2
Upon reaching the stairs leading to the colossal entrance doors of Karnilla's hall Balder dismounted from his bay stallion and followed the lumbering Balthar up the stone stairs and through the great metal covered doors that were shut behind him with a dull thud. The Asgardian Prince ignored the scowls and growls of the Norn guards as he knew they wouldn't dare lift a finger against him for he was under their Queen's protection and certainly not while he was being escorted to Karnilla's throne room by their high commander.
When they entered the throne room the air was thick with incense and Karnilla's throne of ivory (which was said to be made up of the teeth of all her enemies) was surrounded by exotic flowers and crawling ivy-like plants, which were planted in a sunken section of the floor, that grew wrapped around two marble pillars on either side of her throne that reached to the far flung ceiling. She, herself sat upon it in a proud and haughty manner, as she cast her intense gaze onto Balder.
"Welcome to Nornheim my Lord" she smiled seductively at the Asgardian warrior as he strode towards her. "You may leave" she spoke to Balthar as she rose up from her throne to stand as regal as any Asgardian noblewoman but dressed as lurid as any barbarian wench. "All of you, leave us, I have nothing to fear from this Aesir."
Despite misgivings Balthar and the throne room guards did as their Queen commanded and Karnilla was alone with Balder. Under the flowing red over coat (embroidered in knot work fashion were monsters from Nornheim legends, with the white fur of a Norn spider-ape gracing the neck and cuffs of both sleeves) which covered what barely could be called a gown. Blood red it was, and attached to the right side of a gold neck ring was only a strip that barely covered her generous breasts. This strip attached itself to another gold ring at her left hip before wrapping itself around the front of her waist then connecting to the hip ring again. Her ebony hair had been pulled into a large plait that ran upon the top and back of her head and braided into it were the two long, thin u-shaped bars that held her headdress crown of shining gold that framed her face. The head-plate was shaped like the horns of a Norn bull with the stylized face of a spider-ape made from a large ruby in its center and framing her face were the gold plated teeth of a Norn devil worm also bejeweled with rubies. Upon her feet were red leather sandals with straps that wrapped about her legs to her knees.
"What do I owe for this comely sight before me; honors, riches, or pleasures unimaginable?"
"Truth, oh Queen" Balder inhaled deeply and continued "as to whether you wish to keep the tenuous peace that exists between our realms or unleash the ravenous hounds of war?"
In his haste to get to the room of healing he nearly forgot that he was play-acting as an old man and Loki/Odin stopped running through the corridors of the palace to pretend to gasp for breath explaining to several Einherjar guards, who'd come to his assistance, that he was fine just not as young as he once was. Only his concern for the welfare of his sons made him careless of his own as he dismissed the guards to their regular duties. At a pace more suited to an elderly man Loki continued to the room of healing.
As Loki/Odin entered the healing room he saw Tyr standing between Thor and Volstagg while an unconscious Lady Sif lay on the bed of the soul forge. A worried and fearful Fandral stood to Sif's right with a grim faced Hogun behind him, and Loki/Odin halted in his tracks as he saw the extent of her internal injuries through the orange energy form that hovered above her. He caught his breath, eye wide with terrible awe, as at one time in his life he'd actually had feelings for Sif, feelings which had died cruelly because of her imbecilic hero worship of his brother Thor, making him invisible.
"What happened?" Loki/Odin demanded of his sons.
"We could not stop this beast" Tyr wheezed as his chest pained him greatly, "He called himself Mangog and has sworn to destroy all of Asgard…" the oldest Odinson grimaced in pain.
"Our weapons were useless father" Thor spoke though a face that was badly bloodied and bruised. "Not even Mjolnir could do it harm."
"What of the company of warriors that accompanied you? Where are they?" The gravity of what his brothers had just told him was beginning to sour in Loki's stomach.
"Either dead or badly wounded Allfather" Volstagg reported. "We would need healers and at least three companies of Einherjar to go to N'as-Keroth to bring them back home."
"Go find my son Uller" Loki/Odin spoke after a moment's hesitation to a guard standing in the doorway. "Have him take a company of archers and two companies of Einherjar, as well as however many Healers that can be spared, to find them and bring them back as soon as possible."
The guard bowed his head, turned heel and ran to perform his King's command.
