Page 6 of Loki

"Damn you, witch. Don't you know Erik is pure evil?" he spat, when he could speak again.

"Evil is rarely pure, and even then, it is surely a matter of perspective. Jarl Erik means to bring magic back into prominence, instead of this silly new religion from the south with its saints and crosses. As the son of a witch yourself, with magic flowing through your veins, surely you see that you are far superior to the spear-wielding warriors in Odin's village? You fight for the wrong side, young shapeshifter. We are your natural allies, not Odin." The witch smiled, a tad too triumphantly for Loki's liking. Almost like she could read his thoughts and liked what she saw.

"Would a natural ally have killed my mother, witch? I will never take up arms against Odin, and with my dying breath, I will oppose Erik, and all who serve him. Especially those who wield evil sorcery in his name." Loki tried to lift a hand to strike the Eastern witch, but he couldn't move. "Release me, foul witch!"

"Erik would not be fool enough to kill a witch. He is particularly fond of our kind," the witch said.

"Tell that to his nykr army, walking out of the water to slaughter everyone in my village!"

"Ahhh." The witch nodded, understanding. "That was Orm's men you saw. Not nykr at all, though I suppose you would not know the difference between water walkers and ensorcelled stone protectors. Orm's brother's army, cut down when they dared to attack Jarl Erik's village, and given new life as gargoyles, forever bound to serve. The same fate awaits Odin's men, when they come. Pledge your loyalty to Erik, and he may even let you lead them into battle, when the time comes."

Loki hadn't liked Orm before he knew he was a traitor; he liked him even less now. As for the witch...she didn't know him at all.

"I'm no traitor, and I'm no leader, either. You should make this offer to Thor, and see what he says. Big bloke with a hammer. You can't miss him." Thor might like to lead armies, but the slightest hint that he might turn traitor against Odin, a leader who'd been like an older brother to them both, would have him lifting his hammer to smite the witch where she stood. He'd likely succeed, too, with his hammer having the peculiar ability to resist all kinds of magic. Loki had once tried casting an illusion over it to make it look like a fish as a prank, and the bloody thing had just sat there, unchanged.

So he'd enchanted Thor's belt to turn into an eel instead, but only when he fastened the buckle.

Loki had laughed himself sick as Thor tried to free himself of his wiggling belt, before Thor had smacked him in the face with the eel, a blow so hard it split his lip. The blood had been enough to break the spell, but neither of them had noticed as they'd wrestled for quite a while until Odin had ordered them to stop.

Yes, Thor had always beaten him in a fight, but the fighting had been fun. Loki had to find a way to get back to Odin and Thor to warn them about Erik, his witch and the unholy army who knew they were coming.

"Perhaps I will. Fenrir!" the witch barked.

A boy around the same age as Loki entered the longhouse, bowing and ducking his head in deference to the witch. "Yes, Mistress Kun?"

"Our guest tells me Odin travels with a warrior of some renown. Goes by the name of Thor, and he carries a hammer. Do you think you can bring him to me alive during the battle?"

The boy didn't hesitate. "Yes, Mistress Kun."

"What are you doing now?" the witch demanded.

"Bringing these to Miss Astrid, mistress," Fenrir said, brandishing a bunch of bell-shaped flowers.

"Put them in some water. They can wait. I want you to watch our guest, and make sure he stays here for the feast."

"Yes, Mistress Kun."

Leaving him in the charge of a gangly thrall, who wouldn't last a moment in a fight against Thor. Even Loki was more than a match for him.

Unfortunately, the witch wasn't entirely stupid. "You, shapeshifter. Don't think you can try anything. My truth spell is still upon you. You shall not change form or leave this hall without permission from me or Jarl Erik, or I'll kill your Thor with a snap of my fingers before the battle begins. Your word, or the warrior dies. Do I have it?"

Loki tried to lie, but the words just wouldn't come out. He sighed. "Fine, witch, you have my word."

Now he just had to somehow trick the witch or Erik into sending him out of the longhouse, and he'd be free.

The witch nodded and left, leaving him alone with the boy.

Loki managed a smile. "So, boy, who's Miss Astrid?"

The boy swallowed. "Jarl Erik's and Mistress Kun's daughter. She's our herbwife, and Mistress Kun is training her to be a witch."

"Far too highborn for the likes of you, then," Loki said.

The boy ducked his head and nodded. "But Miss Astrid is kind, and asks me to assist her, bringing her herbs and such." He gestured at the jug holding the flowers.

The girl who'd picked up a venomous snake to save her father. Kind and brave indeed. It was almost a pity she was Erik's daughter, for that meant Loki would have to kill her. Unless there was another way...

"Is she trying to poison someone, then?" Loki asked.

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