“Vain Father, so very very vain.”

Loki stood looking into the Palace of Odin the All-Father, his first time since it had been rebuilt and he scowled at the sight before him. A vast hall, lit with the flickering flames ever burning torches set on the polished stone walls that made up the whole of the entrance way he had entered. Between every two torches hung a banner with the heraldry of great warriors both Asgardian and mortal. Standing in the center of the hall was a tall fountain, cut from the same stone as the many statues that adorned the outside of the Palace. It portrayed the defeat many cycles ago of the mighty Surtur by Odin and his brothers Villi and Vey. Over Surtur’s bloody and broken body stood the three Asgardians with Odin in the forefront, magnificent in all his glory while his brothers looked somewhat lesser, their weapons: A two handed sword, a spear and a massive headed battle axe pointed at the defeated fire demon whose blood ran down over the stone rocky ground he lay upon. The blood of the statue of course was water now and flowed down into the gleaming pool below where it collected and overflowed to run down onto the floor. As it hit the floor and ran in shimmering paths along the marble it shifted from water to smooth ice like crystal. It ran to the entrance and further in and up the massive staircase.

Sparing the nearly overwhelming fountain a few more moments of his attention, Loki walked around it quickly though with no sense of fear about him as he reached the stairs. He strode up them to the wide archway at the top. To his sides two sets of stairs wound up along the wall leading up to the next level. Giving them not even a glance the God of Mischief studied the doors before him. Broad and elegant but oddly at least to the eye of Loki brutishly simple instead of brilliant and fantastic. Gold was engraved in the door in intricate designs which depicted the sacrifice Odin had made to become all-wise, the All-Father tearing his eye out at the well of Mimir. With a slightly tilted head the God of Mischief pressed his palms to the door and whispered over and over an incantation, the result of which was the sound of a hundred, perhaps a thousand locks opening one after another. Once the sounds had stopped he had simply pushed the doors open and stepped inside the fabled library of Asgard.

Spanning out before him was a room both tall and vast. The library contained such an amazing amount of history and knowledge held within perhaps millions of ancient tomes and worn scrolls. These lined the walls on beautifully crafted shelves which had multiple tiers built in front of them. Stairs wound down from each tier, connecting them, and the tiers circled the room. The glittering blue ice like crystal flowed out and down the center of the library, ornate tables of black wood lines its sides with tall chairs set up on each side. A crystal mural of stained glass which as Loki was coming to expect, depicted some noted event…in this case as on the door it showed the well of Mimir in all its glory. Its waters as shown in the image enchanted to fill the room with a beautiful light. Beyond the mural the room was primarily stone and dark wood, fitting the past Viking sense of the Asgardians.

“Quite the display father…and so quickly built,” Loki said as he looked over the massive amount of collected knowledge before sighing softly. “Would take ages to find anything of worth here for anyone of more limited ability but Loki is far from one of such shortsightedness.”

The God of mischief walked toward the center of the library and with a light smirk his eyes glowed a deep blue. Thousands of glowing blue runes raced over each eye, speeding along in row upon row. He looked around, searching for a book or a scroll with any information he needed for what he felt was so tantalizingly close. With his now enhanced vision the books, and scrolls were quickly scanned over, marked either useful or pointless. In this way was Loki able to process the astounding amount of possible sources but as he did he began to notice how few of the tomes held here were little more than husks. With an arched brow he focused the spell he had cast over his eyes to an even finer degree and the resulting sight that greeted him bother surprised and confirmed his suspicions. Every single book, the shelves and even all the furniture were little more than illusions. He had known that the tomes and scrolls that had been destroyed in the past attacks of the Dark Gods had been replaced far to quickly if not also to easily.

“An illusion? Hm…doest thou think all thy people are fools Father? What doest thou hide,” Loki whispered before blinking his eyes and breaking the enchantment he had placed on them. “Let us see if we cannot pierce thy lies.”

