Fragments of your Soul (The Mirror Worlds Book 1) (38 page)

“The last possibility would be forging a band of life,” Byleist finally said in a deliberately calmer tone. “This would be by far the most complicated, but also the safest solution.”

“And what exactly is that?” said Arvid.

“A spell of living runes that binds your soul to a partner’s,” said Byleist. “From this point, the death of one also means the death of the other, which makes you part of each other’s family.”

“A marriage,” Loke summarized impatiently.

Arvid paused. “A marriage?” she asked in surprise. “What’s the point?”

“The key point would be to choose the right partner,” Katta said. “It would have to be someone from the bloodline of the royal family. Right now you’re nothing more than a human goddess, but this connection would make you an official part of the royal family of Isvirndjellen. An attack on you would no longer be an attack on a guest, but also a direct attack on the royal family.”

“The other countries of Jökutnjamargr would in this case be obliged to help us,” Byleist added, “even if there is the risk that Borkh would break the contract because of the past conflicts. However, Utstern’s help would be certain, and perhaps even some of the dwarven houses would support us.”

“You don’t really want to start a war because of me,” Arvid said, stunned. “It can’t possibly be worth it.”

“It’s not that,” said Loke. “It would be pure deterrence. Odin is not stupid. He would never risk a war of this extent. He wouldn’t only break a tercentennial peace, but also set the favor of his people at risk. It would clearly be the best course of action.”

“That’s what you think,” Naal remarked icily.

“And I,” Katta said after a moment’s hesitation. “Even if there would admittedly be a few problems to solve first. After all, the basic requirement is Arvid’s readiness for such a connection.”

Arvid hesitated. The idea of having to marry some giant was unsettling. Their size and strange appearance still intimidated her. The thought of possibly having to spend several years in an isolated area of the Ice Wastes, living in constant fear of discovery, was much worse though.

“It… would only be a sham marriage, right?” she asked finally.

“Of course everything would have to look correct,” Katta said, “but otherwise, yes, it would be a sham marriage.”

“And who would I have to get married to?”

“The question is rather, who would take this disgrace on himself,” said the Queen, eyeing Arvid almost disgustedly. Arvid turned quickly back to Katta. She didn’t understand why Naal hated her so much, since she had not done her any harm at all—on the contrary. Her trade with Loke brought Isvirndjellen and her family a decisive advantage.

“That’s the main problem,” Katta said with a gentle smile. It seemed as if he would ignore Naal’s remark deliberately. “His Majesty has two unmarried nephews, but both are not too fond of humans. There is also the risk that Utstern and Borkh would consider this a too-distant relationship. The best would be a connection with one of the royal sons.”

“I think I’ve already made it abundantly clear that I would never permit one of my sons to marry a human woman!” Naal flared up angrily. “It would be a shame for our house.”

“Which leads us to the next problem,” Byleist sighed. “My mother’s consent is required. Though my brother had already offered to take you for his wife yesterday, we now have no choice but to send a messenger to my father’s nephews. If both refuse, we will have to reconsider the first two options.”

The discussion was far from complete, but at some point the conversation began to turn in circles. Finally Byleist vigorously asked for silence and declared the council meeting closed.

The Queen immediately left the room without a word and with an embittered face, closely followed by Loke, who had seemed more thoughtful than irritated over the last hour. Arvid saw him disappear with a certain disappointment. She had hoped to be able to talk to him alone, but obviously it had to wait.

Hemett wanted to accompany Arvid back to her quarters, but to her amazement Prince Byleist took this task from his hands.

“Please forgive my mother’s hostile behavior,” he said after they had walked a few steps. “She doesn’t care for humans, to say the least.”

“I’ve noticed,” sighed Arvid.

Byleist smiled. He radiated a warm cordiality which Arvid never would have expected from a giant. “She’ll better herself,” he assured her. “In a week or two she might be able to see that it would be better to agree to a marriage.”

“And your brother would actually marry me?” said Arvid. “Why wasn’t he present at the council meeting?”

Byleist looked at her, briefly confused, but after a moment, his face brightened. “Oh, you mean my brother Helblindi,” he said. “His presence is currently needed down in the city, but he is already married anyway. I was talking about Loke.”

“About… Loke?” repeated Arvid. It took a moment until she realized, but then she stopped, thunderstruck. “Loke is your brother?”