"The Lady Sif will be taken back to her chambers to complete her recovery when they are finished with her here" Loki/Odin turned back to his sons and sighed heavily, "And you my sons, after you have been healed of your wounds, must find where next this beast will land and stop it there…while I see to our defenses here…that we will be ready for it in the event you cannot slay it."
Loki/Odin was about to leave the healing room when he saw the remorseful look upon Thor's face as he held up his older brother, remorse and hopelessness? That did not seem right, not for Thor, oh no not for him. Not the one who led them all "…into the most glorious of battles" who was covered with shining accolades and honors, who single-handedly saved all the nine realms from Malekith and the Dark Elves. This was not like him at all.
"Thor, walk with me my son" Loki/Odin spoke as he turned to exit the healing room, "For I see there is something that weighs heavily upon your mind and I would hear you out."
"Yes father" Thor slipped Tyr's arm from off his shoulder and left with his father.
"What bothers you my son for something plainly colors the expression on your face."
"It's just a foolish, childish wish father and regret" Thor confided.
"Regret, of what my son?" Loki/Odin softly goaded his brother to tell him more.
"That Loki isn't here" Thor replied.
"Loki?"
"Yes father, despite his treacherous nature, Loki would have the cunning and the wit to defeat this creature. He would've figured out a way to stop it, of that I am almost certain of."
"What do I hear from the savior of Midgard, to the one who restored order across the Nine Realms after the destruction of the Bifrost…?"
"The truth father. You once called me a vain, cruel, greedy boy and you were right to do so, for I was and it was Loki who suffered the most for it" Thor stopped and focused his eyes on the floor, too ashamed of himself to look at his father. "I bullied him and my friends into going to Jotunheim, not to find the truth, but I was greedy to win more glory to myself and it did not matter to me who I put into jeopardy or who nearly got killed. It is because of me that Loki is dead; it is because of me he became what he was, his madness and his rage can be laid at my feet for I am to blame."
Loki/Odin stood silently in amazement that he should hear such words coming from the god of Thunder and so honestly spoken. He would have to visit this mortal paramour of his brother if only to find out just what it was that she did to change him so drastically. Was this truly his oafish, glory whoring, idiot brother that he grew up with? Truly it seemed, Thor had matured in the last year or so and could it be that Loki finally had a brother worth admiring?
"Go back to the healing room my son" Loki/Odin laid his left hand on Thor's shoulder in encouragement, "we will deal with this monster first and talk more of this later." With that Loki/Odin turned away from Thor so that the tears that began to stream down his cheeks wouldn't be seen by his brother.
"The only way MY kingdom would seek war with Odin would be if your father were senile enough to dare attack me" Karnilla backed away from Balder, her face changed into a haughty scowl as did her demeanor towards Balder. "What makes the Allfather think that I would be the first to break our truce? The peace treaty itself was written with the blood from my dead husband and beloved sons as well as a multitude of my slain warriors?"
"Along with a multitude of slain Asgardian warriors and my father as well, oh Queen" Balder reminded her as he continued. "Our western boarders are being attacked by Norn raiders who kill and destroy everyone and everything in their path and this we have from witnesses who escaped being butchered."
"There are no rogue elements among my warriors, they are loyal to me" Karnilla walked back to her throne and sat down, "they know my power, and they have enough wisdom to fear me. For there is nowhere in my realm where my eyes and ears cannot see, or hear, or my spells reach."
"Then I take my leave with your word of honor to the Allfather" Balder bowed his head to her and turned to exit her throne room.
"Halt! I gave you no permission to leave my presence Asgardian. Do not presume that because I know nothing of these raids you speak of that I am finished with you."
Balder found himself unable to move, not even his eyes as he stared straight ahead, while he heard the foot falls of Karnilla's sandaled feet approach him. He felt the touch of her hand as it was first laid upon his right shoulder and as it glided gently down to his chest as she slowly prowled around him, not unlike a lioness circling her prey. She took his right hand in hers and he felt himself moving, but not by his own will, as she led him out from the throne room and to her personal quarters. She walked him over to her bed, sprinkled with scented water and various flower petals and had him sit down. In a slow sensuous fashion she removed the over coat from her shoulders and let it fall to the floor while a red and gold light dissolved her gown. With ease she pushed him backwards so that he lay upon his back as his armor and clothes disappeared as his body was covered by the same red and gold light, "The day is young and I desire your love my Lord Balder and Karnilla will have it, and have it all."
