Chapter Twelve

Thor could not believe his eyes as the golden room filled with exotic aromas and warmth with each step into the new domain. Beautiful women and men danced around bringing every inch of the room to life. Deity and human mixed together to form a beautiful display of party fever and good nature. Tyr leaned against Thor and put his hand on his brother’s shoulder.

“Behave man,” Tyr tried to keep his voice down, “we are not as strong as we are in the North. Do not go overboard.” Thor winked at his brother and walked to the center of the dance floor.

“Who wants to dance with a REAL warrior!?” Thor held up his arms in a showcase of ego while Tyr scanned the room for Bes. Sitting on a pillow next to a passed out beauty, a small little man in a big crown was surrounded by peacocks while women and men of immense beauty hand feeding him delicacies.

Tyr quickly took inventory of the new surroundings. Using the descriptions from Loki, Freya, and Odin Tyr tried to identify who and where each deity was stationed. Dionysus sat with Bes as they talked and laughed. Artemis began dancing with Thor. Tyr could also identify Thoth, Ma’at, Tefnut, Kisshoten, Rajin, Fujin, and Kagutsuchi on the dance floor.

Bes jumped from the pillows and jumped even higher until he was hanging off of Tyr’s shoulders. “Tyr! Northern God of War!! And THOR–the God of Lightning! Welcome! I assume no Bragi but no matter! Two Northerners at the request for one!” Bes’s laughter was contagious and soon the whole room began laughing–even though no one knew quite why they were having such a good time.

“What do you want little man?” Tyr tried to remain light hearted but there was something off about this party. All of these deities seemed almost too relaxed when meshed with one another. And there was something…curated about the vibe.

“Calm your heart big man!” Bes cheered and jumped off Tyr’s body. He disappeared and reappeared on the floor pillow in a puff of sand and patted the one next to him for Tyr to sit on. Hesitating, Tyr looked over his shoulder at Thor-now trying to show off how many women he could lift and drink at the same time. “You and your brother are under my protection-as are all of my guests,” Bes waved his stubby little hand. Still unnerved, Tyr sat down next to him.

“What do you want with Bragi?” Tyr tried to sound relaxed but could tell that he was not fooling anyone.

“Don’t you know? One for one–you want to know something, Bes wants to share something. You need to provide something for answers,” Dionysus tipped his goblet of wine towards Tyr and spilt some on Bes. Both looked at the mess and full bellied laughed.

“Oh Dio! Calm yourself! While that is usually my rule, I am just SOOOOOO,” Bes laid down on the pillow with all the oh’s coming from his mouth before sitting up again to finish his thought, “excited to have a NORTH man here at our party. I don’t believe you North men party much.”

Tyr’s smile was authentic. “That is all we do is party. It is usually how we miss your invitations.”

Laughing, Bes winked. “Oh sure you do. Well no matter–I will gift you the news meant for Bragi for free. But to answer your question as too what I want with him, you must help me solve this riddle bestowed upon me.”

Tyr frowned. If rumors and stereotypes were true, it was usually those following Zeus’s Law that liked riddles. Not those under Ra’s. Ra was more straight forward and cut throat. But Tyr was embarrassed by his own lack of experience with other deities. “Sure…,” Tyr looked over at Thor who was already spilling the wine as he sloppily tried to grab a woman to dance with him.His drunk brother did not realize he was grabbing Tefnut who quickly and swiftly slapped him across the face, and left him on the dance floor—swearing to both Ra and Odin under her breath as she walked away.

Bes stood on his pillow and grabbed Tyr’s face with both his hands. Locking eyes, Bes whispered very seriously. “The Underworld has a new Queen.”

Cocking an eyebrow, Tyr tried to process what was being told. A new Queen? The Underworld? The Underworld is as old as this world. Why would they get a new person to manage it now? And a Queen? Tyr tried to let the words sink in but Bes was clearly tired of waiting.

Stolen story; please report.

“Now grand warrior, my riddle. Whom of your deities do you think could fulfill this role?”

