Odin passed Thjasse on the ground half a minute before Hrungnir arrived. It might as well have been an eternity for the giant.
For a brief instant, Odin was tempted to reveal his true self. That temptation was at least partly borne of the murderous expression on Hrungnir’s face.
“How dare you make a mockery of me?!” Hrungnir cried.
Deciding to maintain the fiction of Bolverk at least long enough to see if the giant would abide by his word, Odin said quietly, “No, good sir, I did not. You challenged my horse and I to a race, and I won it. You made me swear by the River Gjoll that I would abide by the wager. Will you do the same? Or is the word of Hrungnir worth less than that of a simple old traveler?”
Hrungnir stared at the old man for many seconds. Thjasse and the other giants regarded their leader, wondering what he would do next.
Odin stared back at Hrungnir, mentally preparing a spell that would reveal his true nature to these impetuous giants.
But then Hrungnir’s face softened. “Very well, Bolverk. I gave my word, and I will not have it known that Hrungnir the Mighty was an oath-breaker. Bad enough it is that I must now be known as having the second fastest steed in the Nine Worlds.”
Once again, the fly that had menaced Odin flew in front of his face. Waving it away with his hand, he gently squeezed Sleipnir twice with his knees, and the steed began to slowly canter back toward Asgard. This, Odin had decided, was a close enough call, and it would be best if he returned to the city and his duties as its ruler. Including, it would seem, musing on ways to deal with Hrungnir’s aggressiveness.
The fly, however, remained behind even as Odin moved on. The All-Father’s proximity forced Loki to remain in his insectoid disguise, but he knew that Hrungnir would not listen to the counsel of a fly. But as he hoped, the All-Father’s silly ruse provided Loki with an opening. Throughout the entire encounter, Loki had feared that the All-Father would reveal himself. But he did not, and that gave Loki precisely the opportunity he needed.
Once Sleipnir was out of sight, Loki whispered an incantation. His form shifted from that of a tiny fly to that of a giant serpent.
The giants cried out in shock at the sudden appearance of a serpent in their midst. Hrungnir simply stared at the new arrival. “What sorcery is this?”
“Fairly simple sorcery, all things considered,” Loki said, his voice low and hissing thanks to the reptilian mouth that he now had to wrap around his words. “I am Loki, and I would have words with Hrungnir the Mighty.”
“It has been some time since our paths crossed, trickster,” Hrungnir said dryly, “but I recall you having two legs, black hair, and fair skin, none of which are in evidence before me now.”
“As I said, fairly simple sorcery—but necessary, as I must keep my true form disguised lest Heimdall know I am in your midst.” Loki saw no reason to discuss the specifics of his house arrest with such as these. “But rest assured, I am Loki. If I recall the genealogy of Jotunheim correctly, you are a nephew of Laufey, which makes us cousins.”
Hrungnir laughed. “It seems my cousin has fallen on hard times if he must lower himself to speak before me as a mere serpent.”
“Be that as it may,” Loki said loudly to be heard over the chortling of Hrungnir and his fellow giants, “I am here to inform you that you have been tricked. The traveler who just defeated you and your precious gold-maned mount was none other than Odin himself.”
Hrungnir drew himself up to his considerable full height. “You lie!”
“Often, yes, but not in this instance.”
“Why would Odin have lowered himself to appear as so mean a presence?”
“For his amusement.” Loki tried to chuckle, but it came out as a hiss. “It would not be the first time the All-Father has done this. He does love his disguises, and you did observe that ‘Bolverk’ had but one eye?”
Hrungnir looked away, waving a dismissive hand. “That means nothing.”
“Who but great Sleipnir could so easily defeat your own Goldfaxi in a contest of speed?”
Hrungnir turned and gazed back over his shoulder at the serpentine form of the trickster.
Loki pressed his advantage. “Use your intellect, Hrungnir, or is your appellation of ‘the Brawler’ an indication that you know aught else? I suppose it is possible that there is another old man with a thick white beard and only one eye who possesses a horse that is faster than yours …”
As Loki had hoped, Hrungnir’s response was a mighty cry to the heavens. “How dare he?! He did this deliberately to make me look a fool!”
