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Valkyrion

3/21/2011

The first thing Iris noticed after stepping through the rift was how hot it was.

She glanced back and saw Loki walk through and the rift close behind him. She sidestepped, staying out of reach. Iris knew it wouldn’t do any good, he was faster than she was, but there was a certain amount of false security in staying out of range. He grinned at her, beautiful as a cobra, and began to change form again. Iris looked away, taking in her surroundings for the first time. They were standing directly in front of a huge wall made of red sandstone. A pair of enormous doors fitted with black metal fastenings was open in front of her. Beyond the gate, there was a town clustered within the walls. The architecture looked vaguely Asian, with rounded doors and windows. Everything was painted in shades of red, brown, and tan, seeming to blend into the landscape. The largest building was the farthest from the gate, a huge palace with multiple levels. It was too far away for Iris to see details. Everything was too big to be designed for humans. The heat of the wind made her look away from the town. Loki had taken the shape of a giant again, this time clean-shaven with red hair. The hills around the town were barren outcroppings of sandstone. The wind began to blow harder, throwing sand into Iris’ eyes. As she blinked and tried to rub them clear Loki reached down and grabbed her around the chest, setting her on his shoulder. Iris tried not to cringe when he touched her. She’d wanted to know what he wanted her for. She hadn’t liked the answer.

A pair of giants appeared on the wall above them, holding bows. There were arrows on the strings, but they weren’t drawn. “State your business!”

“I am Loki, returned from my captivity to see Surt.”

The bows were lowered and after a moment a blonde giant appeared in the gateway. He was dressed in iron armor and Iris wondered how he stood the heat. He was armed, but his weapons weren’t drawn. His face was covered by a fine mesh fabric, leaving only his eyes exposed.

“Welcome, Loki.” The voice was only slightly muffled by the scarf, “My lord Surt heard of your escape and warned us to expect you. Come with me, please.”

“Thank you. Fire giants have always been known for their hospitality.”

Getting behind the wall helped cut down on some of the sand-laden wind and Iris managed to get the worst of the grit out of her eyes. “Where are we?”

“Muspelheim.”

Iris was surprised; she hadn’t thought anyone lived here. Tyr had never mentioned fire giants. Of course, there were lots of things Tyr hadn’t thought to tell her about. He probably thought she didn’t need to know.

The town was almost empty. The only giants Iris saw were others dressed and armed like the one who led them through the streets.

The palace was huge even by giant standards. To Iris it was almost grotesque. Statues carved out of sandstone lined the entryway and there were more in the high-ceilinged hallway. The artwork looked like a series of warriors, but Loki was moving too fast for her to get a good look. A row of windows looked over a vast expanse of sand. They were filled with slightly warped and greenish-tinted glass, keeping out the wind. Iris pushed her hair back and realized she was sweating from the heat and starting to get a headache.

The throne room was huge, the ceiling higher than the hallway, ringed with more sandstone statues. Loki stopped in front of a dais taller than Iris was and set her down.

“Greetings, Surt.”

“Loki.” The voice coming from the throne was even and noncommittal. Iris backed up a few yards and craned her neck to see who was sitting up there. It was another giant, dressed in red and gold, with red hair. Gold glittered on his wrists and fingers, and a huge chain made of many smaller golden plaques set with rubies was around his neck. “I’ve been expecting you.”

“I understand your troops have been prepared?”

“Yes.”

“Excellent. When will you be ready to leave?”

“Wait a moment.” Surt stood up and stepped down from the dais. Even for a giant it was a large step. “My family has been waiting for your return for over seven-hundred years. Well and good, but what is our reward for helping you?” He glanced at Iris, “And what is that?”

“That is a human. One of many on the Midgard. And the Midgard is your reward. Or Vanaheim, or Jötunheim or any of the other worlds you choose. Any but Asgard. Asgard is mine.”

Surt considered it, toying with the chain around his neck, “The price is fair,” he said at last, “we can be ready to march within the hour.”

“Excellent, my friend. I will open the way to Jötunheim we can group there with the other clans. I will lead the way to Asgard.” He glanced around, “I don’t think you will be sorry to take leave of this place.”

“It’s served us well for long enough.” Iris thought she heard a hint of warning in the giant’s voice.

“Your city was rather empty.” Loki changed the subject with grace and scooped Iris back up to his shoulder as Surt began walking out towards a balcony.

The giant pulled a scarf off a hook and handed a second one to Loki. He wrapped it around his head and opened a door. It was made of six panels of greenish glass, leaded together.