The words caught Tyr off guard. “What?” he choked out.

“Well, clearly the representation of the North in the Underworld was…lacking. So it has to be from your region. Now tell me. Who has been missing from your roster up there?” Bes stared at Tyr who tried to remember the last time he witnessed the little man blink.

“I don’t know—-to manage the Underworld they would need some serious power–perhaps it’s s…,” Tyr ran through a list of names of Detiesi but none could make sense or add up. Each already having their Awakening. “I am sorry Bes. But I don’t know who it could be.”

“Ask Thor,” Bes’s voice changed into something dark. Something unforgiving. Something–wrong. Tyr’s stomach clenched as he began to understand just how outnumbered he and his brother were here in Bes’s domain.

“Yo! Thor!” Tyr yelled for his brother, not breaking any eye contact with little imp before him.

Thor stumbled over, still rubbing his cheek after being slapped.

“Have you noticed anyone missing in the North lately? It had to have been kind of recent,” Tyr tried to strain his voice, hoping his brother would focus and try to sober up. But it fell on deaf ears.

“Na man. Unless you count that one that couldn’t die.” Bes’s face changed into something that looked rabid and hungry. He quickly turned his attention to Thor.

“Name. I need the name of the immortal!”

Thor rubbed his protruding belly and began to pick at his belly button underneath his shirt. His face cocked to the side as he thought long and hard.

“What was their name….Ran?”

“Na, she was just at Idunn’s place not too long ago with Vali and Freya,” Tyr reached for his sword hilt, closely watching the faces of the surrounding deities turn dark as they focused on the two Northerners.

“Vidar? He is always missing,” The music around them quieted.

“Na man. Bes here is looking for a woman.”

Thor burst into laughter, “ain’t we all. Ain’t we all.”

Clearly sick of waiting, Bes jumped onto Thor’s chest. His stubby fists gathered Thor’s shirt as he his feet lay on his upper belly. “I NEED A NAME!”

Thor simple shrugged, clearly too drunk to notice the severity of their situation or even to read the uncharacteristic behavior Bes was exhibiting.

“I dunno what to tell ya. Most of ours are men.” Thor looked at his brother, unsure of what to do as Bes began screaming and shouting in languages unfamiliar to both.

“Could you be talking about Hel?”

The voice came from the other side of the room. Dionysus who had been quietly observing the scene began to rub his exposed nipples. Tyr scowled across the room as Bes quieted down and slowly let himself off Thor’s being.

“Na” Thor smiled and looked at the deity walking forward, “Hel was killed by those villagers during the beginning of the Bloom Season.” Bes looked angry at Thor and began to grind his teeth in urgency.

A beautiful woman with long curly brown hair and cat ears walked onto the dancefloor. Her yellow eyes starring at the men as she commanded their attention with just a glance. Her body was breath taking and the golden wraps she wore showing off all of her curves left little to the imagination. But Tyr was not going to be as distracted as Thor and Dionysus. Tyr was watching the Goddess approach them with the same calculated look as Bes.

“Bastet?” Bes sounded just as confused as Tyr and Thor were, “what do you know of this?”

“Only that the little wrench is pathetic and nothing to loose your shit about Bes.” Bastet folded her arms angrily across her chest making her cleavage deepen. Thor could not take his eyes off her.

“Hel is pathetic. But I heard the villagers killed her off,” Tyr spoke no longer caring if he got his answer from Bes regarding Bragi.

“Set saved her. She is alive and well. I left her with Hades and Osiris. I am surprised at you Bes,” Bastet’s hip jutted outward and Thor began to hug himself to keep from trying to dance with the beauty before him. “Asking Northerners before your own kind. Are you so impatient now in your old age?”

“Old?” Bes scowled at the remark–quickly forgetting his anger towards the ignorant Northerners.

“So, it’s Hel? Hel is the new Queen of the Underworld?” Tyr’s eyes locked on Thor who was getting scolded by Bastet for touching her and trying to dance.