Preparations
The next day dawns bright and clear and Loki is up and out of bed in a flash. He begrudgingly agreed to go on the next hunting trip on one condition…
“I get to decide where we hunt.” Loki had declared.
“What? That is outrageous!” Their father started.
“I accept.” Helblindi had said in all seriousness.
“Blindi?” Their father said with some confusion.
“Let him decide. After all, a man makes his own decisions, right, Father?” Helblindi had said… and with that their father grudgingly accepted.
Now, after washing up and dressing, Loki strides confidently down the worn dirt road towards town. The small, bustling town of Yorksville sprawls out before him as Loki crests a hill. Once he reaches the city limits the dirt road becomes a path of paving stones. Soon the wooden homes turn into the brick-faced structures of storefronts at the center of town.
Loki makes his away along the busy street towards one brick storefront with a white sign with blue lettering saying ‘Barnes & Rogers’. The teen makes his way inside and as the door closes it silences the noise coming from the busy street allowing one a reprieve from the constant thrum of daily city life.
“Good morning, Loki.” The handsome clerk Steve says as he looks up from the checkout counter… a book opened wide before him. “What can I help you with today?” Steve then asks in his helpful way… which has always melted Loki’s cool façade… and the handsome book clerk is definitely one thing he will miss after he leaves, but such is the price of freedom from his family.
“Yes… I was wondering… do you have any books or maps of the area and what lays beyond Stark King’s borders?” Loki asks politely and with a warm, little smile. Steve looks thoughtful for a moment.
“Well… we do have a World Map in the reading room.” Steve says and heads past Loki to the next room. Inside are shelves of books but also a few plush chairs and a couple of lounging couches. Steve approaches a heavy curtain and tugs on the rope. The curtain parts and a map of the world appears… but there isn’t much detail aside from dots locating the largest cities and lines indicating the borders of kingdoms.
“Is there anything more local?” Loki asks and Steve hurries across the room to shelf with large books in the middle. The tall blonde bends over to grab one giving Loki a nice view of his perfect rear. Oh, how he is going to miss this!
“Sadly, this is it. Just an encyclopedia about the Kingdom of Stark.” Steve says as he pulls the book out and straightens up. They head over to the window and open it to the larger full view map at the front and then, after a quick scan of the table of contents, Steve flips to the page with the map of their area. Loki sees their town on it but there isn’t much in any direction. The Northern Mountains are closer than the next town. This isn’t called the northern most town for nothing.
“Damn. Maybe Alchemist Banner has something more descriptive.” Loki then says. He then gives the handsome book clerk a kind smile. “Thank you, Steven… for everything.” Steve smiles at the words.
“Any time, Loki. You’re always welcome here.” Steve says kindly. Loki leaves and heads down the street. The blonde book clerk watches his retreating back disappear amid the crowded road way.
Loki soon makes his way out of town and up another hill. The Alchemist’s stone tower comes into view standing alone against the clear autumn sky. Loki smiles at the sight as his feet take him down the wagon trail that breaks off the main dirt road towards the tower. He knows this path well and is delighted to see smoke coming from the chimney of the living quarters built at the tower’s base. Loki knocks on the door to the kitchen area. He opens it slightly and peeks his head inside.
“Hello! Bruce! Are you here?” Loki calls out and enters closing the door behind him. In moments, a shorter man appears from another room.
“Loki. It’s always nice to see you. What can I do for you?” Bruce asks as he looks over his specks to study the taller, younger male.
“Well, I was wondering if you had any maps of the local area and the surrounding lands. If so… might I study them?” Loki asks nicely. Bruce looks thoughtful for a moment and pushes his specks up his large nose.
“I think I have a few notable maps…” Bruce says as he runs a large hand through his thick, brown mane of hair. The speckling of grey is more prominent at the temples than the top. “Follow me, young Frost.” Bruce says and hurries through the living space to the spiral stairs that lead up the tall tower. At the top they enter Bruce’s observatory/study. The windows are all open and Bruce makes his way over to a chest which he opens and hastily looks for Loki’s prize.
“Here we are.” Bruce says as he pulls out a few rolled up pieces of paper and parchment. He unrolls each and sets them out on the table. One catches Loki’s eye immediately. It looks old and has a castle symbol up in the Northern Mountains.
“What place is that?” Loki says as he points out the strange castle mark.
“That’s an old map from over two hundred years ago. There are a few things that have changed since then… that mark was the capital of an old kingdom that reigned over the lands of the Northern Mountains. Asgard… I believe it was called.” Bruce explains as he finishes setting out the maps for Loki to inspect.
“What happened to it? Do you know?” Loki asks more than a little curious about the lost kingdom.
“Well, if I remember correctly… it fell under a curse and everyone left never to return.” Bruce starts then shrugs his shoulders. “But, in my personal opinion, I believe it fell on hard times... and everyone left never to return.”
“Hmm… I wonder why no one ever went back?” Loki mused mostly to himself.
“These things do happen. Sometimes people migrate from an area due to harsh climate conditions or desperate economic straits.” Bruce prattled on as he looked over the maps. “Here.” He then says as he picks up one of the scrolls. “This is the most recent map I have. Made a decade ago by a renowned cartographer I know.” Loki took the scroll… as well as the old one with the lost kingdom.
“Thank you, Bruce. You have been most helpful.” Loki says and smiles to the man that had instilled a love of knowledge in him.
“Whatever you are going to do, Loki… don’t go looking for that castle.” Bruce warns not fooled by Loki’s tone. The young man gasps and then tries to hide his fluster.
“I-I’m not. I was just-just curious… about the border-about-” Loki stammers and Bruce stops him with a heavy hand on the shoulder and a pointed look over his specks.
“Loki… it’s natural to want to get away from one’s home.” Bruce starts. Concern does color his fatherly tone. “But you mustn’t rush into something like this. There is real danger out there. Wolves are one… but so is getting lost and running out of food.”
“I’ve already factored those things into account.” Loki says with a bit of a petulant pout. Bruce gives an amused chuckle and shakes his head.
“One last thing, Loki.” Bruce says as he hands Loki a leather pouch. “Take this. It’ll guide you true for it always points north.” Loki opens the pouch and discovers that Bruce has given him a compass. He looks up and smiles at the older man. “Just remember, you can always come back if it gets too difficult.” Bruce says with a warm smile and squeezes Loki’s shoulder.
“I’ll see how it goes first.” Loki says meekly as he holds the maps and compass to his chest. “Still I thank you for everything… even your concern, Bruce.” Loki then adds and starts to make his way to the stairs. Bruce lets the boy retreat, knowing that Loki’d like to be alone at the moment. At least he spoke his concerns.
Once Loki makes his way out of Bruce’s living quarters, he finds himself running into his giant of a brother, Helblindi.
“Talking to the crazy Alchemist again, I see.” Helblindi states as he looks down at his little brother. “You should watch out, Loki… all that reading leads to thinking… which is a dangerous pastime. The ladies want a doer, not a thinker.” Helblindi says teasingly as Loki frowns.
“Maybe for you, you lugheaded cretin.” Loki retorts and storms off without a look back. He thinks it would be poetic justice if Helblindi winds up using too much of this super strong attractant and gets chased by the biggest stag in the woods. Such a sight would at least amuse Loki for years to come.