Loki

The day starts terribly. To be exact, it starts with having to explain to approximately fifty-two peasants why their concerns are absolutely stupid. If this is being king, then its way overrated. For barely a second, sitting on this damn throne, one-quarter listening to whatever is being said, I regret it. Lying to my brother. Letting him think I was dead. And for this? For this terrible torture. I assure myself that this will get better... I mean, it has to. I have riches and respect and everything I ever wanted. The man I once called my father locked in the same cell that he once locked me in. All because of one mistake I made. Now he will pay, and now I will rule.

"Next!" declare, signalling to a nearby guard to lead the man out of the hall. At that unfortuante moment, however, a guard rushes through the throngs of people. A guard who I quickly recognize as the head of the guard, though he hardly looks like a soldier of Asgard anymore. His throat has a deep gash across it, a sword wound. People quickly move out of the way of Captain Arvid.

"Guards! Move the peasants out of the castle and seal it tight!" A couple men obey, herding the crowds out of the golden hall, amid protests.

"Listen to us, Your Majesty!"

"Cruel king!"

They all fall silent as the heavy golden doors slam to a close. I turn to my limping captain of the guard.

"What happened, Arvid? Why are you returning bloodied instead of triumphant?"

He stumbles to the ground, kneeling before the throne.

"Stand," I demand.

He shakes his head slowly. "I barely can, Your Majesty." I quickly morph into my actual form, tired of masquerading unecessarily as the man I hate.

"The guard was attacked. On the most northern reaches of Asgard." He manages to gasp out. I whirl around to face him. There are few that live in that region, so who would be there to attack them?

"Who has the power to defeat the most powerful army in all the realms?" I ask him.

"A bunch of women, it seems," He says, rather embarassed.

"What?"

"Young women who somehow know how to fight better than Asgard."

"Did any say their names?"

"The woman... her name was Sigyn. She was young, perhaps your age, but definitely proud, arrogant. Tried to kill me," he grumbles, then continues, "Said Odin gave her mother the land long ago. She was the one that did this. Must be the leader," He said, gesturing to the cut. "I would watch out. Better let them keep the land, though, if you permit me saying so. Theyʻll probably kill us next time..."

I shake my head. "We cannot let anyone keep land from us, the greatest kingdom of all the realms. Make sure the soldiers are prepared this time. You are dismissed." I wave him away, leaving me to think. Iʻve never heard of her, a goddess who has more battle skill than the best guard in Asgard, a girl who rules over her own kingdom. But whoever she is, whoever has gone unnoticed by my kingdom for years, will not be unknown any longer. Any deal of Odinʻs is just that: a deal of Odinʻs. Not mine.

Sigyn

I awake before the sun even rises, perhaps because I only slept for barely an hour, too busy reading old manuscripts. Pulling on my hooded cape, I stumble into the twilight, where some of the village is abustle, talking, laughing, and eating.

"Damn. How am I supposed to ride to Asgard when Iʻm still half asleep?" I complain to Maghildt, who is already awake and preparing to go hunting. She looks up from constructing yet another arrow to add to her collection of hundreds, sighing.

"Donʻt read so much, Sigyn. Anyway, isnʻt history rather boring?" She tells me, just as Brenna bounces in, somehow full of energy before daybreak.

"Yeah, Sigyn, hang out with guys instead. You have to continue your bloodline or whatever eventually," she joins in. Maghildt rolls her eyes, a common motion from both of us when Brenna enters the room. She may be skilled with a knife and be my third-in-command, yet she can also be exceedingly annoying.

"Brenna. Every man here is so... boring. Yes, thatʻs the right word. All they do is hunt and laugh and drink. Like children. Iʻll marry when I find the right person, you understand? And no, Maghildt, history is interesting. It teaches you how to run a kingdom, what to do, and what not to do." I respond to both of their incorrect arguments.

"Couldnʻt your mom have brought some handsome and intelligent men from Asgard, at least?" Maghildt says, smiling a bit, which is rare for her.

"Apparently not."

I scramble to my feet at the quickest speed I can, which, in reality, is slow motion. Making my way to the stables, I pass by children playing in the grass, smoke flowing from chimneys, girls practicing their spearthrowing. Asgard has nothing on my kingdom. It may be bigger, it may be stronger, but we are happier. And nobody is taking that away.

"My lady Sigyn. Your horse is waiting," a scrawny teenage boy some years younger than myself says, bowing slightly.

I chuckle. "No need to bow before me. Though its quite flattering, as a matter of fact."

Continuing on my way, I soon arrive at the heavy wooden gates of the stables. Tied to the outside is my horse Astrid, a jet black mare that is descended from those that once belonged to the royal family of Asgard.

"Hello, darling," I whisper to her, as I untie the rope that keeps her from running off. Not that she would. Everyone here, even the horses, live lovely lives.

"When will you be back, my lady?" Maghildt asks, swiftly approaching beside Brenna.

"By tommorow noon at the very latest. If I do not return by then, I suppose I will have lost the second swordfight of my life. But as I vowed never to do that again, I think Iʻll be returning shortly. With our kingdom safe and sound," I tell her.

Gracefully as possible, I mount Astrid. People are watching. I can be vulnerable, I can be human, I can be clumsy with those I trust. With my kingdom watching, however, I have to be invincible.

I spur her on, bounding quickly from the village. The last thing I hear is Brennaʻs singsong shout, "Bring back some hot soldiers, if possible!"

Shaking my head, I glance around the landscape at the crest of the hill above our village. Behind me, is shelter, but in front of me, lies all of Asgard. To the east is the mountains, where lies the gateways of legend to the other realms. In the west, the land is flat and green. And to the south, in the distance, the golden castle looms. Itʻs a twelve-hour ride by horse, and that is as the crow flies. At a fast gallop. Better get going.