Symphony of Shadows

42. Loki

A/N: Surprise, new POV👀

Meanwhile, back in Berk...

Stoick paced the cold rock passageway of the Mead Hall as his top council members looked on, all of them fraught with worry. Asger, Astrid's father, stood in the middle of the room with Greta, her mother, at his side. Asger paced in frustration, his wife simply looking on with a blank expression.

"She's been gone for almost three weeks, Stoick. We haven't heard a word from her even though you haven't given her an assignment. This isn't like Astrid. She always reports back."

The chief was just as confused as the poor man. There wasn't any obvious reason for her absence. She'd been on strict orders to rest. Of course, this was Astrid Hofferson they were talking about, and she never took the easy path. Alarm bells sounded in his head as he thought of any other rational explanations for her disappearance. It couldn't have been the Berserkers or any of the other tribes. Ever since the murder of Yorgen Haraldsson they'd all signed a truce. It was important that they all focus on their one true enemy: that dragon-loving bastard.

"There could be one explanation for her disappearance but even I don't want to believe it. We haven't experienced a raid in those three weeks that she's been missing. What if...?"

Ingrid narrowed her eyes at his implication. "The raids haven't stopped altogether. We received word from the Meatheads that they sustained damages from those blasted dragons."

He stroked his beard in deep thought, "Yes, well what if sparing us is part of his plan? To make us not suspect him for her disappearance?"

At his side, Gobber coughed conspicuously, avoiding Stoick's gazed. He knew his old friend well and sighed.

"Yes, Gobber?"

The Viking in question looked awfully nervous as he brushed his moustache with his attachable arm.

"Well, uh, you see, Chief, Astrid has already... encountered the Svikari."

Stoick barked out in surprise, "What?!"

"Um, about that... Gothi said he saved Astrid during one of the raids and brought her to her hut to treat her injuries."

It didn't make any sense. Why would he save her? He would be the only one to benefit from her death. Unless...

"This might've been his idea all along. He knew she was close to finding him so he struck first, but not before sending a message. He wanted us to know it was him. He must want to scare off anyone who poses a threat to him—and Astrid fits the mold."

Now it was Asger's turn to look confused as he finally paused his pacing.

"Why was Astrid trying to find him?"

He'd said too much. Now, he'd have to face the consequences. Stoick knew it'd be a risky task but he'd never imagined that the scum would... take her. Or kill her. His shoulders sank as he forced himself not to think of all the atrocities she could be enduring. Astrid was like the daughter he never had and he... he didn't know what he would do if he... lost her. No—he did know what he'd do—he wouldn't stop until he tore off the limbs of that rat and fed them to those dragons he loved so much. His familiar rage began to boil just beneath the surface as he watched Asger's face contort into a similar anger. All of a sudden—he lunged to attack the chief with a shout.

"YOU DID THIS! YOU SENT HER TO DIE!"

Before he could reach his target, Ingrid was there to hold him back as he thrashed wildly.

"Asger, don't do this. We don't even know if it's true. She could just be sailing to another island to gather information."

He whipped his head around and gave her an incredulous look.