The heat was no worse outside, but the constant wind blew more sand into Iris’ face. She grabbed the end of Loki’s scarf and covered her nose and mouth with it. It was no wonder the giants were willing to fight for Loki, if it would get them out of here. She was surprised anyone thought he would keep up his end of the deal.

“Look.” Surt gestured over the edge of the balcony to the plain below.

Iris leaned forward on Loki’s shoulder. A tent city was spread out below them. It went on as far as Iris could see and she couldn’t begin to count how many people were down there. There were animals too, the first she’d seen. They looked like horses from Iris’ vantage point and for a moment she wondered what they ate. She hadn’t seen so much as a blade of grass. There was a scream from one of the corrals as someone was shoved in. The horses weren’t herbivorous and Iris thought she saw a jet of flame coming from one’s mouth. She looked away as the screams stopped.

“Impressive.”

“Thank you. I’ll give the order to pack up and move out. One hour, no more.”

“Good. While we are waiting there are things I have to discuss with you. There’s something special I need you for.”

“Really?”

Loki turned his head to look at Iris, almost knocking her off his shoulder. She tried not to cringe. He turned and started back inside, setting her down inside the glass door. “Run along, darling girl.” He turned to Surt, “Is there somewhere private we can talk?”

He glanced at Iris, “Of course,” and led Loki to a side door.

For a moment Iris wanted to protest, but the words died. She didn’t want to go with them. The desire to just get away from Loki for a little while overrode the importance of anything she might learn. It was all meaningless anyway. She looked out the windows again, but couldn’t see over the railing of the balcony. There was a huge force down there, combined with the ice and frost giants, combined with the fact that the Aesir stubbornly believed they were going to die. How could she fight against all that? She should have taken Jason and Mina and hidden somewhere. At least then they would have had some chance. She rested her head against the glass; it was almost too warm to touch. Any way she’d gone, there wasn’t much chance of survival. The barriers between the realms were already breaking down. What chance did the earth have against giants, monsters, and Loki himself? Iris reached up to touch an axe; they were still missing from her ears. She wasn’t even allowed the comfort of her weapons, or the knowledge that she might be allowed to die using them. Loki wouldn’t let her be killed. He had plans for her. Iris’ mind shied away from that knowledge. She desperately tried to take comfort in the fact that she had some time. Loki would savor the anticipation for as long as possible. As long as she was still alive she had options and Loki was planning on keeping her alive. She sat down on the floor and put her head in her hands. She was tired. Iris touched the pin shoved into the coil of her hair. It wasn’t much of a weapon, but she had dipped it in snake venom. Suicide had never appealed to her, even at her worst. Although, the time she spent living in homeless shelters seemed like a vacation in comparison to this. It would serve Loki right if she did kill herself. He would be stuck with nothing more than a body to torment Tyr with. Iris wondered what would happen if she did decide to kill herself right now. The Aesir were probably too distracted to take her to Asgard. That left Hela. Iris cringed at the thought of spending years sitting in the bleak gray waiting room, waiting for Hela to allow her into her world. If Hela ever let her in. She shivered despite the heat. Hela might be so annoyed with her that she would never let Iris in and just leave her out in the waiting room for eternity. The thought was more frightening than anything Loki might do to her body. Loki would get bored with her soon enough, but Hela had all of eternity. Iris stood up. As long as she was alive, she had options. Dead was dead.

She stood on tiptoe against the glass, trying to see what was happening outside. She could see some of the distant tents being broken down and guessed the camp was in a flurry of activity. Iris sat down again, not sure what to do with herself. The latch was within reach, but she had no desire to go back out into the perpetual windstorm.

Iris had to get her axes back. That was the key, she was sure of it. He was fast, faster than she was, but her weapons gave her range. She had to find a way to get close enough—and get him distracted—so she could grab them. Her stomach twisted. Sex was the obvious answer. The idea filled her with queasy excitement. He wanted her, either for himself or as a means of revenge against the Aesir. Although Iris wasn’t sure the Allfather cared enough about her to be bothered by who she had sex with. Tyr might, but Iris had no idea if she would see him again. How far was she willing to go to get her weapons back? Her lip curled into an involuntary snarl at the thought. There had to be another way.

* * *

Guntar was less than thrilled to see several thousand fire giants appear on his doorstep. Iris watched the shine of her axes against Loki’s chest as he explained, negotiated, and finally won the argument. She wasn’t really listening. She was thinking about how to get her weapons back.

“The champion and I will return shortly with the rest of my reinforcements.” Iris looked up at the mention of her title. She was still sitting on his shoulder. Her fear of him had dulled. It was impossible and exhausting to live in constant terror. He’d been ignoring her since he’d come back from his meeting with Surt. They’d waited for the giants to finish packing, Loki had opened another rift back to Jötunheim and they’d gone through. He seemed too busy to notice her and Iris was grateful. The Guntar and Surt were eyeing each other and Iris wondered if they would start killing each other before getting to the Aesir.

