Chapter 3
Five men come to an abrupt stop standing over the dead body in the forest of the man who was after Kol earlier inspecting it carefully.
“What do you say Ronith?” Calder Questions while inspecting the body.
“An expert throw sir, Bulvi died quickly about five hours ago and the ones who killed him went that way.” He says pointing “There are three of them the two young men we are after and an older man with them judging by their foot prints.”
“Damn it! I want those kids found! I will catch them and kill them slowly and painfully for murdering my brother!” Yells Calder causing it to thunder for a second with his powers.
“Why are we doing this Calder? You didn’t even like your brother.” Says one of the other guys bugged at the situation.
Calder turns on the man quickly and without a word to him a bolt of lightning shoots through the clear sky shocking the man so badly he flies into the tree behind him breaking his back instantly.
Turning back to the other members of his group who are cowering in the back ground he yells. “It’s true, I hated him, but that doesn’t matter. The insult of killing a member of my family must and will be answered with blood. Do any of you object to that?”
Each of them shake their head violently in answer afraid of his wrath being turned on them.
“Good, now Scald you will head back to the city and run daily operations for me in my absence, as soon as you reach the city send out messages to every city, I want a price on their heads, do not fail me! The rest of us will track these dead men until we’ve caught them and I’ve had my revenge, now Ronith lead the way.”
With Ronith in the lead the four of them run deeper into the forest chasing after their targets.
The jog through the forest was very enjoyable until Harig the wolf son of Fenrir attacked them with his pack, Harig was the size of a horse with jet black fur and red eyes that glowed in the dark and worked like spot lights. His claws were the size of daggers and his tail was barbed at the end with needles that he could shoot.
Standing back to back the trio has their weapons drawn waiting for impending attack.
“Why don’t you drop your weapons and welcome death? I promise we’ll make it quick, after all why put yourselves through the pain of a slow death?” Harig questions coming to the front of the pack facing them and showing his teeth.
“Forgive me if I don’t believe you nephew.” Says Kol facing Harig with his dagger drawn.
With a growl Harig tenses getting ready to pounce. “And who are you morsel?”
“Kol, son of Loki.” Snarls Kol matching the growl. “And yes, I obviously know who you are.”
With the equivalent of a wolf laugh Harig takes a step forward to inspect Kol closer. “A half breed huh, I remain unimpressed demigod family or not.”
“Half breed? You’re one to talk dog, if you were a full god you’d be in chains with your father.” Says Kol blasting Harig backwards with an explosion of magic.
Responding to the attack the pack closes in quickly on the trio before Harig jumps to the front of the pack once again forcing them back with a snarl.
“Get back! I have not given the order to kill them…yet.” He howls turning back towards Kol “I see you have your father’s powers, can you also freeze things I wonder?”
“Care to find out?” Questions Kol taking a step closer to Harig and putting the pack on guard.
“You have courage…uncle.” Says Harig backing away a little. “So what do you suggest happens now?”
“I suggest that you allow us to pass through your forest, that or we all go at it and see who has more power, but remember no matter what happens it is on your head and Odin does not approve of family betrayal.”
Looking at his pack for a moment Harig gives them a wolfish smile. “Well played Kol, you have my permission to continue on through our forest but beware there are many more dangers in the forest aside from us.”
Before Kol can answer another wolf comes bounding up to Harig whispering in his ear.
“It seems that the forest is full of surprises today, there seems to be four men tracking you slowly.” Says Harig happily. “Have you not been playing well with others uncle?”
“That would most likely be Calder and his men, I killed his brother and apparently he is a little upset about it.” Sighs Kol.
“Looks like we’ll be eating good tonight.” Howls Harig followed by his pack.
“I would be cautious Harig, Calder is a demigod son of Thor.”
“So you killed his brother, your cousin? So much for honoring Odin, eh uncle?”
“He was trying to kill me that is a different matter entirely.” Answers Kol crossly.
“You don’t need to explain yourself to me, besides there is a big difference between my pack sparing you a direct child of my grandfather and sparing a son of Thor, my family’s sworn enemy. We will attack them and do our best to stop them.”
“We will be in your debt Harig until we meet again.” Says Kol, returning his dagger to its sheath.
“Until then uncle.” Growls Harig bounding away with his pack close behind.
“Well done.” Says Bjorn grudgingly.
“Yeah no thanks to you, I thought you were going to protect us and train us on this journey, what exactly were you trying to teach us there.” Snaps Kol unable to control his temper.
