Death Finds All

This is a flash piece drafted as part of a prequel adventure with my co-author as she participates in a writing challenge and we work on our shared universe. The flash pieces posted here are part of rough draft scenes that may make it into our future novels or may just be used to help flush out our shared universe.

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Hodr groaned as he stilled at the open doorway of the house he had found himself using. The injuries Vali had felt him over the last month had started to catch up to him and everything hurt to move. Let alone keep running. But he refused to let his brother catch him to finish him. He couldn’t die with a sword in his hand, or any way that could be considered battle.

It wasn’t his brother in the doorway, not that he could see. But the power that swirled around the lithe uninvited guest was colder, more chaotic. He could almost taste it on the air as he stumbled back, the man stepping in to catch Hodr’s arm so he didn’t go crashing to the floor.

A tsking sound left him as he closed the door behind him before helping Hodr’s arm over his shoulder. “You’re almost as stubborn as my children.”

It’s not said in a mean way, not with the fondness that flavored the words as the man helped Hodr over to the small bed. He didn’t just dump Hodr into the bed either but gently helped him down onto the mattress, settling the blanket around him. “Did she send you?”

“No. I’ve been trying to catch up to you since the coop, but you’ve been hard to track.” Instead of sitting with Hodr, he moved to the other side of the room where a small kitchen rested. “Although she has sent me a few messages to tell me you weren’t doing well. That’s a neat trick you two found how to use to cross the realms.”

Hodr listened as he rummaged through the cabinets before the boots moved to the small hearth. The spark of fire sounded loud to Hodr before a crackle caught on the dry wood to start a small fire. Before he could ask what the man was doing, he heard the tell tale creak of iron as the pot with water settled on its hook over the fire.

“Tea. I have some that will help.” His boot falls told Hodr he’d moved back to the bed, one hand lifting the shirt a little on Hodr’s shoulder.

He didn’t need to see a face to know his shoulder didn’t look good: the woulda Vali had left on him weren’t just slow to heal, but almost refusing to. Wearing him down one cut at a time. And he was at the end of his rope, even with how stubborn he could be. “Does it ease pain?”

Amusement lifted the answer, “In a way.” The bed dipped as he sat on the end of it. “You’re not long for this realm, my son-in-law. And I would prefer not having to find a way to pass messages between you and your wife through me.” Cool fingers brushed hair off Hodr’s forehead with a soft sigh. “You may not even need the tea, but it’s better to not risk it.”

That his fingers felt cool told Hodr more than he needed to know. If the God of Winter was running hot, it wasn’t good. “I don’t want the risk. And I am tired.” It’s a hard thing to admit, that he’s tired. He wasn’t sure, if it had been his brother at the door, he’d have been able to do anything but finally be slain.

“I know.” Comfort and sadness filled the room with those two words. However, there was no judgment in them either.

Raising from the bed, Hodr listened to him move back to the hearth, lifting the hot water from the hook and pouring some into a cup. A small plop sounded, the tea bag of whatever had been brought dropping into the cup.

“I’ve got you, Hodr. Drink this and rest,” the bed dipped again before he helped Hodr sit up to sip at the tea. He didn’t let Hodr stop until the tea had been drained, then helping Hodr settle among the pillows. “Rest. When you open your eyes next, you’ll be with her.”

A low sound rumbled in Hodr’s throat, almost a laugh. “Funny. Really. But it’s hard not to get out of my own head, Loki.”

A hand patted Hodr’s good shoulder, and while Hodr couldn’t see it he knew a grin was on the mischievous jotnar’s face. “Shhh maybe I can help. Just listen to your father-in-law.”

Hodr opened his mouth to say something, but Loki poked his bad shoulder so all that came out was a hiss.

“There once was a title princeling, who never felt seen in court. So much so, that few ever noticed when he snuck off to the woods to find himself and what he wanted from life.” Loki’s fingers rested in Hodr’s hair, stroking it soothingly.

It helped too, Hodr could feel himself relaxing into the touch, even if part of him wondered where this story was going. Was this what it had been like to grow up with Loki as a father? Not that he wanted to interrupt to ask, and not just because he didn’t need another poke to one of his wounds.

“One day, he stumbled upon an ice princess in the northern part of the forest. She was sitting on a log, face flushed, and ankle twisted slightly so it wouldn’t take her weight.” Loki dipped down, close to Hodr’s ear as his voice dropped like the next part was a secret. “It took our little princeling a moment to do anything past stare at how beautiful he found her, how drawn he was to her purely at first sight.”

Okay, Hodr was picking up to a point where this was going. But he also felt warmth spreading through him, pulling at his consciousness.

“When she heard a branch snap under his boot, her head turned toward him and a knife came out of her sleeve. Startled, but stubborn, she told the Man to step forward at his own peril. Not that he worried too much. Heart big enough, he came forward and offered to help wrap her ankle, and get her home.”

Hodr hummed softly, head shifting a little to burrow into the pillow as his head tried to picture the words being spoken. To see the scene in his head even as the words were getting fuzzy. The only thing not fuzzy was the feeling of Loki’s fingers continuing to stroke through Hodr’s hair.

“Hesitantly, the Princess let him come forward to help her, watching intently as he used his jacket, tearing it to strips to wrap her ankle securely for her. Every bit the caring gentleman. Once secure, he lifted her into his arms and headed to where she said her castle and home was. The walk was a long one, and the two talked and got to know each other on the walk. Before long, a castle came into view. The Princess’ family stood waiting for her, worry etched into her father’s features for how she had disappeared.”

Hodr’s breathing slowed as even the words started to fade from his hearing. Nothing but the story mattered right now, his conscious thought about wanting to know what happened to the couple.

“Her father had hesitation about him, wondering if it would be some kind of trick, if he’d eventually hurt the Princess. But every chance the princeling got, he proved his colors, his person, and his worth. Until the king bowed to the princeling, agreeing to his request of the Princess’ hand. Her father only had one thing left to say.”

“What?” The single word from Hodr was barely a croak as his heart slowed, his breathing barely there anymore. But he has to know, even as everything faded to black around him.

Even as he sank into the black, Loki’s final words carried to him. “Welcome to the family, dear princeling. I know you will make my daughter very happy.”

— A short set before The Prophecies of Ragnarok, a Norse mythology based new adult series written with Marie Sinadjan. Hotel Fen is the first book in the series. Also checkout A Winter's Bargain, Reconnection, and Marie's Vocal for more prequel shorts that take place before the novel.