Aftermath
I’d spent enough time on Midgard to recognize the newly arrived humans as government agents of some kind, though they wore no uniforms or insignias. I tensed for conflict, but then saw the human that had been clinging to Thor release him and stride forward. Thor followed, looking more subdued, or possibly even abashed. I exchanged glances with Loki, and we approached in Thor’s wake.
“Excuse me,” said the one that seemed to be their leader. “Donald… I don’t think you’ve been completely honest with me.” It took me a second to realize that he was speaking to Thor. The other agents spread out, carefully watching all of us and behaving as if they were taking command of the situation. Their demeanor of calm control affected the natives, who began approaching and speaking to them cautiously.
“Know this, son of Coul,” Thor said, looming over the balding human. “You and I, we fight for the same cause, the protection of this world. From this day forward, you can count on me as your ally—if you return the items you have taken from Jane.”
“Stolen!” The human who had been by Thor’s side glared at the government agent.
“Borrowed,” the agent replied in a calming tone. “Of course you can have your equipment back. You’re going to need it to continue your research.”
“Chief! We’ve got a casualty here!” An agent was crouching next to Tyr’s fallen body. “He’s still alive! Call an ambulance!”
“He is the enemy responsible for what happened here,” Thor said. “The others were his servants, and all have been slain.” He glanced at Hogun, who nodded solemnly. “We—my brother, Loki, will return him to Asgard, where he will stand trial for his crimes.” The other warriors moved to surround Tyr, gently pushing the human agent away as they removed Loki’s knives, then helped the former king to stand and bound him.
“We were on our way to retrieve you from your banishment, in fact,” Loki said, walking forward to stand beside Thor. “Your actions here were as noble as could be asked of any hero of Asgard, and I will testify to that.”
I raised my head over Loki’s shoulder. “As will I. With the revelation of Tyr’s plotting, I am certain that my people will hold no animosity towards you, Thor.”
The government leader startled back, staring at me. “You’re—a dragon!” he blurted. There was a general shuffling and reaching for weapons among his troops, but none actually drew, waiting for his signal.
My wings fluttered in amusement as I nodded. “Indeed,” I said. “I hope this does not present a problem for you.”
“I… I’m not sure what I’m going to put in my report,” he said, waving at his agents to stand down. Several comments came to my mind, but I pushed them aside and only shrugged.
“Would you like to see that bridge I spoke of?” Thor asked his human companion, who nodded eagerly. Without any other warning, Thor whirled his hammer, lifting them both into the sky.
“Wait, I need to debrief you!” the agent shouted after them, then sighed and looked at us. I danced back a step, flaring my wings. Loki took my cue and vaulted onto my back. “We’ll meet you there,” he said to the other warriors, and I vaulted into the air, following Thor’s route with less speed.
“So… what happens now?” I asked, trying to sound merely curious before remembering that Loki would know exactly how I truly felt.
“We got home—to Asgard,” Loki said. “There will be some debate, but if you can convince Aizerue of Thor’s reformation, it should be simple enough to return him to Odin’s good graces.” I couldn’t see Loki’s face or his aura, but I could hear the tinge of bitterness in his voice. “Thor will be the heir again, and I will…” He sighed, tightening his grip on my neck. “I will have to decide what I want to be. I will never be king of Asgard.”
“You were born to be a king,” I said quietly. “But now that you know your true nature… why let that limit your ambition?”
Loki didn’t reply. I let him think about that for a minute, circling lazily around the Bifrost landing site. “There are realms beyond counting,” I finally continued. “The Aesir have built a beautiful prison for themselves, and their entire society is crafted to convince them that they are the pinnacle of civilization. But I know of worlds that would make Aesir weep with awe.”
I could barely hear his whisper. “Asgard is my home.”
”The humans here have a saying… home is where the heart is.” I could see vehicles carrying the Warriors Four and our prisoner with an entourage of agents, nearing the spot where Thor and Jane stood. “My people have a different saying—we carry our homes within us, which enables us to fly. And you’ve been set free.”
“That’s certainly an interesting perspective,” he said with just a shade of dry sarcasm in his voice. “It does give me an idea, though.” He stroked my neck and I shivered happily, spiraling down to where the others waited.
As we landed, I heard Thor explaining to his human companion that he could not bring zir back to Asgard now, but he would return for zir soon. I wondered idly if Thor would remember that “soon” for humans meant a matter of days, rather than years. That might be the least of their problems, of course—assuming Thor was reinstated as Odin’s heir, there was no way Jane could be approved as his consort. If he insisted on staying with the human as long as zie lived, it would mean putting off his coronation for at least that long… if not reopening the question of his fitness all over again.
Their tearful farewells were cut mercifully short as the bridge opened. I shifted back to my Aesir guard form, noticed the agent leader staring at me, and winked just before we were drawn up and away.
Odin greeted us at the Bifrost with his avian companions perched on his shoulders, looking more energetic than he had when I first arrived. He embraced Thor warmly. After an awkward moment of hesitation from both of them, he also embraced Loki, whispering a few words that made the young Jotun’s aura glow with pleasure. Odin ignored his brother completely, standing chained and glaring between the Warriors Four.
Aizerue and Frigga were also waiting outside the chamber. Frigga held her hands out to her sons, smiling, and I approached Aizerue with a formal bow. “Vidar is dead, and we have captured Tyr,” I said.
The diplomat waved eir hand. “Save the rest of the report,” e said. “I can see that there will be some interesting discussions and difficult decisions when we return to the palace.” A squad of guards clustered around Tyr, marching him down the long path to the palace, as the rest of us boarded skybarges. After a brief interlude, which I spent giving a quick sketch of what had occurred on Midgard in our suite while Laharu helped me finish regenerating my injuries, we were all called to a formal audience in the grand throne room.