With both his arms straight out, palms facing the walls the God of Mischief closed his eyes and concentrated. Like a stream of water, energy began to flow from his hands in the form of golden fire. It spread around him slowly until it formed a half globe of gleaming gold with flames lancing out with each shimmering pulse. He held it in this form for a few moments, shifting and changing the nature of the energy he had called forth before releasing it outward. The half globe expanded quickly and every illusion it washed over shredded apart like the burning ashes of a fire.. Quickly it engulfed the entirety of the room, tables, chairs, the shelves and the tiers burning away to nothing with only the crystal mural left of the original room. It was not all that remained after the purging had been completed. For before Loki stood a stone well filled to the brim with glittering azure water that cast a brilliant light all around it. It was the very fountain which graced the door and the wall behind it, the well of wisdom, the well of Mimir.

“Thou art clever indeed Father, far more clever than I hath given thou credit for,” Loki said, looking at the Well with undisguised surprise. He spared the now nearly empty chamber not even a glance before stepping up the edge and gazing in. “This is more than I couldst dream to find. Mimir shalt know all the answers I seek and more.”

As if sensing his presence the water shimmered from blue to a glorious flaming orange as an image of the being known as Mimir who had once been the son of Buri and Uncle to the all-father, and was now a creature of flame appeared in the water.

“Very clever indeed Father, perhaps even ingenious…” Loki whispered, real admiration laced in his normally sarcastic voice. “ Hide the ultimate source of wisdom in perhaps the most impregnable of fortresses and disguise it with powerful magiks…A wise move Father though thou hath given me all that I seek.”

“Wise Mimir, cursed fire elemental…I hath a question for thee and hath also the reason for thou to grant me thy answer.”

“Loki, son of the Giant Laufey, what doest thou sacrifice for mine wisdom?” Said a voice from the well, somehow resounding throughout the chamber. It was full of power and an ancient wisdom and it belonged to Mimir. “For I do not answer questions when nothing is offered.”

“Mine reason shalt more than take care of what is necessary.” Loki said, resting his hands on the edge and looking down into the water at the being of fire just under its surface. “Vengeance and rebirth.”

“Vengeance?” queried Mimir, the orange glow flickering brighter in the room and reflecting in the God of Mischief’s eyes. “Over who doest thou offer me vengeance?”

“I offer thee vengeance over the All-Father…” Loki answered, his voice serious though well hidden flickers of a smirk began to cross his face. “Vengeance over Odin who turned thee into a being of fire and imprisoned thou in this Well.”

“Thy offer is intriguing…though thou art the God of Lies,” said Mimir. “Twould be unwise to trust thee but perhaps simply your attempt twill be enough to gain a simple answer.”

“I hath already begun to pay for the answer I seek oh wise Mimir for I hath brought war to Asgard once more,” Loki responded and allowed the smirk he was holding in to curl his lips. “Now what say thee? Shall I be given what it is I seek?”

“Thou shall for the payment is accepted,” Mimir answered.

“Very wise of you Great Mimir,” Loki said.

WAR OF ICE AND STONE

Part III: Rival Nations

By Kristi Manchester

With an echoing crack Thor was launched out of the wreckage, his head snapped back and blood from his mouth trailing in his wake as he was knocked away. As the Thunder God crashed into a smaller home, Ulik charged out from the shattered building with an unexpected speed which so often caught his foes off guard. So often but not this time as the enraged Son of Odin gathered his wits quickly and threw Mjolnir with unerring aim. The hammer crashed into Ulik, the force of the blow pushing him backward and for the moment stopping his assault. Without waiting for Mjolnir to return Thor charged forward and with all his momentum he launched a hard right cross which caught the powerful troll flatfooted, snapping his head to the side. Thor followed it up with a savage left hook to the side and with the returned hammer a slamming blow to the Trolls unprotected ribs. A second left punch swung around and slammed into Ulik’s jaw, snapping his head to the opposite side while Thor once more smashed Mjolnir into the Trolls gut, bending him forward. An uppercut with the Uru hammer followed, a loud clang marking its impact and the blow knocked Ulik back a few steps. Thor took Mjolnir in both hands and swung around, fully aiming to shatter Ulik’s skull inward but his attack was stopped dead as the Troll caught the hammer with a resounding boom.

