Lezard's Triumph

The fire crackled, flames leaping up high, trying to escape the confines of the rock pit that surrounded it. Lydia huddled close to the fire, keeping a careful watch on it, occasionally adding another log to the pile being consumed. The remains of their dinner sat besides her on a pile of leaves, the female archer deftly cutting apart the bits of chicken, intending to store the remainders of it in her pack. Food had been scarce since coming to this land, the three friends finding little in the way of hunting.

Across from the fire, Dallas knelt, using the dimming light of the sun to study the crudely drawn map spread across his knees. His tongue stuck out the corner of his mouth, intense concentration showing on his face. Several feet away, Alicia stood, her back to the fire. Her long blonde hair streamed out behind her, stirred up by the chill breeze that seemed to follow them wherever they set foot on this island. Aside from folding her arms across her chest, the princess gave no sign of being disturbed the cold air, keeping her attention focused on the empty clearing before her.

Lydia snuck a taste of cold chicken, chewing carefully as she thought back on the past few days. It had taken them several days of hard travel to make it this far, spending much on carriages, riding their fine horses to their limit. It was a harsh pace, one Alicia had insisted on, determined to reach Lassan before the week was out. Once there they had chartered a ship, using what was left of their gold to hire a guide willing to bring them to one of the many unnamed islands that bordered the mainland. No amount of oth had been enough to get their guide to agree to remain on the island past sundown. Indeed the man had been most eager to leave behind what he considered to be a cursed place.

Lydia could not blame him. This island after all was said to be inhabited by all manners of undead, not the least of which was the vampires who fed off the blood of mortals. That knowledge, along with the information Dallas recalled from his books, all seemed to point out that this island was where the King of the Undead made his home. Using a crude map Dallas had reconstructed from his memory, he charted out the details of where the fabled vampire castle was said to lay.

Alicia had taken him at his word, and had spent the better part of the hour staring at that one spot, awaiting the moment when the sun would finally disappear. Lydia cast her eyes up at the sky, seeing the sun hung low in the sky, finally beginning it's descent for the night. The moon was already out, just a sliver of it, hinting at how dark the night would be.

Somewhere, a lone owl hooted out it's song, a sorrowful sound that broke the quietness of their camp. Dallas proved to be easily startled, his thin frame jerking spastically, almost tipping the map into the fire pit. He swore up a storm, voice soft as he cursed, causing Lydia to smile at him. She saw a hint of blush to his cheeks, the mage embarrassed by his display of tantrum.

"Are you sure we're in the right spot?" She asked, hoping to fill up the silence with conversation.

"No..." Dallas sighed. "I could be wrong. It could be any one of the islands that are off the coast of Lassan. I wish I had access to the library at Dipan to be certain. But..."

But that would have taken days to reach, delaying their missions even more, realized Lydia. She cast another glance at Alicia's back, seeing the princess standing frozen in place, just waiting.

"At least Alicia has faith in your memory." Lydia offered, not wanting to think what it would cost the princess should that faith prove wrong.

"I wish I could say the same." Dallas said glumly, beginning to roll up the map. "I've studied the undead extensively...learned as much as I could about them in order to prepare the ghoul powder...but..."

"But?" She prodded when he fell silent, Lydia listening attentively to Dallas.

"But it's all been in books, speculation by others." He was clearly frustrated. "The only undead I've seen up close are the ones I created with Walther and Gyne. And those are tame compared to what we've faced so far on this island."

"Indeed." The archer agreed, her bow kept close to her side, in reach should one of the monsters choose to launch a surprise attack on their camp site. It had been tough battling their way to this point, knowing the sun kept away the worst of the beasts.

"What's more...are we really to believe there is such a thing as a castle that disappears during the day, but returns at night?" Dallas made a scoffing sound, though he kept his voice low to avoid being overheard by Alicia.

"There are stranger things yet to be found in this world." Murmured Lydia in response, packing away the last of the chicken. She wiped her hands on her pants, drying them off.

"I suppose so." Dallas sighed, staring morosely at the firelight. They fell into companionable silence, counting out the minutes in their heads as the sun sunk deeper and deeper in the sky. At long last it disappeared over the mountain range, the sky turning twilight as it lit up with several stars.

