Sky Treader - pt 1

Thor found Loki in bed. He always seemed to find Loki either there or under the forecourt ash tree, unless he was hiding altogether. Sometimes, Loki would hide for what seemed like months, disappearing and reappearing as the mood took him.

Loki hardly looked up as Thor burst into the room with his bearskin travelling bag slung over his shoulder. Loki had spent far too much time alone, and it was time someone put a stop to that, Thor decided. He had an ancient book in his hands, which he made a point of not looking away from as Thor dropped his travelling bag loudly to the floor.

"Oh, you are in here today," Thor said happily. "Good. I was worried I might run out of places to search."

"Do you need something, Thor?" Loki asked. "The stables are outside, where they've always been."

"So you do know where they are. I was beginning to think I might have to show you, in case you forgot." He walked round the low shelf pressed up against the side of Loki's bed. "What have you done to your hair?" he asked, only just then realising that Loki's red hair had been shorn close to his head. Loki had always appeared much, much younger than he claimed to be, and his new haircut only made him seem younger.

"It was becoming tedious to clean," Loki said flatly, not looking up from his book.

The look didn't suit him. Loki had never worn his hair so short in the entire time he'd taken to skulking around Asgard, and Thor wasn't sure he liked it.

"You are so lazy," Thor complained with disgust. "Always with your nose in some ancient old text. You spend too much time locked in here alone."

"If you say so," Loki said.

"I do say so," Thor agreed. "Come. We're going to Vanaheim."

Loki finally looked up at him. "Thor, no," he protested. "I'm tired. Leave me be."

He sank dramatically into the heavy covers on his bed, protesting Thor's idea with his every muscle.

"You're tired because you never do anything," Thor insisted. He grabbed Loki by the ankle and dragged him out of bed. Barely giving Loki enough time to right himself, Thor shoved a passably-clean tunic at him.

"There are adventures to be had, Loki," Thor said brightly as he sought out Loki's own travelling bag. "I will not allow them to pass you by while the rest of Asgard shares all the glory."

Loki rolled his eyes and pulled the tunic over his head. He left the collar unlaced and searched for a pair of socks. While he was busy with that task, Thor found Loki's bearskin bag and opened it.

"Loki, this is vile," Thor scolded, grimacing at the smell that greeted him from the bag. It was clear the bag had never been unpacked after Loki's last outing. By Thor's reckoning, the bag hadn't been touched in over two years, when Loki and Odin travelled to Jotunheim, and Odin returned home alone. Loki had hidden himself away ever since he'd finally returned, barely showing his face at all.

"Well, excuse me for not having found the time to unpack yet," Loki said bitterly as he pulled on his boots. "Don't even bother with it. As you say, we're only going to Vanaheim." He looked at the hammer on Thor's belt with a wary eye. "Leave that as well. You know how you are with it."

Thor cast Loki a suspicious look, but the last time he had taken the hammer on a jaunt, he had to dress as a bride to get it back. Hesitantly, he removed the hammer from his belt and set it by the wall. Satisfied, Loki stepped in front of the mirror, frowning when he realised he hadn't much hair at all to fuss with.

"It will grow back eventually," Thor said impatiently. "You spend too much time playing with your hair anyway."

He half expected Loki to dig out a pair of shears and fix the mess he'd made of it, but Loki sighed instead.

"All right. Let's get this adventure of yours over with," he said in resignation.

Following Loki's lead, Thor left both their bags behind and bounded eagerly for the door.

***

Vanaheim was much like Asgard in all but the smallest details. Loki clearly hated it, but Thor ignored the disdain that seemed to pour from him. The entire realm was little more than an extension of Asgard's borders, but it was far enough away that Thor thought it could count as a suitable adventure for the two of them. At least Loki wouldn't have to feel too out of place in the foreign realm. Even the drinking songs were the same, right down to the discordant tale of a hog in the western wood that would eat your bones and drink your blood.

"I hate this song," Loki said as he covered his face with his hands. "It's just like this realm: boring and utterly predictable. Except the hog always wins. Vanaheim can't even claim that much."

Thor frowned at him. "What do you mean?" he asked. "It's not boring. It's an adventure!" he gestured widely to the drunken crowd around them.

"This is not an adventure," Loki complained into the horn of mead he drank from. "You could have done this at home. You didn't need me. I could be at home. Sleeping."

Thor looked over at him, grinning. "No?" he asked. "You have no sense of fun. You only understand what is explained to you on paper."

"I understand plenty," Loki said distantly.

"You wouldn't know fun if it kicked you in the manhood," Thor goaded.

