The Family Lokison (Part 4)

The Truth Hurts, Part 2 (SIGYN)

"Sit, sit!" Narvi wasn't usually so insistent on having my undivided attention; as he aged, he seemed to treasure independence and privacy. My tender child was always more likely to snuggle at my side than Loki's, though, and I wondered if his sudden interest in quality time was because he could sense the baby would claim every last drop herself for at least several months.

I groaned as I sat, grateful my body wasn't yet complaining with every movement like I recalled from my first pregnancy. "Now, what's this about needing my help? You're a better reader than the students at least two years ahead of you."

"It's not our tongue, Mum." He retrieved a book from under his covers and watched my face expectantly while presenting it. "Isn't it beautiful?"

"Wow..." The cover was a work of art, covered in swirling vines and gold details. The color shifted in the light, constantly changing, like the leather of the binding was attached to a live creature. "I've never seen anything like this." As my fingertips traced the corners, a single word appeared in the center—fleeting, but easy to see. Orm. The old tongue, but the word stirred an old memory that hadn't visited in ages.

"Can we read it? Modi said it's about a snake."

"A snake, hmm? And does it come out and...eat you?" I goosed his side and tickled him until he squealed. It reminded me of when he was so much smaller—a sidekick to me, really—and before he became so sensitive to touch. I was grateful he still let me this close. "Have to be careful of loose snakes in here, it seems. He's right. This word here means snake in the common tongue, though some say it could be a lost word for dragon. Depends how it's used."

Narvi settled and chuckled against me, halfway hoping I would keep teasing him and halfway wanting to see what was inside. "Like the snake on your ring, right?"

"You've noticed my ring?" I held my left hand before both of us and admired the still vibrant green eyes. "Still as lovely today as when your father married me."

"Why do you like snakes, Mum?"

Like seeing the title of the book below, his question caught at the back of my throat. I coughed to clear my hesitance away and chose discretion. "Oh, I just think they're fascinating creatures, really. Now, shall we have a lesson on the old language?"

He nodded with enthusiastic bouncing. "Please. I want to read everything in Asgard's library, just like Modi."

"And someday you shall." I lightly stroked his hair—something he rarely allowed since it wasn't covered in clothing—then told myself to enjoy the moment as Loki advised since we would soon have no choice but to see war. Peace was precious. "Alright. Let's see what sort of snake awaits us in here."

I opened the cover, expecting little, but something filled the room straight from the pages. I tipped my head forward, unsure if my mind was playing a trick.

"What is it, Mum?"

"Is it...is it making a sound?" I leaned a little closer and was certain—though there was nothing but a rock wall topped in green grass on the page, it whispered like a far-off waterfall, hissing in the background. "Gods, it is."

"Modi said the books in Odin's library all move. They have a different kind of magic than we do." Narvi kicked his legs impatiently. "Maybe Father can teach it to us, too."

"Perhaps he can." I shook my head quickly and refocused on the story, turning another page. Runes filled the pages, and like the cover, they shined with their own personalities. "Let's see. Now, you must forgive me for not knowing the direct translation of some of these, though your father will surely know them all much better than I do."