Queen. “Asgaard will fight. Vanaheim will send troops to her aid.”
Meghan followed suit, going to one knee before Queen Rhunin. The Queen smiled and nodded, motioning them to rise.
“As will Alfheim. The bright elves will not quietly slip into the darkness of Ragnarok.”
Meghan felt out of place in the grand throne room of Alfheim, but Jord seemed to fit right in. He was every bit as tall as the elves ringing the chamber, yet broader in the chest and shoulder.
“My brother tells me you are marching on Svartalheim. Can the elves fight on two fronts?”
Jord’s statement hit right to the heart of the matter, but the Queen didn’t falter.
“Forces have been held in reserve for the defense of Asgaard, our trusted ally. The attack on Nokkurra is but a feint, a distraction for our enemies to pull their eye, delay their army, nothing more. But I think, young prince, you can benefit from it.”
Jord nodded. “My father was seen there, not two days ago. A bound captive.”
There was a hush in the room. Thor’s captivity would have come as a surprise to many there.
“And you ride to free him.” It was a statement, not a question, as if the queen already knew why they were there.
“I wish we could have acted faster to support your brother.” The Queen’s eyes darkened. “The might of Thor will be needed in coming war. But now I can offer our complete support and pray it will be enough to return your father to us.”
The Elf Queen removed a ring from her finger and handed it to Jord.
“My troops are encamped, even now, on the cliffs above Nokkurra. Give this to Captain Linden.” She handed the ring to Jord. “It will give the son of Thor complete command of my troops. Use them as you see fit. The God of Thunder must be found in this, our hour of peril.”
Jord bowed before the Queen. “I am in your debt.”
“No, Jord. It is our debt to your father, and to you, that is just a bit eased by this act.” The Queen nodded her dismissal. “The blessing and support of the elves go with you, Jord Thorson.”
When they left the court of the bright elves, everything seemed darker. Meghan felt in her heart she could be eternally happy living in the constant springtime of Alfheim or the opulent majesty of Asgaard. Both places were so breathtaking. Returning to earth seemed mundane compared to what she’d experienced in these fantastic realms.
The unmistakable view of Long Meadow Lake below, told Meghan she was once again in the Twin Cities area. The imposing structure and vast parking lot to the west could only be the Mall of America. She used to think the Mall was a grand and breathtaking structure — never again.
The sky clouded over and snow was falling around them. The ground below was blanketed white. Meghan was surprised at how warm she was in her new jacket. Even the tips of her bare fingers seemed pleasantly warm in the chill air around her.
Jord landed the chariot on the roof of the mall. The landing was so smooth she barely felt the touchdown. At one point they were flying, the next they were not. Even so, as Meghan stepped off the chariot onto the solid roof, she realized her knees were shaking.
“It does take some getting used to.” Jord waved his hand in the direction of the two goats. The whole chariot, goats and all, started to shrink. One of the goats bleated.
“Oh, get over it, Snarler.” Jord admonished the goat. Suddenly the chariot and goats were gone. In its place on the ground was a small, glowing sphere. Jord picked it up and stored it away in the front pocket of his pack, where he’d put the apples. Probably yet another thing mere mortals should not touch.
Meghan shook her head. The wonders just kept on coming. “So how do we get down from here? You grow silver wings, create a magic portal, and summon a giant flying fish?”
Jord smiled. “I thought we’d just take the access stairs.”
He led her down the steps and into the Mall. Meghan had only been here a few times.
Meghan followed suit, going to one knee before Queen Rhunin. The Queen smiled and nodded, motioning them to rise.
“As will Alfheim. The bright elves will not quietly slip into the darkness of Ragnarok.”
Meghan felt out of place in the grand throne room of Alfheim, but Jord seemed to fit right in. He was every bit as tall as the elves ringing the chamber, yet broader in the chest and shoulder.
“My brother tells me you are marching on Svartalheim. Can the elves fight on two fronts?”
Jord’s statement hit right to the heart of the matter, but the Queen didn’t falter.
“Forces have been held in reserve for the defense of Asgaard, our trusted ally. The attack on Nokkurra is but a feint, a distraction for our enemies to pull their eye, delay their army, nothing more. But I think, young prince, you can benefit from it.”
Jord nodded. “My father was seen there, not two days ago. A bound captive.”
There was a hush in the room. Thor’s captivity would have come as a surprise to many there.
“And you ride to free him.” It was a statement, not a question, as if the queen already knew why they were there.
“I wish we could have acted faster to support your brother.” The Queen’s eyes darkened. “The might of Thor will be needed in coming war. But now I can offer our complete support and pray it will be enough to return your father to us.”
The Elf Queen removed a ring from her finger and handed it to Jord.
“My troops are encamped, even now, on the cliffs above Nokkurra. Give this to Captain Linden.” She handed the ring to Jord. “It will give the son of Thor complete command of my troops. Use them as you see fit. The God of Thunder must be found in this, our hour of peril.”
Jord bowed before the Queen. “I am in your debt.”
“No, Jord. It is our debt to your father, and to you, that is just a bit eased by this act.” The Queen nodded her dismissal. “The blessing and support of the elves go with you, Jord Thorson.”
When they left the court of the bright elves, everything seemed darker. Meghan felt in her heart she could be eternally happy living in the constant springtime of Alfheim or the opulent majesty of Asgaard. Both places were so breathtaking. Returning to earth seemed mundane compared to what she’d experienced in these fantastic realms.
The unmistakable view of Long Meadow Lake below, told Meghan she was once again in the Twin Cities area. The imposing structure and vast parking lot to the west could only be the Mall of America. She used to think the Mall was a grand and breathtaking structure — never again.
The sky clouded over and snow was falling around them. The ground below was blanketed white. Meghan was surprised at how warm she was in her new jacket. Even the tips of her bare fingers seemed pleasantly warm in the chill air around her.
Jord landed the chariot on the roof of the mall. The landing was so smooth she barely felt the touchdown. At one point they were flying, the next they were not. Even so, as Meghan stepped off the chariot onto the solid roof, she realized her knees were shaking.
“It does take some getting used to.” Jord waved his hand in the direction of the two goats. The whole chariot, goats and all, started to shrink. One of the goats bleated.
“Oh, get over it, Snarler.” Jord admonished the goat. Suddenly the chariot and goats were gone. In its place on the ground was a small, glowing sphere. Jord picked it up and stored it away in the front pocket of his pack, where he’d put the apples. Probably yet another thing mere mortals should not touch.
Meghan shook her head. The wonders just kept on coming. “So how do we get down from here? You grow silver wings, create a magic portal, and summon a giant flying fish?”
Jord smiled. “I thought we’d just take the access stairs.”
He led her down the steps and into the Mall. Meghan had only been here a few times.
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