Chapter Ten

Idunn began sweeping the cobblestone path leading up to the front door of her Loghouse with wich she shared with her adoring husband Bragi. The cold winter sun shown brightly on her as she hummed a local lullaby. Soon, her ears could pick up the soft waves from the harp going along with her. Her heart swelled with warmth and affection. She closed her eyes and could feel the air get warm-almost hot.

Idunn screamed as she was face to face with a puny man, no more than boyhood age. He stood, unblinking with a cast iron collar around his neck and a simple loin cloth around his waist. His dark skin glowed with sparkles and gold tints but she could sense no power radiating from him. Bragi appeared behind her, anger and defensiveness in his eyes as he stared down the tiny puny human boy.

“Bes has sent me for you, May I come in?” the boy got onto his knees in the snow and bowed deeply at both Idunn and Bragi’s feet. Bragi could not contain his laughter at the pitiful slave Bes had bestowed before him.

“Sure thing! But you may want to wear some more clothing.”

Idunn left the broom on the ground as she followed her husband closely back into the Loghouse. Inside, Thor was passed out on the table and Tyr remained in the corner, sharpening his blade; all the while Loki was sure to be lurking somewhere in the shadows. Idunn felt more at ease being surrounded by such strong warriors such as these.

She sat on Bragi’s lap, leaning into his body and stroking his long beard.

“Speak Bes’s slave.” Bragi commanded from his throne. Tyr never looked up from his task and Thor snored so loudly the walls shook.

“Bes formally invites you the a grand party.”

“When doesn’t the little man invite me? What kind of party can it be with no poetry? For without I, there be but no line.”

Idunn applauded her husband’s one liner.

“There can’t be my dear, he must have misspoke,” she whispered into Bragi’s beard.

“Bes is THE God of Entertainment. I assure you-it’s a party with or without your presence. Bes’s invitation comes with some news that he wishes to only share with his fellow domain partners.” The boy with the collar in the diaper spoke as if a strong warrior commanding ships out to sea.

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“You dare question the validity of Poetry? Without–”

The boy put up his hand, stopping the great warrior in his speech. “I mean you no disrespect. I simply have been sent to retrieve you-but it will be of no bother if you decline the offer.” The boy moved from a bow position to a sitting position on the floor. His legs crossed with his back and shoulders straight up in a royal’s posture. “Even a poet needs news to string together, does he not?” The boy cocked his head to the side like a suspicious cat playing with a mouse. Bragi glared at the child before him.

In the distance, Thor rolled off the table with a loud thud. “Whadd I mis?” He grunted as he propped himself up on his elbows and looked over his giant belly at the scene before him. Laughter rolled his stomach as he tried to remain still for the hangover to pass. “who dat?” He sputtered between hiccups.

“I am simple a messenger from Bes-”

“Who?”

“Does not concern you, Thor of Odin’s Law. The formal invitation is for Bragi and his…” the boy looked at Idunn, “human?”

Bragi wrapped a protective arm around Idunn, glaring at the intruder before him.

“Though if I may be so bold to imply, she may not do well in Bes’s presence. Mere humans, especially human women, fall weak to Bes and cannot be pulled away from the God.”

“That noise coming from you, little dude?” A hammer smashed down on an anvil sending the smell of metal and lava through the room. Tyr walked over to the boy on the floor, “what makes you think your kind holds any power over Northerner? Human, man, Woman, even child at all?” He bent down close to the boy’s face as he asked the question.

Thor’s laughter helped him up off the floor. Still dizzy and a little woozy, Thor began to sing some song he picked up from the Giants. The boy never broke eye contact with Bragi.

“I take it you are not interested,” the boy retorted, ignoring Tyr. Tyr looked over at BRagi and smiled wickedly.

“We have not been to a party hosted by Bes before. I wonder what this magical power could be!” Tyr smiled at Bragi and hung his arm around the boy’s neck and shoulders.

“PARTY!” Thor immediately sat up. “With woman who cannot leave? Should be a sight to be seen! And you say they aren’t forced too–they just WANT to party?”

Bragi looked at Idunn. Her pale face and long red hair. Her youth and beauty frozen from the moment he first lay eyes on her for at that moment, Bragi the Lord and God of Poetry and Written Language, gave her his heart. And so long as she held onto it, she shared his long life and vigor of being a deity without technically being one herself. He held her tightly knowing full well what the consequences were if he were to leave the Northern Region and his power diminish.

“Tyr and THor will be the honored guests in my place. They are good enough at sharing information.” Bragi glared at the little man and Idunn, satisfied with her husband’s orders, got off his lap and went back to sweeping away dust from the front door.