Silently, Loki mused that he himself would take over that particular role, but aloud he only said, “Hardly surprising. Your steed has gained a reputation, and no doubt Odin wished to teach you a lesson in humility. He is fond of such games. Why, he once did the same to my hated brother, Thor.”
Hrungnir turned to face the serpent directly. “What?”
“Thor was getting a bit full of himself—even more so than usual—and so Odin sent him to Midgard and entrapped him in the form of a crippled mortal. For the powerful thunder god to be trapped in so frail a form was a cruel and dire punishment indeed. And that was how Odin treated his own flesh and blood! Can you imagine he would treat you any better?”
Shaking his head, Hrungnir started to pace. “I should have known. And of course, old One-Eye came in disguise. Had Odin publicly challenged me, I would never have accepted it. Only a fool would wager against Sleipnir, and Hrungnir is no fool.”
“Indeed not.” Loki faked sincerity with those two words, as had the giant, for in truth Hrungnir had believed Goldfaxi to be the match even of Sleipnir before the race proved him wrong once and for all. “The question is, mighty Hrungnir, what shall you do about it?”
“All Asgard must pay for this indignity. For too long the Aesir have toyed with us, but it ends now. Tomorrow we attack Asgard and show Odin and his foolish gods that Hrungnir is not to be trifled with!”
“And it would be Loki’s pleasure to assist you in this endeavor.”
Thjasse spoke, then. “And what would the trickster demand in return for this assistance?”
“Indeed,” Hrungnir said with a nod to his lieutenant. “Loki aids no one but himself.”
“Can even the god of mischief not do a favor for family?” Another chuckle that translated into a hiss from his serpentine mouth. “Besides, just the knowledge that you will invade Asgard is enough to warm the cockles of my heart. I’ve no love for the Aesir, nor Asgard, nor Odin, nor his oh-so-favored son. In fact, should you kill Thor, I would be in your debt.”
Gazing skeptically at the snake, Thjasse asked, “You would forego the pleasure of killing your hated brother yourself?”
In truth, Loki would have preferred to do the deed himself, as Thjasse said, but he doubted any of these giants truly had the wherewithal to eliminate his brother. However, he also spoke the truth when he replied: “Though I would prefer that the thunder god perish by my hand, I have come to the conclusion over the years that it is best to be rid of him regardless of the manner in which that is accomplished.”
Hrungnir regarded Loki for several seconds before saying, “Very well. The invasion will commence at dawn!”
“And I will show you a pathway that is hidden even from Heimdall’s sharp eyes.” It was the same passage he had granted the trolls, one of many ways in and out of Asgard that Loki had either created or discovered over the centuries. The first had been a hole in the catacombs underneath the city, through which Loki had led the wolf gods and their allies. He’d found and made many since, and they had proven very handy at times. Sadly, none of them led directly to his keep, thus preventing him from using them to escape his current predicament.
“You will show Thjasse and me this pathway today, trickster,” Hrungnir said, “and then tomorrow we will attack, and the day after, Asgard will fall!”
Chapter Four
Loki’s fatal flaw—well, in truth, he had several, but this was the one that
mattered this day—was that he had a tendency to underestimate his rivals.
True, the passageways he’d provided for Baugi that enabled the trolls to penetrate the gates of Asgard were invisible to Heimdall—when Loki had so provided them. But Heimdall was not one to suffer a blind spot in his all-seeing expanse for long. From the moment the trolls arrived, he peered out amidst the gleaming spires of Asgard to locate the route the invaders took.
It was not long before he found it. And that discovery occurred before Loki’s decision to assist Hrungnir in his intended attack on Asgard.
As a result, Hrungnir’s invasion was not as much of a surprise as Loki had led the giant to believe.
From the outskirts of the city of Asgard—which he continued to flit about as a fly—Loki heard Heimdall’s blaring of the Gjallarhorn, signaling that the city was under attack. Dawn had only just come, and Hrungnir couldn’t have been within the city’s gates yet. Based on the giant’s plan, he would still be approaching the city from Loki’s secret passageway beneath the Ida Plain.
