บท 8: I Will Save You
“Hold!” The cry, a man’s voice, seemed to come from everywhere at once, but at first Michael could not see its source. Cold wind kicked his hair and the hem of his tunic as a shadow approached from the west. His sword was in his hand and, seeing Mahria poised to protect Odin, Michael stepped backward until he stood before the acolytes - next to Odin, Desi was the most precious being on this world and Michael would protect her with his life.
The monstrous creature, black scales gleaming and dripping a viscous slime that sizzled as it struck the ground, beat its massive wings to slow its descent, pulling Michael and the others toward it in its downdraft. It landed with a thunderous boom, and Michael recognized it as Nidhogg - the dragon of evil and chaos, the destroyer of Yggdrasil. The creature roared, a ruff of spiny skin flaring out at the sides of its serpentine head, revealing two rows of jagged teeth, honed by centuries of gnawing on the roots of the world tree.
Nidhogg lowered its head and horror struck Michael as he saw Loki sitting astride the creature’s sinewy neck. Loki swung over his leg and dropped smoothly to the ground. Michael moved to block the prince’s climb up the dais, but Odin beckoned him to let him pass with a flick of his wrist. Nidhogg rose back into the sky, his dark shadow casting the bright day into gloom as it circled overhead.
“Grandfather,” Loki said as he reached the top. He cast a glance at Mahria, who took the barest step to the side but did not lower her weapon. “This is quite the welcome.”
“I knew you would come,” Odin replied smoothly. “However, I was uncertain of what to expect once you did.”
Loki grinned. He flicked his fingers toward Odin’s newly patched eye. “I can see that.” He leaned forward, peering at the patch. “Nicely done. Too bad your sacrifice won’t help you.” Odin frowned, but made no move to stop Loki as he whirled to face the gathering.
“You have heard my grandfather’s plan - now hear mine.” He lifted his arms, his face alight with triumph, so confident was he that the people would choose him over Odin.
“You know from where Nidhogg comes,” he pointed upward toward the circling dragon. “You know it is Hel’s creature.” The people nodded, cowering together as fear of the creature and its reputation of working with criminals threatened their safety as Odin’s children. “What you don’t know, what Odin failed to tell you, is that when you fail to pass all the tests of the mortal life you will lead on Midgard, you will be subject to Hel and all her whims. You will be taken to Helheimer, where untold sorrow and pain will be your mainstay for eternity.
“He -” he pointed at Odin, but did not turn to face him, “is willing to sacrifice your eternal wellbeing for a chance that you will choose correctly. Are you truly willing to risk your soul for his plan?” His voice was filled with horror, and the people consumed it and made it their own. They cried out in fear and disappointment. They wondered aloud how their king, their god, could betray them so.
Michael raised his sword, glowering at the crowd that moved forward, tension and anxiety now raging through them like a fire.
“But I - I will save you.” Loki placed a hand over his heart, his face a treatise of empathy. “Make me god of Midgard, and I will protect you. I will receive you there, and help you remember who you are. I will show you right from wrong. I will ensure that each of you passes all of Odin’s tests and that you achieve your goals of eternal joy!”
The crowd roared their appreciation of this plan and soon a cry of “Loki! Loki!” was taken up, echoing across the courtyard and beyond.
Loki turned to face his grandfather, victory written as clearly as the sun on his face. “You see, Grandfather?” he said, quietly. “I can lead this people. They do respect me. Give me Midgard and everyone will have what they want.” He reached his hand out to Odin.
Desi put her hand on Michael’s arm, urging him to lower his sword. “It’s okay,” she whispered, her warm breath tickling the back of his neck. “It’s not a bad plan. It might be the way.”
Michael half-turned toward her while he kept an eye on the dais. Odin stepped up beside Mahria, who moved out of the way once Odin’s intentions were clear. Odin watched Loki’s face intently and Michael saw the hope and desire struggling with fear as it always did when Odin considered Loki - but now so much more was at stake.
Odin raised his hand -
Out of the corner of his eye, Michael saw a flash of red. He crouched, pulling Desi to the ground behind him as a meteor flashed into the sky and blasted into the ground just before the stage. Michael lowered the arm he’d raised to protect his eyes from the blast, only to see the shape of a man come into view through the rapidly dissipating smoke.
Michael and Desi each slowly stood, mirroring the movements of the man in front of them. He was large, with muscles straining beneath his tanned, soot-stained skin. He wore no shirt, no armor, but he glowed with a golden light and the hint of his aura radiated outward behind him.
“Is that...” Desi made to push past Michael, but he held her beside him.
“Yes,” Michael said, joy and wonder causing his voice to crack. “Thor,” he and Desi said in unison.
The crowed watched in awed silence as their once-prince climbed the stairs to the stage. Thor had not been seen on Asgard - and no one had claimed to know where he was - for a millennia. Not since Thor had betrayed the bargain between the gods and produced Loki from his union with Freya. Thor’s self-imposed exile had been long and complete, so much so that he had begun to fade from memory, slipping into the realm of myth and mystery.
Even Michael, who had once claimed a close friendship with Thor, had not laid eyes on his friend since before that fateful time.
Thor took the stage, looked long into the eyes of his father and son, then turned to face the people.
“I am here to stand with my father,” he said in a voice rough with disuse. “And though this man may be my son -” he indicated Loki who stood just behind him and to the left, “he is the father of lies and is here to deceive you.”
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