Power Play: Act 1 Svartalfheim (Ragnarok on Ice) (19 page)

“Upon investigation by Lord Azmodeous, it was discovered Mallerk had been both the mysterious archer that guided Baldr into Svartalfheim and also the assassin of King Oor.  No one was prepared for that to be the case.  Most of the clans are in an uproar and almost called an emergency vote to elect a new king.  They feel we need a king on the throne to strengthen our resolve.”

“Who would they vote in?”  Dad seemed to be rather curious now.

“Lord Azmodeous has the needed support, but with Hel coming and the uncertainty that comes with that, the vote is on hold.”

“That is a wise decision father.  You never know what information Hel may have regarding the Aesir and their role.”

After getting the latest news, Hargna and Rumil decided it was time to prepare for Hel’s coming and also go over more elf politics.  Based on everything I heard, I guessed I would have a lot of free time to work with Ustin before Hel got here.

And I was right – I had a lot of time to learn and train.  The next ten days were grueling.  I thought I was in good shape before, but nothing could prepare me for the tolls of training with Ustin. 

Each day was more and more intense as he critically analyzed everything from simple punches to entire combination of different strikes.  By the third day I remember him telling me I was fighting with the wrong style.  I could never match an elf for speed, an Aesir for strength, or have the force to quell a giant or a dwarf.

“Master Jack, I have decided to teach you a style of combat that has not been seen in many cycles.  Most dark elves no longer practice it as we have more practical styles that best use our physical gifts.  However, long ago there was a style called that translates into Common as ‘the path of the smoke.’  You will be my first apprentice to learn such skills.”

Ustin explained to me the theory and why it could work well in my benefit.  According to him it was a martial art that relied heavily on defense and being able to anticipate your opponent’s movement.  Keeping your limbs loose at all times, the idea was to be able to roll, duck, dodge, and generally be impossible to hit.  Ustin said a true practitioner was so hard to hit, that it was described as fighting smoke.

“You must learn to be able to open your mind and see before it happens.  Only then will you be able to truly master what I am going to teach you.”

So the next two days were spent with me not throwing a single punch or kick.  Basically, I was turned into Ustin’s personal punching bag.  Each day, after hours of exercises and sparring, he told me I was improving greatly but I didn’t see it. 

It wasn’t until the sixth day that something amazing happened.  In the middle of another session of taking a beating, it all just clicked.  My mind and body decided it was time to work as one and I successfully avoided a backhand that was aimed at my face, followed with a roll to the left to avoid a kick that somehow I knew was coming. 

When I came to my feet, Ustin had a smile on his face.  “Now we can teach you to fight back.”

By the end of our time training together, I was declared a practitioner of this secret kung-fu in some sort of ceremony to Hargna and Rumil the night before Hel was expected.  I never really got the whole thing with elves and everything needing to be a ceremony.

Rumil spoke up pretty quickly though.  “Master Ustin, if you may, I would be most interested in hearing your final evaluation.”

“Master Jack was a fine candidate for the old ways.  With a mind that was already very flexible, we shaped his body movements to match.  Now in the moment of battle, I would say none should be able to touch him.”

Rumil had a strange look in her eyes.  I wasn’t sure where this was going, but something seemed off.

“Is that so?  I would personally like to see a demonstration.”  Ustin nodded and got into a ready position across from me.  “But not with you Ustin.”

Huh?  What the heck was going on here?  Then like a flying monk of fury, Rumil leapt from her place beside her dad and was immediately on the attack.  Momentarily caught off guard, I took a solid punch to the face.  That brought back a painful memory, but it also jogged my senses back and immediately let Ustin’s training take over. 

The world slowed down and I could almost script for you what she was going to do next based on subtle hints.  Poor Rumil from that point on didn’t touch me.  It was like Ustin had described, every blow was always so close but never made contact.  It truly was like trying to hit smoke.  Soon she began to get frustrated and became sloppy.  Within moments I was able to slide behind her and I brought the clawed left gauntlet up to her throat.

“I yield.”

Hargna, Ustin, and the couple of guards posted in the hall all just stared at the situation for a moment.  I wasn’t sure if I was in trouble or not, so I began to sweat a little bit. 

Hargna broke the silence.  “By The Norns, I have not seen movement that precise in many cycles.  I thought you were over reaching in your assessment, but before us we have a true practitioner of the lost art!”

