byleistr knelled near Loki. Loki said in a gentle voice, "Hi little one, I am Loki, and this is Byleistr. It appears we are your big brothers. What is your name?" The little girl wrung her hands nervously and said, "Kari." Byleistr gently put a hand on the little girl's shoulder and said, "Kari, Loki, and I will take care of you from this day on. You have nothing to worry about." Kari said, "You promise? Because I have never had a family to take care of me before."
Loki looked at his little sister, and wasn't that something? He had a sister! He said, "Yes, we promise to care for you, Kari, now why don't we get you fed and then put you to bed? I bet you are tired." He stood up and lifted Kari, who let him. He told Atla, "Thank you, my Lady, we are in your debt for finding our sister." Atla said, "I'll see you tomorrow, your majesties."
Kari found herself sitting at a table with her big brothers, and before she knew it, there was a bowl of steaming soup in front of her. She dug in as she was used to, not knowing when she would have her next meal. While Kari was eating, her brothers drank some tea and observed her. Byleistr thought she needed a bath as her skin was grimy and her hair tangled. Loki thought Kari required new clothes as she was dressed in only a loincloth."
When she finished eating, Byleistr said, "Kari come with me. I am going to give you a bath." Loki said, "While Byelister is giving you a bath, I am going to go and get you some clothes." Then looking at Byleistr, he said, "I am going to Alfheim to get her what she needs. I will be back as soon as possible."
Loki went to Alfheim and bought a few outfits for Kari as well as a stuffed unicorn. He was back by the time that Byleistr was getting Kari out of the bath. After Bylister got Kari dried, Loki helped her get dressed in a nightgown and gave her the unicorn to hold while the brothers worked on brushing and braiding her hair. Kari hugged her unicorn to her and fell asleep before her brothers finished combing her hair. Loki and Blister laid Kari on a bed in one of the bedrooms and left the door open so they could hear her if she woke up at night.
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