Debriefing
Daucus and Laharu were able to repair my foot soon after they arrived, leaving nothing but a lingering soreness when I shifted into my Aesir guard shape. As soon as I was able to walk, Aizerue, Loki, and I were brought to a secure conference hall where we were met with Odin and Frigga, both looking grave. Odin’s pair of black avians, which I’d only caught a few glimpses of since our introduction to Asgard, were perched on his shoulders. It had been obvious from my first glance that they weren’t ordinary animals, but at the time I hadn’t been able to work out more than that, and our attention had been occupied by many other things. Now I could see that their auras were masked with white and gold lines, like Odin’s.
Odin told us that his wards had given him the basic outlines of the attack on us, but he asked for a more complete report. Aizerue prudently avoided giving details about our security arrangements but otherwise eir narration was accurate and complete, so I followed suit when giving my own observations.
“Unfortunately, I was unable to send assistance more quickly because I was distracted by another attack happening simultaneously,” Odin said gravely. “One of our treasure vaults was breached, and although the Keeper repelled the intruders, the survivors were able to loot several items in their retreat.”
Aizerue frowned. “Was the theft a diversion from the attack made on us?”
“It is possible that the attack on you was a diversion from the theft,” Odin said, shaking his head slightly. “Or both may have been equally important. Aside from the timing, there’s nothing to connect the two events. The casualties of the attack on you seem to have been Marauders.”
“The bandits that Thor is investigating?” Aizerue asked.
“Possibly,” Odin replied. “In the past they’ve never been more than opportunistic scavengers, but if somebody has been organizing them, they could be used as mercenary troops.
“The guard that led you into the trap was captured and questioned,” he continued. “He is an actual palace guard, who was convinced that you were plotting to harm Asgard in some way. His memories are vague and confused, and he never saw the true face of the person who tampered with his mind, or had any knowledge of the robbery. The infiltrator who impersonated my son was able to fool the palace wards to get himself and his associates inside, a feat which indicates familiarity with our security, as well as knowing the best place inside the palace to set up an ambush. All of his associates in the attempt are dead. The group that penetrated our vault appears to have been a professional team hired from elsewhere in the realms, well-geared and prepared for their task.”
Loki testified that he’d uncovered information about the attack shortly before it occurred, but had also heard nothing about the theft. He’d left his usual aetheric tracer waiting for me at the entrance to our rooms, which is how he’d known where to find us, but he hadn’t been able to arrive quickly enough to stop the attack before it was in motion. He explained that Ragnar had contacted him and had asked for help and sanctuary, without mentioning the geas that had been put on Ragnar or my assistance in removing it. His aura roiled with golden curls as he spoke.
“Ragnar has asked me to keep him hidden for a while longer,” Loki concluded. “He’s still afraid of the influence of the person who tried to recruit him.”
“And who is that person, Loki?” Odin asked.
The Jotun glanced at us before answering. “A representative calling himself Vidar, who claimed to have been sent by Ragnar’s father… Tyr Borson.”
I wasn’t the only one who hissed at hearing that name. Odin leaned forward with a startled expression I had never expected to see on that wrinkled face. “That’s impossible,” he stated flatly. “Tyr remains in exile. I would know immediately if he had left his prison.”
“So far as I know, he is still confined,” Loki said, nodding at his adopted father. “But he has at least one ally who is very powerful, capable of great magic—such as shapeshifting—and travel between the Realms without use of the Bifrost. Passing through the wards of Tyr’s prison would presumably be within his abilities.”
“Tyr is warded… more fully than you know,” Odin said, his voice grim. “But it appears this ally is in contact with him somehow, and he brought Marauders into Asgard. It also fits what Thor learned about the Marauders becoming more aggressive and coordinated—and the supposed dragon that has been leading them.”
“The fact that the former king of Asgard still lives is unwelcome news enough,” Aizerue said. I glanced back at eir, surprised at eir loss of composure. Eir aura was roiling with anger that e wasn’t trying to conceal. “We are attacked in your very halls, and now learn that the war criminal responsible has been allowed to—”
“Please excuse my elder’s—momentary loss of composure,” I said, taking a step back to stand beside Aizerue and putting a hand on eir arm. “It has been a difficult day, and…” At a loss to continue, I shot Loki a pleading look.
