Power Play: Act 1 Svartalfheim (Ragnarok on Ice)

by Jeremy Croston

“Don’t worry about me Jack, I can see it in your eyes. Sometimes it is uncanny how much of your mother I can see in you.”

  “Dad, did mom know about you and all of this? Did she know what you are?”

  I just blurted it out and I could tell dad was caught off guard. Ustin, who had been eating and listening to us going back and forth took the cue and left after saying a couple of quick good afternoons. I’d meant to ask him one day when the time was right and something just compelled me. I looked over to see if he was mad, but thankfully he just looked a bit rattled, not angry.

  “Yes, your mother knew what I was. She’d accepted the fact that one day she would not be here and I’d still be living on. “

  “How did she find out? I’m pretty sure that isn’t something you tell over coffee and eggs one morning.”

  ****

  I can’t believe I bought that ring. I was pretty sure Julie would hate me forever when I told her the truth, but that salesman was so good. Just a shade under two thousand dollars later and I had an engagement ring in my hand, even sized just about right.

  I told her to meet me in the park around nine so we could go for a walk before a late dinner as I had a meeting to attend to. The skating rink I’d purchased a few years back pretty much ran itself, but I needed time to collect my thoughts. Julie had the right to know the monster I truly was.

  I got to the park a few minutes early and there was no one here. Of course, it is the middle of winter and most people are home by the fire. As fate would have it, Julie loved the cold weather as much as I did. We were kindred spirits. If we were both elves, we would’ve had glowing marks on our palms and their silly shamans would’ve bound our spirits together forever. I just hoped what I was about to do didn’t ruin her life or anything.

  I started a few months earlier prepping for this day by introducing her to the Norse mythology written here in Midgard. It got most of the major point’s right even if it made those insufferable Aesir out to be gods. I bet Odin planted that seed in everyone’s mind. Julie, being an incredibly well read girl, took to the subject immediately and soon became something of an expert on it. I guess we will see if it paid off.

  “Fred, I am surprised, you are actually early for once.”

  I turned around and she was here, smiling. She looked like one of those angels I heard about in the church I attend with her. It’s the small moments like this that I’m beginning to believe there is something higher out there guiding us.

  “Julie, you’re as beautiful as ever. I can’t believe you’d fall for some lone wolf like me.”

  “Oh stop it, you big wonderful man you. Now are you going to keep acting weird or are you going to ask me to go for a walk with you?”

  Taking her hand, we started to walk down the path that leads into the heart of the park. It was a beautiful night out with the moon shining as brightly as ever. We told each other about our days, I guess her partner at the law firm sent a motion to the wrong judge and that paperwork that came with it was a complete disaster. When she finished the story, I decided it was time to man up.

  “So thanks to Yvette, I had about two hours worth of work that I didn’t need to do.”

  “Julie, there’s something I need to tell you.”

  “Huh? Is everything okay?”

  “Promise no matter what you won’t hate me okay?”

  “I don’t see how I could hate you, but I’ll bite. I promise.”

  “Thank you. You know those old myths I got you into reading? About Odin, Thor, and so on?”

  “Yeah, they are good stories. What about them?”

  “They aren’t stories.”

  Before she could respond, for the first time in a long time, the tattoo on my shoulder came to life and I shifted from my human form back into my original form. At first, I don’t think it even registered with her what had happened but then her eyes got incredibly big and her mouth formed the perfect O shape.

  “Julie, my name isn’t Fredrick Skelton. My real name is Fenrir.”

  ****

  “Stop it, you told her right before you planned to propose to her? Are you insane?”

  His sanity aside, I had to give dad credit for having a serious amount of guts. Most guys I knew could barely propose to a girl without having a breakdown. Dad, on the other hand, first told her he was a giant wolf and then I assume still proposed as I knew they were married.

