Alliance

Chapter 14: Unleashed

Chapter 14: Unleashed

~ß~ Katirya ~ß~

Katirya crouched over the creature, trying to see if there were any clues to identify

who had sent him. She felt he was working for someone; he had been too easy to

defeat. She pushed at the corpse, trying to turn it over, but it was too heavy for her.

That surprised her, as the creature was rather small, not much taller than she was.

Thor joined her and easily flipped the body over. Standing, she stared down at it,

still puzzled. "I do not understand why he would even try. He was easily

outnumbered."

"I would like to know how they are getting into Asgard. First we have your

compatriots, now him. How many others can we expect?"

Katirya laughed at that remark. "We do not need the Bifrost to enter. There are

many pathways through the universe that we can use."

Thor looked at Loki. "Yes, I am aware of that. Loki?" Loki walked over to them. "How

many of these secret paths do you know of?"

Loki considered the question. "Apparently not all of them. Kiri, can you help us to

identify them?"

She nodded and motioned for Mythean to join them. "Take the Thirteen and secure

Asgard. See that no others enter." She looked at the brothers. "How many guards can

you spare? They can show you the pathways we know of."

"I will assign as many as you require. Volstagg," Thor called out to his friend, "I need

you, Fandral, Hogun and Lady Sif to work with them. Muster up as many guards as

you need."

"And this?" Fandral held up the Tesseract.

"I'll take that." Loki and Thor both spoke in unison. The two brothers stared at one

another for a long moment before Thor nodded. "Give it to Loki."

Fandral reluctantly handed it over to Loki, then joined Volstagg as he and the others

exited the chamber.

As the room emptied, Katirya was reminded of the Cartherion group; she turned to

look at them, focusing on the man who had brazenly challenged her just moments

before. He sneered at her and stepped forward away from the others. "You will

never rule Cartherion!"

She ignored his comment. "Who is working with you and this mercenary snake?"

"No one!" The man screamed back.

"Ah," Katirya smiled a devilish look flashed across her face, "then I guess no one will

miss you if you do not return."

The man lifted his chin defiantly. "Go ahead, kill me, witch. You still will never rule. I

am just one of many."

"NO!" Thor shouted as Katirya raised her arm. "We need to find out more from him

since this one is dead. Do you truly feel they are working together?"