Afi

After Brandt left me in the hallway, my heart beating fast and my mind racing, I hurried back home. I kept thinking of a way out of this, perhaps I could swear my loyalty to Odin elsewhere, convince him I would be better suited as an advisor or even work in the kitchens. Anything but the army. Anything but training. Anything but Thor coming after me with a weapon in hand.

I could understand Odin may have had conditions when I first arrived in the palace, but surely, he knew I would be wasted in the army, dead in the first battle. Surely my mother, who regularly has an audience with the king, would have told him my strengths are not with my fists, but with my mind. And one day with my magic. Or perhaps he did know this, and wanted me to use my magic to fight, the way my mother once did.

The business of my thoughts distracted me from the run home, and I was surprised when I found myself pushing the door open with force. I slammed it behind me, the adrenaline pumping through my blood. I stopped in the hallway, catching my breath, trying to calm myself.

‘Afi, what have I told you about slamming doors?’ my mother scolded as she rounded the corner. She paused as she saw me stood still, the blood drained from my face and a frightened look on my face.

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ I questioned, the sight of my mother, who had held this secret from me, sending anger coursing through me.

‘Tell you what?’ she frowned, although I suspect she already knew the answer.

‘That I have to join the army? That I’ve always had to join the army since the day I set foot in the castle?’ I asked, throwing my books to the floor in desperation. Maybe if I had known I would’ve started training since I could walk in a panicked effort.

‘I thought Odin would change his mind. I saw no reason to worry you,’ she explained, walking back into the living room. I followed her quickly, watching with furrowed brows as she casually sat down on the sofa.

‘Well, he hasn’t changed his mind,’ I snapped, but she kept her calm look.

‘Apparently not. I thought starting your lessons may have held him off, but it appears Odin has lost patience. I shall speak to him, Afi, you shouldn’t worry so much. Knowing how to hold a sword isn’t the worst thing, you know. It doesn’t mean you have to use it,’ my mother dismissed, waving her hand, telling me to leave her. She had a plan, it seems, so I listened and hurried off to my room.

Despite my mother telling me not to worry, I couldn’t help but worry. I tried to focus on my studies, to distract myself from the horrifying thought of joining Thor in battle. He was right, I would hold them all back, get myself killed. I decided to give up on my mathematics homework, instead wanting to practise my magic. If this was my way out, I would need to prove to the king it was a worthy reason.

The next morning, after a night of tossing and turning, my mind wandering and showing me images of battle and death, I attended my second magic lesson. My mother wasted no time getting started. After I had mastered the art of casting illusions on objects and other living creatures, it was time to work on myself.

‘Self-illusions are a handy skill to have. To be able to disguise yourself will be necessary throughout your life, and it’s also a bit of fun,’ my mother smiled. It was the first time she had smiled in this room, and I hoped it meant she was satisfied with my progress so far.

She instructed Loki to change his clothing, to cast an illusion that he was wearing his dinner robes. I looked to him, waiting for him to impress me as he always did. He paused for a moment, thinking of what robes he wanted to cast, then he effortlessly changed. The simple trousers and shirt he was wearing were gone, instead replaced with a robe I had seen him wear once before.

I recognised the green robe that rest on his shoulders, flowing down beside him, matching perfectly with a darker green shirt, tucked into his slim, black trousers. It was what he had worn during the last feast. The feast where he had sat opposite me, when he told Thor to come up with an original insult. I smiled at him; I couldn’t help it. Loki smirked back, but I knew he was just proud of himself. The outfit he had chosen meant nothing to him, just the one that had come to mind. But for me, it meant everything.

‘Very good, Loki. Now, Afi, your turn,’ my mother turned to me. I looked to the floor, trying to picture the robes I wanted to cast. I thought of the ones my mother picked out for me the same night, copying Loki, and choosing the clothes I had worn from the same feast. The cloak was a navy blue, the shirt a deep, midnight blue with brown trousers.

I cast the illusion just as effortlessly as Loki had. It was feeling easier and easier every time. The energy flowing through me exactly when I wanted, feeling as if I had control of it. I knew now the energy was from Asgard. The mystical energy it was built on, the energy used by everyone. I could harness it more than most, just as my mother had predicted.

After that my mother challenged us further. We started with images we already knew. Transforming into other people in Asgard. Watching Loki become Thor was a frightening experience, until Loki had a made a joke that my mother did not approve of. I transformed into Loki, realising it was his face I had studied the most, making the task far easier. Loki laughed as I did so, enjoying staring back at his own face.

We moved on to animals, Loki enjoying it far more than I did. I did not enjoy the feeling of being as small as a rodent, or as cold blooded as a snake. My mother dismissed us, telling us we would continue with illusions next week. We walked down the corridor together, slower than the day before as we weren’t running late.