  “Well, your mother certainly questioned her sanity for a few minutes. If I remember correctly there was a lot of disbelief, pointing, and even a little bit of crying. Eventually, I switched back and showed her the ring I’d bought. At this point she started crying again, from joy I think, and told me I was a giant idiot for not telling her sooner and that yes she’d marry me because I was a good man.”

  “I bet mom would be the only person nuts enough to say yes to you huh?”

  We both laughed at that fact. Mom was the only person crazy enough to put up with dad. I remember her friends always saying that dad was a bit eccentric and they didn’t know how mom dealt with it.

  “Well enough of this Jack, we have work to do. Come on, it is time I show you where your old man keeps his vacation home.”

  Chapter 38 - Control

  We’d been walking for quite some time after leaving the Darklighter stronghold. The cave went down quite a ways and the lanterns weren’t as closely spaced as they’d been closer to the surface. I was keeping close to dad as he led us down towards his home or as I called it, his prison. I was about to annoy him with the ‘are we there yet?’ line of questions when he stopped.

  “Around this corner is where they kept me. It might be hard for you to see, but this is part of who I am.”

  I nodded and we rounded the corner together. We had reached the end of the cave and the area was lit up by a number of lanterns hanging up. It took a moment but then the scene started to dawn on me. There were giant chunks of rock taken out of every wall. Dried blood stained a good amount of the floor, but I saw no bodies or bones.

  In the center of the room was a massive stalagmite that had an iron anchor drilled into the side. Connected to the anchor was a broken chain that still shined brightly, as if nothing could tarnish it. Only at the end, where it had been broken, was there any signs of discoloration. The ends were charred black, probably from where the dagger sliced through.

  “Dad, whose blood is that all over the place?”

  “Jack, it’s mine. The chain was wrapped around my neck so that if I struggled, it would cut against me. Sometimes when I struggled too hard, it opened wounds on me.”

  The scene was too much for me to take. No one deserved this kind of inhumane suffering. Dad probably would have been better off if they just had killed him. “Who did this to you?”

  “Two Aesir named Tyr and Hod on Odin’s orders. I was no match for the two of them at once; however I did bite off Tyr’s hand as he was tying the chain around me.”

  I could mentally picture what’d happened. I felt the heat of the anger starting to burn over me. At that moment, dad removed Icing from his jacket and handed it to me. I could feel it calling to me so I grabbed it.

  “Jack listen to me, it’s just the two of us here, okay? We can only learn control if we bring these feelings to the surface. You know what’s happening this time, so fight to control it.”

  The feeling of immense pressure was returning along with my sight getting a red haze to it. The people who did this to dad needed to be taught a lesson, an eye for an eye. If dad was too weak to do it himself – no, that’s not me. Dad’s the strongest person I know. I needed to let go of these feelings, the hate and rage.

  I screamed at the top of my lungs, “This is not me!”

  I punched the wall closest to me with my left hand. The force generated was great and the cave wall cracked and steam hissed off of it. I looked over at the chain lying on the ground. The feelings of hate and rage just boiled under the surface but I still had some semblance of control. With Icing in my right hand, I slash
ed down on the chain, breaking another small piece off.

  “Jack, I think it’s time to give me the dagger. You’ve done well to fight back, but we need to take it slow.”

  He was right, I could feel the temptation to let loose right there. This chain represented everything that was wrong with Asgard. Just looking at it made me sick, so I did what felt right. I crushed it.

  ****

  Master Fenrir looked like he had seen a ghost. I was with father when he came into the library saying he needed to talk now. We stopped what we were doing and listened to his story. By the time he finished, both father and Fenrir both had the most worried looks on their face that I did not understand.

  “All Jack did was destroy a chain. Surely it was due to the energy flowing through him augmenting his own strength somehow. I do not understand the worry?”

  “If destroying Gleipnir was that easy, I would’ve done it long ago and had no need for that dagger. The fact that the dagger worked was a miracle on its own. I fear I’ve done something terrible.”