For a moment Byleist seemed surprised, then he suddenly began to laugh loudly and uproariously. “You didn’t know?” he asked, amused. “That’s very much like Loke…”

Arvid shook her head. She didn’t feel like laughing—quite the contrary. Yes, it was just like Loke to leave her in the dark, and the thought made her angry. At the same time this information solved a series of puzzles, which she had been thinking about for a long time. Loke was born a giant; that’s why he liked the cold and preferred cold-resistant forms, and that’s why Old Jördisch was his mother tongue. He was Naal’s son; that’s why he didn’t treat her like a Queen. She was a part of his family. Now his strong desire to reclaim Isvirndjellen’s lost lands suddenly made sense.

“I didn’t mean to shock you,” Byleist said, still grinning. “You would think he would have given you such basic information, after you’ve been on the road with him for three weeks.”

“What if I told you that I had already lived under his roof for three months before that?”

“Really?” laughed Byleist. “And you managed to hold out for so long?”

Now Arvid had to smile. “I’m pretty good at handling chaos, you know?”

“That’s Loke’s good fortune,” said Byleist, now serious again. “You know, I just wanted to tell you that you ought not worry too much. The situation with Asgard may sound scary, but I’m sure we will find a solution. Reclaiming this land is of fundamental importance for all of Jökutnjamargr.”

“But why? The Ice Wastes are huge.”

“We have more than enough space, but you may have noticed that it’s quite cold.”

“I thought all giants are resistant to the cold.”

“Our food, however, is not,” said Byleist. “The number of places that are suitable for underground fields is very limited. We are completely dependent on trade with the dwarves, because we ourselves have very little fertile land. Not that we lack raw materials for trading, but the dependence on the dwarves makes us vulnerable. In recent years, more and more of the dwarven houses have decided to turn to the humans. Thus, there are always winters in which our people have to make do with the bare minimum of food and are plagued by hunger. We are constantly seeking new and better trade relations, but its construction often proves difficult.”

Arvid looked at him, concerned. “I’m… sorry to hear that.” She felt helpless. It had to be horrible to be responsible for so many lives and not be able to provide them with sufficient food. Arvid would have liked to make constructive suggestions, but she had none, and so she went on silently beside the dark-haired giant.

When they reached the hallway outside Arvid’s quarters Byleist finally stopped and went into a crouch before Arvid.

“I’ll let you know when there’s news,” he said. “If you wish to speak to me or my brother, you simply need to tell your servants. Otherwise, you may of course move freely in all of Sölunnir—your clothing shows that you are a high guest.”

Arvid smiled uncertainly and bowed her head. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Byleist rose again, but before he turned away entirely, he stopped again. “Oh, another thing,” he said, “You shouldn’t start addressing Loke with ‘Your Highness’. He once moved a servant out to the fields because he wouldn’t stop.”

Arvid laughed. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I don’t think I could bring myself to do so after all this time.”

The next morning Arvid was more than surprised when there was a knock at the door to her quarters and Loke entered. He still had the shape of a giant and was accompanied by an old man with white hair and long gray robes. Behind them followed a human servant, who was carrying a small wooden casket. Desrei, who was just about to comb Arvid’s hair, froze.

“You can continue afterwards,” Arvid said to her.

“Yes, my lady.” Desrei hastily jumped up from her chair, bowed to the visitors and retreated to the back of the room, where Mardun was standing.

Arvid got up as well, eager to see what Loke’s visit was about.

“I come with a matter of great importance,” Loke started. “This,” he pointed to his companion, “is the Njorkma, Sölunnir’s master of living runes and guardian of ancient traditions.”

The Njorkma nodded at her and bowed slightly.

Arvid also bowed her head in greeting. “I’m honored. What brings you to me?”

“My concern,” Loke replied in the Njorkma’s place. “He’s here to witness my proposal and your answer.”

Arvid looked at him in confusion. “I don’t understand.”

Loke sank down on one knee before her and held out his hand, which Arvid took after a brief hesitation. Even in this position, he was still taller than her.

“Arvid from the house of Bergen, daughter of Carl,” he said, eyes fixed on her, “please tell me who I am.”

Arvid’s confusion grew. What reply did he expect from her? She stared into Loke’s gray giant eyes and finally said, “You are… Loke. Loke of Isvirndjellen. You are Farbaute’s son and a god of Asgard. Is this what…?”

Loke nodded. “You know my name, and you know my origin,” he said.
“I know your name and origin and I’d like to ask you a question. Arvid, will you create a band of life with me? Are you willing to share the pain of its creation and join me on the last of all ways, no matter when I choose to take it?”

Arvid looked at Loke helplessly and didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t even sure what the question meant at all. A band of life? Then suddenly it occurred to her that Byleist had mentioned this in the Council the day before, and her eyes widened.

“Is this… a marriage proposal?” she whispered.

Loke looked at her intently. “Yes, it is.”

