Escaping Asgard Redux

This flash piece is a rough draft of a scene from the prequel novel of The Prophecies of Ragnarok, a Norse mythology-based new adult series I'm currently writing with Marie Sinadjan. It may or may not end up in the final version of the novel.

Here are the shorts we've written so far for the prequel, in chronological order:

• Birthright
• Ice Queen
• Quiet Time
• Tyr Lends A Hand
• Big Sister, Big Brother
• Just Friends
• Admittance
• Prison Break
• Escaping Asgard
• Marriage Plans
• New Normal
• Hunting Trip
• Night Out
• Waltz
• Treason
• Reporting In
• Escaping Asgard Redux (this story)
• Brother's Keeper
• Primping
• Final Hour
• Better Off Gone
• Resistance and Steps
• Forsaken
• Revenge Served With Rage
• Goodbye, Good Friend
• Inheritance
• A Winter's Bargain
• Death Finds All
• Homecoming
• Reconnection
• The Hour of the Wolf

Hotel Fen, the first published book of the series, follows after this point.

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

Hodr glances in the mirror, frowning at his brother in the doorway. “Can I help you, brother?” His hands smoothed down the silver tunic with blue embroidery, some of his finer wear for the feast tonight in Baldr’s honor.

Backers than a day but Odin has wanted to announce the betrothal and alliance with Alfheim. Even before the soon to be wife was able to travel here. Anything to celebrate and increase the partying of the Aesir.

Hodr had expected it, really. His heir finding another Princess as his match. Expecting for the throne of Alfheim to pass to the woman should her father pass. What surprised him was his brother in his doorway.

“I just figured you’d have unpacked.” His head nodded toward the dusty travel bag. “And I didn’t want to head down on my own.”

Hodr glanced over to the pack, shoulder raising a little. “Between our report to him and prepping for the feast, it wasn’t on my important list.” The truth of the matter was he’d unpacked and repacked it, knowing he could argue it hadn’t been unpacked if someone questioned it. His brother asking hadn’t been expected though, and it didn’t sit great having to lie to him.

However, he was already keeping who Hodr had been seeing in Alfheim from Odin, even if it was just omission. To add more was asking for trouble. Especially since Baldr had more or less ignored it because Hodr came home with him. Saw the mission through.

No one could know he was leaving. He wouldn’t risk getting anyone punished or someone stopping him. Not this time.

“And alright, I’m done primping. Everyone will be looking at you anyway.” Hodr dusted off his pants and moved to the door and his brother. One arm settled around Baldr’s shoulders with a grin. “Don’t look so sour, Brother. Betrothed isn’t married yet at least.”

Baldr grumbled, but his arm settled mirror Hodr’s to keep Hodr close. “But see you wouldn’t think is so bad, I however, have no actual interest in the girl. I had to sit there and listen to her talk about how she hoped the fashion in Asgard was as pretty as in Alfheim all during breakfast while you were Ymir knows where.”

Hodr couldn’t help the chuckle. “I was discussing the travel of her from Alfheim to Asgard in three days hence with her father. For you, so you could get to know her.” Hodr shook his head, amusement easily brightening. “And don’t make her sound so vapid. She reads, she loves flowers, and her father said what she doesn’t share easily is she hunts.”

“She hunts?” Baldr sounded skeptical as they neared the great hall, music already loud down the hallways.

He nodded with a hum, slipping from his brother so he could get the door. “She didn’t think it made her more marriageable, so she’s been keeping it quiet. But see, you have something in common. Give her a chance.” He leaned with the door and motioned Baldr forward.

Baldr moved forward, nodding a little as he took that information in. “Okay. Fine. I’ll give her a chance to at least be friends with this marriage.”

Moving in after his brother, Hodr chuckled. “It’s the least you can do for yourself if you’re to be tied to her in marriage, brother. Better than resigning to being miserable.”

A smile finally lifted Baldr’s sour frown a little. “What would I do without you.”

The compliment from his brother sat heavy on his shoulders, but Hodr smiled at Baldr and nodded without saying anything.