For the first time all day, Loki's smile brightened. "That sounds like a challenge to me," he said.

Thor knew that tone. It never meant anything good.

"Loki, no..."

Loki had already found a suitable means of distraction. Under the guise of taking a long draught from his horn, he gestured to the floor at the bar. One of the floorboards dissolved into thin air, and then man standing atop it stumbled heavily to one side, knocking into the fellow to his left. As both men regained their footing, Loki replaced the floorboard and watched the men intently.

"You spilt my ale!" the second man bellowed, and he swung a punch at the man who had knocked into him. At once, the unstoppable hog was forgotten as the entire tavern descended into a brawl.

"Yes!" Thor cried, raising his fist and jumping up to join the fray.

"No," Loki said, grabbing his arm and holding him back.

"What?" Thor demanded.

"We're out of coin, and the landlord doesn't barter," Loki said quickly. "Come on."

He pulled Thor along the wall, occasionally pushing someone out of the way. Once outside, Loki led the way down a narrow path between buildings, eventually taking them to one of Vanaheim's many ports. Like most ports, it was a hive of industrious activity, with nary an opportunity for a drunken brawl to be found. For that, they would have to return to the taverns.

"Why did you take us from there?" Thor demanded, finally pulling his arm from Loki's grip. "There is nothing out here, and I am the son of Odin. The landlord would have honoured my credit."

"No, he really wouldn't," Loki insisted. "He lost a lot of wealth and land during the war with Asgard. He's hated your father ever since."

Thor tried to untangle the lie from that explanation, but he didn't know where to start. "What? How do you know that?" he asked.

Loki ignored him and produced six unfamiliar purses full of silver coins.

"Very nice," he said. "This should earn us passage to..." he counted off individual ships in the port, pointing at them in turn, "... Nidavellir!"

"I don't want to go sit underground," Thor complained.

"Better than a dark, sticky tavern," Loki said, already making tracks to the small karvi he'd chosen.

Doubting his friend's ability to talk the captain into a voyage to Nidavellir in the first place, Thor followed after. At first, it seemed as though no-one helmed the longship at all, but Loki threw out all sense of decorum and boarded anyway.

"Andvari, what are you doing here?" he called out from the deck.

Surprised laughter rose from the ship, and as Thor approached the pier, he found Loki standing before a grizzled, weather-worn dwarf. The two of them laughed with one another at some joke Thor had not heard.

"What's this trouble I've been hearing about Brokkr, eh?" the dwarf called Andvari asked.

"Baseless rumours," Loki answered flippantly. "I've no idea what you're talking about. Nothing at all happened between us."

Andvari laughed again and turned his attention to Thor. "And who's this fellow?"

"Andvari, this is Thor," Loki introduced. "I'm sure you've heard of him. We wish to procure passage to Nidavellir."

He produced one of the stolen purses and started to fish out several coins from it, but Advari shook his head.

"None of that, now," he said. "I'm headed that direction anyway."

Loki waved Thor aboard and rushed over to the mast.

"How are your sea legs, boy?" Andvari asked as Thor boarded.

Thor frowned at the dwarf's tone. He clearly knew Loki, but yet, he didn't seem to know to address either of them with the respect they commanded. Andvari laughed again and began coiling a length of rope.

"You can't possibly be any worse than your friend," he said, giving Thor an appraising look. "I ought to put you to work."

"I'll have you know!" Loki called from halfway up the mast. "I just spent a Midgardian year learning to sail. Your insults are meaningless!"

"Good! Get to work!" Andvari shouted back.

Crowing loudly, Loki climbed the rest of the way up the mast. Thor could only stand aside, feeling very out of place for the first time since he could remember.

***

Andvari's crew of six rowers laughed and sang as they made their course from Vanaheim's port. For all Thor tried to join in, they were a cagey lot and were quick to ignore him. Thor soon gave up and went to sit at the prow amongst the coiled ropes and canvas bags, where Loki had gone to nap under the excuse of having learned to sail, and not to row.

All of it seemed rather odd to Thor, though. When had Loki ever learned to sail? He had always been so frightened of the water that it seemed completely at odds with everything Thor knew about this strange man from Jotunheim. And now here he was on a ship full of dwarfs who seemed to all know Loki by name while holding a complete disregard for his status as one of the gods.

"Loki, all you ever do is sleep," Thor complained quietly. Loki shifted slightly to lean against Thor. "And now you make no sense at all."

Andvari snorted from where he stood at the starboard side, compulsively checking the line at his feet for weak spots.

"What sort of man doesn't know his own shield-brother?" he asked.