“As I remember it boy, you were the one who decided to speak to the wolves first, since you decided to try your hand at negotiations I was more than willing to sit back and let you be a grown up, had you failed I was completely ready to fight to the death protecting you both to the best of my abilities.” He says, matching Kol’s tone.
Coming back to his senses as his rage subsides a bit, Kol is unable to meet their gazes. “I apologize. I let my anger get the best of me.”
“I have been there myself, you must learn to control your emotions or they will be the end of you. That is the lesson for today, what happened may have worked out but it could easily have gone the other way.” He smiles patting him on the back “As for you Hagar, you did well holding your ground without breaking down, for that I am proud of you. Once you are trained up you will be a fine warrior.”
“Thank you father.” Beams Hagar.
“The fact that we have people after us complicates things a bit, but that is all part of the life of a hero and a life of adventure. Either way we better get moving.” Says Bjorn turning and running full force followed closely by Kol and Hagar.
Harig is running full speed back the way his scout came followed closely by his pack that are hungry for the kill. He doesn’t care that this man Calder is a son of Thor, in fact in his view it will make it all the sweeter when he tears him apart.
“We are close to where I found them the first time my lord.” Pants a wolf running next to him.
Sliding to a stop on the wet forest ground Harig turns to face his pack that abruptly come to a stop in front of him. Looking around the forest the beauty of the place is lost on him, he ignores the sounds of the river moving swiftly miles away blocking it out gradually. He ignores the green of the massive leaves and the smells of the grass, bushes and flowers. Little by little everything disappears, until the only sounds and smells he can detect is that of his prey moving swiftly through the forest.
His eyes shoot open and drool escapes his lips with a snarl. “This way, when we get to them separate the group quickly and remember the son of Thor is mine.”
The pack barks in understanding as they run faster and faster picking up the scent of their victims.
“What’s that?” Questions Ronith coming to a stop looking about.
“I’d say it’s our dinner.” Laughs Calder slightly out of breath. “Everyone get ready, it sounds like a pack of wolves, don’t worry though they will be no match for me.”
The others join in his laugh until a flash of fur comes from nowhere knocking Calder far away from the others.
“You’re as arrogant a
s your father.” Sneers Harig pacing back and forth in front of Calder.
By this time his crew recovers from their surprise but it’s too late to come to the aid of their commander, the pack is there making short work of them, only Ronith is holding his ground wounding several wolves giving pause to the others.
“You’ll pay for that dog.” Yells Calder jumping back to his feet.
“Doubtful son of Thor, say the proper prayers to your father because your own personal Ragnarok is happening right now and you will be meeting him soon.” Snarls Harig.
“Your name whelp, or shall I guess it?”
“Does it matter? In the end I am your death but if you must know I am Harig son of Fenrir grandson of Loki, I hear you are looking for my uncle. Was there a little family dispute that didn’t go your way?”
Grimacing Calder’s hands begin to glow a little humming with power as his anger grows.
“Your uncle…” He begins.
“Your cousin as well.” Interrupts Harig with a laugh.
“Your uncle killed my brother and he will die slowly and painfully.”
“If your brother was so weak he that he died at the hands of another then he deserved to die and if my uncle or you die battling with each other than the loser deserved to die as well. Such is the order of things and the way of life and the gods.” He growls. “But first you will have to get past me to do either meat sack.”
“I’d love to.” He lashes out with his powers shocking the ground where Harig was a second ago.
In a matter of seconds Harig has him by the leg with his jaws locked and with a simple twist of his head throws Calder against a nearby tree racking his body with pain. He has to ignore the searing pain as he moves just in time dodging the next attack.
All around him the pack snaps and barks happily at the battle waiting for it to end, waiting to feed some more as the others finally finish off Ronith.
“Ahhhh!” Yells Calder shooting power out of his body in all directions knocking both Harig and the pack backwards stunning them all.
“You filthy little animal! Did you really think you could beat me? I am the son of Thor!” He screams madly drawing his sword and walking up to Harig who is still trying to get up, he blasts him again to make sure he can’t fight back. “Now you will die on your belly like the filthy useless dog you are.”
“You are sorely mistaken son of Thor.” Interrupts a cool evil voice from nowhere stopping him in his tracks.
Calder turns and his jaw drops in surprise and fear as he sees Loki leaning leisurely against a tree with the wolves bowing to him.
“Loki.” He stammers.
Loki smiles towering over the group, he’s six foot four and his brown eyes twinkle with delight at the situation, his black hair slightly blows in the wind and his emerald green robe flows about him giving him a regal and dangerous look.