“But your mother…”

“She agreed,” Loke interrupted impatiently. “What’s your answer?”

Arvid’s swallowed and forced a deep breath. “Yes,” she finally managed to say. Her voice was so quiet that the word was barely audible. As if to reassure herself in her decision, she nodded and repeated loudly, “Yes—my answer is yes.”

“Good,” Loke said contentedly. He squeezed her hand and then waved at the servant with the wooden casket. “As a sign of our engagement you are to wear these hair beads.” He opened the casket, in which three shiny green beads were embedded in white fabric. Loke took them out and carefully placed them in Arvid’s palm, one after another.

“They stand for life, loyalty and death,” he said. “The tradition states that the beads are braided into the bride’s hair. However, since you’re not a giantess and your hair still doesn’t have the right texture, the Njorkma has determined that the beads may be passed like this. Your servants will be able to help you with braiding.”

“Thank you,” Arvid said, overwhelmed. Although she knew that Loke did not return her feelings and her marriage would just be a way to protect her life, her heart was beating rapidly. She looked at him and felt a warm feeling of happiness that would not disappear even when he released her hand again and rose.

With a questioning look he turned to the Njorkma, who nodded at him. “The engagement is hereby valid,” he said. “I will immediately begin the preparations.”

“You have ten days,” said Loke. “We can’t wait any longer.”

The Njorkma bowed his head. “Very well.”

Loke turned to Arvid, who had to put her head back to look at him. “I’ll pick you up tomorrow at the thirtieth hour. So that our connection is also accepted beyond our borders, it’s of utmost importance that the old traditions are respected and their rules are strictly adhered to. There will be a lot to explain.”

“Of course,” said Arvid, now with more composure, but still with a pounding heart.

“See you tomorrow then,” Loke said.

The Njorkma bowed his head in her direction, then the two left her quarters, together with the excited-looking servant.

Arvid stared at the closing door and could not believe it. Of course, the possibility of marriage had been discussed in the Council, but Naal had made very clear that none of her children would ever marry a human. And yet Loke had obviously managed to persuade his mother.

The thought was overwhelming, and a strong sense of relief came over her. She wouldn’t have to spend years amid icy mountains, fearing for her life. She would stay here in Sölunnir, perhaps even near Loke—at least if the Council was right and Asgard wouldn’t risk a war with the giants.

As Arvid turned around she was met by a strange sight. Mardun stood frozen in a corner and looked at her in shock. Desrei, on the other hand, was beaming and seemed to almost burst with excitement.

Arvid slowly sank into the nearest chair. “Mardun, I think I’ll need a cup of wine now,” she said. “All this was… very sudden.”

“At once, my lady,” said Mardun. He awoke from his rigid stance and disappeared through the door with rapid steps, while Desrei approached her cautiously.

“Forgive me, my lady,” she said, “May I… take a look at the beads?”

Arvid lifted her head and smiled. “You’ll have to help me with braiding anyway,” she said. She opened her hand and looked at the three shiny beads in it. They were a little larger than hazelnuts, had small holes and were decorated with strange silver symbols that she couldn’t decipher. They were not runes.

“They’re beautiful,” breathed Desrei almost reverently. “Oh, my lady, that’s just wonderful. Loke is the most beautiful giant I’ve ever seen.”

Now Arvid had to laugh, and it was very liberating. It was touching that Desrei was so happy for her, perhaps more than Arvid herself, but this wasn’t surprising. Her servant didn’t know about the real reasons for her marriage and the conflict with Asgard. On top of that Desrei had grown up here. The giants, their world and their traditions were familiar to her.

Arvid, on the other hand, was relieved, but also very insecure. What would happen now? She knew nothing about the local traditions and weddings among giants.

Shortly thereafter Mardun returned with the wine, which Arvid accepted gratefully.

“It’s hardly been an hour and the fortress is all topsy-turvy,” Mardun said. “Weddings between humans and giants are very rare. I don’t think that a member of a royal family has ever married a human.”

“Loke has always enjoyed breaking the rules,” Arvid said. “I would imagine that he wants to affront some of the giants, or am I wrong?”

Mardun nodded. “Yes, my lady, he will. Many of the older generations despise the humans. Quite a few would wish to take back Jördendheim by force.”

“Not the younger giants, though,” Desrei said confidently, “and not the dwarves. We have our country and the humans have Jördendheim, and that’s how it is. Who wants war? Even the constant conflicts between Isvirndjellen and Borkh get to me.”

Desrei had quickly brought three strands of Arvid’s hair to the right thickness. She carefully rubbed and combed them against the direction of hair growth. In the meantime Arvid tried to learn more about the traditions of the giants.