Thor glared at the increasingly irritating dwarf. "And what makes you presume that he is?" he snapped.

Loki awoke with a start and glared at both of them. "Can't you fight for dominance a bit more quietly?" he asked.

He yawned and stretched the muscles in his back. His nap hadn't been a long one, but Thor was glad to see it was done. When Loki finally opened his eyes properly, he saw Andvari preparing the line and sat up eagerly.

"Are we nearly there?" he asked.

Andvari looked to the sky for a moment and nodded. "Just a bit further. I'll be going under to guide her in soon."

That manic look returned to Loki's gaze as he got to his feet. "Oh, let me," he almost begged. "I've been practising swimming as well."

Thor grabbed Loki's arm in alarm and tried to pull him back down to the deck and away from the edges of the ship.

"Loki, are you mad?" he demanded. "No Jotunn can swim. You know that better than most."

"I can," Loki insisted, pulling his arm from Thor's grip. "I've become quite good at it."

Andvari shrugged. "If it means I don't have to go down there, you're more than welcome to it."

"Loki, no," Thor said.

Loki ignored him once more and began pulling off his boots. While he undressed, Andvari gave the order for the rowers to pull in their oars and gave the line one final tug to make sure it was secure on the cleat and that no part of it or the ship would give way. Having no idea what was happening before him, Thor gaped openly. He thought it might have been some sort of horrible joke until Loki pulled off his tunic and peered over the side of the ship to the water below.

"Are you sure you can do it, boy?" Andvari asked, his tone serious for the first time all day. "I'm an old man. I can't pull you out."

Loki nodded and tied a slipknot in the free end of the line.

"Thor, I want you to hold onto this," Loki said, giving him a part of the line several feet from the opposite end. "But don't pull me up unless I pull hard on it." He pulled the rope over his torso and snugged it around his waist.

Thor stood obediently and clutched the rope. "Loki, this is madness," he said.

Loki grinned wolfishly. "No, it's a ley line," he said.

Before Thor could say anything else, Loki pulled off his breeches and leapt off the side of the ship.

"Loki!" Thor called. He immediately forgot about Loki's instructions and pulled hard on the line. Before he could drag Loki from the water, Andvari reached out and stayed his hand.

"Look," Andvari said. He pointed over the edge, where Loki had gone over.

Nervously, and still maintaining a tight hold on the line, Thor stepped to the edge and peered over. He saw no sign of Loki in the water; just an otter with a line tied round its middle and caught at its haunches. As soon as he saw the otter, it disappeared beneath the surface.

"What is the meaning of this?" Thor asked Andvari. He glared at Advari, ignoring the way the rowers laughed at him.

Andvari reached out and eased Thor's grip on the line, letting it out slowly. "He told you. A ley line between Vanaheim and Nidavellir. This one is dangerously narrow and best seen from under the water. Ships travelling through it need a guide; one who can change his shape and swim deep enough to see where to go."

Thor frowned as he watched the line slowly slide through his hands. "The last time Loki went into the water, he nearly drowned," he said quietly.

Again, Andvari snorted, and Thor hated him for it.

"He did tell me about that," he said. "And that one of your friends told him to just turn himself into a fish, yes?"

"Aye," said Thor, nodding. "He... did not take kindly to it."

"Some magic is not so easily learnt from books," Andvari said. "You need a tutor who knows the magic himself. It just so happens I can turn myself into a fish."

But Loki had not turned himself into a fish. Like the contrary, troublesome lout he was, Loki had turned himself into an otter.

The rope suddenly went tight, and for a moment, Thor began to pull on it. Again, Andvari stayed his hand, but this time, he nudged Thor out of the way entirely.

"You'll be wanting to let go now," he warned, rushing to once again make sure the line was secure on the cleat.

Thor frowned, but did as he was told and backed out of the way. The line pulled so hard on the cleat it was hitched to that Thor worried the whole thing might break off. But the cleat held and the ship started to list instead, until Thor's new worry was that the whole vessel might capsize and drown all on board who couldn't change themselves to a convenient shape. He gripped tightly at the rail. The dwarfs behind him all laughed and cheered as if the whole thing were a game, but Thor could hardly hear them over the sudden roar around them. Then everything lurched, and with a blinding flash of light, the entire sky and sea around them changed. Gone were the crystal blue waters and pink sky, now to be replaced with water as black as ink and an angry, stormy sky above. Before Thor could ask what had just happened, he was alerted by a frantic splashing at the side of the ship.

"I think he wants out," Andvari said. "Best go fetch him."

Thor rushed to pull Loki from the water, hauling his dripping, furry form out by the line still tied round his middle.

