AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The Valkyries and dragon warrior defeated the Frost Giant together. Which was not a guaranteed outcome had they not interfered. The Norns predicted that the dragon would die in battle, but not necessarily the giant. As it stands, you now have one less enemy to battle against at the end of worlds.”
Eir blinked, not certain of what she was hearing.
Was Loki actually arguingforher? What would he have to gain by it?
Odin’s brows lowered like a heavy shelf over his eye. He heard the point Loki was trying to make. They all heard it.
“So, really, this little Valkyrie did you a favor,” Loki surmised, just to be clear.
“For that particular jötunn, as we all know, was one of the strongest of all. Even without the dragon warrior in your halls, your chances of winning the last battle might have slightly increased with this feat.”
Odin grunted, putting his chin on his fist in silent consideration.
Loki lifted his eyebrows, waiting patiently for Odin to digest the information.
Finally, the Great Father said, “What would you suggest then? She failed her mission.”
“Agreed,” Loki said readily.
“Eir alone failed. She should be punished for it, no doubt.”
Eir released a subtle sigh of relief. At least her sisters wouldn’t suffer with her. She wondered why Loki bothered to let them off the hook. He never before indicated that he had interest in the Valkyries one way or the other.
Until, out of the corner of her eye, she saw him wink at Mist.
Her sister sent a small smile back at the mischievous god.
Eir tried to hide her consternation.
Mist and Loki?! Since when?
And then, Eir noticed Loki’s attire. He was wearing a thick cape made of something long-haired and wooly. He often wore ostentatious things, but this cloak made him look…
He looked like…
The donkey!
The god smirked at her when he saw the realization in her eyes.
“As I was saying,” he looked away from her to address Odin again.
“Eir should be punished. It’s long overdue.”
Odin rolled his eye in an expression of tired forbearance.
“Not that again,” he muttered, probably thinking what Eir was thinking. The trick she played on Loki with Nightmare.
“But give her a day to put her affairs in order,” Loki continued, as if he didn’t hear.
“If she is to be trapped in the underworld to keep my Hel company for the foreseeable future, surely she deserves a bit of time to say her goodbyes and so forth, after taking down a jötunn for you, god of gods.”
“And besides,” Loki added as he looked strangely at Eir, “who’s to say the dragon warrior won’t return to this realm? That she won’t have another chance to recruit him?”
Make sure he doesn’t return.
Eir kept her face neutral as she heard Loki’s whisper in her mind.
Quickly, she realized that he wasn’t really helping her. Or if he was, he was also helping himself. Or simply stirring up trouble.