Loki, however, did not concern himself. Just the fact that Asgard was invaded again gave him a warm and fuzzy feeling.
As for Heimdall, after sighting Hrungnir’s invasion and blowing the Gjallarhorn, he was, as expected, visited by Hugin and Munin. After informing the ravens of what he saw, he remained steadfast at his post. Though he was, as ever, armed with Hofund, his enchanted sword, he did not join the battle, for his role as guardian of the Bifrost was too important. Indeed, it was at times such as this, when the city was in direct danger, that it became more imperative that Heimdall stand fast at the rainbow bridge, for it would not do for Asgard to be invaded from a second front even as they fought within the city walls.
Luckily, Heimdall’s good sword arm was not necessary, for Asgard’s defenders were well rested after their battle against Baugi and his trolls. Upon receiving Heimdall’s message as relayed by his ravens, Odin immediately summoned Frigga, Thor, Sif, Balder, Fandral, Hogun, and not only Volstagg, but also Volstagg’s wife Gudrun to his throne room.
Balder had been at his home, reading a letter from his former page, Agnar, who was visiting family in Vanaheim. Balder would have liked to have Agnar’s good right arm by his side, but he would never arrive in time. Besides, the lad had earned the rest.
Sif, Fandral, and Hogun had been drinking in a tavern, wherein several foolish males had challenged Sif to arm wrestle. Not a single one was victorious over the “fair maiden,” and each had to buy Sif a drink. Fandral had been encouraging people to bet, while Hogun kept his peace, as always. When the summons from Odin came, Sif defeated her last foe and instructed him to buy drinks for the house, since they were now being called away.
Volstagg had been home with Gudrun, putting their children to bed by telling them the story of how he singlehandedly drove Baugi and his trolls from the gates of Asgard. The children listened attentively and with bated breath, even though they knew full well that their father was but one of six who drove off the trolls. It didn’t matter, though, because it was how their father told the story that delighted them.
As for Thor, he had been on his way to Midgard, for Thor was a protector with two mistresses. For all that the responsibility of protecting Asgard weighed upon him, protecting Midgard did the same. While the people of that world no longer worshipped him as a god—save for a few cultists, though Thor did not encourage such behavior—he still took his duties as the protector of mortals quite seriously.
For many centuries, he had vouchsafed the mortals against threats both terrestrial and otherwise, and never had he wavered in his loyalty to humans.
Still, Heimdall would not have blown the Gjallarhorn without reason. Just as Thor knew he could leave Asgard knowing that Sif and the others would protect the Realm Eternal, Thor also knew that Midgard would manage without him. That world was well-stocked with heroes—the mightiest of whom were Thor’s comrades in the Avengers—and they would take up Thor’s mantle of safeguarding the mortals until he could return.
Thor flew past Heimdall on the rainbow bridge, waving to the guardian as he headed back to the throne room. Alighting on the steps, he saw Volstagg and Gudrun approaching.
“Why have you brought your noble wife to this meeting, Volstagg? Not,” he quickly added, “that her presence is anything but a benefit.”
Gudrun inclined her head. “You flatter me, Thor, but all I may say for sure is that Odin’s summons specified myself and my husband.”
Volstagg indicated the door. “We shall never learn the truth of the matter if we stand out here.”
“No indeed, my friend. Let us go to my father and learn what new foe threatens our home.”
Upon arrival, they saw that Sif, Balder, and Volstagg’s two boon companions were already present, as was Frigga.
“The Lion of Asgard has arrived, along with my lovely wife, and the noble Thor,” Volstagg said.
Fandral grinned. “Aye, we knew of your arrival by the quaking of the ground.”
Thor turned to the throne. “Speak, Father, and tell us why Heimdall has blown the Gjallarhorn and called us to battle.”
Odin spoke plainly: “We are invaded by frost giants.”
Fandral actually laughed. “Did we accidentally hang a sign on the city gates that reads, ‘please invade’?”