Thor and the Warriors Three did not spend much time in the healing room after their treatments, though Tyr's wounds were considered too severe for him to leave with them so he had wished them success against Mangog, and a somber Heimdall explained that the monster was headed for an uninhabited planet while he prepared to activate the Bifrost.
"Are you the only ones going?" Heimdall quizzed Thor as he saw there would be no Einherjar with them this time.
"Yes" Thor replied, "I will risk no more lives as the beast slaughtered the elite of Tyr's palace guard and badly wounded my brother. We four alone will stop this beast or die in the trying."
Which, Heimdall thought with a sigh, is what will probably happen as he slammed his sword into the Bifrost control and sent them to their destination.
The place where they landed was an empty landscape with rocky soil and barren rocks that jutted up from the ground, some of which were quite large in size and towered over the Asgardians as they scanned the red sky for any sign of their quarry. Three suns blazed in the sky which made for very long and almost intolerable hot days and dressed in armor and clothing more suited for the colder Asgard Thor and his three friends began to feel the oppressive heat immediately.
"There" Hogun the Grim pointed towards planetary southeast, "the beast comes!"
They all turned to see the fire ball that was Mangog streaking towards the planet and Thor realized that the monster was going to land right where they stood.
"All of you link arms" as he began to twirl his hammer and reached out to Fandral who took hold of the Thunder god's arm just as Thor let loose of Mjolnir and catching its strap the Uru hammer flew the Asgardians away to a safe distance before the monstrous fireball hit the ground. Once again Mangog climbed out of a deep and extremely wide crater to find the son of Odin ready to do battle and he roared at them as he attacked.
With mace, sword and axe the Warriors Three charged to meet the fiend head on as Thor unleased a lightning bolt that struck Mangog full in the face, temporarily blinding the creature. Enraged, Mangog screamed as he covered his eyes while he felt something land upon his back. Volstagg had managed to avoid both clawed feet and the demon's tail as he hurled himself upon its back and with a bellow he swung his great battle axe as hard as he could, his intention was to bury it into the beast's spine but instead he discovered himself flying backwards as his axe just bounced off the monster's flesh.
This hell spawn had to have a weakness, it had to Thor thought as he threw his hammer to strike Mangog in the face. Once again he silently wished Loki were still alive, his brother's cunning was sorely missed at this moment. Nothing seemed to be able to pierce its hide; it shrugged off all of Mjolnir's blows, and even the lightning he called forth was useless against it, but they had to fight on, had to hope that they could defeat it before it could reach Asgard.
"Aesir maggots" Mangog roared as he clenched his clawed fists together and struck the ground with such force that all four Asgardians were knocked off their feet and onto their backsides. Quickly they all scrambled to their feet and ran in all directions to avoid being pulverized by the brute's massive fists or crushed by his serpentine tail.
With a bellowing growl Mangog leaped into the air to disappear in the sky leaving the weary Asgardians behind who were now glancing at each other with growing terror in their eyes as thoughts of what this creature threatened to do once it reached Asgard ran through their minds.
"Heimdall" Thor shouted to the sky and once again Bifrost brought its travelers home.
When they appeared at the Bifrost Thor ordered them to first go the Allfather and then to healing room, "Tell father that he must evacuate the city, send the women and children to the northern mountains and prepare Asgard's defenses against this beast for I don't believe that I will be able to stop it where it lands next."
"No" Hogun spoke up; "we will not let you take on this beast alone. We will go with you."
"Asgard needs you more" the Thunder god said firmly as he placed his hand on Hogun's shoulder, "you must defend her and our people should I fail."
Thor embraced his comrades then walked to stand in front of the portal, turning with a grin of resignation at his friends Thor gazed at them, "See you in Valhalla" as he was swept away by the Bifrost.
Balder stood confused and naked in a shadowy place full of mist as he heard Karnilla's seductive voice swirl around him like smoke. Here in this place of shadows he found that he could move but he was uncertain of what would lay before him so he stayed where he stood. Where was this place as he knew he still lay upon the Norn Queen's bed and where was Karnilla?
"Stay with me and I will make you my King and together we will rule this realm, only renounce your allegiance to Odin and swear eternal loyalty to Karnilla."
