Part 10: Daughters of Balder

 

 

“Father, he is much better.  His fever broke a while ago.”

 

Balder nodded to his eldest daughter, noticing how tired she looked.  “I did not mean to burden you with the duty of making him well, Skadi.  But you have been blessed with great healing gifts—perhaps greater than those possessed by Idun herself.  Look at how well your magics have improved his wounds.”

 

“Thank you for the compliment, but I think you are biased.”  Skadi put her hand on her patient’s forehead, looking at his peaceful face.  “Father.  I know we are not to question the will of All-Father Odin, but…are you certain this is the evil Loki?”

 

“Odin and Loki have been linked ever since they took the bond of blood brothers.  Odin sensed him when Loki first re-entered the world of man several years ago.  The strongest gods among us pooled our weakened powers to reach out to Norway and grab him then, but the barrier was too strong.  This time when Odin sensed him in Norway we were able to send Huginn and Munnin, who still lived in Midgard after all these centuries, to force him into the sea.  The barrier is weakest there and we were able to trap him at last.”

 

“But look at him.  Are you sure?  He doesn’t look evil.  He doesn’t seem like the Loki I remember.”

 

“Odin sensed his energy.  It is he.  I know it is hard to tell.  That was one of Loki’s most devious traits—the ability to make others trust him with his silver tongue, boyish face, and winning charm.  Most occasions he was able to talk his way out of punishment for some crime or another.  There was a time I even called him friend because I, too, was fooled by his lying ways.  But his masterminding my murder was something he couldn’t get away with.  Then he led the giants and monsters against us at Ragnarok.”

 

Skadi winced.  “I know.  I was there.”  She took in Zane’s innocent-looking face.  “He just seems so…”

 

A little girl walked into the room.  “Unlike everything you know to be true about Loki?”

 

Balder started.  “Gudrun.  Must you always sneak up on people like that?”

 

Gudrun smiled mischievously.  “Sorry, Father.  But if others paid more attention to me instead of dismissing me as a child, then I would not go so unnoticed.”

 

Balder frowned.  She was right.  Something in the air of this realm caused them all to age extremely slow, physically.  Gudrun was older now than he was when he’d fathered her.  But she looked like a child of ten and most of the Asgardians, himself included, couldn’t help but treat her that way.

 

“Skadi is correct, Father.  But in a way, so is All-Father Odin.”

 

“What do you mean, Gudrun?”

 

Gudrun touched Zane’s arm.  She got a faraway look in her eyes.  “His energy is that of Loki.  That is how Odin sensed him.  But his heart and mind are not.”

 

This side of Gudrun unnerved him.  She had the sight gifts that made her seem even stranger.  And those mysterious Norns had taken an unnatural interest in her since her birth.  He knew she often met with them in secret.  He didn’t know what they had planned for her, but it frightened him.  Gudrun turned to look at him sadly.

 

“Do not worry for me, Father.  We have nothing to fear from the Norns.  I am as I was meant to be.  No one can change that.”  She looked back at Zane.  “Just as no one can change what he is—no matter how hotly revenge burns in their hearts.”

 

Although he still thought of her as his little girl, Balder always listened carefully when she was like this.  “What do you mean?  Is he Loki or isn’t he?”

 

“Neither and both.  That sounds vague, I know, but that is the best I can say.  I can see for sure that the Loki you knew is dead.”

 

“But he is right there.  Odin sensed him.”

 

“His energy only.  If things had been different, he would’ve been the one you seek.  But fate was kind to him and took that burden away.  He is his own soul, shadowed by Loki’s, but not controlled by it.  To treat him as Loki would be a mistake of identity and a crime of inhumanity.”

 

Skadi always took her sister seriously.  “If he is not Loki, then we cannot allow him to be punished.”

 

Balder still didn’t understand all of what Gudrun sensed, but he knew the main point she was making.  If he weren’t Loki…But Balder had to be sure.  He would make sure.  No one but Loki deserved whatever fate Odin had in mind.

 

Just then Zane stirred.  For a moment he thought he was home in his own comfortable bed.  For a moment only.  Then he saw the young woman whose face had flitted before him during his fever.  She hurried to get him a mug of water.  She propped up his head and helped him drink slowly.  When he was done, he fell back against the pillow with a sigh.

 

“My name is Skadi.”

 

“Where...?”

 

“You are in Muspelheim.  That is the name we have given this realm of fire and heat—named after the land of the fire giants of long ago.  This is my sister Gudrun.”

 

Gudrun nodded.  “It is nice to meet you, Zane of the Tundra.”

 

How did she know his name?  “Well…I was going to introduce myself, but it seems you already know my name.  Have we met before?”  Gudrun merely smiled.  It was then Zane noticed the blond man, Balder, standing behind them.  Zane wasn’t feeling particularly smart right then—just angry.  “You here to finish the job your friends started?  Take me by surprise and then kick me when I’m down?  If you want a fair fight, wait until I’m out of this bed and try it again.”