"Loki, you cross-grained, bull-headed, stupid bastard," he said to the otter as he freed him from the rope.

Thor placed him down on the deck where Andvari met him with a heavy woollen blanket. A few moments later, Loki returned to his proper shape and began using the blanket to dry himself.

"Not bad for a novice," Andvari said. "Took you a bit long, though. I'd started to think you got yourself lost down there."

Loki flicked water at him.

"Yes, well. Some of us do have better things to do with our time than practising poking at small holes in dark places," he chided.

Several of the rowers behind them laughed as they settled back in to take them into port.

"Loki, when did you learn that?" Thor asked. "I have not seen that magic before."

"You have," Loki told him. He pulled on his breeches and began tying the laces. "You just don't pay enough attention to remember it."

***

The port at Nidavellir was nestled inside a giant cave beneath a mountain, and was teeming with more life than Thor had ever thought to see on the realm. He had heard of the great dwarven cities underground, but he never thought to see one of them in person. The dwarfs had always been secretive of their realm, letting only those trusted few into their borders. Not even Odin himself was welcome there.

And yet, there stood Loki, bartering and scheming with another group of dwarfs. He spoke easily with them, laughing at some secret joke Thor couldn't hope to understand.

"Dear friend, there's a hunt on," Loki said several moments later. "A proper hunt; not like those jokes Týr leads on Midsummer."

"A hunt for what?" asked Thor, unable to help the rising curiosity.

"A hunt for whatever we find to kill!" one of Loki's companions called out.

"There are gryphons in Stoneholm," said another.

Loki raised his eyebrows at that. "Then what in the Nine Skies are we waiting for?" he asked. "By all means, Jari. Lead the way!"

"Yes, follow me. I'll lead the way!" Jari declared, raising his silver-bladed axe. He started to go, but stopped after a few steps when none followed after.

"We haven't a chance against Hippogryph-Slayer, here," the dwarf at Jari's left said. "Not unless Stoneholm's been overrun by an entire senate."

The other two dwarfs laughed as Loki shook his head.

"My friends, I'm afraid you've all forgotten something," he said.

The dwarfs looked at one another with puzzled expressions.

"My companion and I are woefully ill-equipped for this journey," Loki pointed out, holding out empty hands. "Let us first procure weapons and horses, and then I will show you all the proper way to slay a beast."

"Yes, weapons and horses!" Jari agreed. "Follow me. I'll lead the way!"

The trio of dwarfs cried out loudly as they rushed down the gangway. Loki waited just long enough to shoot Thor one of his scheming smiles before following after. For the moment, Thor could only smile back and wonder why Freyr or Baldur never seemed to come up with ideas half as good as Loki's.

***

While Jari was sent off to gather supplies for the hunt, and Loki went off to find suitable weapons, Thor was sent with Dvalin and Bombur and three pieces of silver with the task of buying three horses. Dvalin and Bombur were at least more social than Andvari's crew had been, but they were still dwarfs. Why Loki would keep company with them in the first place, Thor could not fathom.

Bombur led Thor to a small stable carved from the walls of the cave, where a stout woman with a blonde beard to match her plaits tended the animals. She was the first dwarven woman Thor had ever seen, and all he could bring himself to do was stare.

"What are you looking at, ogre?" she demanded when she noticed Thor staring.

Even her voice, though a woman's voice, was hard and gruff. It was all enough to snap Thor back to attention.

"I am not an ogre," he said.

"Only an ogre has hair and height like you," said the woman carelessly. "Don't know how you got here, and don't care. Ogres is ogres."

"We're here to buy horses from you, Gudrun," Dvalin cut in before Thor could say anything else. He elbowed Thor sharply. "We have silver."

Taking Dvalin's cue, Thor produced the silver pieces and offered them to Gudrun.

"We wish for three horses, strong enough for a hunt," Thor said.

Gudrun looked at his offering and laughed. "Get you three ponies, that will. Must be out of your ogre mind if you think you'll buy horses with that."

"I cannot ride a pony," Thor said with disgust. "I am the son of Odin. I demand a worthy steed."

Thor's would-be companions laughed right along with Gudrun.

"He demands a worthy steed," she parroted. "It's ponies or nothing. You're lucky I offer you that much."

Thor wondered if the beard meant Gudrun was an acceptable target for his fist. It was no wonder the dwarfs were not welcome in Asgard, if this was how they all behaved. He hadn't time to wonder for long before Loki rejoined the group with a quiver and recurve bow over one shoulder and a large glaive in hand.

"Where are the horses?" he asked, handing the glaive over to Thor.