Suddenly she was there in front of him so breathtaking in her beauty and she reached for him with her hands which he caught in his own and with a strength that was crumbling said, "I am a Prince and warrior of Asgard woman I will not suffer to be your plaything."
"Suffer, suffer, fool you know nothing of the suffering you will feel if you spurn me" Karnilla growled at him, "I offer you a throne and a lifetime of nightly pleasures as you hold my heart" she pressed her body against his, "and all the passion that it contains. What could Asgard and that wretched cow you married give you that Karnilla could not give a thousand times over?"
With what strength remained to his will Balder pushed her back, "I am also a man of honor Karnilla. A man who honors the vows he makes. I vowed to love and cherish my Nanna when we wed and I hold to that honor, for what love could there be between us if that love were forced?"
In that very second he saw only mist and smoke in his hands as Karnilla vanished from his sight. He was alone and he wondered if he were trapped in this shadow realm and if this was how she would make him suffer. When, faintly, he heard a woman scream in rage and the sound of glass shattering and wood splintering. Balder gasped as he sat up on the edge of Karnilla's bed as it had felt as if he'd fallen from a great height and landed on hard ground. He was fully dressed and armored and as he looked around it seemed like the wind of a mighty gale had blown through her bed chamber as there was glass everywhere on the floor and the furniture shattered beyond repair. Karnilla stood several feet away from him, clothed once more and wearing the red over robe as she stared at him coldly.
"You have my permission to leave Asgardian and tell the Allfather that these raids are not of my doing, nor of any of my warriors" she turned and strode back out to her throne room and stood before her throne.
Balder rose from her bed and with glass crunching under his booted feet exited the bed chamber. Bowing to her majesty he turned to leave and as he did so he heard the clap of her hands and the doors to the throne room were opened by guards and Balthar whirled about to sneer at him.
"Escort him outside the fortress and see to it that he is unharmed as this Aesir Prince must return home."
"Yes my Queen, as you command, so shall it be done" Balthar bowed before her and then growled at Balder to follow him as they left her presence.
In keeping with Amora's wishes, after he returned from the Healing Room, Loki/Odin did not keep the Vizier over long in the library and after taking some maps of the western region he left to go to Odin's quarters. He ordered Odin's personal thralls to fetch him food and wine while he laid the maps on the King's private feasting table, reserved for private family meals and special guests and was studying them when the food and wine was brought in. After the thralls set their burdens down Loki/Odin ordered them to leave as he wished to dine alone and unless it was an emergency he was not to be disturbed. Leaving off of the maps Loki cast a spell of concealment over Odin's quarters and sat down to eat. Taking his choice of fresh fruit and vegetables, which he dropped onto the silver platter before him, he picked up a carving knife and cut a thick leg off a roasted Gamoth Field bird that was roughly the size of a five month old piglet. Slicing off strips of flesh from the leg with the knife he began to eat and as he poured wine into his silver cup a trace of a smile touched his face.
"If you wish to sneak up on me my dear" he took a sip of his wine, "you shouldn't wear so much perfume as it enters the room before you."
"How did you do it?" Amora appeared before him as her spell of concealment vanished. "Thor said you died in his arms after being skewered by the Kursed."
"He saw only what I wanted him to see" Loki shifted back to his real form and with a cunning smile explained further, "I reanimated one of the Dark Elves that I killed and cloaked it to look like me as I hid myself with another spell. I was masterful in my puppeteering skills so the only thing that monster skewered was a corpse. In one fell swoop I avenged my mother's death, gained my freedom from the dungeons and I've taken my rightful place on the throne."
"But where is Odin, is he dead?" Amora questioned him as she walked over to his chair and sat down on his lap slipping her right hand behind his neck to rest on his shoulder.
"No, he rots in the dungeons where the bastard belongs before I send him to Hela, who will no doubt greet him with open arms" he wrapped his left arm around her waist while he traced a knot work pattern from her lower stomach to just about her breasts with his right hand when she took hold of it with her left hand and stopped its ascent. "Not feeling playful my Lady, you aren't still married to Lord Erlick are you?"
"Gads no" she recoiled in mild disgust, "I discovered that, apparently I'm too old for him, as I caught him debasing some poor girl child of a thrall." Amora laced her fingers into Loki's and gave a small laugh, "Which is why I cursed him with a spell of impotency before I left him which should bring relief to parents everywhere."
