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X. John & T'Challa

Chapter Ten
Naomi

We visited five encampments of Vanir citizens. Each encampment heard our speeches, each agreed to rise up against Njord's tyranny and take their planet into their own hands. In total I'd say we rounded up about two hundred Vanir, more than enough to storm Njord's palace and take out his guards.

Freyr has adorned the armor of a Vanir warrior just as Thor has adorned Asgardian gear. Since I didn't come with any armor, one of the Vanir citizens lent me theirs; it's ocean blue, with a sigil made of waves on the chest plate, Njord's sigil. I love the irony of wearing his sigil as I attack his home and help dethrone him. Thor enjoys it too, going as far as to laugh almost manically when he first saw me in the armor. Even Freyr smiled.

When we hear word that Kier and the others have successfully taken Hala, we lead the charge at the palace. Thor uses Stormbreaker to knock down the giant sea glass doors, killing two guards in the process. The citizens flood the halls of the palace like ants in an ant hill, actually being strategic by covering all floors, not just the main level where the throne room is. We didn't even have to tell them to do that. I guess when you have endured so many wars you pick up on a thing or two about strategy. A large group of the citizens do head straight for the throne room though, and we're at the helm of them, taking out any soldier that stands in our way; Thor with his axe, Freyr with his duel wield swords, and me with my fire.

Thor takes down the doors to the throne room, then we are met with Njord, who is sitting on his throne with the Sword of Surtur tight in his grasp, the tip digging into the floor at his feet. Njord's eyes glide from Thor, to me, to the angry citizens behind us, then finally to Freyr. Njord doesn't look shocked or betrayed, just angry.

"You would really side with them over me? You would side with Frost Giants, humans, and traitors?"

"You are outnumbered, Father. Please surrender and give me the sword."

Njord scoffs, the sword now beginning to crack the sea glass floor beneath the weight of his grip. "You're no son of mine." He spits out.

I don't look at Freyr, but I can tell those words struck a blow despite everything, despite what's about to happen. Freyr doesn't balk away from Njord's words or his less than subtle threat with the sword. He holds his head up high, his voice as harsh and cold as the sea surrounding the palace as he orders the citizens, his citizens: "Seize him."

It happens very quickly. One minute Njord is sitting on the throne, sword in the hand, then his body is lost in the sea of Vanir, the sword now being handed to Freyr by three citizens whose hands are covered in blood. Freyr takes the sword, but he barely glances at it before handing it over to me.

"You should be the one to end this, Ambassador."

I nod to him, grasping the hilt of the sword tightly and holding it up to admire it. Holding this sword feels like holding onto fire itself, I can feel it's power calling to mine, feel the fire within the blade light up the fire within me. I can feel it in my veins, my blood, my bones, I feel it consuming me. Liam told me that after he went to Alfheim the first time his powers were never the same, that the light within him was fully unlocked and awoken by the Light Elves. I know my powers didn't originate from Muspelheim, there's no way any human scientist would have survived an encounter with a creature from there, but like calls to like all the same.

"Do you know how this sword works? How do I call off the creatures?"

"They are controlled by the sword and now it's yours to wield. If you want them to do something, all you have to do is tell the blade."