"He hasn't bought them yet," Bombur said. "I don't think he knows how."

Loki rolled his eyes.

"I told him what I'll tell you," Gudrun said. "Three pieces'll get him three ponies."

Loki pretended to think on this for a few moments. "Four pieces for three horses," he said.

"One."

"Five for two," he countered quickly.

"Show me the silver, Sky-Treader," Gudrun said.

Loki handed her five silver pieces. She bit each one individually and then pounded them against the stone wall before nodding.

"Five for two," she agreed. "This way."

As she led them into the stables, Thor stepped close to Loki.

"Loki, what was that?" he asked quietly.

"Haggling," Loki sad as though it were blindingly obvious. "Haven't you ever been to market?"

"No," said Thor, as if this fact were just as obvious. "I have no need for such things."

Loki shook his head and stepped forward into the stall Gudrun pointed at. "This one and his brother should suit your purposes," she said. "Strong horses. Swift and steady. Fine mount for a bowman."

Loki inclined his head to her and stepped up to inspect the chestnut gelding. It neither flinched nor snorted as Loki approached, so Loki nodded.

"He should do nicely. Thank you, Gudrun," he said.

She nodded as well and stepped aside to show Thor the other horse, a similarly-sized and tempered blue roan gelding.

"He will suffice. Thank you," Thor said, hoping to avoid another round of mockery.

"We can see ourselves out, Gudrun," Loki assured. "We will call if we need anything."

"I'm sure you will," she said with a laugh as she walked back out to the front to watch over her business.

Across from each stall was a low shelf with tack made specifically for each individual horse. Loki soon began to dress his, making quick work of fitting the saddle and bridle. Taking Loki's cue, Thor did the same with the horse Gudrun had shown him.

"Been to see Sindri, have you?" Dvalin asked from the aisle, where he and Bombur watched.

"I've no quarrel with Sindri," Loki said, making sure everything was secure on the horse. "He's a fine craftsman, and I enjoy doing business with him. He can't help that his brother is a foul old goat."

Bombur and Dvalin both laughed as they stepped into the stall with Loki. There was a stepladder pushed against the outer wall of the stall, but it was quicker and easier for Loki to just help them into the saddle himself.

"Where the Hel has Jari got to?" Dvalin asked as he scooted forward to make room for Bombur behind him. "If he's wandered off to get drunk again, we should leave without him."

"Loki, what is this bad business I keep hearing about with you and one of them?" Thor asked over the low wall.

"He owes Brokkr money," said Bombur before Loki could deflect the question or come up with a lie to answer it.

"Rather a lot of money," confirmed Dvalin. "Though, I think at this point, he'll be happy to take your head as payment, Sky-Treader."

Loki pulled a face as he walked round to Thor's stall. "That's a shame," he said. "I don't feel like giving it."

The dwarfs both laughed as they settled themselves and their axes on the saddle. Loki shook his head as he waved at Thor to take his mount as well.

"So pay him back," Thor insisted.

"I would, but it's already been spent," he said, watching Thor step up into the saddle.

"On what?" Thor asked.

"Women." Loki pulled himself onto the saddle and settled in close behind Thor.

"Do you mean you... laid with..." Thor couldn't even put words to his disgust, and only became more confused when Loki laughed.

"Oh, Nidhöggr, no," said Loki quickly, sparing Thor any further embarrassment. "The poor woman would have never lived it down. I went to Alfheim."

Thor was torn between being glad that Loki had not bedded one of those foul, bearded creatures, and angry with him for all his other apparently dishonourable behaviour.

"Loki, this is not how the Æsir behave," he scolded.

"So?" asked Loki. "I'm bored with this. Let us find our wayward guide and be gone."

"Yes!" cried Bombur and Dvalin as one.

Loki kicked his heels into the horse's flanks, causing Thor to startle when the animal he was meant to be driving started to move. Behind him, Loki began to shift and twist about on the saddle.

"Are you meaning to go back to sleep?" Thor asked.

He could feel Loki shrug against his back. "Maybe," Loki answered. "Follow them. They know the way."

Thor rolled his eyes, but followed Dvalin and Bombur out of the stables and along a narrow path lined with houses and businesses, all stuck into the walls of the cave. Here and there, another tunnel would branch out; some natural caverns and others dug out by dwarven steel.