"Once again" Loki laughed spiritedly, "you give me another reason to love you so my dear and to think that you would be perfect as my Queen."
"What makes you think that the people of Asgard would embrace a Queen, so oft married, and with as many lovers as I've had? Not to mention marrying a man as "old" as you."
Loki chuckled and grinned up at her, "My dear, you are the daughter of Odin's most high councilor and from the time you could walk and talk you boldly followed your father into Odin's court and sat at his feet, hopefully absorbing much of his wisdom, and were you not fostered by Queen Frigga? Did not my mother teach you to be as stately as any Queen as well as magic?"
"Do you miss her as much as I do?" Amora questioned him.
"I will always mourn for her" his expression turned to a pained sorrow, "as she was the one who placed me on the throne knowing that I, not Thor, was Asgard's true King."
Loki became silent, retreating into himself as Amora began gently stroking his hair with her right hand and then she sat upright losing his hand from hers and setting her hands, palms up, in front of her she waved them back and forth until a crystal orb set upon a mahogany pillar base appeared between them.
"What's this?"
"A little something to break you from your melancholy" she replied as she handed him the orb.
"A white stag" he exclaimed as he gazed into the orb and watched, as if it were alive and held captive in the crystal, the stag snorted and pawed the earth with his front hoof all the while looking far into the distance as if looking for does to mate with or fools attempting to capture it to force it to grant their wishes.
"Have you forgotten what day this is? Have you forgotten what happen to the two of us all those years ago?"
"Forgive me my dear, but with all that has happened…well much has been on my mind since Svartalfheim, but no, I could never forget that day or what we went through" Loki, with his right hand took a hold of Amora's left hand, brought it to his lips and gently kissed it.
"Karnilla was going to kill us both as revenge for the deaths of her sons" Amora pondered, "why do you think she so suddenly changed her mind when she held you by your throat ready to knife you with her dagger?"
"The riddle to that I do not think I could ever solve" he smiled at her. "Let us both be thankful that she did or…"
They both knew the unsettling answer and they quietly kept that answer to themselves before Loki broke the silence, "I shall endeavor to find a place of honor for this most cherished of gifts in my room as it should not be seen here in Odin's quarters."
"Good thing you had the wisdom to declare your room to be sealed off, even to the thralls who tended it for you, or this present of mine would get noticed. Even dull minds would wonder when it was placed with the others I've given you over the years and start to gossip, as slaves tend to do when their masters are not present."
"While you're here" setting the orb on the table next to his platter of food Loki looked up at Amora with a mischievous twinkle developing in his eyes, "would you care to join me for dinner and then…well shall we see what develops afterwards?"
"I believe I would as I like what I see in your eye you roguish scoundrel" Amora grinned back at him as she rose up from his lap to stand at the tables corner.
Loki rose up from his chair, moved it over a few inches then went to fetch the nearest one to her and place it next to his chair. He held it while she sat down on it and pushed it somewhat closer to the table and his platter of food then sat back down on his own.
Loki picked up his knife and cut a goodly piece of flesh from the bird's breast and set it upon his platter then he tore it into smaller strips with the blade of the knife to make it easier for Amora to eat as she helped herself to some dark purple grapes and to Loki's goblet of wine as it was the only cup available.
"There is one thing I should warn you about" Amora said before she drank the wine.
"Warn, about what?" Loki quizzed her as he handed her his fork.
"My father has noticed that Odin has picked up some new habits and dropped some old ones in the time since the Dark Elves were defeated and he finds them puzzling as if Odin were someone different."
"What manner of 'habits' are we speaking of?" Loki plucked off a strip of the Gamoth bird's leg flesh and popped it into his mouth.
"Well to begin with Odin doesn't sit with his knees spread apart but together" Lady Amora popped a grape into her mouth as she glanced teasingly at Loki, "and he doesn't cup his chin with his right hand and rub his upper lip with his forefinger when he's deep in thought but chews on the left side of his mustache."
At that point Amora swiftly stuck the fork points under Loki's chin, "Anything happens to my father and whoever harms him will feel the full force of my wrath."
