The Mother of Gordir honored The Chosen Ones as she did every night. Savory feasts, wild drinking contests, dancing and story telling rolled each night into weeks and more. They were all feeling it--a sense of calm, a peace that relaxed the mind and muscles.
They has soon learned that all of the surrounding villages had been fully restored after the Norgardians had defeated the dopplegangers. None of the villagers from any of the villages had any memory of the destruction their twins had unleashed. All was as it had been before they had arrived, except for the sigils.
What did they mean? Each carried a image that represented some aspect of civilization. Intricate knots, crossed swords, an arena, lightning, an owl, the first letter of the Welkin alphabet, were among other domestic and artistic symbols.
Aesa had sketched the symbols onto a scroll. Welkin symbols in Thor's tomb. Why? She'd seen far more evidence of Welkin ruins in this tomb than anything from their own past. She had seen nothing of Troll or Sembling civilization. Aesa was bored. The others seemed happy. Magnus and the other warriors went on hunts. Poksok ate and slept all day. He was getting fat. Isgerd spent her days admiring the flora and fauna of the area. Something had to be done before time stopped and she went mad. She could already feel it. She had tested it. Her fingernails had stopped growing. She bit into an apple. It did not brown.
Aesa had suggested to the others many times that it was time to leave, time to return to their fates. For the first few days they agreed and had made tentative plans to leave. In the morning they all ran off to do the things they enjoyed, seeming upset by Aesa's nagging. After a week they stopped listening to her at all. She had a plan. She began writing a note. Aesa was excellent at forgery. It had saved her life more than once. Now she hoped it would save her life again. She wrote the biggest lie of her entire life and hid the note where everyone could find it. Then she stole all their stuff and ran like a Sembling being chased by a war tribe of Pukje.
*****
"Has anyone seen my crystal sword?" asked Sigurd.
"How could you lose something that big?" asked Isgerd.
"I don't know. I went to my hut to polish it and couldn't find it. Maybe Reikov is playing with it." he said.
"I didn't take it. Mom's trollspear is missing too. Maybe someone is playing a prank?" said Reikov.
Puzzled they checked with each other. All of their magic items were gone, even the Arm of Zeus which Kara only set down for a few hours a day.
"It must have been Aesa. Just ignore her. She will come back when she gets bored." said Magnus.
They all relaxed, knowing that this explained much.
"Aesa is like a bed filled with lice; once you've been infested with her you can't get rid of the problem," said Sigurd.
"The problem ran off with our weapons. Maybe killing her will solve the problem," said Magnus.
"Unlikely. She will turn up the next day happy and ready for more trouble. The villagers were returned to life; she would be much harder to kill than them," said Hildagunn.
"Where did she go then?" asked Sigurd.
They headed to Aesa's living space.
"I suspect this will tell us," said Hildagunn. She had discovered a scroll nailed to the central pole in Aesa's hut.
Hildagunn began to read it for the others to hear.
You are no doubt looking for your little friend. I've taken her as my war-bride. Thank you for your generosity in providing a dowry for her. A trollspear, a crystal great sword, a big arm that shoots lightning--incredible!
Bergar the Bold will reward me well for these things! Magnus! You thought you could kill me? You are nothing compared to me. I spit on you and your ancestors! When I return to Norgard after looting Thor's tomb, they will make me a king!
-Wulfgar
"Wulgar the Troll is dead!" growled Magnus.
"Is anything certain in Thor's Tomb?" asked Hildagunn.
Sigurd's eyes were no longer Violet, returning to their original sky-blue. He knew he had lost contact with the sword but was not ready to tell the others the sword was sentient.
"Aesa is our kin. We must assume the worst has happened to her. I will seek her out.
Will you stay here, resting and drinking or help your kin when they are in danger?" asked Sigurd.
"If you were not kin, I would answer you with Frosik," said Magnus.
"Frosik is missing too, you would have more trouble than you think trying to kill me without it," said Sigurd.
"We will all go Sigurd. Do not stir Magnus for battle until necessary," said Isgerd.