‘I reckon that will come in really handy you know. Disguising yourself and being able to spy on people, no doubt my father will be happy with that,’ Loki said, not so much to me but more to himself. I nodded in agreement, the mention of his father making my stomach tighten. Loki turned and smiled at me. ‘And I’ll be able to pull far better pranks on Thor now, I can’t wait,’ he said with the widest grin I’d ever seen.

‘You prank him?’ I questioned. Loki hadn’t mention Thor to me, never speaking of anything other than magic during our lessons. I was excited by the thought of it, of Thor getting a taste of his own medicine. And of course, Loki would be the only one who could get away with it.

‘Oh, yes, he deserves it. Constantly smug and boasting about how he’ll be king one day. He knows best as I do father hasn’t decided which of us will take the throne, so I like to put him in his place,’ Loki told me, looking very pleased with himself. I laughed slightly, the awkwardness I felt around him fading slowly.

‘Pity he hasn’t learnt his lesson yet,’ I smiled at Loki, who nodded back at me, his eyes gleaming as an idea formed in his head.

‘Oh, he will soon,’ he winked before walking into the classroom. Thankfully the room was sparsely populated, only a few other students had arrived, so we avoided the hateful glares from Thor. I patiently waited for the lesson to start, my mind replaying the previous lesson in my head. I remembered the illusions I had cast, making a note to remember the feeling, how I had managed it, how I had controlled the energy that flowed through me.

Once the days lessons started, the distraction of magic faded, and I thought back to training. I would have to attend today’s session, my mother informed me of that this morning. I was nervous, of course I was. I did not know what to expect, and was certainly in for a terrible time. 

Another peaceful lunch was something I was looking forward to, a distraction from my grim reality of my afternoon activity. But it seemed the fates had other things planned. I as walked out of the bathroom, hoping to head to the lunch hall to join my class mates I was interrupted. Thor stepped out in front of me. His large frame blocking the hallway, a sly grin creeping across his face. 

'Where do you think you're going?' he questioned, despite knowing the answer. I backed away from him, although I suspected I wouldn't be able to walk down the other end of the hallway. 

'Uh uh uh,' Sif tutted at me as I turned around, finding her and Fandral stood smirking at me. 

'I've been nice enough to you, orphan. Keeping my hands off you, for my mother's sake. But corrupting my brother like this, making him believe its acceptable to associate with low lives like you. You have forced my hand, pig. I must teach you a lesson. I must remind you of your place,' Thor said, my back facing him as he stepped forwards. I did not want to see his face, to watch his tall frame creep closer to me. 

I was scared. Thor was angry. Something that was never good. His hand smacked down onto my shoulder with force, sending a sharp pain down my arm. Pain that only worsened as he gripped onto me, his fingers digging into my flesh. I held my breath as I watched Sif laugh. 

Thor pushed me hard against the wall, two hands now gripping me firm. 

'My father graciously accepted you into the palace, and this is how you repay him?' Thor spat at me, his face inches from mine. 

I had no words, knowing I could not speak louder than Sif's cackling. A cackling that suddenly stopped, replaced quickly by a scream. Both Thor and I turned to look at her, watching a snake wrap around her leg as she squealed and desperately tried to shake it off. Thor let go of me quickly, relief flooding through me. I should have run away, but I recognised the snake. 

The markings were so familiar to me, and I knew I had seen them before, I just couldn't remember when. Thor also seemed fascinated by the snake, trying to calm Sif down. 

'Shut up, let me see it. I can't tell if it's poisonous or not if you keep moving Sif,' he told her, trying to inspect the snake being shook around. She screamed again. 

'It's poisonous!' she cried, Thor not helping to calm her down. 

'I just said I don't know if it is,' he replied with annoyance. He grabbed her leg, swiftly stopping her rapid movements. He gently unwrapped the snake from her leg, holding it gracefully in his hands. I was sure I saw the snake wink at me, and then I remembered where I'd seen the snake before. 

As Thor admired the creature, a flash of green light blinded my bullies, Thor jumping back in confusion. Loki had appeared in front of him, knife in hand. My eyes widened. Surely he wouldn't. 

Loki chased Thor up to wall, Thor now pinned against it. Loki held the dagger firmly in his left hand, pointing it straight up at Thor's neck. 

'Do you really think I could be corrupted by a simple boy? Thor you really amaze me with your stupidity. I would recommend leaving mother's newest prodigy alone, magic is not something to be messed with,' Loki warned. He removed the knife from his brother's throat, stepping back with a warning look. 

Loki turned to me, grabbed my arm and dragged me down the hall. 

'Why didn't you defend yourself? Or at least run?' he questioned as he led me back to the classroom, with a tone of anger in his voice. It didn't look like I would be having lunch today. 

'I can't exactly attack the prince can I? And in case you haven't noticed I am much smaller and slower than Thor,' I argued back. 

'But you can hide from him. I didn't think you were this stupid,' he sighed, pushing me down into my chair, walking over to his own desk and sitting down, his back facing me as the class walked back in, ready for the rest of the day.