"My dear Amora" Loki spoke calmly, "why would I want to harm the only useful man in all of Asgard when a simple spell of forgetfulness would be all that's needed to insure my continued rule on the Golden Throne."
Gently Loki pushed the long pronged fork away from his throat, "As he's going to be my future father-in-law why would I wish to incur your wrath by harming him?"
Amora was silent then she speared a piece of meat with it while reaching for his wine cup, "Just remember I love my father, as much as you loved Queen Frigga, and I will exact my revenge on anyone who harms him."
It was a good thing that his spell of concealment included sound as well as sight or Heimdall, as well as the whole palace, would have heard Amora's climatic screaming of his name as he made love to her in Odin's bed. The next time he visited the old warrior he would tell him of this tryst with Amora and how she had accepted his marriage proposal to become the next Queen of Asgard. Panting from their exertions they lay in each other's embrace, legs intertwined as Loki kissed her forehead affectionately.
"Won't you get upset" Amora whispered a trifle breathless "if I should see some comely warrior or ardent and randy nobleman and decide to share a lover's delight with them while we are, well when we are married?"
She traced a whirl in his chest hair while he softly laughed as he took her hand and kissed it gently, "My dear all that is meaningless, all I require is that you remain faithful to only me until you have given me a son to sit the throne after me. Once my son is born you may have as many lovers as you wish and I promise that it won't upset me because after all, you always come back to Loki, always."
"How do you know that I would even consent to having a child? And what makes you so sure it would be a son…you conniving schemer you…I thought there was something in the wine I had in the library as it tasted a little too sweet!"
Loki gave her a wide toothy grin and laughed softly, "My heir to the throne is already on his way thanks to the red powder I put in your cup, and you should remember mother taught me all about herbal remedies. One such herb being a treatment for infertility and there's another for the determination of the sex of the child."
Loki's left hand reached over to touch Amora's stomach and he gently caressed it as it would house the most precious thing in the entire realm to him for nine months and it pleased him immensely that the first born of his dynasty would be conceived in the hated Odin's bed. A fact he would not forget to rub in the old bastard's face the next time he went to absorb more of Odin's life force from him. Although while he and Amora did care for each other, she grew up as his foster sister, he seriously doubted that what they shared in this bond they had was in fact love, well the type of love that two lovers should have. If they were not lovers, then what could they be? Loki cradled her head in his hands and kissed her lips, then her chin as she tilted her head back as he caressed her throat with his lips while she moaned softly and then there came a pounding on his door and he could hear the voice of Balder. Loki sighed with disgust at this interruption and sat up in bed and with Odin's voice ordered Balder to wait as he looked regretfully at his Enchantress.
"Shield yourself with a spell of concealment while I hear what news Balder Odinson brings from Karnilla" Loki told her as he climbed out of bed and shifted back into Odin's form, fully clothed, and walked out the door of the bedroom then to the doors of Odin's chambers where he opened them to see Balder waiting.
"Yes my son" Loki/Odin spoke up, "what does Karnilla say of these raiders?"
"She says she knows nothing of these raiders and that it cannot be that her men are responsible for this barbarity for they fear all too greatly the consequences of disobedience to her" Balder reported to his sire. "She says she honors the treaty written with blood."
"And do you believe her my son?"
"Yes Allfather, otherwise I think I would not be here before you."
"Well done my son, you now have my leave to go" Loki/Odin clasped a hand of approval upon Balder's shoulder who crossed his arm over his heart, bowed and left his King to return to his worried wife Nanna. Loki/Odin was about to return to Amora when he heard the footfalls of many running feet as he turned to his left to see The Warriors Three approaching.
"My King, we bring news of the monster Mangog" Fandral wheezed as they stopped in front of the Allfather.
"Where is Thor?" Loki/Odin growled. "Why is he not here as well?"
"He has gone alone to try and stop this monster once and for all" Volstagg gasped for air, "and he said that if he cannot stop it we should evacuate the city and make for the northern mountains as the beast claims it will destroy all Asgard."
If this monster was unstoppable, if it should slay Thor…should lay waste to HIS Asgard…
"Begin to evacuate all the women and children and ready the Einherjar to defend the realm" Loki/Odin barked orders at all three of them, "and arm every able bodied man and strong lad as well. We stop this creature if Thor fails. Now go!"