“That all ye have Godling?” Ulik said, a deep rumbling chuckle rising out of his wide grinning mouth. He swung his right fist in, a hard hooking punch that caught Thor in the side with such force as to nearly crack the God’s ribs. As Thor bent slightly forward and to the side. Ulik letting the hammer head go stepped back, and launched his fist forward to crash into Thor’s face, sending him back a few steps. “It will not be enough, not today!”

“Thou hath attacked mine home…” Thor said as he quickly gathered his wits about him and prepared for the renewed attack. “Thou hath done deeds most vile today and there shall be a reckoning!”

“Nay Godling! Was you who attacked us and slaughtered my kinsmen!” Ulik roared out, “Ye are in the wrong, and it is me who is in the just today!”

With a cry of “I say thee Nay!” Thor hurled Mjolnir forward sending the mighty Uru hammer crashing into the stomach of the Troll. The blow flung him backward to land on the damaged street. Knowing full well that he could not give Ulik a moments respite and with his rage growing ever more quickly Thor followed close behind his weapon and leaped upon the momentarily down foe. Catching Mjolnir he began to bring the hammer down, his arm pulling back and swinging down with full force. Each savage blow resounded like thunder as it impacted upon the nigh-invulnerable troll and crushed his body downward into the ground. A Crater quickly formed, the road began shatter and to pile up around them in crags of broken stone and after the third blow, lightning began to gather around the Uru head and explode outward to rend and tear around the two warriors. This onslaught would have continued till Thor collapsed from exhaustion if even ending then but a mighty fist pumped out and launched the Thunder God up and would have sent him out of the crater had not that same hand with frightening speed caught his ankle. Ulik using his grip threw Thor away from him and toward the towering structures around them. Thor crashed through three tall once magnificent building due to the incredible force behind the throw. He was followed soon after by Ulik, his armor a pathetic excuse for what he had begun with and thick blood trickled over his lower lip and out of his broken nose. The mighty Troll had simply leaped after him but if he had looked he would have seen the broken open set of doors which had been hidden under the road…He would have seen the hand that only reached out and gripped the edge.

Thor crash landed in an old watch tower which had remained standing even through the Dark God’s attack but now under the impact of the Son of Odin, caved in. With a cry of anger Thor tossed aside the rumble in which he had been buried and slowly dragged himself to his feet. Now battered and bruised the God of Thunder stood, armor all but destroyed was just in time to leap backward to avoid the landing of the Troll Champion. Though injured Thor landed easily enough and with Mjolnir hung from his wrist he hefted up a massive section of stone wall and with all the power he could muster flung it at Ulik who with the speed that so often surprised his foes, punched fully through it. As he did Thor leapt forward, going through the rubble to launch a solid straight punch which crushed the already broken nose flat and would have removed the head of a lesser foe. He followed it with a right cross which jerked the troll to the side. Ducking under a flailed back hand he began a ferocious combination of rage filled punches to the powerfully built body of Ulik. Each blow was all out, and under the strain Thor’s hands broke even as the sound of ribs cracking could be heard. Blood gushed forth from the wide open mouth of the troll but he was not the champion of his people for nothing and over his head he raised both arms, lacing his hands together and brought them down like an axe head on Thor’s back over and over, driving him to his knees.

“Thou…shall pay…Troll!” Thor half stuttered out before grabbing hold of Mjolnir and slamming it down on the ground. Above them a lightning bolt so massive, so extraordinarily powerful lanced downward and engulfed them both even as the mighty troll had raised both hands once more to continue his assault. Both were burned and electrocuted by it’s uncontrollable power and the ground and the buildings nearby were wiped away under the assault. The attack continued for a long series of minutes but was suddenly cut off as the scarred and burnt Thunder God was thrown out of the decimated area, his hair all but burnt off from the power of his own attack. Behind him limped a damaged, badly burnt but still standing Ulik who was removing a vial from his belt.