“Just wait my friends. You’ll need all your energy for later. I’ll be back within two hours.”

He opened another rift with a flick of his hand, but from her vantage point Iris could see the lines of strain on his face. The cold air was like a punch to Iris’ stomach as they went through.

The rift closed behind them and Loki returned to his own shape. Iris was too distracted by the cold to be repulsed by the transformation. She hunched over, trying to conserve heat. He’d brought them to a cave, which cut down on the wind, but the air was freezing. A heavy fur was put over her shoulders. It was still warm from his body. Iris was too grateful to care.

“Come on. I’m on a schedule.” She hung back as he marched into the center of the cave. “Well?” For a moment Iris thought he was talking to her. There was a slow heavy thud, then another and another. Giants began to emerge from the tunnels, slow heavy footsteps echoing through the stone. This time there were many of them and they were dressed in a mishmash of armor. Their weapons were mostly rusted iron blades. Some carried nothing more than rocks.

“Has everyone been called?” The lead giant nodded. Loki smiled and Iris knew a more intelligent entity would know to get as far away from him as possible. “Good.”

She watched his face carefully as he turned to open another rift. He was getting tired. This was the fourth rift he’d opened today and the effort was showing. She wondered if he was pushing himself too hard. Would he have the strength to fight the Allfather? Or would he have someone else do it for him? Iris couldn’t imagine any of the giants, even Surt or Guntar, being able to defeat Odin.

The rift opened and Loki motioned the giants through, not bothering to speak. They went, obedient as small children and Iris wondered what the reaction on the other side would be. The procession took longer than she expected, partially because there were more giants in the caves than she thought, and partially because they moved so slowly.

The last giant went through and Loki helped her along with a shove before stumbling through himself. The rift collapsed and Loki grabbed her shoulder for support. Iris looked at him, surprised, and tried stepped away, hoping he would fall on his face. Weakened or not, he still had enough strength left to dig his fingers into her flesh and keep her from moving. Iris frowned at him, but said nothing. Loki managed to pull himself together and stepped away from her.

Guntar, Surt, and the ice giant whose name she hadn’t heard, were staring at each other, their respective men grouped behind them. Loki straightened up, “Hold. There’s more important fighting to do today.”

Iris’ vision clouded for a moment, her eye watering, her head swimming. She shook her head and when her vision cleared there was a huge beautiful rainbow descending into the middle of the camp. She looked at Loki, her stomach dropping, “How did you do that?”

He shrugged, “Does it matter? Come on.” He changed shape again, turning back into the black-haired giant and set her on his shoulder. Turning to the assembled giants—most of which had their mouths open—he raised his hands, “Friends, now is the time. For too long the Aesir have banished you to the most pathetic realms, taken your women, and killed your sons for sport. Take back what’s yours!” The frost and fire giants cheered. The ice giants, being slower on the uptake, were still trying to figure out what Loki was saying. He turned and began walking up the bridge.

Walking up a rainbow was just as disconcerting this time as when Iris had been take this way with Tyr. She wondered what was waiting for them on the other side. The Aesir would fight Loki, but it wouldn’t be enough. She had to do something. Iris looked over the edge of the bridge. They were thousands of feet above a vast ocean. She wasn’t sure what would happen if she tried to kill Loki now. The entire bridge could vanish. She looked behind them at the rows and rows of giants. They were marching ten abreast, but the rows went on farther than Iris could see. If the entire bridge did vanish would they all be killed? Would she be killed? Iris guessed that if there was a change that attacking Loki right now would save everyone, even if it meant she was killed, she should do it. Self-sacrifice was supposed to be noble. Of course, her attacking Loki might mean nothing more than getting thrown over the side of the bridge. Self-sacrifice was only noble when it accomplished something. Otherwise it was just stupid. Iris watched the swing of her axes against Loki’s chest, hypnotized by their flash in the bright sunlight. Why couldn’t she make a decision? She had to do something, but couldn’t seem to make her body move. Ahead of them a line of gray rocks appeared on the horizon.

Iris fought down panic. She was out of time. There was nothing she could do. They came got closer to the cliffs, close enough that Iris could see a small house with a figure sitting on the porch. He stood up and raised something to his mouth. A clear, low note spread out through the air, reverberating down into Iris’ bones. Loki laughed and stepped off the bridge onto Asgard. Heimdall was already gone, but the sound seemed to linger in the air. He set Iris on the ground and changed back into his own shape, “Welcome to Asgard, darling girl.”

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