Hogun, of course, did not laugh. “Regardless of the reason, the frost giants will not be allowed to succeed where the trolls failed.”
Thor held his hammer aloft. “Hogun speaks true, Father. We shall again protect the city.”
“Be off with you, then,” Odin said. “As for my wife, you and Gudrun have an additional duty to perform.”
Even as the men departed—Volstagg looking confusedly at Gudrun on his way out—Frigga said, “What would you request of us, husband?”
“The frost giants are dangerous, and I fear that my own arrogance is at least in part responsible for their current attack. I also would not put it past Hrungnir to try to get at the warriors of Asgard through our children. Therefore, Frigga, I must ask that you and Gudrun gather all the children of Asgard and bring them to safety within the Vale of Crystal.”
“Will we be safe there?” Gudrun asked, skeptical that a crystal vale would serve as protection against giants.
Frigga put a reassuring hand on Gudrun’s arm. “It is a place of magic, Gudrun, one that will protect any within its walls and keep out those who would invade it.”
The wife of Volstagg nodded slowly. “Very well, Lady Frigga, if you say it is safe then I, of course, do not doubt you. But I must ask, All-Father, do you truly feel this to be necessary?”
“It has been some time since the frost giants came this close to Asgard. And Hrungnir has proven to be a deadly foe. I simply wish not to take the chance.”
“Of course, my husband,” Frigga said before Gudrun could object further.
Even as the two women departed Odin’s presence in order to gather all the children of Asgard and bring them to safety, Thor did lead his dearest comrades to the Ida Plain to face off against another foe bent upon invading Asgard.
This time, though, they were able to engage Hrungnir and his subjects before they penetrated the heart of the city.
Astride Golfaxi, Hrungnir led the giants out of Loki’s passageway and across the plain. He saw the half dozen warriors awaiting his arrival in the city and snarled. “Where is Odin? I would see him pay for making a fool of Hrungnir the Mighty!”
Whirling his hammer, Thor said, “Your foolishness is entirely of your own making if you believe that this day will end in aught but defeat for you and yours, Hrungnir.”
Smiling, Hrungnir said, “If I must go through the thunder god to get to his father, then so be it! I will deposit your cooling corpse at Odin’s feet like a dog at a funeral. And that funeral will be old One-Eye’s!”
And then the time for words was past, as Hrungnir’s giants stormed forward.
Thor tightened his grip on Mjolnir and instructed it to fly
him toward the leader of the giants.
But Hrungnir expected such a frontal assault from the thunder god, and he raised his club and swung it like a player in the Midgard game of baseball. The impact sent Thor flying through the air into the heart of the Ida Plain.
The others attempted to take on Hrungnir in Thor’s place, but all five were soon occupied by the mighty one’s subjects.
Sif found the way to Hrungnir blocked by three giants.
“Ho,” the largest one said, “’tis a maiden of Asgard!”
“She is comely for one so short,” said the smallest one, who still stood head and shoulders taller than Sif.
The middle one chortled. “Perhaps she will massage our bodies to relax us when we have conquered this city.”
“The only touch you will receive from me is that of my blade!” And with those words, Sif leapt at the largest, who was so confounded by the very notion of a woman warrior that he merely stood agape as Sif’s blade met his throat.
Angered, the small one raised his axe. “You killed Kare!”
The medium one whirled his mace. “He was our brother! Let’s get her, Pal!”
“You betcha, Gamni!”
Sif raised her own sword. “You will join your brother ere long.”
Pal and Gamni both charged at Sif, a frontal attack she easily dodged by ducking under their high reach. She attempted to thrust her sword upward to strike one of the brothers in the gullet as she dodged, but she was unable to land the blow.
Rolling on her left shoulder, she got to her feet and readied herself for the next attack.
Gamni again whirled his mace and swung it toward Sif, and she again ducked under it. But then she thrust her sword arm upward and snagged the mace’s chain, which wrapped around her armored limb. She then reached out with her other arm and yanked the chain farther up toward the spiked ball at its end, redirecting the ball toward Pal.
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