They packed their remaining gear, said goodbye to their friends, especially Ka'Thor and the Mother. They found their way to the clearing where they had first arrived in this land, embraced the statue there and were returned to where they had found Isgerd kneeling in front of the crystal statue many days ago. They retraced their steps, but found clues to where Aesa had been taken that took them on a different path. Aesa was their best scout, but Poksok and Kara both found some of Aesa's personal items, a comb, a bauble, a lock of hair. It was as if Aesa were leaving a trail for them to follow.
The group eventually came to a clearing. Ahead was a plateau. The side facing them had been carved. Gold columns jutted from the ground supporting a massive roof. A statue of Athena stood between the columns. The statue was life-like. A golden door was closed behind the statue. Before them was Aesa.
"You have to see this! Watch!" she said.
Before they could ask questions, Aesa had run off to show them her discovery. She ran in front of the statue, then backed away, then ran forward again.
The statue bellowed, "If...if...if you are...if you are..." Aesa continued to stop and start causing the statue to stutter the words. "If you are the Chosen...Chosen...Cha-Cha-Chosen Ones, enter...ENT-ER the Sacred Cha-cha-Chambers beyond. Just think and the path shall be yours. If...if...if evil has won, what lies beyond is death,"
"Where is Wulfgar?" bellowed Magnus.
"Where are our weapons?" asked Sigurd.
"If you are the Chosen...Cha-Cha!"
"STOP IT AESA!" shouted Isgerd.
Aesa stopped running in front of the statue and the message ran normally before ending. Aesa slumped as a child who has had her toy taken away after annoying her parents one too many times.
Magnus turned his head slowly, hoping Isgerd would give her blessing.
Isgerd took notice of the smile on Magnus's face and responded, "NO! We need her. The gods approve or she would be dead already,"
Magnus scowled. He stomped over to Aesa who drew a meek smile on her face.
"Where...is...Frosik!" he growled.
Aesa pointed to a sack next to the statue. Magnus stomped over to the sack.
"Wait!" said Aesa.
"If you are the Chosen Ones..." Chimed the statue of Athena, "enter..."
Magnus pushed the statue with all of his strength until it cracked and then toppled to the ground. The voice stopped as the marble broke into many pieces.
Magnus smile filled his face.
Aesa starred at him for a moment in disbelief. "You should respect the gods. You are a barbarian!"
Magnus grinned, then he opened up the sack and retrieved Frosik. He then stood before the door trying to gain entry but there was no handle. He rammed the door with his shoulder. The aurulent portal resisted his efforts. Before Magnus could try again Isgerd calmed him with a gentle hand. As a group they studied the door.
"The door is covered with the symbols we received among the villagers," said Doskev.
"It must be the way in," said Sigurd.
Magnus had a sigil on his head but the symbol was repeated high up on the door.
"Someone boost me up there!" he said.
"Doskev is the only person who can lift you!" said Aesa.
"I don't think that is how they work," said Doskev.
"What did the statue say?" asked Isgerd.
"You mean before Magnus broke it?" asked Aesa.
"I imagined it was you," said Magnus.
"It...itt...itt..sa-sa-said!" said Poksok.
"Exactly! Aesa had the damn thing stuttering so who remembers what it said?" asked Sigurd.
"Wha-wha-wait! Listentomeplease! The...sta-stat-ue...it...it..said...to..tha-tha-think!" said Poksok.
"Think?" asked Magnus.
They looked at Magnus considering something snarky to say but instead everyone tried to remember what Athena had said.
"Just think and the path will be yours!" said Hildagunn.
"So we think about going inside?" asked Sigurd.
"I was doing that!" complained Magnus.
"We all need to do it together," said Isgerd.
They all concentrated on being inside, beyond the door. Their sigils began to scintillate. The glowing intensified and then left each sigil-bearer, absorbed into the door. The door glowed for a moment and then opened revealing the room beyond.
Isgerd feinted when the door opened. They others rushed to her but she was already getting up. "Must have been the excitement. I'm fine now," said Isgerd.
