Loyalty and Mischief (WIP)

Chapter 17 - Try to lock me in this cage, I won't just lay me down and die

"Make sure she is well-restrained. Her magic has grown considerably. Damn those Asgardians. Was it really so hard to just do as they were expected?"

"It's the Trickster's fault. He no doubt holds everyone under a spell, including the Allfather."

"Him and that witch of a mother of his. I should have got rid of her when I had the chance."

Sigyn blinked against her blindfold as her mother and Ivar's voices penetrated the darkness. There was a distinct clanging noise of iron chains against hard rocks. She flinched when heavy shackles closed around her ankles and wrists, and tried to get away. A hard palm struck her cheek, making Sigyn yelp in surprise.

"Keep still, you little slut," said Ivar.

Someone laughed in the background. A male voice, but younger — Thorin. He always enjoyed watching Ivar hurt her. Her mother chuckled along with him.

"Struggle all you like, my dear," Lady Sunna said. "You won't get out of those restraints. They were forged especially on Nidavellir to keep our kind in check."

"Our kind?" dared Sigyn. 

"Yes, Sigyn, our kind. Or did you think you were the only one in our family to be blessed with these powers? The ancient flame of the fire mages has been passed down from mother to daughter for generations, my dear. Only a handful of men were born with the flame and lived long enough to wield it. And every one of them died horribly at the hands of Bor and Odin. Until me, that is. My mother knew a thing or two about potions as well, and she poisoned me, stripping me of my fire when I was a young maid. Then she got herself killed, leaving me defenceless. Well, almost anyway. Thanks to my desire for knowledge and power, I learned a few other basic forms of magic, which she failed to take away from me."

Lady Sunna gave a scoff in contempt before continuing, "She was a fool. And a coward. If she had united our powers, we could've taken over Asgard and eliminated our enemies once and for all. We could have ruled all the Nine Realms!"

"Your mother only wanted what was best," whispered Sigyn. "She loved you. She wanted to save you."

"She wanted to finish our heritage. She told me 'our plight' would end with her. So imagine my surprise when you are born, and I find you have the fire that was rightfully mine! I will admit I hated you at first, but after some time, I realised that having you provided me with an opportunity. All I had to do was keep you away from everyone until my spies informed me Frigga was looking for a wife for her golden boy, making sure you were well-educated and fit to be Queen. A prize they couldn't possibly resist."

"All my life... Everything you have done to me... All for vengeance?"

"For the good of the family, my dear. I almost had it all within my grasp... But then you ruined it all by letting the wrong brother have his way with you! The same brother who unwittingly foiled my plans before by killing my most precious spy! But it no longer matters. The Trickster will get what he deserves, as will the rest of that wretched family and all of Asgard!"

Sigyn clenched her fists in rage. Her fire tried to push its way up, yearning to be let loose. But the shackles did what they were supposed to and kept her well in check. 

"Do not pretend to be all-powerful, Sigyn." Thorin snickered. "You may have picked up a few new tricks, but you are no match for these bonds. Nor for our mother."

She flinched again when someone stroked a lock of hair behind her ear. Not sweetly, but taunting. Ivar... Her brother's lips were close to her face. So close, she could feel his breath upon her cheek.

"You are nothing," he hissed at her. "You mean nothing to anyone. Do you honestly believe your husband will come for you? That any of them care? Odin's choice will be easily made if it comes down between Asgard and a fire mage. In fact, it puzzles me he has not killed you yet, considering what befell others with your... abilities."