 

Balder scowled.  “What would you know of a fair fight, Traitor?  I’ve suffered much from your ‘fairplay’.”

 

“Look, whatever you’re planning, just go ahead and do it.  I’m not strong enough to stop you.  But it would be really nice to have some answers first.”  Zane started to get up, but fell back against the pillow dizzily.  “Maybe later.”  He closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

 

Gudrun took her father’s hand gently.  “Do not let fear and anger rule your heart.  Yours has always been a kind and generous one.  Watch and judge for yourself.”  Gudrun silently slipped out of the room.  Skadi wiped Zane’s forehead with a damp cloth.  She then sat down by the window.  Balder took a chair across the room to watch and wait.  Having Loki here made him think of things best forgotten—his own death and imprisonment in Niflheim.  Loki’s daughter, Hel, had taken great pleasure in torturing him.  The land of the dead was beyond the power of the Asgardians so there was no way they could’ve saved him unless Hel allowed it.  Of course, she would not.  And lose her favorite plaything?  Balder shook with a hot rage he thought he’d suppressed long ago.

 

Zane was chained down.  He couldn’t move, could barely breathe.  Everyone had deserted him except his faithful wife Sigryn.  Wife?  This was his punishment from Odin.  Odin would pay!  Oh, how he would rue the day he humiliated and tortured Loki this way.  Loki?  If Odin thought losing one son was hard, wait until he’d lost everything!  Zane looked up to see the snake’s venom dripping from the fangs.  He flinched, but it did not hit him.  Sigryn caught it in her bowl.  If he could not have Asgard, he would destroy it and everyone in it!  Odin would know his wrath!  Zane saw the acidic venom above him about to fall again.  Why was this happening to him?  Why was he here?  He pulled at the chains, but they didn’t budge.  Cursed elves!  Odin’s pet blacksmiths.  They would suffer his vengeance as well.  Where was that lady with the bowl?  Sigryn?  Zane twisted and strained until his ankles and wrists bled, but he couldn’t move.  He couldn’t even turn his face away.  Stop, please.  Stop!  Make it stop!  The acid splattered on his face like hot grease from a frying pan.  Zane woke up yelling in pain.

 

Skadi ran to his side.  “Loki?  Loki, what is wrong?”

 

Zane’s voice was a harsh whisper.  “Zane.  My name is Zane.”  He touched his face.  “Is…is there anything wrong with my face?”

 

“Other than a healing sunburn and bruises from a beating, no.”

 

“No horrible acid-burn marks?”

 

“No.  Whatever it was, it was only a dream.”

 

Zane snorted and closed his eyes.  “Only a dream?  I wish I could still believe that.  It’s too real—like memories.  I thought it was bad sharing the nightmares with Zoe, but it’s worse alone.  It seemed clearer and more real without her.  Maybe it’s because we’re stronger together.  We always shared the pain.”

 

“Who is this Zoe?  Is she one of your women?”

 

Zane laughed, surprising Skadi and Balder with the honest and open amusement in the sound.  “Sorry to disappoint you, but Zoe’s my sister.”  Zane stared out the window, his eyes turning bleak.

 

Balder was perplexed.  Loki didn’t have a sister.  “Where is this sister?”

 

Zane’s voice caught.  “I don’t know.  The last time I saw her was when I was being sucked into this strange vortex.  Huginn was clawing at her.  I don’t know if she’s…if she’s…I can’t feel her anymore.”

 

Gudrun returned with a tray of food.  “Your sister is fine.  In fact she is preparing to come here with your friends to rescue you.”

 

Zane visibly perked up at this.  “Are you…you’re not lying to me, are you?  You’re not just playing games with my head?”

 

“I have the sight.  I have seen her.  She worries for you.  They all do.”

 

“Thank God!  She’s alive!  I wasn’t sure.  I kept telling myself she was because I couldn’t bear the though that she…”  Zane was unabashedly crying now.  “She’s alive.”

 

Balder abruptly got up and stalked out of the room.  It was all deception!  It had to be!  Loki was a master at playing on the emotions of others.

 

“Did you see all that you wished, or do you need to see more, Father?”  Gudrun suddenly stood beside him.

 

“It’s all a trick, a grand game to him!  He cries prettily enough.  But then a treacherous dog facing Odin’s wrath would be inspired to give a great performance to save himself.”

 

“Oh, Father!  Do not harden your heart so.”

 

“I do not want to see more.  Let Odin’s judgment rule in this.”  He stormed off down the hall.

 

Gudrun shook her head sadly.  “I am sorry, Father.  But Odin will not get his way this time.  And you must find another target for your anger.  I will not let you have this one.”  She swirled in her long dress and went back to Zane’s room.