“Hah, defeated and undone by yer own attack…foolish Thunder God,” Ulik said, unstopping the vial and drinking its contents down. He wiped his mouth off with the back of his forearm and after a moment tensed up with a loud roar of pain. The serum he had drank jump started his healing, the charred and burnt skin falling away, almost shedding and his various wounds began to heal. Once the process was done and he stood still damaged but remarkably revitalized. “Letting yer anger cloud yer mind, making ye sloppy and kept ye from using yer power over the heavens to win the fight…Hah, revenge is best served by using yer hands above all other methods. It matters not, yer soon to be dead accursed son of Odin.”

Ulik strode forward, grinning wide until he stood over the broken form of Thor. He grabbed up a jagged chunk of stone and lifted it over his head, intent on driving it through his foe.

“Hold monster! You still have me to deal with!” cried out a strong voice behind him.

Turning he looked upon a well built man, just above six feet in height and with long black hair. His armor was sleeveless and he wore bracers of wrought silver banded in leather. The man who was barely that carried no weapons but the look of determined anger on his face gave away his intentions even more than his words.

“Who are ye Asgardian? A fool who thinks himself a match fer Ulik?” Ulik asked, raising a brow and chuckling. “What is yer name foolish boy?”

“I am Magni, God of strength,” Magni said, his hands balling into fists. “More than a match for a villain such as you.”

“Come then boy!” Ulik cried out and faced off with the young man, he had time after all since Thor was not going to rise for some time. Tossing away the rumble he held and launched into the battle to come.

A Few Minutes Ago

“Hold the them back, men!” cried out Baldur the Brave as slashed across in a wide arc, cutting two troll‘s stomachs wide open to the cool air. His blade through sharp was already beginning to wear and he would need to find a replacement soon or be caught weaponless. He had little time to consider his troubles as more of the orange skinned savages trampled the fallen. Baldur jumped back as two Trolls slashed their axes down before him, missing, their axes buried into the ground. Taking his sword in both hands he slashed across and cut the hands off of his attackers, crimson splashing outward onto the ground. Sparing a glance around him he noted that ever since Thor had removed Ulik from the field that everything had begun to fall apart into a bloody melee. Through strength of will was he able to hold the line together well enough to defend what remained of Gladsheim and the fallen All-Father who resided with in. Around him Guards fought, blades gleaming with wicked edges cutting through Trolls but for each they killed there seemed many more. A man to his side was cut in twain from head to crotch. From dead fingers dropped his blade but revenge would be his as Baldur drove his dulling blade under the monsters arm and with such force as to punch through his other side. He quickly let the blade go and picked up the sword of the fallen warrior just in time to defend once more from the seemingly endless attack. Baldur would not let the Trolls and Giants pass, he had never failed in his duty to protect Asgard and he would not fail now. The forces arrayed against him and his kin were massive…Luckily for Baldur the Brave he was not alone.

Smashing into the wave were the Warriors Three, Fandral almost dancing among his enemies, smoothly dodging the swift but clumsy attacks and cutting down each in turn. Hogun matched his count with wide sweeping swings of his mace. The weapon crashing into the side of one troll, the force pulping flesh and bone while the momentum threw three more of it’s kin to the side. Launching himself forward he swung down hard with his mace, caving in the skull of the next troll in line with such power as to bend him over and snap his spine. With a fierce straight kick Hogun the Grim hurled the body back to bowl over the coming hoard. Volstagg was busy nearby hefting the bodies of Giants over his head, one by one and throwing them with as much force as he was capable of. Where they fell they crushed dozens of the Trolls and also formed blockades to slow and break the charge of the armies of Jotunheim.

Over head ballista bolts lanced out, spinning as they flew over the heads of the two forces battling below. Though hastily aimed the missiles struck more often than not and punched through the armor of the giants, burying deep in ones chest and tearing wide open the throat of another as it shot through his neck. The bolt imbedded itself in the ground along with impaling an unlucky troll. The crews of the four quickly prepared heavy weapons ran back and forth, loading as fast as they were able while Thiafli dashed before them, his blade working even faster than Fandral the fair‘s, Trolls seemed to fall apart as if from nothing due to his amazing speed, second only to Hermod. For each Giant slain there were many free to attack and attack they did, giant slabs of stone crashed near the heavy Ballistas and in a explosion of wood and metal one stone hit its mark, crushing one of the weapons. The once great hall of Gladsheim was a target of the Giants assault but their attacks were deflected by a growing shield of crystal like ice which had spread out over it. Frigga stood in the vast opening with her arms held out in front of her and frost rising up off of her as she focused her will upon the mystic ice barrier.

