All of Asgard waited for the Allfather to speak as the final echoes of Loki's voice faded into silence. Even the younger prince's most bitter political opponents had listened to his words, sharing in the collective horror of the gathered Aesir, feeling the ache of the Trickster's weighty losses. It wasn't a Boast, really, but a angry paean to a life that had been utterly destroyed in multitudinous ways. Loki had not returned for a perfunctory description of the grievances wrought by his most recent foe. No, he had skewered the culture that raised him and brought him to his fall. He named Asgard as murderer, and the fateful Other the demon who tortured him at the whim of a greater Devil. To Loki, this life was already over, this ceremony a gruesome farce with the sole purpose of bringing about his vengeance from beyond the grave.
"And who do you name your final enemy, Loki?" Odin softly asked.
Loki straightened. "Thanos, the Mad Titan."
Odin's one eye widened. "Impossible. He died a thousand years ago."
"Did Heimdall See it?"
"Well, no, but-"
"Yet I tell you, I saw him. I felt his hand violating my body, tearing my lung from my chest, gripping my heart in his fist. He smiled as he did it, and smiled as his minions staunched the blood that flowed afterwards. I felt his mind press upon mine with a command I could not refuse, powered by an Infinity Stone. The Mad Titan is my foe."
The blood drained from Odin's face, and he turned aside. "Thor! You said nothing of another Infinity Stone in your report!"
"Um...I do not know what an Infinity Stone is?"
Loki rolled his eyes. "It was inside the staff, fool." He paused. "You left it on Midgard with your friends, didn't you." Thor blushed. It wasn't a question. "Nevermind. Allfather, there was indeed a second stone, which Thanos used on me before placing it into the staff which I then used to extend his commands to various Midgardians. It's probably safe enough for now with Thor's friends, so please worry about it later. Now, I have named my enemy. I wish to pass on my feud to another, under Asgardian law."
"Would you die before vengeance is served?"
"I would."
Odin's eyes flickered again to Thor, then to Frigga. He stepped forward and said in a low, quiet voice, "If I agree to this, I think you shall never have your vengeance, Loki. You forget you are alone in this, condemned for treason a year ago when you were presumed dead. If you nominate Thor, or anyone else, to take your feud, your avenger shall act alone. I cannot mobilize Asgard against the Titan for the sake of a dishonored outcast, so the Titan will win. Thor would be killed as well." His voice dropped even further. "But, if I do not agree to your request, that changes things. We have heard your testimony. You can be contrite. I can be merciful, declaring your suffering as due justice from the Norns. And I can declare your enslavement and the attack against Midgard a violation of the Peace of the Realms, and just cause to mobilize fully against him, regardless of the whims of my Council."
Loki regarded him. "You would deny me death and relief?"
"I would grant you full revenge, my son, and a chance to strike the final blow yourself."
"I don't care about that anymore," Loki hissed desperately. "I just want to be gone."
"But you will care, once the time is right. You are my son, Loki. I know you, and I love you, though there is a wall between us now. Give me a year. If Thanos' head is not yours by then, I promise I will free your soul myself if you wish it, my own law be damned. And if Thanos' death is not enough to assuage your hurt, you will at least have the honorable end of a true warrior that you deserve."
A snarl twisted Loki's lips, but he finally seemed to give in. "Fine. Conniver." He took a single step away from the Allfather and looked up, resentful eyes focused on the window behind the king.
Odin ignored his son's discontent. At least Thor and Frigga would be happy, and there was a chance... He raised his voice. "I do not grant you the end you desire, Loki of Asgard. You were a prince and fell through your own mistakes and trespasses. Yet for those sins, it would seem you have paid in full, in injury and in degradation. Asgard will not then offer further punishment, but neither do we grant you favorable relief from your feud. Your vengeance is your own by rights, and you must seek it yourself as long as you are able. Yet your testimony regarding the Titan is itself significant, and I believe it. It seems we have a common enemy, for Thanos' enslavement of your mind and assault upon Midgard is against my own edicts as King of Asgard and Protector of the Nine Realms." He looked around his court, the older ministers looking grimly resolute, the younger warriors bursting with eager expectation. Everyone knew already what he would say next. "Asgard is now at war with the Mad Titan. The Last Titan. See that he is found and killed. I expect his head to adorn my castle within the year. Make it so." The Allfather turned and ascended the steps to his throne. There was no need for further command. Asgardians were professional warriors. Each knew their appointed tasks. It would take a little while, but Heimdall would find Thanos soon enough, now that he was looking, and the sons of Odin could take it from there. He buried a sigh in his beard. He just hoped Loki would find a reason to live again in the meantime.
Author's Note: I said it didn't really get better, didn't I? See you tomorrow for several short chapters. Also, I'm lazy and not bothering with chapter names. Feel free to suggest some, if that annoys you.
