Odin sat in his throne room waiting for Sigyne to report back. It seemed Loki had discovered something but she didn’t know what. He had said nothing aloud and had promptly retired to a cabin in the far north of Norway. The girl he was watching was also somewhere in Norway but Sigyne didn’t know where. It seemed Loki had left them when the girl’s screams had gotten to be too much for him to bear. That in itself was odd. Usually, Loki reveled in others’ pain. So why did he not enjoy the girl’s obvious agony?

“ODIN! I call upon you! I am ready to face you without fear!”

The voice echoed throughout the throne room. It startled Odin and caused him to look around, confirming he was indeed alone. At least until Thor and Baldr burst into the room. They must have heard the voice too.

“Father, who could be calling you?” Thor asked in obvious confusion.

Odin shook his head and listened intently. He was sure the voice would call again.

“Father?” Baldr prompted. “What is it?”

“ODIN! ALL FATHER! COME DOWN FROM YOUR CASTLE AND FACE ME!”

The voice was louder this time and definitely female. Odin chuckled. It was a mortal girl.

“What makes you think that I, Odin, should grace you with my prescence?” he asked her, allowing his voice to travel to midgard.

“Why you ask?” the girl laughed. “Because I am the one Loki is so interested in.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Odin sat forward at this.

“Oh?” he asked.

“Your spy has failed by the way,” she quipped.

Sigyne had failed? How could she possibly know that.

“I think the thought of a mortal who is unafraid of death and refers to him as a friend terrifies her,” there was satisfaction dripping from her voice.

So the girl was certainly mortal but one who was unafraid of death. That made no sense. Most, if not all mortals, feared death and went to extreme lengths to prolong their lives.

“And how can a mortal be unafraid of death?” he asked.

“Death is part of our mortality as mortals; it is inevitable. But there are some who have met death and have learned to call him friend. I have met death on three occassions in what you would call a short life. Each time I have walked beside him as a friend and he has told me: ‘Not today. I shall not take you today. But one day, I will.’ So I do not fear death. He is kind, where many are cruel.”

Odin sat back stunned. A mortal had met death three times and walked beside him as an equal all three times. And death had spared her all three times saying simply: ‘Not today.’ It was unbelievable.

“You do not believe me.” It wasn’t a question but a statement.

“No mortal can survive walking with death!” Odin thundered.

The girl had the audacity to laugh.

“Why don’t you come down from your castle in the clouds and see for yourself!”

“Give me one good reason why I should!” he countered.

“Have I not given you reason enough?” she asked. “Why do you require more? All the proof you need is here but you must see it to believe it.”

“And why should I need to see it to believe it?”

“Because of who I am, lies are in my blood. Words can be twisted to suit ones needs. Sight and touch cannot be as easily deceived, especially as you are a god.”

Odin gave a brisk nod, not that she could see it. Her logic made sense, except for the part she had said about herself. That tidbit of knowledge didn’t add up.

“Come Baldr, Thor, let us see what this mortal is talking about.”

Baldr and Thor nodded in assent before they all made their way to the bridge that led to midgard.