They stared beyond in awe. They knew this had to be the inner mausoleum of Thor's Tomb. Aesa shed a tear thinking about Olaf and Ignatius. They could only watch this moment from Valhalla. So struck where they by the moment they almost forget to pick up their weapons. Sigurd was reminded when he looked at Magnus who held Frosik in his hand.
"Grab your weapon," said Sigurd.
He clutched his crystal sword and his eyes returned to violet color with no pupils. He felt the rush of the sentient sword's mind mixing with his own and staggered for a moment, clutching his teeth before walking away from Aesa's sack of stolen treasure.
"Are you well?" asked Isgerd.
"I'm fine. I am just struck by the glory of having finally reached our goal," said Sigurd.
Kara quickly snatched up the Arm of Zeus and the others grabbed their favorite weapons from the sack before stopping at the entrance for a moment to reflect.
In unison Aesa and Magnus swore like dverges.
"What?" asked Isgerd.
"We can't enter. When I try to go forward nothing happens," said Aesa.
"Think! Remember? Think and the path shall be yours...Poksok remembered it!" said Hildagunn. Now we must think our way forward. Move with your mind. Think your path and you will be free," said Hildagunn.
The concentrated as before and soon found Hildagunn was correct. Soon they were walking through the Hall of Heroes. A set of statues, twice life size, made of marble and fully painted in vivid colors stood in a series of wall niches. Near each was a mirror for each statue. Aesa and Poksok examined them, looking for traps and treasure. They watched the mirrors with fascination. Poksok waved the group over.
"If you watch the right mirror you see scenes from that heroes past," said Hildagunn.
"What is going on in the left mirror?" inquired Aesa.
"The left mirror represents the moments leading up death," said Hildagunn.
As they continued down the hall, the Chosen Ones learned much about these mighty heroes. The most important theme was that they were supposed to close a gateway to the abyss. Their mission was unsuccessful and the gate was left open allowing demons, devils and worse to enter the world. At the end of the hall was a bronze door guarded by the statues of a Welkin and a Norse warrior.
They pushed the door open unleashing a clarion call warning of doom. A toppled statue of Athena shouted, "You are not the Chosen! Get thee hence, back to your cesspool! Death and destruction await you! Murderer of the Chosen! Crawl back to your mother's womb for it shall be your sepulcher!"
They all sensed something perverse had taken place. They thought themselves forward dashing with the speed of their minds. They came to a chamber that could only be described as a Worlds Room. Many doors opened to different lands, times and places. Pools of water indicated the floors indicated recent flooding. There were also marks on the walls from powerful magic exploding. Anyone who had entered this room endured an attack that would kill most mortals. This hall required further exploration but they all continued with urgency to the next room. The bronze portal was crumpled like it were made of tin. Beyond a burning wooden statue of Athena said "Welcome Chosen, you have done well. Your reward is yours to claim, beyond this room. First rest and heal," she said.
They rushed beyond the room with the burning statue into a grand hall. The chamber was massive. At the far end, two doors of rainbow hued flames lick the wall in ever changing patterns. The room was meant to awe and under most circumstances the Norgardians would have been amazed by the wonders within, however the room had been transformed into a macabre seen.
The floor was bathed in blood and bodies. The deaths were recent. All were slaughtered. Some by weapons, some torn apart, but most were twisted or burned by powerful magic. Among the dead were human knights, alfar rangers, Welkin priests and wizards, and dozens of gold winged Valkyries.
Aesa and Poksok lead the way, cautiously searching for survivors or loot. The others formed defensive positions and moved gingerly through the dead. The warriors were dressed in ancient armor. They could read an inscription written in ancient Welkin which proclaimed this the Hall of the Redeemers. When all seems lost, when the Chosen have come, the Redeemers will rise, returning HOPE.
Hope was dead. The smoldering remains of the Redeemers gave an acrid depiction of a battle lost before it began.
Aesa motioned to the rest of the group that she had found none alive. Poksok sat down on a set of blackened wings and cried. The wings moved involuntarily and Poksok screamed before passing out. Aesa pushed him off the body and tried to push the body on to its back but it was too heavy. She motioned for the others. Magnus and Doskev arrived and turned the body over carefully. A beautiful Valkyrie lie before them, a Welkin priest, a Welkin mage and an Alfar sheltered beneath her wings showed faint signs of life.