Though they fought with great valor, the defenders of Asgard were outnumbered and would be overwhelmed soon. The Giants stalked forward, mighty weapons cutting through the field of battle as if they were harvesting grain. It mattered not who stood in their way, who they cleaved with their wicked weapons as they sliced deep and bloody trenches into the ground. Trolls and Guards fell were cut down, their broken, torn apart bodies strewn about on a land already thick with the dead. The Trolls saw all this but knew this was not the time for revenge and so pressed the attack. As the Giants continued to press in, a great horn call was heard and all heads looked up. On winged horses they arrived, the Valkyrior had arrived on the field of battle. Each as beautiful as the dawn in silver, and black armor that gleamed in the sun and at their head was the mighty warrior Brunnhilde on the winged horse known as Pegasus.

Magni launched forward as Ulik did, both leading with their fists which met in a thunderous explosion of force that shattered the windows that remained for what may have been half a mile or more. The impact knocked the two warriors back, both landing on their feet. Magni was sent sliding back, plunged his fingers into the ground and after leaving long rents in it came to a stop. Ulik grinned wide and began to laugh but his good cheer faltered as he looked to the pounder on his right hand, the weapon nearly shattered beyond repair. The power it took to accomplish such a feet with just one punch was impressive to say the least but the Troll showed no emotion save anger on his broad face. Magni stood up straight and cracked first his neck then his knuckles. His black hair fell in his eyes, and he cried out “For Asgard!” before charging forward. For his part Ulik charged once more to meet him and in the center of the charred crater they clashed.

Magni led with a solid left straight punch which crashed into Ulik’s nose, shattering it once more and knocking him back even as his own looping right fist slammed into Magni’s right forearm. The young man slid back an inch before driving his right first across, catching the jaw of the Troll and snapping his head and upper body to the side, two large teeth flying out in an arc of blood. A savage left uppercut landed flush to Ulik’s jaw and lifted him off his feet as his head now snapped back. His assault was hardly over as he grabbed Ulik’s damaged armor in one hand and swinging him around slammed him head first into the ground sending a tremor through nearly all of Asgard. Letting him go Magni leaped upon him and began to rain punches down with such power as to rival the Thunder God’s. The ground cracked as he drove the Troll deeper into it and under his attack bones were broken. But Ulik was not defeated yet and his hand shot out to wrap around the young man’s throat. He threw him away, sending Magni to crash into the wall of the closest barely standing structure. Ulik rose up, bloody and battered and a little unsteady on his thick legs. One of his eyes was quickly swelling shut and his face was all but a bloody ruin. He spit out a tooth and stalked forward and cried out. “Ye be strong boy, but I be stronger still!”

“You are nothing but a foul troll who I will kill for what you’ve done,” Magni said as he stepped out of the hole he had made. “That’s your fate now…Let us finish this.”

Again they charged and this time they began to trade blows, Ulik having to some extent took the measure of his new foe and Magni intent on finishing off his opponent. A blow caught Magni across the jaw and snapped his head to the side even as he drilled a punishing fist into the Troll’s side. Though the blow hurt Ulik followed his own with a knee to the stomach which bent Magni forward, blood and spit spraying from his mouth. An uppercut caught him flush sending him up and off his feet. In much the same way as Magni had caught him, Ulik grabbed his ankle and slammed him repeatedly into the ground. Each time worse than the time before and for each he earned a grunt of pain. Dropping the young man he raised his massive booted foot and drove it down to crush this new powerful foe but before his shocked eye his foot was caught and the boy was laughing.

“Is that all you have Ulik? Some champion you are…I am no longer unsure of how you always managed to lose every battle,” Magni said, chuckling. “Have you not realized that I’m stronger?”

