Accusation
I slept during the rest of the trip back to the palace. When we arrived, Loki insisted on walking back to the suite with me, which I appreciated. I was strong enough that I probably could have made the walk on my own, but now I had a piercing headache, accompanied by stabbing pain in my eyes whenever I looked at a light source. When the doors opened, Loki had a brief conversation with somebody—probably Aizerue—which I completely missed, as Daucus and Laharu immediately carted me off to the sauna. I wanted to talk to Daucus about what we’d done with Ragnar, but I didn’t have the concentration to resist their gentle insistence on doing a thorough pattern check and mending on me. I fell asleep in my natural form, and when I woke I felt much better, though still not up to my full strength.
It was very fortunate that I was restored enough to play my guardian role again, as the next morning our entire party was summoned to a smaller, private throne room early in the morning, before the regular time for negotiations. Odin and Thor were present, as well as Thor’s companions, who I’d learned were known as “the Warriors Three” despite the fact that there were obviously four of them. The fourth was “Lady Sif,” a celebrated anomaly for being a female Aesir champion. I knew that in the history of Asgard both males and females had been considered equally capable of being warriors, and there had even been an all-female regiment of elite fighters known as “Valkyries.” I guessed that this might have changed during the era of peace, when Asgard did not need every hand that was capable of holding a weapon to do so, and most martial pastimes were relegated to hobbies or career soldiers.
I didn’t spare much thought for which of the four might be female, since as soon as we entered the royal presence all of us were acutely aware of Thor’s rage. His companions were calmer, and two of them seemed uncertain and even nervous about Thor himself, but the other two were also angry, and powerfully armed.
Odin’s aura was a blank mask of white and gold lines. I didn’t know if this reflected his ability to manipulate his aetheric pattern, if it was an effect of his office, or of the powerful weapon, Gugnir, that never left his side and which blazed with strength that rivaled Thor’s hammer.
We approached the throne and knelt, fists pressed to our chests. “You may rise,” Odin said, his demeanor as calm as ever.
“My son believes he has found proof of your treachery,” he said as soon as we were standing, with the same serene detachment. I suppressed a blaze of surprised agitation in my aura, as I was sure the rest of us were doing. Without knowing the extent of Odin’s aetheric powers, we had to assume he could read us as easily as we read other Aesir.
“I don’t believe, I know it for fact!” Thor snarled. “We tracked down some leaders of the bandits that have been causing us trouble across the realms, who told us that they have been given encouragement and resources from the claws of a dragon, an envoy from Nastrond. Some of them were armed with weapons far beyond what their primitive cultures could have made—weapons that could only have been brought to them along the secret paths, that are well-known to you devious wyrms!”
“What have you to say about this information, Niddroghn?” Odin asked, his tone still impassive.
Aizerue stepped forward. “There are two points that come to mind, Highness.” Our senior diplomat’s voice was as even and untroubled as Odin’s. “The first is that, just as Aesir are free to travel between the realms for their own purposes, so too are our people. We cannot monitor or control the secret ways in the same manner that Heimdall watches the Bifrost. If only one Niddroghn chose to use those paths for ill deeds, it cannot be said that zie represents our entire realm.”
“A transparent excuse!” Thor snapped. “It would be easy for you to set one serpent on this task, and then deny knowledge of it when the deeds were exposed!”
Odin tapped the butt of his spear once on the podium. It should have made no more than a small thump, but instead a tremendous boom rang through the entire chamber. “You have had your say, and will have the opportunity to speak again,” Odin told his son calmly. “Do not interrupt.” He turned back to Aizerue and nodded. “Please continue.”
“My second point,” Aizerue said, “is that we Niddroghn are not the only people who are capable of weaving illusions. It is possible that those you spoke to had been deceived by someone wishing to pose as one of us, either to discredit our mission of peace here, or for other purposes.