"Listen..." Lydia said, straining her ears to hear something beyond the silence that had fallen on the forest.

"Do you hear something?" Dallas asked.

"No. And that's strange." Lydia frowned, wondering what the cause of it was. Not even crickets chirped, and the night birds' song had ceased. She stood up, gripping her bow securely, already notching an arrow into place. Seeing her movement, Dallas also rose, a fireball appearing in his hand, the man casting a nervous glance around.

"Alicia." Hissed Lydia, but the girl was not moving, still watching the clearing.

"It's here." The princess said calmly, and it was then that they heard it. A great heavy groaning, a sound almost indescribable as the very air itself twisted in place. Lydia squinted, holding back a shout of surprise as she believed her eyes to play tricks on her. The open space in the forest's clearing seemed to be twisting, distorting in a vacuum that caused the area to blur.

Lydia was forced to close her eyes, to look away, and that is when she heard a heavy popping sound. Blinking rapidly she opened her eyes, hearing Dallas swear softly to the Gods. A great stone castle stood erected in the clearing, where a moment ago there had been nothing at all.

"It seems your information was correct." Lydia said, when she found her voice was capable of speech.

"Ye...yes..." agreed Dallas, closing his mouth in an attempt to hide his slack jawed surprise. "Now what?"

"Now we fight." Alicia said, at last drawing her sword. As though the sound of her sword sliding free of it's leather sheathe was what the castle denizens had been waiting for, the draw bridge fell open. It slammed into the ground with a heavy thud, kicking up clouds of dirt and dust. It's entrance beckoned like the maw of some huge monster, dark and foreboding, with a portcullis for it's teeth.

Dallas paused only long enough to sling his pack over his shoulder, and then he was at Alicia's side, casting his fireball into the darkness. Lydia joined them, standing on the other side of Alicia, her arrows trained onto the entrance of the castle. They waited, heart beats thudding faster with adrenaline. And slowly they heard the screams, the blood thirsty cries of the dwellers within the castle.

A glance at Alicia's face revealed the princess smiling grimly, sword not wavering in her steady grip. "This is it. This is our welcome!" She shouted to be heard over the cries, and as the first vampires appeared within the light of their campfire, Lydia's bow sang. With a satisfying thunk it slammed into the vampire's chest, scoring a direct hit into it's heart.

"Come on!" Alicia said, and she was moving, not waiting to see if she was followed. Dallas and Lydia hastened after her, watching as the princess leapt into the fray of battle, her sword downing a vampire. She was poetry in motion, hacking away with her blade, lopping off heads and limbs, left and right. She fought like a woman possessed, determined to let nothing or no one keep her from her husband a moment longer.

--

It had taken Forseti several days of traveling on foot, several days of misdirection and wrong turns to reach this point. He had visited other realms, wrongfully guided to their borders, led astray by ether trails and falsified tracks meant to confuse and deceive any who dared to follow them. He had paused in those other realms, asking about for any sign of Loki, investigating deeply to make sure the Trickster God had not visited these realms. Alfheim and Muspelheim had seen neither hide nor hair of the God, all leads proving dead ends and leaving Forseti frustrated.

He was ready to turn back, and try a new tactic. To wait for Loki's return to Asgard, and follow him like a shadow. It was only by pure chance that Forseti's wandering brought him close to Jotunheim, the God keeping his cloak in place as he wandered the realm of the ice giants. There were no tracks to be followed, the snow simply covered them all, and yet...his sensitive nose scented ether on the wind, faintly, oh so faintly as to be imagined.

Forseti followed that trail of ether, not expecting to be led anywhere of importance. He was wrong, taken aback to realize Loki's trail led to Utgard, the prosperous stronghold city of Jotunheim. He dare not attempt to enter it, and so he lurked on the outskirts of it's outer walls, watching, waiting. He knew this alone was not enough incriminating evidence to bring back to Lezard. After all, the King had bade Loki to infiltrate the enemy in an attempt to find Lenneth. Loki had a right to be here, and Forseti needed more proof of wrong doing.