I lowered my hand from Rumil’s neck; obviously I never intended to hurt her.  As I did, she turned around and kissed me.  “Jack, that was amazing!  You were almost in a trance with your movements.  It was a most beautiful sight to behold!”

“Thanks, I think?  I just didn’t want to get slugged by you again.”

Everyone laughed at my misfortune being mentioned again.

“Master Jack, the first thing I told you was to always be vigilant.  Do not let a pretty face distract you or death will be waiting to greet you.”

“I hear you man.  This pretty face is probably the most dangerous being in all the realms.”  That got me a wink and a rueful smile.  Not to be distracted again, I turned to Hargna.  “Where’s my dad by the way?  I figured he would’ve wanted to be here to witness this.”

“Master Fenrir has gone back to his alcove in order to prepare to meet with his sister for the first time in many cycles.  He did ask me to have you go meet with him when we were completed here.  However there is one last thing that must be done.”

Hargna came down from his seat and made his way to right in front of me.  He removed his sword from his scabbard and held it up.  He was the first elf I had seen with a long sword.  I figured that most of them preferred knives or bows. 

He looked at me, man to man (err dark elf). “Please kneel before me Jack, son of Fenrir, from the clan Skelton.”  Whoa, this sounded pretty serious, so I did what I was told and kept all my smartass comments to myself. 

As I felt the sword touch the top of my head, Hargna continued.  “Rumil, of the clan Darklighter, please kneel beside your chosen.”

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Rumil get down right beside me.  The sword left my head and touched hers.  “Together may The Norns bind you two together for all eternity.  Let each of you be the strength to the other.  Most importantly, may the love that you are fostering know no end.  As my right as one trained in the shaman arts of Svartalfheim, I proclaim the union bound.”

Both of us turned to each other with the same shocked look on our face.  Everyone who was present didn’t say or do anything as Hargna sheathed his sword and walked back to his seat.  He finally turned around with a very elfish grin on his face and said, “Go on and get out of here now.  Celebrate your union together.”

“Did you know what he was doing?  I had no idea your dad was a shaman by the way!  You’re holding out on me again!”

We were walking to dad’s alcove right now and I think the meaning of the matter had overwhelmed us both.  Hargna it seemed had a mischievous side.  Without bothering to tell anyone, he’d completed the dark elf soul binding ceremony.  I’m pretty sure I would’ve liked to have been consulted on such matters.

“No I did not.  All that I was aware of was you were being presented by Ustin as the first in many cycles to have mastered the smoke arts and father wanted to see for himself.  I too was most curious and well I wanted to experience the thrill first hand.”  Dark elves and their blasted libidos for fighting.  “Are you upset that this has occurred?”

Uh oh, I needed to tread carefully here.  “No of course I’m not upset.  I just didn’t expect it with everything going on.”  Saving myself, “Maybe that’s why your dad did it you know?  Something to look back on as a happy moment to be grateful for.”

Bingo, right answer.  The look of uncertainty was replaced with a big old smile.  After everything the two of us have been through when I actually really thought about it, this was right.  I took her hand in mine and we continued the rest of the way in peaceful silence to go see my dad.

Once we made it there, we saw that dad was in wolf form sleeping.  Not wanting to get to close in case he thought he was under attack or something, I decided to yell from a safe distance.

“Hey dad, wake up man!  You’ve missed the boat again!”

His big wolf eye that was facing us opened up and he snorted, “Took you long enough to get here.  What was the hold up?”

That’s when the ever excitable elf beside me exploded with the news of what happened.  Dad for his part didn’t move.  Nothing’s quite as funny as seeing a giant, menacing wolf with a total look of bewilderment.  After a few moments, he came back to his senses and shifted into his human form.

“That crazy old elf!  I knew he was up to something when he told me he was putting this all together.  I just thought he was being all pretentious elf on me with another formal ceremony for something so token.”  He then went over to Rumil and hugged her.  “Welcome to our crazy family!”

“Hey dad, speaking of crazy family, what should we expect tomorrow with good old Aunt Hel coming to visit?”

“I’m actually glad you both are here.  Let me start by saying that Hel’s had quite a tough life.  She was the least favorite of the children to our mother.  Everyone says it’s because Hel was an ugly baby and to an ice giant she was.  She was almost a spitting image of our father, from her red hair to her blue eyes, there was almost no hint of ice giant blood in her.”