“I have a suggestion that may address both of these points,” e continued placidly. “We have the ability to take a person’s memories from zir mind, and show them as an image to others. I believe this power is also known to the technomages of Asgard.” Odin nodded again. “Through this image, it is possible to inspect the aetheric properties of things the person has seen, even if zie has no ability to detect aetheric currents zirself. To solve this mystery, I would ask that another of these troublemakers who has seen the supposed dragon first hand be apprehended and brought back to Asgard for more careful examination.”
By the time Aizerue finished, it was possible to see that the Warriors Four approved of this proposal even without being able to read their auras. One of them was actually nodding agreement. Thor’s expression and aura still showed sullen rage, but he didn’t seem to have an objection to the idea.
“This is what shall be done,” Odin said. He turned to look at Thor. “You will take your warriors and find a person who has seen the supposed dragon, capture them, and return them here, alive. Go now.” The Warriors Four saluted and bowed. After hesitating a beat, Thor did the same, then glared at us and marched out of the room with his companions in tow.
Once his son had left the circle of columns, Odin seemed to relax somewhat, though his aura was still unreadable. “Unlike my heir, I know that every ruler must content with subjects who will take action against his wishes, and I recognize that this person may be a renegade.”
Aizerue bowed eir head. “I have the authority to speak for my people when I say that if it is found that the troublemaker is Niddroghn, we will gladly lend any and all support required for that individual to be apprehended. I am confident that once in custody, we will be able to demonstrate beyond doubt that zie acted as an individual, without our approval or knowledge.”
“That is as may be,” Odin said heavily. “However, if it is found that the person behind these troubles is in fact a dragon, Thor is not the only one who will be incensed against you. It will create difficulties that may hinder the treaty from going forward.”
“I understand, Highness,” Aizerue said. After a formal exchange of farewells, we were herded out of the throne room and back to our suite.
A herald arrived soon after and informed us that there would be no conferences until Thor returned with a captive, and we were diplomatically requested—though not ordered—to stay in our rooms for the duration. Being elders, the diplomats had little difficulty settling themselves to wait patiently. I gave my report about what had happened with Ragnar, and the elders agreed that I’d generally done well, although Daucus said some pointed things about my work on Ragnar’s aetheric pattern that made me wince. After dismissing me, the two of them retreated to the largest bedroom suite to discuss their negotiations and plans.
I took advantage of the unexpected break to spend the morning and afternoon dozing in my native form in the sauna. By the time I emerged that evening I felt completely recovered, though ravenously hungry. I scavenged through the remnants of lunch, just before the evening meal was delivered by the usual contingent of servants and guards. The soldiers were stoic as ever, but while the servants had previously been willing to at least exchange a few polite words, now they kept their eyes averted and worked in silence. After a couple of attempts at conversation had been rebuffed, we backed off and let them finish and leave unmolested.
“Word seems to have spread, at least among the palace staff, of our supposed treachery,” Daucus said, shaking hir head.
“Stuck in here with nothing to do, and now the servants won’t even talk to us any more?” Scathsa complained. “I hope Thor doesn’t decide to go off slumming and party for a month in Midgard.”
“I doubt it,” Aizerue said mildly from where e was sprawled out on a divan. “Thor was very angry, and it’s not in his nature to be tricky or subtle. He’ll be looking for fights, and it sounds like most of the fights easily available will lead straight to our mysterious opponent.”
“And if you need something to occupy your time with…” Malalik said, eyeing Scathsa.
The younger guard shook his head, holding his hands up in surrender. “I know, I know,” he sighed. “Drills, lessons, and training exercises. And I’ve already added that nifty pattern Loki gave us to our own wards, so you don’t have to fuss at me for that.”
“Only layered in, not integrated?” Laharu said, peering into the aether. “Seems a little sloppy, compared to what I’d expect from your work.”
Scathsa reared up angrily, already gathering aetheric threads in preparation for yet another round of ward-working rivalry between the two guards. Malalik rolled her eyes, but I saw the diplomats exchange a grin before they delved back into their own pursuits. I suppressed a sigh as Malalik gave me a significant look, and steeled myself for my own share of drills, lessons, and training exercises over the course of our confinement.