With that said he pushed the Troll’s foot up and launched him away to land near Thor’s unconscious body. Magni rose to his feet as Ulik did the same. He gave his surprised foe not a second to recovery as he charged in again and this time instead of simply trading with the Troll he used his speed to dodge the blows that were launched at him by his now slowing opponent. Each time he dodged a punch he drilled one of his home, aiming for the massive ribs which already damaged began to break. Ulik’s breathing was now ragged and wheezing and his attacks continued to slow while Magni spurred on began a flurry of punches that pushed back his foe till his back hit a wall and once it had did Magni begin to pound the shattered ribs and gut of the Troll. After three punches the wall cracked and broke in and Ulik fell through. He rose to one knee and began to rise once more.

“Ye have not…b-beat me boy…I…” Ulik began to say but was silenced as Magni hit him with such power as to drive him face first into the ground. With the final attack the powerful Champion of the Troll’s was completely still but alive. Magni stepped back and breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he was injured and that the adrenaline held the pain back. He walked over to Thor and knelt beside him.

The Valkyrior’s arrival bolstered the spirits of the defenders of Asgard and as they fought on the women flew among the Giants and the Trolls. Those that battled the Giants wielded long javelins and as they weaved around the huge humanoids they threw the weapons with deadly accuracy. Each plunged through armor and tough hide to puncture hearts, and pierce the angry eyes of the mighty giants. Once the javelins were gone did the choosers of the slain draw forth blades of glittering silver and gold which they used with deadly effect. Urging their mounts to great speeds they slashed and hewn at their foes, slashing through throats and cutting off limbs while swiftly dodging the massive weapons and fists of the enemy. Below them the Valkyrior who had focused upon the Trolls rained arrows upon them with ease and speed that made it look as if it rained death. Not expecting such an attack the trolls began to fall by the dozens, bodies riddled with arrows as they fell in heaping piles. As with their sisters who assaulted the Giants they landed among the enemy and began to use their blades with savage skill and with clear pleasure once the arrows were used up. Each Valkyrie’s eyes were lit with joy and hunger for battle and they showed no mercy as they lopped heads off and cleaved through armor. The screams of the dying rose in a symphony and gave hope to Baldur and the defenders who pressed forth.

Baldur was pleased beyond all measure to see the Valkirior but most of all, his faith was bolstered by the arrival of Brunnhilde. He watched as the beautiful woman and her mount the fabled Pegasus tore a bloody swath through the attacking army. Pegasus rearing up and driving his front hooves down to crush a troll while his mistress hacked down through troll after troll and any whose shield held against her attack she stabbed with unerring accuracy. Around her surged in the guards and the Warriors Three who spurred on by the reinforcements began to slaughter all in their paths till an area around them was free of any living foe as the Trolls fell back to regroup once more before pressing in.

Though the onslaught of the Valkirior was great the vast hoard arrayed against them still outnumbered them clearly and the Giants began to strike back. One such Giant grabbing a Valkyrie from the air, mount and all and simply crushed it before biting the head off the winged horse. Spitting the head out he slammed the bodies into the ground and beside him another Giant brought down a Valkyrie with a savage back hand which sent both rider and mount falling to the ground where they were swiftly leapt upon. In this way did two of the warrior women who fought the Trolls fall, overwhelmed by the many orange skinned monsters. Luck was with one as Thiafli managed to weave a deadly path through the Trolls and pull her back to the wrecked Hall. Again the tide seemed on the verge of turning even as it had minutes ago with the Valkyrior’s arrival.

Though the Asgardians would not surrender or admit defeat it looked as if they would fall eventually to the foes greater numbers when behind them came a great voice, booming out across the great city of Asgard.

“ENOW! THY TREACHEROUS ATTACK UPON MINE PEOPLE ENDS NOW!”