“On the contrary, I ask that you accept our pardon for not informing you of Tyr Borson’s circumstances.” Even Odin looked surprised as Frigga stepped forward, her expression grave. “As you might imagine, there were political forces that prevented him from simply being executed at the time. We kept his incarceration and exile quiet, both to discourage his supporters from seeking him out and to keep the tenuous truce we’d negotiated with your people.”
“Given the circumstances, I should think that his execution might be in order now,” Aizerue said, shaking off my grip. “Since he has shown that he continues to be dangerous, even in exile.”
Odin’s expression darkened, but Frigga was the one who replied. “Tyr still has influential supporters among our people. It would be all too simple for them to frame his execution so soon after your arrival as a demand made by your party, and a concession given in fear of threats. This could rally powerful Asgardians against the treaty.” She didn’t need to point out that the entire concept of a peace agreement was already tenuous, and that opposition could cause huge difficulties in the negotiations—or even reverse the process entirely.
Aizerue let out a frustrated huff, and I hid a wince. “Then let him be publicly tried, here in Asgard,” e said through gritted teeth. “When Thor returns with proof of his actions, and with the evidence of his lackey’s attack. We will not be involved, except as witnesses. Let your own lawmakers present the case against him, and his supporters will be left with his indefensible actions, unable to prevent his justly deserved fate.”
“Agreed,” Odin said heavily. “I will investigate and strengthen the wards around Tyr’s confinement, but the subversion of a palace guard shows that bringing him here would not provide more security. He will remain isolated, in exile, until the time of his trial.” As he spoke, the avians that had been perched so unnaturally still on his shoulders rose into the air and circled us. Odin looked up at them, and they croaked once, as if in reply to an unspoken command, before flying out of the room. There were no windows or open doors, no passages I could see for them to fly out of; they simply flapped into a thread of shadow, and when I blinked, they were gone.
“We sincerely regret the attack that has taken place within our halls,” Frigga said, with a small bow to Aizerue. “And we hope that this unfortunate situation will not detract from efforts in crafting a treaty.”
By then, Aizerue had regained eir composure. “Of course the negotiations will continue,” e said. “As soon as we are allowed to return to them once more.” Odin nodded slightly, but Aizerue held up eir hand. “However, I will require a few adjustments to our accommodations for our own security.”
“Such as?” Odin said mildly.
“We have developed a ward that we believe will prevent any form of scrying—potentially even blocking Heimdall’s sight.”
Loki didn’t move, but his aura flared with surprise. Odin narrowed his eye. “How would this assist your security?” he asked.
“It would allow us to ensure our privacy when discussing such matters within our own quarters,” Aizerue replied, “and enable us to move freely about without worry of our movements being tracked by potentially hostile parties.”
Odin frowned, but before he could reply Frigga spoke again. “There has been so much mistrust between our people for so long,” she said, with sorrow in her voice that appeared to be genuinely reflected in her aura. If she was capable of manipulating her own aetheric appearance, she was as much of a master as I had ever seen. “And trust must be the foundation of any hope for lasting peace between our realms. I believe that you have earned trust from us, and I can only hope that we may someday hope to merit as much from you in return.”
Odin leaned back, looking disgruntled, but he nodded. “We will extend this trust to you,” he said. “Is there aught else we may provide?”
Aizerue shook eir head, but I stepped forward. “Highness, there is one simple thing that would help set the minds of our guards more at ease,” I said. “If we could be provided with the means to alert the palace guards immediately in case of trouble, and activate a locating beacon at the same time, it might help prevent incidents like this, or at least prevent them from going as far as this one did.”
I was confused when Odin turned to look at Loki. “I have been—advised in the past that a similar system of communication and tracking could be beneficial to our security, but as I have said before, I doubt that the palace guards could be convinced to rely upon such methods.”
I realized that my mouth was open, and closed it with a snap. “But—it doesn’t have to be aetheric,” I said, trying to understand the objection. “There are very simple technological devices that are commonly used on other realms—”
“Asgard has no need for the toys of lesser civilizations,” Odin said, his voice sharp. “Our ways have sufficed since the time of the Great Beginning. We must maintain what traditions we have left.”
I couldn’t understand what Odin was talking about well enough to make any kind of coherent response. “I—yes, your Highness,” I said, saluting and stepping back. From where he stood behind his parents, Loki caught my eye with a very slight shrug. I felt that I’d just gained some first-hand understanding of the concerns of the New Constellation.
By this time, Aizerue had returned to eir usual level of serene calm. After a few more polite assurances, we were excused to return to our suite. Neither of us spoke along the way.