Blue healing energy flooded from Isgerd's body, stablizing the four dying beings. The Valyerie's eyes fluttered open. "Loki? Is he gone? Is the medallion safe?" she asked.
The mage felt beneath his robes. "The medallion is safe. When I broke my spear on that god's hide I punched him in the jaw. That is the last I remember."
The alfar woman stirred next. "Oh my head, where am I? Pemru you really have to stop drinking the dwarven drought just before heading out to party...hey, this isn't the tavern. What the Hades?" she asked.
The Alfar was speaking her language and the mage was speaking ancient Welkin but the Chosen Ones had no trouble understanding them in this room.
The Valkyrie stood up on unsure legs. It was a testament to her stamina that she was still breathing. Despite Isgerd's healing she had a broken arm and wing and numerous burns and lacerations. "I am General Unn, third daughter of Odin. I was ordered to protect the Redeemer with two score Valkyries. I doubted his decision that we were needed here. I am humbled," she spoke.
"I'm fine thanks," said the Welkin priest. He sat up and inspected the room.
"Anybody loot the bodies yet?" he asked. When he saw the angry look on Unn's face he shrugged. "Waste not, want not. Harcourt, Nemesis of Evil at your service,"
"Harcourt is a Welkin name?" asked Sigurd.
"My name is Hermokrates Epiphanes. Harcourt flows more easily from the tongue don't you think?" asked Harcourt.
"How are they going to redeem anything? Look at them! A general with no army, a priest who has already picked the pockets of the other Welkin, A welkin wizard who gets into fist fights and one Alfar." said Sigurd.
"Return the medallion to me at once priest of Hermes or I will flatten your nasal passages," said the mage.
"I just wanted to examine it," Harcourt handed the medallion back to the mage. "Why is it so important anyway?"
"I don't...I don't really know. My group was seeking an ancient medallion rumored to have unlimited power. We crossed a dead sea and faced many challenges. I thought this was the medallion but it does nothing. It is inert. That is the last I remembered before this moment. It appears my companions are all dead. We were held in stasis above this spot in the room until the deity Loki arrived," the mage said.
"There is a healing room just before this chamber. We must seek it if we are to be of any help. Chosen Ones...you must enter the Halls of Asgard beyond the rainbow portals. The mortal remains of Thor and Odin lie beyond. Take your reward. We will prepare for your return," said Unn.
"How do we get past the rainbow barrier?" asked Sigurd.
"If you are Chosen it will be no obstacle," said Unn.
"And if we are not Chosen?" asked Sigurd.
"You will burn up and your spirit will be handed to Hel. Even Loki knew better than to try the portals," said Unn.
"How did Loki get in here? Where is he now?" asked Sigurd.
"I brought him here," said Isgerd.
"You did what?" asked Sigurd.
"I must have been possessed by him, ever since we faced the monster on the shore of the crystalline council chamber. I felt his cunning, his madness, taunting, mocking me. I thought he had left before we entered the realm of the peaceful villagers. I must have been wrong," said Isgerd.
"Where is he now?" asked Sigurd.
"You passed a hall filled with mirrors. Those mirrors are doors to many worlds. Loki could have chosen any of them," said Unn. Unn looked pallid.
"Unn, take the others now to the healing room. We will return soon," said Isgerd.
There was a minor difference between the flaming doors. An eight legged horse galloped in the center of the door on the left The hammer of Thor blazed white in the center of the door on the right. Hildagunn, Isgerd, Aesa and Poksok went through the door on the left. Magnus, Sigurd, Kara, Vikar, Doskev and Reikov went through the door on the right.
Hildagunn, Isgerd, Aesa and Poksok passed through the rainbow door. Poksok looked relieved to be alive. The room wasn't a typical tomb. There was no coffin or burial ship. There were no bones. The room was filled to the knees with gold, silver and red gold. Swords, amulets, and numerous items which all glowed brilliant with magical light filled the chamber. Aesa ignored all this and ran past everyone to a niche in the far corner of the chamber. A golden helm rested there. Over the eye slots two huge rubies were inserted. The helm was covered with runes. Aesa thrust the helmet on her head before the others could shout "No!".