They soon stopped outside a wooden-faced tavern called the Chipped Emerald, and taking an unseen cue Loki suddenly dismounted the horse and ducked through the low door. He was only out of sight for a few moments before rushing back out, followed by war cries and curses. Quick on his heels was Jari, laden with a heavy leather bag. The two of them both seemed to regard being chased from the tavern as some sort of joke, neither running very fast. Loki quickly mounted the horse and took his seat behind Thor as Jari was helped onto the second by his fellows. Before either were even properly situated, Dvalin began riding hard back in the direction they came. Not to be caught up by the angry mob, Loki slapped their horse's rump so that it followed after.

"Loki, I will not run!" Thor said, though he did not stop the horse.

Behind them, a small army of dwarfs spilt out from the tavern, some giving chase on foot while others stood and shouted.

"Get back here, you coward," shouted one with a red face and a pointed woollen cap.

In one fluid motion, Loki pulled an arrow from his quiver, nocked it, and loosed it into the crowd, striking the dwarf's cap and pinning it to the wall behind him.

"Come and catch me, Brokkr!" Loki shouted back.

Brokkr started to give chase, but stopped and turned round to retrieve his cap. As the horses rounded a bend, Thor had just enough time to look back and see the cap tear and Brokkr fall on his backside.

***

The port at Rötgard had but a single path leading to the surface above. The terrain of Nidavellir was often harsh, but frequently travelled, leaving wide highways between cities. Stoneholm was half a day's hard riding from Rötgard, but the small band travelled at a leisurely pace, riding abreast along the even dirt road that cut through rocky fields and endless moors. They rode mostly in silence, or else singing dwarven songs to which Thor did not know the words.

"I feel like I've spotted a unicorn," said Bombur suddenly.

Thor looked around quickly, wondering what a unicorn would be doing in this realm.

"Behind you, boy," Dvalin said helpfully.

Thor turned to look over his shoulder, though he struggled to move very far with Loki asleep behind him, leaning heavily against Thor's back, and with his arms tight around his waist. Still not seeing anything resembling a unicorn, Thor frowned.

"What do you mean?" he asked finally.

"Lodur," Dvalin said. "That boy never stops. This is the first I've ever seen such a thing."

"Usually he just goes and goes and goes until he finally falls over from exhaustion," Bombur added. "I've never seen him start a journey sleeping."

Thor looked over his shoulder again. Loki shifted, rubbing his nose into the wool of Thor's coat with the sort of noise of a new-born piglet might make. On the other side of the road, the dwarfs all sniggered.

"Lodur?" he asked. "He is called Loki."

"He is called whatever he wishes to be called," Jari said. "Not every man wants to live by his father's deeds."

Thor couldn't decide if the dwarf spoke against Odin or not. They all had a funny, vague way of speech that could go either way in meaning. He was starting to wonder if it had been they who taught Loki such speech.

"I know not what you speak," Thor said levelly. "Loki has never been an active man since I've known him. You are much mistaken."

Even as he spoke the words, Thor knew them to be a lie. All Loki talked about all day had been his desire to sleep, but it was quickly becoming clear that the Loki he had known had been in many ways false. It was not a prospect Thor wished to face in the company of others. Especially those who thought so lowly of him to begin with.

He ignored the eye-rolling and disagreements from the dwarfs and focused instead on the ride.

"How much longer until we reach our destination?" he asked.

Jari sat up in the saddle as much as he was able. "Not far now," he declared, pointing into the middle distance. In the dark, Thor could just barely make out the horizon. "Just over yon hill, there."

"We should stop here and tie the horses," Bombur suggested. "They'll only serve as bait if we ride in."

There were varied voices of agreement, and with some difficulty and little dignity, the dwarfs began to dismount. Bombur and Jari went over the side at once, falling into a heap on the ground. Dvalin followed soon after, using his fellows as a makeshift, and shoddy stepping ladder, stumbling as he dropped down from the high saddle.

Shaking his head at the display, Thor reached down and slapped Loki's thigh to wake him.

"Loki, wake up," he said. "We are nearly there."

Loki rubbed his eyes and yawed. "Where are we?" he asked.

"I do not know," Thor admitted. "But we are to leave the horses behind and walk the rest of the way."

"Fine."

Loki slid off the side of the saddle, stumbling only slightly as he touched ground. Once steadied, he surveyed the area and adjusted his bow and quiver on his back.

"I'm still not welcome in Stoneholm," he said, looking at a far-off copse. "We may have to make camp if our hunt takes too long."

Jari laughed at the suggestion. "And feed the gryphons?"

"No, we're going to slay them," said Loki with a wry smile.

Camping with Loki was not an experience Thor looked forward to. Their first attempt at it had been a disaster, and their second had been a string of disasters interspersed with long rounds of complaining. He thought back to Loki's unpacked travelling bag and foresaw a night of endless swearing and yet another lesson on how to build a fire with flint and steel.