“Well you and my uncle Jormungandr came out as monsters, no offense, so I can’t imagine it was all biscuits and gravy for you.”

“We were celebrated as heralds of the eventual downfall of Asgard.  Hel was treated like a disease.  Eventually the Aesir came in the night, killed our mother and stole us away.  Jormungandr and I were both placed in prisons designed for physical torture.  Hel on the other hand was given her own land, Niflheim.    Odin being the conniving bastard he is, told her this was a huge honor and even renamed it Helheim.  It was only after she took the oath to be queen of the land, that the trap was sprung.  Frigga using her magic to expel Hel there and you can only imagine her shock to find that it was, in fact, the land of the dead.”

The land of the dead, that didn’t sound like a pleasant place to be stuck for all time as the queen.  I was starting to think dad and his brother may’ve gotten off lightly.  “You said he bound her there, so how is it possible she is able to come here?”

“As queen of the land of the dead, it is her rights to come to each realm once a cycle to make sure the fallen are treated with respect.  She chose this as her visit to Svartalfheim and Odin has no power to stop her.”

“I bet he didn’t think about that when he trapped her there did he?”

“No, he certainly did not.  Suffice to say, Odin acts first, rules be damned.  However, The Norns intervened and laid the bylaws down.  Even Odin himself cannot change them as he sees fit.”

“So why do you think she is up to showing up now?”

“I have no clue.  It’s been many cycles since I last had the pleasure of seeing my sister.  She could either come bringing tidings of helpful news or come bringing curses.  My last warning to you is she’s a bit, umm, unhinged.”

“Master Fenrir, what do you mean by the term unhinged?”

“That is Midgard speak for lacking sanity.  Think about it, most of her time is spent governing the dead.  The only live creature she has is that creepy hellhound Garm, so be prepared tomorrow.  When it comes to Hel, anything can happen.  Now head on back and enjoy your first night as two souls made one.”

On that note, we said goodnight to dad and made our way back.  Once we made it back to Rumil’s room, she sat on the bed and gestured for me to do the same.

“Take my hands Jack.”  When I did, instead of the normal cool feeling, it was replaced with warmth.  The marks on our palms were glowing.  “Close your eyes and look.”

The sensation was overwhelming at first.  Even though my eyes were closed I could see Rumil in front of me, but in many different colors swirling around.  “Whoa, what is this?”

“We see each other’s souls now.  The colors you see represent all the different emotions one is feeling.  No longer are we blind to each other.”

I started asking what all the different colors meant.  Blue was happiness, green was peace, and yellow was nervousness.  There was only one color left and it was starting to swallow up the other colors.  “Rumil, what does red mean?”

I felt her grab the front of my shirt and pull me in close.  After a few more moments I knew what red meant.  It was now my new favorite color.  Sometime later, after all the red had been subdued, Rumil recommended that we get some sleep as tomorrow could be a very unpredictable day.  I needed no more than just the suggestion and I was out.  That girl had stamina and virility that had no limits.

When morning came, Rumil was pleasant enough to wake me up gently by whispering in my ear that her appetite was not sated and to be prepared.  She then got out of bed like nothing happened, leaving me to my own thoughts.  After some breathing techniques and replaying old hockey moments in my head, I got out of bed and got dressed. 

I checked myself out in the mirror to see how I was doing and pleasantly surprised to see my hair was pretty much back to its natural dark brown shade.  The only evidence that anything had happened was a white streak in the front.  It actually looked pretty cool, so that added to the good feelings I was experiencing. 

The one thing that still seemed off to me was I looked a bit younger than I thought I should.  I know thirty isn’t old by any stretch, but the life of a hockey player is rough.  My five o’clock shadow was still there as it always was, but the rest of my face still looked less worn than I remember.  Maybe life among the dark elves is good for the skin.

“Quit admiring yourself in the mirror and let us be off.  Hel should be arriving at Lord Azmodeous’s estate any moment now.  We must hurry to be there for her reception.”

Something about that guy never really checked out with me, but now was not the time to start to question the possible future leader of this land.  Hopefully by the time he came to power, I was in Midgard back to being a mostly awesome hockey player.  I also noticed she was wearing her court appropriate finest and so I made the decision for the both of us we would either be right on time or casually late.  She only had herself to blame for this.

