𝐄𝐓𝐎𝐈𝐋𝐄 ━ loki laufeyson¹·¹

6│INN AT THE CROSSROADS

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❛ ᴇᴛᴏɪʟᴇ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐒𝐈𝐗 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ɪɴɴ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ
ᴄʀᴏssʀᴏᴀᴅs ꒱


❝ YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD
TRICK THE GOD OF LIES? ❞

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A L F H E I M

Fandral had been having a hell of a time. He was, of course, honored that the Allfather had included him as one of the warriors to retrieve the Star, but who knew such a being could move so fast? When Heimdall had sent them to Alfheim to start their journey, he'd expected it to go smoothly. He'd arrived in Stormhold with a plan to seek out a soothsayer to consult their runes. The Light Elves were known for their expertise in seiðr and so the readings should have been straightforward.

"Are you quite certain that the Star is no longer on Alfheim?" he asked the witch across the table. Like many Light Elves, she had an unearthly beauty about her: pale, nearly translucent skin, shifting, light colored eyes, and hair the color of wheat.

"Yes, my lord," she replied in a high, sweet voice.

"I hope you do not think that I'm questioning your skills, my lady, but it's only been a day. Have one of the others gotten to it first?"

She threw the runes on the table at his question and they scattered accordingly. "The results are scrambled, my lord," she apologized. "It appears that stronger, darker magic is preventing me from seeing the answer clearly. I would tread with caution once you encounter her; she appears to have bound herself to unsavory people."

Fandral sighed. "That means Loki got it, then. Hardly a surprise, that snake. No one else would pull such a dirty trick. Would you be able to tell me which realm it is in now?"

The witch tossed her runes once more. "It appears she is on Vanaheim, though her exact location is impossible to judge due to the dark magic surrounding her."

He rose with a dramatic flurry and gave the Light Elf a deep bow. "Thank you for your time, my lady. I shall heed your warnings with great care. Perhaps we will meet again." He gave her a winning smile that had charmed many a lady in Asgard's court.

The Light Elf, however, regarded him with an even stare and remained unimpressed. "I would not count on it, my lord. The Nine Realms are vast and full of dangers. I believe that you will not be returning to Alfheim within your lifetime."

"I will be on my way then, fair lady. I wish you well in all of your endeavors." He paid in coin for her time and left, trying not to feel too off-put by her parting words. (Understandably, he was never entirely comfortable when thinking about his eventual, impending death.)

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V A N A H E I M

Blasted rain, Fandral cursed to himself as he received a thorough soaking as soon as Heimdall transferred him to the new realm. Thor was probably trying to make his life difficult, just to ensure that his one-day search would end in victory. Thankfully, there was a cozy inn up ahead where he could shelter for the night. After he'd knocked on the door it took some time for someone to answer and he spent the wait trying to peer out in the dense blackness of Vanaheim's scrubby plains. Of course, he saw nothing.

A man with unsettling ovine features opened the door, which he tried to ignore as best he could. "At last. I require accommodation for the night. There is not much travelling to be done in this downpour."