  “Fenrir, please tell me you are not thinking what I am.” Father’s face went from worried to downright afraid.

  “I am Hargna. When I went against prophecy and left for Midgard peacefully, The Norns must have devised a backup plan. By giving him my blood, I may’ve created the very thing I never wanted to be, the harbinger of the Ragnarok. We must never tell him. Never.”

  I laughed, that was ridiculous. Jack would never do that. “Master Fenrir, I think you do not know your son that well then. He would never do such a thing.”

  “Not intentionally no, but I saw the rage of the wolf under the surface. If he went out of control, seriously out of control, I have no doubts if given the chance, he could kill Odin himself.”

  None of us spoke for a moment. I still could not believe it. Even if there was only a slim chance of that happening, there was only one thing we could all do. We had to get Jack back to Midgard.

  “I am sorry if I am interrupting a meeting.” The voice brought us all down from our own thoughts. I turned and saw Azmodeous was standing by the door. What was he doing here?

  “Lord Azmodeous, no it was nothing. Fenrir was just telling me a few things he observed while overseeing a training exercise.”

  “Ahh excellent, any insight you can give us to better protect ourselves is most appreciated. Hargna, I would like a word with you about your idea regarding a treaty with Valhalla.”

  Father nodded and they started to walk out of the library when Fenrir did something most unexpected.

  “Lord Azmodeous, can you lock up this dagger?” He handed him Icing. I wondered if Jack knew. “It’s a rare treasure I discovered in my journeys and I think it’d be safest locked away in the royal vault.”

  Azmodeous looked at the dagger and there was something off about the look in his eyes. He quickly put the dagger into a hidden pocket on his robe. “Of course Master Fenrir, your treasures are our treasures. Nothing ill will come of it.”

  ****

  I wasn’t happy. I can’t believe they gave my dagger to Azmodeous to lock away in some dark elf hidden treasure vault. Both dad and Rumil, over dinner, said it was for the best right now and that if I trusted them I should trust their judgment as well. I trusted them alright, but it still didn’t mean I had to be happy about it. They didn’t understand my feelings though. Besides a head full of scraggily white hair that I was sporting, that was the only thing dad had ever given me and it was gone.

  “I talked to Algrim, he said swing by his shop in the morning and he’ll let you pick something out. He also said he has something he wanted you to see anyways. The big oaf wouldn’t tell me what he was up to.”

  I played it cool. I knew exactly what he was up to so that made me feel a bit more cheerful. “I guess I now have a reason to go check his shop out.”

  “You have never been down there. I would be most happy to take you down there.” Crap, Rumil couldn’t come along and risk ruining the surprise later.

  “Thanks Rumil, but if it’s okay with you, I’d like Tymon to go with me. He knows my fighting style pretty good and can help me pick out a weapon. Besides, you scare him.”

  She huffed a bit but I knew she wasn’t mad. “Humph, fine I have work here to do anyways.” I also am pretty sure she muttered under her breath that she wasn’t scary. Dad laughed and told us he was off to get a flask of wine and call it an evening.

  “The staff does not think he sleeps in his room. They all say that the room appears to have never been used.”

  I knew where he was going though. I kind of figured it out after the first few nights but never said anything for his own privacy. “Rumil, I’m pretty sure he goes to his cave every night to be alone. I think he misses my mom and his siblings.”

  “He must be so lonely. I wish there was something that we could do for him.”

  I thought about it. I don’t think there was anything we could do for dad other than be here for him. Maybe one day we’d have the chance to reunite him with either his brother or sister.

  “Jack, let us go for a walk. You have been here for so long and you have seen so little of Svartalfheim.” She held out her hand and I took it. I figured tomorrow I would finally get to see it and maybe because I was going with Tymon she felt the need to show me tonight.

  We went back to her room and I grabbed my jacket. I asked her if she was going to switch from her dressy boots to more comfortable shoes and she looked at me like I was crazy. I should’ve known by now, it doesn’t matter the race, women are always more graceful then men, even in high heels.