The proof practically fell into his lap one day, when the sun was high in the sky, glinting off the shining white mountains of ice. From his hiding spot behind a crop of frost trees, Forseti saw Loki exit the city. The God wasn't overly cautious, steps unconcerned as he walked through the thick piles of snow. Forseti hurried to follow him, making as little sound as he dared. Loki led him through the mountains, deeper and deeper through the dangerous ice cliffs, wind howling and buffeting the two men about. Till at last he came upon what appeared to be a cave situated in the middle of nowhere.

Loki waved his hands over the wall, and disappeared inside, Forseti hurried closer, eyes picking out details that the distance sought to hide. His power was truth, allowing him to see what illusion sought to conceal. And what he saw had him frowning, seeing a a small cabin carved of ice, a windowless prison with just a door to mar it's otherwise seamless walls.

He paused away from the door, hiding around the corner, lying in wait. Eventually Loki emerged, using his power to seal the door shut behind him. With a cautious

glance around him, Loki hurried back to the mountains, Forseti holding his breath as he waited for the Trickster God to be long out of sight. Only when he was sure he was gone, did he risk approaching the door. His hands formed fists, knocking against the ice, seeking a way to open the door.

Forseti was forced to use his power, offering a small prayer in the hopes that Loki was far enough away to not sense his use of power. The door let out a soft hum,

swinging open and Forseti slipped inside.

--

Their footsteps sounded loud on the marble, echoing throughout the rooms as they ran. Alicia led the way, her blade eager for undead blood as she fought her way through the castle's interior. Dallas and Lydia were close behind her, the mage's voice ringing out as he chanted spell after spell, at one point summoning a Frigid Damsel to help him do battle. Lydia kept up a torrent or arrows, raining down destruction on the fiends that dare impede their progress.

"Let's go." Alicia ordered when their latest batch of foes fell to the combined might of the trio.

"A moment please." Dallas begged, panting heavily from all the running they were doing. Alicia nodded, though she knew her impatience had to show on her face, eyes watching as the mage dug through his pack for healing potion to restore some of his vitality. She noticed Lydia breathing a sigh of relief, the pretty archer taking the chance to lean against the wall and rest a moment.

"I'm going to scout ahead." Alicia decided, unable to remain still. She took a dead torch off the wall, pausing to let it's tip soak up the flames of one of the corpses Dallas had set on fire with his magic. The torch flared to life, she could feel the heat on her face from it.

"Are you sure it's wise to separate?" Lydia asked, brow furrowed. "If you just wait a moment we'll come with you."

"No take this chance to rest." Alicia advised, already moving down one of the halls turns. Though she was in a hurry, she was cautious, torch in one hand, sword in another. She walked down the hall, the others disappearing from sight as she turned a corner, casting her eyes about the length of hall. Even with the torch it was too dark to see more than a foot ahead of her.

Deeper she walked, eyes sweeping over the passage, Alicia almost missing the sound of something skittering across the floor. "Show yourself!" She hissed, spinning around, sword cutting a path before her in an attempt to strike down whatever it was. But her sword sliced through air, and she frowned. Again she heard the noise, realizing it was coming from above her now, and she slowly lifted the torch above her head, seeing the vampire clinging to the ceiling.

At noticing Alicia's attention was on it, the man hissed, lips curling back to reveal pointed fangs. With an inhuman shriek, it let go of the wall, and Alicia twirled to the side, to avoid the vampire landing on her.

His feet on the ground, he hungrily looked her over, Alicia sliding into a battle pose, sword held at the ready. Some unspoken signal occurred between them, the two moving in unison, each determined to get the first blow in. The vampire's claws racked down Alicia's sword arm, the girl letting out a cry of pain. She lashed out with her foot, getting him in the stomach, knocking him away from her.

Blood dribbled down her arm, and she shook it, trying to get some feeling back in her numb limb. The vampire grinned, and lunged forward, thinking he had the advantage. Alicia thrust the fire into his face, and he screamed, hands coming up to block it. That was a mistake, his skin catching on fire, his screams becoming more high pitched in panic as the vampire fought to put out the flames. Alicia didn't give him a chance to do that, bringing her sword forward to thrust into the vampire's heart.

The effect was almost instantaneous, the vampire turning to ash on the floor. The princess let out a sigh of relief, and moved to bring the torch closer to her injured arm, wanting to access the extent of the damage. But she froze as she saw a familiar figure standing next to her, the man staring morosely at the ashy remains of the vampire she had just slain.