The room swam. Aesa could see through her friends. She felt incredible power flow through her. She could sense how easy it would be to destroy them all now that she had this power. She knew this helm had to made by Odin. She sensed he had worn this same helmet in battle on the final day of his mortal life. She heard the faint whispers of her friends.
"Take it off!!" shouted Isgerd.
Aesa snapped out of her reverie. She tried to take the helmet off. It wouldn't budge.
She pulled hard. It was still stuck and it was calling on her to keep it on. Aesa could tell everyone was pulling. With an audible popping sound the helm came off. Aesa smiled and whooped. "I claim the Helm of Odin. You can have the other things," she said.
"Must be cursed if she doesn't want any gold," said Hildagunn.
"I didn't say I wasn't going to fill my pockets with coin," said Aesa.
The others pocketed potions, daggers, magic staves and wands and anything else they could carry before the headed back through the rainbow door. Aesa filled the helmet with treasure.
When they passed through the door into the Hall of Redeemers, Aesa tried to enter the other rainbow door and was thrown back.
"I guess you can only pick one," laughed Hildagunn.
Magnus and the other warriors had entered Thor's mausoleum. A stone cairn centered the room. The skeletal remains of a giant man, as tall and wide as Magnus rested inside. A bit of tattered wizard robe swathed the man's pelvic bones. His bones showed signs of many injuries. The room itself was rather spartan for a god. A giant stuffed lizard was near the cairn. It had an inscription. Morg the Pukje eater. There were daggers hand crafted from extinct animals, dozens of mead barrels, now dried up, thousands of brothel tokens, plenty of coins, and weapons of every design.
Magnus picked up a plain looking leather belt with bronze trim and a fine bone dagger. Tears ran down his cheeks and he bowed low before Thor's body, whispered something at the side of his skull and then left.
Vikar picked up a fancy bow. He felt it was a fine reward. Sigurd took a harp. It seemed out of place here. Reikov picked up a great sword with an incredible carved pommel in the shape of a devil's head. The inscription on the pommel was Devil's Food. The others took weapons and coin before showing signs of respect to the mighty Thor. They left solemn and determined.
When they had all returned they found Unn, Harcourt and the unnamed Welkin mage were healed and having an animated discussion in the Worlds room.
"We must aid the Northmen. It is why we were spared," said Unn.
"I just want to go home. The Saratel is where I belong. I might have missed the Elven Moon festival and this would break my heart," said Pemru.
"I really don't trust Northman. They react negatively to arcane pursuits and I didn't pack for cold weather," said the mage.
"The Valkyrie is right. We must work together. If Loki wanted you dead you are tied to our fates," said Isgerd.
"These mirrors go to our homelands?" asked Magnus.
"Some of them do," said Unn.
"Where do the others go?" asked Hildagunn.
"They go to different worlds, different times. We must agree to take the same path because you can not return once you have gone through the portal," said Unn.
"Is there another way home?" asked Kara.
"No, these mirrors are the only way out of Thor's tomb," said Unn.
"Which one did Loki take?" asked Isgerd.
Unn concentrated for a moment. Her eyes sparkled with their own light and her facial expression grew tense. She pointed to a mirror. "Loki went through the mirror where your large friend is standing.
Magnus was watching the scene in the mirror, unaware that the others were watching him. It was snowing. Norgard has somehow grown in size but he did not recognize the inhabitants. The lawrock looked strange. Where was Gunnar? Then he saw him. Bergar the Bold was seated in the Jarl's chair. He was speaking. Magnus strained to hear the words. "As Jarl of Norgard, it is my duty to pronounce sentence. Gunnar Bluetooth, you shall be executed for cowardice and treason in public tomorrow," he said.
Magnus launched himself at the mirror and was gone.
"Where did Magnus go?" asked Aesa.
Isgerd studied the mirror. "He went home," she said.
Kin, friends, and what remained of the Redeemers followed Magnus through the glass. Glory or death awaited. The Norns would decide.