  When we left the cave and started to descend into the valley, I was really glad I made that pit stop to grab my jacket. Where the cave was a little cool in the morning and evening, the valley was downright cold. We passed other elves on our way down and all of them stopped us to say good evening in Druhir.

  I actually recognized more than I figured I would and even those I hadn’t met yet had heard rumors and were pleased to make my acquaintance. Each one of them made me place my palms on theirs as per custom and each time the blue glow of friendship appeared. Seeing them so excited it made it that much harder to comprehend what they were all capable of. These were a people whose skills were in subterfuge and assassination.

  When we made it to the bottom of the path, I figured we would go into the central market area but Rumil veered us off to a more hidden path to the left. It twisted and turned for a little before it opened up to a lake. The moon was hitting the water perfectly and she lead me over to an area where there seemed to be a stone bench. We sat down and for a few minutes just enjoyed the quiet and beauty of the area.

  “No matter what happens Jack, I will be there for you.”

  Oh no, was there something going on that I didn’t know about? “I know you will. Meeting you has been the best thing that could’ve happened to me.”

  She gave me a bit of a sad smile. “I am serious. Just know that from this point forward it is my word to you that I will get you home to Midgard.”

  “Rumil about that. Maybe it would be better if I stayed here. After everything that happened, how can I go back? And if I did, I’d have to say goodbye to you.”

  “No Jack, you cannot stay here. This is not your home and as happy as we would be together here, I know one day you would want to go back.”

  “Rumil, do you not want me around anymore?”

  “I want the exact opposite. That is why I am going to go to Midgard with you!” Her face lit up like a Christmas tree. “Izek has already perfected a rune that would give me more of a human complexion.”

  I didn’t know what to say. Obviously she had already put some thought into this if she had a rune to look less blue. “Won’t you miss it here, not being around your dad and friends? Besides, weren’t you close to taking over the head of clan duties too?”

  “My father would grow bored if he did not have his duties to perform, so I am helping him out too.” She laughed for a moment and then went one.
“In all seriousness though, I will miss it here but I would miss not having you around even more. Please understand this is my decision and I am at peace with it.”

  “Maybe we can come back and visit? I mean who knows what my crazy dad will do. He might stay here with your dad and they will run the place into the ground.”

  “That is a scary thought indeed. Yes maybe one day if The Norns are on our side, we will be able to visit whenever we want.”

  From that point on we just sat on the bench, holding each other’s hand. I know I was just lost in thought wondering how this whole story would play itself out. From the look in Rumil’s eyes I’m pretty sure she was too.

  Chapter 39 - Proposal

  “So Algrim, I guess, for what seems like the one hundredth time since I got here, I need your help.”

  Tymon and I made it down to the shop pretty quickly. He wanted to check out some short swords and maybe a new bow. He kept pestering me the whole way down what sort of weapon I was going to pick out, but I had no idea. I wanted my dagger back, but I knew that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. I guess Algrim could tell.

  “Do not worry my friend. You made a promise to control the energy inside of you, but we both knew it would take time. One day when you are ready, the dagger will find its way back to you. When that happens you will be ready.”

  Stansky would like this guy. They both had the same personality, a bit over the top most of the time, with a streak of Gandhi when needed. I wondered at that moment if Stansky thought I was dead. If I ever made it back, I owed that guy the truth, no matter how crazy he thought I was.

  “For the immediate future though, I have a few items that I think would go well with your gauntlets. Let us take a look shall we?”

  So Algrim and I rustled through his inventory of all things sharp and pointy. Nothing felt right and I eventually decided that until I was ready to take back Icing, I would just fight with my fists.

  “I think that is a good idea Jack. There is nothing like a good round of fisticuffs to get the blood pumping. Besides, most of us in the realms are used to fighting someone with a weapon of sorts so using just your fists might be an advantage.”