Almost on instinct, she brought her sword forward, but he batted it out of her hands like it was a mere toy. "Must you kill all my vampires?" He demanded, toeing at the remains with his foot.

"Brahms!" exclaimed Alicia, and was instantly chastised for daring to strike at him.

"Princess Alicia." He turned to look at her, nodding in acknowledgment. "It's been a while."

"Yes..." She agreed, voice hesitant as she thought over what to say to him. "Do you always greet old friends with attacks by your people?"

"Oh? So we're friends now?" His smile was sardonic, the Lord of the Undead lifting a brow at her.

"I...forgive me." Alicia said, her head bowed in shame. "I acted deplorably when last we met. I cast mistrust towards you, when you had been nothing but trust worthy and honorable in our time traveling together. I had no right to do that."

"..." Brahms said nothing, merely looking at her.

"I know it's not right, I know I shouldn't come here begging to ask a favor from you after the way I acted, but please. Hear me out." Alicia continued, eyes sincere. "Much has happened since last we parted, countless things...and there is not time to recount them all."

"You have been cured of the ghoul powder." Brahms said in his deep, rumbly voice.

"Yes."

"I'm glad."

"You are?" She was surprised but pleased. "Thank you!" She said at his nod, and continued. "Rufus...my husband, and Arngrim my friend, they have been taken from me. Brought back forcibly to Asgard, with nary a choice in the matter. I must follow to free them."

"In your current state you cannot." Noted Brahms. "No mortal may pass through the gates of Bifrost until they have died."

"Yes." Alicia nodded. "But I...I was hoping you would know of another way." He fell quiet, time passing by long enough for Alicia to despair that he had no answer to give her.

"I do have another way." He said at last, and she dared not allow her face to fill with hope.

"You do?" asked Alicia, hearing the sound of footsteps. She didn't turn in their direction, but from their shouts, she knew it was Dallas and Lydia, the archer holding the mage back from attacking Brahms.

"Yes." Brahms nodded, reaching into his vest. He removed a tiny object, so small she squinted to see it in the darkness.

"Is that...?" She trailed off, as he offered it to her.

"A shard of the water mirror." Brahms explained, watching as Alicia took it from him with trembling hands. "With this you can go anywhere you've been before."

"And...you're giving this to me?" Alicia asked, and Brahms nodded.

"Go...go and rescue your friends." Brahms told her.

"Thank you!" Alicia smiled at him, and the vampire king had the grace to look embarrassed. "How do I activate the shard?"

"Merely concentrate on the place you want to go." Explained Brahms. "Visualize it in your head. That will form the connecting point."

"All right." Alicia nodded, and began to think of Valhalla, recalling the grand halls, and opulent wealth contained within. The shard in her hand began glowing, Dallas gasping in surprise. She turned and threw it on the floor, pausing only long enough to retrieve her sword. "Let's go." She said briskly to her companions.

"Right." Agreed Lydia, taking Dallas by the arm. She began urging him closer to the portal, Dallas making all kinds of protests.

"If you would just allow me to examine that shard before we leave..."

"Not now scholar!" laughed Lydia, and with a gentle shove, pushed him into the portal. She quickly hurried after the startled mage, the two disappearing from the castle.

"You better go." Brahms advised Alicia, and she nodded. But as she stepped closer to the portal she hesitated, turning to look at him.

"Come with us." She could see the surprise in his eyes at her impulsive words.

"I cannot." Brahms said at last, shaking his head no. "My time for journeys is at an end. I have much to do in this realm."

"All right." Sighed Alicia, knowing the vampire king would have been a great asset on her quest. "But allow me to thank you again."

Brahms inclined his head at her, his next words making her eyes widen. "Do not spend too long in the realm of the Gods lest Midgard suffer."

"What?"

"The Dragon Orb." He said, gesturing at the pack she carried. "Guard it well, and it will extend it's protection to you."

"So it was you who gave me the orb." Alicia exclaimed, but Brahms had already stepped back, fading into the shadows. She cast one last glance into the darkness, trying to find the vampire king, but he was gone. With a shake of her golden tresses, Alicia took a running leap into the portal, hearing the sound of air popping in her eardrums as she was carried away.