"Perhaps we should leave this for another time," Thor suggested.

"Losing your nerve, ogre?" Dvalin asked as he checked over his own gear.

"I was promised a gryphon," Loki said. "So long as we stay above ground, we're without Stoneholm's borders."

"But within gryphon territory," Jari pointed out.

Loki ignored him and pointed off toward the copse.

"I think we should try in there first," he said.

"Stoneholm's the other way, Sky-Treader," Jari said, pointing in the direction of the city. "That is where the reports come from."

"Because that is where people live," Loki said. "I doubt any self-respecting gryphon would choose to live in a quagmire. There is at least some amount of shelter to be had from the trees. I found my hippogryph in a similar area."

Loki pulled another arrow from his quiver and nocked it, drawing the string slowly back to his cheek. Thor had often seen Loki honing his skills with a bow in lieu of combat training, but he had never before that day seen him use it on anything other than magpies and hares. Now, Loki stood oblivious to all around him, bow still drawn, and muttering something to himself. After a few long moments, he closed his eyes and exhaled heavily enough to disturb the fletching of his arrow. Eyes still closed, he loosed the arrow into the direction of the trees. He stood silent as the arrow quickly vanished from sight, stiff and barely breathing. Suddenly, he took in a sharp breath and jolted as if struck by something heavy.

"Oh, there's something in there, all right," he said quietly.

"What did you see?" asked Dvalin eagerly.

"Many dead," said Loki. "There may be truth to these reports after all."

"Then we must strike the beast down!" Jari cried. "Kill it before it can kill again!"

Loki looked blandly at the copse. "Ho-ro hithrum hey," he said flatly.

Thor was suddenly reminded of a hog in a wood.

Unable to wait any longer, the trio of dwarfs made swift tracks toward the copse, leaving Thor and Loki behind to tie the horses. Thor took the reins of both animals and looked round, but found nothing suitable to use as a post. Without a word, Loki took a long, steel stake from the saddle of their horse, and with little force at all drove it into the ground.

"Tie them here," Loki said, reaching out for the reins. On top of the stake was a large ring, through which Loki knotted the reins.

"We can leave them," he said. "It will hold."

"Magic," Thor gathered aloud.

"Yes," Loki confirmed, already following after the others.

Thor walked alongside him, feeling suddenly apprehensive and guilty about having ever embarked upon this journey. "Loki," he said, his voice heavy and uneasy. "What you did just then. That was sight magic, was it not?"

Loki looked over at him. "I told you I was learning it," he said. Thor could hear the impatience in his voice.

"Yes, but I did not think you would—"

"Why?" Loki cut in. "Why wouldn't I?"

Thor looked away. "Why are we doing this?" he asked instead. "I will not see you hurt again."

"That was years ago," Loki said flatly. "I'm not longer the boy I once was. You would do well to remember that."

"Practising what?" asked Thor.

At that, Loki smiled. "Everything," he said. "Well. I'm still useless with a sword. That may never change."

"That is because your arms are too skinny to ever hold one up," Thor said, giving Loki a heavy nudge.

They caught up with the other three as they drew near the trees, which were thicker and darker than they seemed from the distance.

"There could very well be an entire senate in there," said Bombur cautiously.

"All the more reason to go in while there is still light," Loki said as he stepped past him. "If anyone wishes to stand down, now would be the time to do so."

Without another word, the other four followed after him.

***

The group walked through the darkening wood, making little effort to conceal their presence there. As they tracked the gryphon further into the woods, the band grew louder, sharing tales of their previous exploits.

"And so I raised up my axe," Dvalin said, demonstrating as he did so, "and I shouted, 'not today!' And before I could even bring my blade down again, the coward was gone. He ran off, leaving behind his sword and his shield!"

The group laughed wildly, having mostly forgotten their quarry.

"I tried something like that with a flintlock," Loki said as he examined a low-hanging branch.

"Flintlock?" asked Bombur. "I've never heard of such a thing."

"It's a Midgardian weapon," said Loki. "You hold it in your hand, and it makes a terrible explosion and drives a piece of hot lead into your foe. Very messy, but terribly effective."

Loki was met with wide, curious eyes.

"Well, what happened?" Jari asked impatiently.

Loki smiled wryly. "My powder was wet, and it didn't work," he said. "So I did the next best thing and ran his ship aground instead. In my defence, it was my first mutiny. I'll be sure to do better next time."

While the dwarfs all laughed, Thor frowned.

"When was this?" he asked.

