Hunting Trip

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 Meri Benson. It may or may not end up in the final version of the novel. This was also written in response to 8Letters' #31Letters challenge, an invitation to write every day for the whole month of January.

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
• Prison Break
• Escaping Asgard
• Marriage Plans
• New Normal
• Hunting Trip (this story)
• Brother's Keeper
• Final Hour
• 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.

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In Norse mythology, Hel is said to preside over an underworld realm where she receives a portion of the dead. She is referred to as a daughter of Loki, and is described as having been appointed by the god Odin as ruler of a realm of the same name, located in Niflheim. Her appearance is described as half blue and half flesh-colored, and further as having a gloomy, downcast appearance.

Hodr is the blind son of Odin and Frigg, who is tricked and guided by Loki into shooting a mistletoe arrow which was to slay the otherwise invulnerable Baldr, his twin brother.

(Wikipedia)

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"Geirrod has been slain."

Fighting to maintain her composure, Geiravor only glanced at Skadi from the corner of her eyes. Skadi's great-grandfather was well-respected among the Jotnar, and among the few great warriors who survived the last war against the Aesir. His death was a blow to what little military might the Jotnar currently held, setting back their campaign a few years.

"Thor?" Loki asked, his usual flippant demeanor gone.

The scout nodded. "He killed his daughters, Greipa and Gjalp, as well." Even the scout threw an apologetic glance at Skadi, who was staring so intently at the table they all stood around, it wouldn't be surprising if she burned a hole through it.

Loki sighed. "Well, now we know what the Aesir are planning."

They had been wondering why Odin had not sent anyone after Geiravor. It had been years since Skadi had broken her out of Asgard, yet the Aesir had remained strangely quiet. Now it was clear that their king thought that the girl, despite her claim to the Jotnar throne, was not a threat — not without the full support of the Jotnar houses and an army, anyway.

"Geirrod will only be the first. Odin was part of Borr's invasion force; he knows exactly who to send Thor after. Even if we send word to the others, there are too many portals into Jotunheim to guard. And Thor has Mjolnir." Her father looked at her expectantly. "We need an army."

They'd already had this discussion. Why was he keen on repeating it, and in front of her council? "The Vanir will not just renege their alliance with the Aesir and join us."

"Freya will not ally with us," Loki corrected. "But Frey holds Vanaheim. And there is good old Njord, who happens to be a widower, and is as much of a victim of the Aesir's conquest as Laufey." He shrugged. "If anything, an alliance will at least get us a runemistress or two. The scales are unbalanced enough as it is, with Frigg and Freya and Gullveig."

Odin's wife, and mistresses. It was ironic, really, that he detested the use of magic among his sons, but dabbled in it himself, and likewise kept three of the realms' strongest in his bed.

Her thoughts led her to Hodr once more, but she shook her head to clear them. She was queen now. Her people needed her, more than ever with the Aesir having taken the offensive. As much as her heart ached for him, she had a duty to fulfill. He'd probably long moved on, anyway. It had been years since they'd had any contact.

"And there is Finvarra, the king of Alfheim," Loki reminded. "He is holding a feast in a fortnight." He grinned. "We should invite ourselves. I could use the change in scenery, as could you. And I'm out of mistletoe poison. You never know when you'll need to sprinkle some into one's drink..."

"My queen," Skadi spoke suddenly from the far side of the room, on her spot on the table by the doors. There was anger in her voice and in her eyes still, but it was now under control. Geiravor hoped she was in control too, that her eyes weren't changing colors or anything, as they did when she was younger. "I am from one of the great houses. My hand might not be worth as much as yours, but I offer it to be used as you deem fit."

That surprised Geiravor. Skadi was a huntress, a warrior. She was not one to be corralled by marriage, even a Jotnar one. But she supposed her cousin wanted justice for her family, just as she wanted for hers. And Loki was right; what they needed was an army, and the quickest way to secure one was through a marriage alliance.

She felt her father's expectant gaze on her again. She closed her eyes and let out a long-suffering sigh. "Then it appears, cousin, that you and I will be searching for a husband together." And attend a feast in Alfheim. How fun. It would almost be like living in Asgard again, except that she wouldn't have the company of the one person who made all those years bearable.

The corner of Skadi's lips turned up into a hint of a smirk. "Oh, you can have old Njord. I'll take a Fae lord, at least he'll be pretty."