--

Lenneth let out an infuriated cry, throwing her pillow at the nearby wall. It bounced off the ice, landing near her feet, the soft down pillow not having enough bulk to make even a dent in the wall. She glared at it, kicking the pillow aside as she collapsed on her bed, holding her head in her hands. She was so angry her shoulders shook, and she bit down on her lip, fighting the urge not to scream again.

Loki's visits always left her highly agitated, and of late with a few new bruises to spare. The Trickster was not at all kind to his captive, willing to slap and knock her around if she displeased him. With Lenneth's sharp tongue, and defiant looks, that proved to be often, Loki venting his frustration out on her as she refused to divulge any knowledge she may have on how Lezard became a God.

It wasn't so much the becoming a God part that had Loki so interested, but the melding of one soul, one's power to another that really garnered Loki's attention. Never satisfied with his lot in life, the Trickster wanted to meld another God's power to his, and Lenneth shuddered to think what Loki would do if he became that powerful. Would he really stop at just one, or would he not be satisfied until he absorb all of the Divine beings that existed in creation?

A sigh escaped her, a bitter laugh as she imagined if he learned how to do that, she would be his first test subject. Lenneth would rather die than give him that knowledge, that power over others, grateful that Lezard kept a tight reign on the secret to absorbing other Gods. Lenneth could only speculate on his methods, and even that might prove useful enough to Loki. So she kept quiet, and endured his attacks, both verbal and physical, hunching protectively over her stomach.

She thought of the baby inside her, that little life that seemed to set off angry somersaults within her whenever Loki screamed his questions at her. The baby seemed to sense it's mother's distress, doing tiny but noticeable reactions inside her. The baby was constantly in motion, restless and that left her worried. She couldn't help but fear what effect her harsh imprisonment was having on the child's development.

At least Loki had yet to realize her delicate condition. Lenneth shuddered to think what he would do if he knew. Her hands fell away from her head, going to rest on her belly, rubbing it soothingly. The motions calmed her, Lenneth almost smiling as she caressed her belly, taking comfort from the life growing inside her. It was then that she heard a noise outside her prison, Lenneth jerking her head up guilty, her hands going to her sides. Was Loki returning so soon? Had he thought of some new and inventive way to torment her?

She was already rising to her feet, when she heard the knocking on her door. Lenneth frowned, peering curiously at the room's sole exit. The knock came louder, and she moved closer towards the sound, leg straining against her chain, trying to get closer. She fell woefully short of the door, listening to the knocking once more.

"Who's there?!" She finally asked, voice weary, thinking this was another one of Loki's games.

Silence in response to her question, Lenneth frowning. And then, a voice spoke hesitantly. "Is that you, my Lady Lenneth?"

She frowned harder, not recognizing the muffled voice. It could be anyone, though she assumed it was Loki, using his talents to disguise his voice. "Come now Loki, no need for such tricks between us."

"It is not Loki." said the voice, and the knocking resumed. Lenneth tasted power in the air, recognizing the discharge of ether against the door to her prison. "It is I..." The door unlocked, the voice muffled no longer as it swung inwards. "Forseti."

"Forseti?!" gasped Lenneth, seeing the God standing before her in the now open doorway. She couldn't help it, she gaped in shock, jaw falling open slightly. He offered a nervous smile to her, relief shining in his eyes.

"I am so glad to have found you." He spoke, taking a step inside the room. "I have been searching for days...I had begun to give up hope in finding something to incriminate Loki with. Never did I dream he would lead me straight to you!"

She was stunned, but no fool, still wondering if Loki thought to amuse himself by getting her hopes up at the chance for escape. "If you really are Forseti, than release me this instant." She gestured at the chain, lifting her skirt to reveal the manacle it tethered itself too. "Remove this chain."

"At once my Queen." Forseti said, moving towards her. Lenneth watched impassively as he approached her, the God bending down to examine her chain. His fingers brushed against her manacle, and she felt the jolt of electricity crackle in response, causing her body to shudder. Forseti hissed, drawing back his hand, ether on his fingertips as he considered his options.