Loki cast a confused glance over his shoulder to Thor. "Where do you think I've been all month?" he asked.

Thor's frown deepened, but before he could answer, a piercing cry cut through the trees. Everyone stopped at once and looked around for the source of the sound, but none saw anything.

"I think we're close," Loki said quietly, drawing an arrow from his quiver.

Now alert and ready for a fight, the band crept further along their path. Soon, the sounds of something stomping through the undergrowth could be heard in the distance. Another cry rang out, and was quickly joined by a second.

"That sounds like a pair to me," said Dvalin quietly.

"Then watch out for the third one," Loki warned.

His companions all nodded, except for Jari. "A pair's two, you fool," he said.

"No, you see," said Bombur. "When a lady gryphon and a fella gryphon fall in love, they make wee little babby gryphons."

"Let's hope they've only had time to make the one," Dvalin said.

"Hush, all of you," Loki cut in. "I'm going to show you the idiot's way to slay a beast."

Smiling at some secret joke, Loki drew back his bowstring and waited silently. When again, one of the creatures cried out, Loki loosed the arrow, letting it fly through the trees. A few moments later, all that could be heard was distant stamping and snorting.

"Hum. I guess that only works by accident," Loki mused.

Not sure what Loki had been aiming to do, Jari raised his axe and let out a mighty battle cry, charging toward the sounds in front of them. Barely a moment later, his fellows followed after, and then Thor. Thor quickly overtook them, leading with his glaive and grinning at the prospects of what lay ahead.

"For Asgard!" shouted Thor as he charged.

"For Rötgard!" the three dwarfs cried a moment later, and all out of time from one another.

"For myself!" Loki shouted from behind.

The others all turned round to look at Loki. It was just enough time to let down their guard, and before they could recover, the female gryphon charged toward them through the dense undergrowth. As they raised their weapons and prepared to fight, Loki skirted round their right flank and fired an arrow at the creature. It struck the side of her neck, but not deeply enough to kill. Instead, she clumsily changed directions and charged toward Loki, screeching wildly, as the male made his presence known with beating wings and slashing talons.

Thor saw Loki run into the female's path and ran after him, glaive ready to strike. Before he could put himself between Loki and the gryphon, Loki fired off two more arrows in rapid succession, striking the female once more in the neck and again in the shoulder. The gryphon stumbled as she charged, and Loki fired off one more arrow, striking her in the opposite shoulder, before conjuring a short, curved blade.

Thor gaped at Loki's apparent luck at landing all his shots and rushed forward again, dodging round one sweeping wing to get to Loki. Suddenly, there was a blinding flash of light and the female reared up, kicking weakly. She could barely support her own weight when she came back down onto all fours, and as she stumbled again, Loki charged with the blade and drove it deep into the gryphon's neck.

"One!" he called out as the creature's blood spilled across the ground.

Thor looked up to see Jari and Bombur atop the male, each holding onto its wings in an effort to keep their mount. It kicked and reared at Dvalin, who stood before it with his axe. Finally secure in his seat, Bombur brought his axe down on the base of the gryphon's wing, drawing forth a fearsome shriek. Again, it reared up, trying to shake the dwarfs from its back. As it lashed out with its talons, Loki stopped watching and drew another arrow, taking almost no time to line up his shot. He loosed the arrow as the gryphon lurched toward Dvalin. At the same instant the arrow struck the gryphon's head, Thor drove his glaive into its chest, and it fell over dead.

"One and a half?" Loki asked a moment later.

"This one counts as mine," Dvalin asserted.

"Mine," Thor insisted.

"Well done," said Loki facetiously.

While the dwarfs crowed over their success, Thor busied himself with butchering the pair of gryphons. He had only a small knife with him, but he'd done more with less before. He took the skin from the male, finding little to be had in usable pelt underneath all its feathers. There wasn't much in the way of good meat on a gryphon, but whatever wolves and falcons called Nidavellir home would have certainly welcomed the feast.

"Look what I've found," Loki declared suddenly as he approached the group.

"It's the wee babby," Bombur observed.

"I think I shall take it home with me and name it Oli," Loki said.

He set the tied gryphon down on the ground and made his way back to the female to butcher his kill and take his trophies. He recovered his arrows and undertook the messy task of removing the skull from the female, and as many of her feathers as he could gather. Thor had his hide from the male, and Jari, Bombur, and Dvalin took only the tale of their hunt with them.

As their arms were free, Loki charged Dvalin with carrying the feathers and Jari with the skull, while he carried the still-squirming juvenile in his arms. The extra burden made travel through the trees slow, but they reached the moors as night fell on Nidavellir.