Making fists and crossing their right arms over their chests the three companions of Thor turned and left their king to follow his orders. Loki returned to his chambers and shut the door as he hurried into his bedroom where Amora was already dressed and waiting for him to come back.
"What is it? What's wrong?" Amora questioned him with a growing anxiety filling her heart when she saw the expression on his Odin-form face.
"Thor has gone on alone to face this monster that calls itself Mangog, which slaughtered an entire company of Einherjar, and if he cannot destroy it I must evacuate the city and prepare to defend it from this beast." The green and gold light once again flashed over his body shifting him back to himself, "Take your father and flee to the Northern Mountains, King Enar of the mountain dwarves is an old ally of Odin's. If you take enough gold the old miser will take good care of the both of you, especially if you dole it out wisely, but don't let the greedy bastard intimidate you for more. Demonstrate a taste of your magical prowess and he will behave himself, becoming a most gracious host and whatever you do, don't marry the hairy old troll."
Gently taking a hold of her head with his hands he kissed her passionately, and with some desperation for some minutes before releasing her, "Now go and go quickly, for no matter what happens here with me, you hold the most precious thing in Asgard's future within you so keep yourself safe."
"And as for you" Amora placed her right hand upon his cheek and caressed it with her thumb, "do not make me a widow before I am even a Queen."
Concealing herself with a spell she left him as he transformed back into Odin and walked out of Odin's chambers to head for the throne room.
After leaving Odin's presence he was walking back to his quarters to take his midmorning meal a thought came to the Vizier and he stopped and headed back to the hall of records. While he knew Amora would be childishly angry with him for it, but he had to see whether or not he was correct in his assumption. If he was, then it might lead to whomever was conducting these raids and why. A servant to the head librarian informed him that the King had taken his leave and they were replacing the books the King had ordered to be brought before him.
"Take me to the records of land acquisition that pertain to the western borderlands."
"Yes my Lord High Councilor" the thrall bowed then led the way to the case and shelf where the record scrolls were kept.
"Would my Lord need anything else?" the thrall politely inquired.
"Only a small reading table and a pouch for any scrolls I wish to take to show to the King" The Vizier stated as he began to peruse through the titles on the scrolls
"Yes my Lord" the thrall bowed, and then turned away hurriedly with a brow that was sweating profusely.
The Vizier hardly noticed when the thrall returned with the small reading table and a leather pouch for the scrolls, as he had discovered something remarkable that would have to be shown to the King at once. So engrossed was he in putting certain scrolls into the pouch that he was not aware of the presence behind him until he heard a grunt and felt something strike his back. With a gasping gurgle he lost all strength in his legs and fell to the floor. The last thing he was aware of before losing consciousness was the sound of someone stuffing scrolls into the pouch.
When he overheard the evacuation order given by Odin to the Warrior's Three, Balder ran as he'd never had before to his and Nanna's quarters. Even though Nanna was still upset about his going to Nornheim he yelled at her that this was no time for petty jealousies as he searched for and found the small pouches of gold he'd been saving. Placing the pouches into a traveler's carrying sack, along with a few loaves of bread and a sealed bottle of wine, he grabbed her wrist and with their only child, his son Forseti following, Balder led his family to the long ships.
Balder made only one stop and that was to the quarters of his blind identical twin brother Hodr, and gathering up what food and gold that Hodr had with him, Balder linked his left arm to Hodr's right and led his brother to the waiting long ships.
When he reached the long ships and had his family secured on one, he reached for Nanna and kissed her long and hard, like a man who knew he may never see her again. She wept, but this time in fear of being a widow for she had heard rumors concerning this beast and they terrified her.
"My son" Balder turned to the boy when he released the child's mother and placing his hands on the boy's shoulders somberly looked him in the eyes, "obey your mother, and your uncle Hodr, and do all things with honor."
Taking Nanna's and Hodr's right hands Balder joined the two together and to his brother he spoke, "Take care of my Nanna and should I fall, do your duty as a brother."
Hearing this Nanna began to wail in hopelessness as Balder released them and quickly exited the ship before he was crushed emotionally. The gang plank went up and he stood and watched his small family fly away to what he hoped would be safety. A palace guard ran up to him explaining that the Allfather had ordered his presence in the Golden Throne Room and when Balder could no longer see the long ship he turned and followed the guard.