Finally after getting ourselves ready for a second time, we were just in time to arriving at Azmodeous’s estate.  Both Hargna and dad gave us ‘the look’ but the rest of the dark elves there didn’t even seem to notice we arrived.  Rumil did a quick explanation that these were the heads of the other major clans here in Svartalfheim along with Azmodeous and his advisor Goma.  She rattled off their names and their clans but, to be honest, it was lost on me because Hel had just shown up.

Hel had come alone, unless you count her giant war hound and I was under the impression I should.  Though not as big as my dad when he’s in full wolf mode, Garm was huge.  He looked like a pit bull crossed with a Saint Bernard.  His eyes were fiercely intelligent, so I prepared myself to not be shocked if he started talking. 

Then there was Hel herself.  I know she is my aunt and it’s inappropriate to comment on but she was a knock-out.  She wasn’t very tall, but with red hair, pale skin, and a very proportioned body, I found it hard to think of her as a freak. 

That all changed when I saw her eyes.  They were bright blue just like Loki’s and told a story of a woman whose sanity was indeed in question, just like dad had said.  Then there was her voice, which was more like a glass shard infused rasp.

“Oh brother, where are you?  Come say hello to your sister!”

Dad walked forward, “Hello Hel, it’s been a long time.”

“You smell like Fenrir, but you do not look like Fenrir.  How interesting!  I smell another wolf in the audience.  Is this some sort of trick dear brother?”

“No Hel, you are correct, I have a son.  Jack, please come meet your aunt.”

I looked over at Rumil and she gave me her cheerful ‘don’t get killed’ looked and sent me on my way.  By now most of the dark elves knew I was Fenrir’s kid and to them I was just another charity case they took on, but deep down liked. 

The clan leaders knew of me and didn’t act at all surprised, they just watched along with Azmodeous and his smarmy looking advisor.  Hel on the other hand, had a look of total delight as I made my way closer.

“Ahh son of Fenrir, it is a pleasure to meet you.”  Being this close to her was even more uncomfortable than I could imagine.  You could feel the unbalance of sanity rolling off of her.  “Now that I have met my brother’s offspring, I wish to seek audience with the lord of the dark elves, a representative from the clans, and my brother.  Meet me in your throne room when you are ready.”  Just like that, Hel went straight to the throne room with Garm following her.

****

This was most unexpected, the Queen of the Dead wanting a private audience with just the three of us.  Goma was displeased to hear he was not allowed to attend.  I still could not believe my misfortune that Hargna was selected to be the clans’ representative.  It was bad enough the Great Wolf and his sister would be in the same room, but now Hargna would also be there.  As we entered the room, the hellhound Garm decided to break the silence.

“Any attempt to harm the Queen of the Dead will result in the attacker forfeiting their lives.  You have been warned.”

“My dear sister what are we here for?”

“Why brother, I think you already know.  It is because you have passed your curse unto another.  The Norns have no longer deemed you the harbinger.  I have come to issue you warning to save this realm and all realms.”

This was most unexpected news.  The prophecy stated the Great Wolf when set free would unleash Ragnarok.  That had most certainly failed, as after his release he disappeared to Midgard.  To what was Hel playing at?

“The son of Fenrir now carries the curse.”

This was getting most intriguing.  Never in my interactions with the wolf have I seen him so discontent.

“I had my suspicions, but Jack needs to stay out of this.  This isn’t his world or his curse to hold.”

“The wolf cannot be released.  The dagger in the possession of the elf-mage Azmodeous is the key to free the wolf.  Should his rage ever reach a point of no return under the influence of the dagger, the twilight of the realms will be at hand.  Fenris, son of Fenrir, will be the herald you were not.”

The Norns were being very kind to me.  The power to bring this realm to its knees was in my possession.

****

“I do not care how you explain it; these so called penalties make no sense.  Someone who is not protecting themselves at all times should be the one sent to this box.  Are they tortured while they are in there by chance?”

I’d been trying to educate Rumil and some of the finer points of hockey such as the penalties, and it just led to more questions.  One day, she would just have to watch and learn on the fly like everyone else did. 

“Go get ready, we are leaving right now.”

I turned and saw dad coming out of the dark elf’s estate.  “Already?  Is everything okay?”

“I will tell you more once we get underway.  All I ask is for you to not be disappointed in me.”