Thankfully he didn’t have to as Odin motioned them forward and took Baldr’s attention. I’m minutes then hall quieted and all attention settled on the Allfather and his golden son. Hodr settled into the background as everyone cheered, jeered, and celebrated the betrothal.

He spent some time talking to Yrsa for a bit, and as the night became late Hodr feigned feeling tired and slipping out to his room. Instead of going to bed, he grabbed his bag and slipped quietly down the hall.

Quietly, he murmured the spell Geiravor had taught him in Alfheim as they’d discussed plans. The magic was an old Jotnar spell, but since they’d already established his magic stemmed from his Jotnar side, they figured it would work. Which it had to be, because his skin tickled with the magic to make him blend in with shadow and invisible to the eye.

He held his breath at one point when a guard passed him in the courtyard, but never blinked an eye at Hodr. Which guaranteed that the spell was working, and let him continue his path out of the palace and to the nearest portal.

The spell stayed up the entire time he moved through the lands to the portal, not wanting to risk any of the ravens giving word to his father that he was leaving. Again. Though, to activate the portal, he has to drop the spell.

A lone caw echoed above him as he stepped through the portal, the magic cold against his skin. It was one of the few times he really felt cold, the portal magic seemed to seep into his bones deeply. Though in the span of two deep breaths, he came through to the snowy lands of Jotunheim. His skin warmed despite the colder climate, and he relaxed a little at the guards waiting.

None of them looked thrilled to see him, though he was sure they had hoped he wouldn’t actually show up. Not a word was spoken, but the lead motioned Hodr forward and he settled among the group. Lead by the head of the team, and then sandwiched with two at his back.

A look between them spoke volumes as they headed toward where Geiravor had set up her base camp and was likely waiting for him. He hoped she hadn’t been too worried. So far everything had gone smooth, and he was about to thank Ymir for it. However, a cry from behind them had the whole group turn.

Hodr swore as four large Einherjar charged them. He didn’t have time to think about how his father would have known, our if his father had hoped the four would catch him before he had met any guard. Perhaps he’d thought there wouldn’t be any guard, only sending the four.

“Protect the Aesir,” the lead called out as they moved to meet the Einherjar in battle.

Not that Hodr let them fight for him alone. Drawing the sword at his hip, he blocked a swing that would have caught one of the younger Jotnar by surprise, saving him and shoving the warrior back.

Hodr pushed forward, helping his guard push back Odin’s team, though the Einherjar got a good hit on one of the, sending the man back with a pained cry as blood splattered the ground from a wound.

It took two Jotnar working together to take down one of the Einherjar. Hodr slayed one on his own, turning and pushing out with his powers to blast the remaining two back when they moved toward the fallen Jotnar.

“He will come again!” The words came from one of the two as they stumbled back toward the portal.

Hodr snarled and sent ice right up to their feet, watching them stumble back in fear of him. “Tell him not to bother. He only has one prince and son, who is still standing by his side. Forget the one he never cared about. He doesn’t exist anymore.”

The Einherjar didn’t answer, running to take the portal back to Asgard.

Hodr let them go, hoping his message got back to his father. Instead he turned to kneel next to the downed Jotnar, the man quiet as pain etched his face and blood showed on his armor at his side. “Here.”

Stretching his power out, he sought the wound and sealed it with ice. It was deep and would need a healer, but this would do so they could help get him to the camp.

He even used his power to make a sled that could pull their downed companion on, so they could rest and not pull the wound. The walk wasn’t too long of one before they were coming up on the old battlement. People came to collect the wounded, and the rest of his guard left to give their report.

Not that he cared. Geiravor’s smile at his arrival was his sole focus, catching her as she came out to hug him. Sealing any question of what he was to her with a welcoming kiss. She didn’t even say much as she drew him down a hall to her room, the hour late enough he was happy to fall into bed with her and just wrap his arms around her and keep her close as they got a few hours of sleep before discussion and plotting would need to be done.