From the ruined hall rose into the sky the All-Father Odin, now awaked and with fury in his eyes so rarely seen. In his hand he held the spear of heaven, Gungnir and around him like a blue flame was an aura of astonishing intensity. Drawing his arm back he threw Gungnir straight and true and in its wake was a tail much like that of a comet and its passing seemed to slice the very air open. It crashed into the Trolls with such fury that it cut a wide swath of destruction through their ranks nearly a mile long, blue fire following in its wake and washing over any spared it’s blade. The spear whipped around at the end of its path and cut back around, tearing again through the first surprised and now panicking Trolls.

As Odin controlled his mighty weapon with mere gestures of the fingers on one hand he gathered energy in his other which he released in a blast of staggering proportions. The whole of the sky was lit up by the power wielded here and the blast tore through the enemies of Asgard. Trolls and Giants all but disintegrated under the onslaught, bodies seeming to peel away in the all consuming release of the Odin Force. Within moments half the army against them was gone and the rest were in utter and full retreat. None could hope to stand before the All-Father and only one rod of imprisonment had been made for in their folly did the army of Jotunheim think itself so grand as to not need two. Lost in the din of the utter devastation were the spells being cast to summon portals and only one third of the massive horde escaped with their lives.

Upon the field of battle stood the surviving defenders of Asgard, saved from the destruction by the will of Odin. Baldur, the warriors Three, the guards led by Thiafli and the Valkyrior once more gathered before Gladsheim. The battlefield which had nearly been choked with the dead was now clear of all the bodies of the fallen Trolls and Giants, burnt away to naught but dust. The All-Father remained in the air and looked over the vast destruction before him with anger for many moments before lowering to the ground to stand before his kin.

“My lord!” Baldur cried out before falling to one knee as did all with him. “By thy power didst we survive.”

“No Baldur the Brave, by thy stalwart spirit didst Asgard prevail today,” Odin said, looking upon them all. “Stand one and all, thou hath served the realm Eternal with honor on this day.”

Before him the Asgardians stood and behind him stood Frigga, Idunn, Frey, while on unsteady feet but standing nonetheless was the God of War Tyr and the brother of Thor, Vidar.

“Was our victory ever in doubt?” Volstagg remarked, grinning broadly. “Thou had the mighty Volstagg the Voluminous with thee and never hath I lost a battle!”

“Still thy bragging mouth O’ fat one,” growled out Hogun who rested the head of his mace on his shoulder. “Tis not time for thy mouth.”

“Though a great victory was won my friends, doth it come with a grave cost,” Fandral said, flicking the blood off his blade. “Many are dead on this day.”

“Thou art right Fandral, tis not the time for song and words of great deed…many of our kin art injured,” Odin said and looked around slowly. “I do not see my son…where be the Mighty Thor, son of Odin!?”

“Thy noble and mighty son battled the foul troll Ulik beyond the homes nearby,” Baldur answered, worry in his voice. “He hath not returned yet.”

“Go forth brave warriors and find mine son!” Odin cried out, moving as well into the air while the remaining defenders prepared to spread outward to begin their search but all were stopped as Magni, carrying the unconscious form of Thor over his shoulder and dragging the defeated Troll Champion behind arrived.

Landing at once Odin took his son from the young man and with concern looked him over to find he still breathed strong enough to allay his father’s fears.

“Who art thou and what hast happened to mine son?”

“He fell in battle against Ulik All-Father, I have already avenged his defeat,” Magni replied, dropping Ulik and kneeling before Odin. “My name is Magni, son of Thor and your Grandson.”

Meanwhile…

Loki smiled widely as stepped out of his portal which had returned him to his lair. Everything had gone according to his most ingenious plan and he now had the answer he had sought for so very long. Soon his ascension to power would be complete and all he need do was to go see his daughter. It was a good thing that the God of Mischief was fond of family reunions, in fact he very much looked forward to visiting Hela in the realm of Nifilheim.

THE HAMMER STRIKES

Ok, here it is…finally, the sixth issue of the Mighty Thor. I know, I know…its been so delayed that its just ridiculous but I hope its good enough to be worth the wait. Whether it is or isn’t I would love to hear what people think so feel free to send feedback. I’ll answer e-mails at the end of every issue from this Issue 7 on.

K.L.Manchester