"I think...for now we need to deal with getting you free, and worry about this enchanted metal later." Forseti said, a sigh on his lips. Lenneth just nodded, eyes urging him to hurry. Forseti followed the length of the chain to the bed, hand gripping hold of it just short to where it was melded to the wall. He gave an experimental jerk on the chain, adding ether to it's coils. It froze under his hand, and with a mighty yank, it snapped free, chain shattering to pieces under his hand.

"You did it." Lenneth said, for the first time feeling hope this was not an elaborate hoax of Loki's. She took a took an experimental step forward, hearing the remains of her chain dragging on the floor. But she was free, able to move even if she could not use her own divine powers.

"Yes. Let us hurry. Lord Lezard is most anxious to have you back." Forseti said, rising to stand.

"I'll bet he is." Murmured Lenneth softly, but her attention was focused on the door, seeing the endless white that seem to stretch between her and freedom. A hand appeared before her, extending Forseti's cloak to her, which she accepted gratefully. She was positioning it into place over her shoulders, watching as Forseti took a cautious step out of the room. Lenneth was quick to follow him, blinking back against the snow storm that marred her first taste of freedom in ages.

"Let us be off." Forseti started to say, turning to extend a hand to Lenneth. She was reaching to take it when she saw a flash of red and black, and barked out a warning.

"Behind you!"

"What?" A frown on his face, Forseti started to turn, stomach meeting Loki's mistletoe blade. The Trickster grinned over Forseti's shoulder at Lenneth, arm straining to push the blade all the way through to Forseti's back. He fell short of his goal, but the damage was done, Lenneth watching horrified as thick drops of blood fell to ruin the whiteness of the ground, a rapidly growing puddle of red spreading out beneath the God of Truth.

"Now, now Lenneth, going somewhere?" Loki asked, mocking laughter escaping him as he pushed Forseti off his blade. He stepped back, and without the support of the Trickster, Forseti fell to his knees, hands across his stomach, trying to staunch the flow of blood.

"Loki!" growled Lenneth angrily, taking a step back as the God moved towards her. She kept from letting out an infuriated whine, realizing she had nowhere to go but back into her prison. The realization made her stop up short, eyes narrowed in a glare as she stared at the Trickster. "How could you?!"

"It's easy enough to kill. You should know that battle maiden." Loki said, and Lenneth scowled.

"I will not have you mock me!"

"Lenneth...run..." groaned out Forseti, turning to grab at Loki's ankle.

"Yes, run Lenneth." Laughed Loki, turning to kick at Forseti's side. "You're in enemy territory with your powers sealed. Your attempt at escape should prove to be very amusing." He wasn't even paying attention to her, focusing on lashing out at Forseti with his foot. With a low hummed growl, Lenneth suddenly lunged towards Loki, intent on grappling the mistletoe blade away from him.

It was a move most unexpected on Loki's part, the God shouting out in alarm, grabbing at Lenneth's wrists. She fought him, gritting her teeth as she brought up her knee, slamming it into his groin. That had the expected effect of Loki hunching over with a groan, the wind knocked out of him.

"Forseti leave!" Lenneth ordered, struggling with Loki.

"But Lady Lenneth..." protested Forseti, the God kneeling in his own blood. "I can't just leave you."

"You have too!" She snapped. "Go back to Asgard, find Lezard, tell him where I am!"

Realizing the truth of her words, Forseti nodded, whispering out, "I am sorry." as gold and green ether surrounded him, teleporting him away. Loki let out an enraged scream, letting go of Lenneth's wrist to back hand her across the face. With a cry of pain she went down, falling to the snow covered ground. Growling, Loki grabbed her by her hair, hauling her back up.

"You think this makes a difference?!" He shouted in her face, Lenneth staring at him without flinching. "Forseti means nothing in the grand scheme of it all!"

"Then why are you so angry?!" She demanded, voice a cruel taunt.

Loki cursed, and suddenly his arms were around her waist, Lenneth stiffening with displeasure. She hissed at him, letting out angry squeals as he began to pick her up off the ground. Her feet dangled but a few inches in the air, but Loki carried her kicking and squirming form with ease over to the entrance of her prison, tossing her down onto the floor.

"I don't have time to play with you." He announced, ether already forming around his body. "I have a God to catch." Before Lenneth could leap to her feet, Loki was gone, the door slamming shut and sealing close. With an infuriated scream, she threw herself against it, slamming her fists helplessly against the heavy door.