“That would be Lord Loki to you child, just like your father I see, picking on those smaller than you, that I cannot abide especially when it concerns my grandchild.”
“Your son killed my brother and your grandchild here is protecting him, keeping me from delivering the justice he rightly deserves.” Replies Calder through gritting teeth.
“It sounds to me like justice has already been served.” Laughs Loki magically lifting Calder into the air and flipping him upside down.
Lashing out Calder shoots energy at Loki but he easily bats it away, fire and fury literally burn in Loki’s eyes as he stares at Calder’s upside body.
“You dare to attack a god?” Shouts Loki slamming Calder’s body into a tree close by several times in a row. “You mortals are all the same, arrogant and foolish enough to believe you have a chance in hell at defeating someone like me. Only a god could stand a chance against me and even then most would fail.” He laughs throwing him to the ground.
“Most might dear brother, but not I.” Erupts a strong voice splitting the sky followed by a flash of lightning and the appearance of another son of Odin.
Loki’s face flushes for a moment but quickly regains composer as he slowly turns to face his step brother.
“Dear step brother, I would have thought you too busy lifting weights or fooling women into loving you to come here, either way your presence in this matter isn’t necessary.”
“But me thinks that it is Loki, after all it is my son whom you are…interrogating.” Says Thor eyeing his son.
At nearly seven feet tall with shock blond hair, penetrating blue/grey eyes and a body of pure perfection Thor is beyond intimidating.
“Father Loki’s son Kol…” Begins Calder only to be cut off by Thor.
“Quiet son, I am well aware of what took place between your brother and my nephew. I am also well aware of what both you and your brother were doing to make a living; I must say that I am sorely disappointed in you. You have become little more than a bully forcing others to do your bidding, hardly the heroes I had hoped you would become the day you were both born.”
“Exactly, so you see brother that this whole thing was your children’s fault.” Smiles Loki.
“Shall we list the evils that your children have and will do?” Questions Thor angrily. “Your children are far from innocent.”
“Including Kol?” Asks Loki intently.
“Kol killed my son.” Says Thor flatly.
“In self-defense, how many enemies have you killed defending yourself or the all father during the Odin sleep. Should we then rightful assume that you too should be punished?” Smiles Loki.
“Your words are always twisted and misleading but this once there is a ring of truth in them. I have yet to decide what kind of person your demigod son will be. Until such time my son will not hunt him but he will face many trials to prove his worth on this journey he has under taken.”
“But father!” Yells Calder.
Holding up his hand for his son to remain silent Thor continues. “That being said my son has a right to his vengeance; although he will not pursue your child any longer he will in fact have the right to challenge him should they ever cross paths again. Calder you will head back to Skaalholt, trust me my judgment. One day in the not far off future Kol will return.”
Shaking from his anger Calder bows. “As you wish father.”
Calder begins heading back towards the city when all of a sudden Harig leaps in front of him with a snarl.
“We have unfinished business.” Growls Harig.
“Gladly.” Smiles Calder pulling out his sword.
Unexpectedly a bolt of lightning flashes in between the two of them startling them so badly they jump backwards.
“Enough!” Yells Thor floating in the air between them.
“Really must you be so dramatic?” Questions Loki lazily leaning against a tree.
Ignoring him Thor continues. “There has been enough blood shed by our family this day.”
“This isn’t over Calder, your father may have saved you today but one day I will have you for my wolves.” Says Harig before bouncing off into the forest followed closely by his pack.
“Not if your head is on my wall!” Yells Calder after him. “If there’s nothing else father I will take my leave.”
“Be well my son and be good.” Says Thor eyeing him suspiciously.
With a forced bow Calder runs off into the forest at top speed back towards the city.
“I don’t want to be good father; I want to be great, whether or not it’s the greatness you wish matters not to me.” He whispers under his breath.
“How it must hurt and eat at you brother to have a child that is not noble and sappy like you, tell me, how does it make you feel to have a child who is a bully, thief and killer of the innocent?” He laughs floating slightly in the air above Thor.
“He may yet prove himself.” Sighs Thor.
“Your blind faith is laughable, or is it ignorance because you are unwilling to see him for what he is? Don’t bother answering, either way I will enjoy watching what will happen to him when finally he has c
rossed the wrong person. In fact maybe he already has, we will see what shall happen when he and Kol meet once again.” Smiles Loki disappearing back along the rainbow bridge to Asgard.
“Yes brother we shall see.” Says Thor flying into the air. “But first let us see just what kind of demigod your son is, hero or villain.”