Chapter 9

"He and another boy were building with prism blocks. The other child accidently knocked over a section of the wall," Frigga explained as Loki sat beside her on the chaise.

"He's lived his entire life isolated from other children. It should be expected–" Loki said, Frigga interrupting him before he could finish.

"He attacked him…like an animal…he had become an animal," said Frigga, her horror at what she had witnessed evident in her face and voice.

"What are you saying?" Loki asked, confused.

"He changed… "

"Changed?" asked Loki in shock.

"A wolf," Frigga said, placing her hand on Wolfie lying in her lap, "something resembling one."

"How is that possible? Boda couldn't have taught him. Before yesterday he was ignorant of Asgard. He believed magic was pulling rabbits out of hats. Just this morning I showed him the first trick you assisted me to perform…" Loki trailed off as a revelation struck him, "the Shadow Man."

"Who?" Frigga asked.

"Vanar spoke last night of a Shadow Man. This morning when I questioned him further he told me that Dario, the man who abducted him, took him to see this Shadow Man, that he asked him if he liked wolves. When the Shadow Man touched him he said he fell asleep. He could remember nothing more."

"And you made no mention of this to either me or your father?" Frigga asked in disbelief as Loki rose from the chaise, pacing.

"I had planned to have him speak to father after you returned with him. He's understandably reluctant to talk about him. As Dario and this Shadow Man, whatever and whoever he is, are in Midgard with no means to travel here I believed it could wait."

"If you don't know who or what he is, how can you be certain he lacks the means?" Frigga asked.

"Vanar said Dario took him to a cave below the building, that Dario must do as he commands. If he has need of a lackey and Vanar had to be brought to him it's likely he's unable to leave its confines. They have no ships in Midgard, none that are capable of interstellar travel, nothing akin to the Bifrost."

"You know as well as I there are other means to travel between the realms."

"There are no portals in the vicinity of Boston. Even Thor knows nothing of them," Loki said as he stopped pacing, "The child...how is he?"

"His injuries were serious but the healer was able to treat them. He will recover...physically...mentally may take more time, not only for him but for the other children who bore witness. Your father has ordered that Vanar join his mother."

"He's taking my son from me..." Loki replied.

"What other choice could he make aside from sending him to the dungeon?"

"What of Boda if he were to have another such episode? She would allow him to tear her apart before she would harm him even to defend herself."

"I'm certain your father would have no objection to assigning guards to the cottage to see to her safety," Frigga answered.

"She would never allow them to harm him either. Did he know what he was doing? Does he remember?" Loki asked.

"He claims to have no recollection. Based on his reaction when he saw what he had done after he became himself again, I believe he was speaking the truth, but then you were able to mislead me at times at his age," Frigga replied as Loki took Wolfie from her lap, looking down at the stuffed animal that had been the final clue to Vanar's existence.

"I asked him to leave this here to avoid another incident as in the gardens," Loki said, acknowledging the irony, "I know little of curses. If he's been cursed, is it possible father could remove it?"

"Without knowing who and what this being is…even with that knowledge, removing another's curse can be precarious," Frigga answered, "Your father is no longer young. He grows weary more easily. Neither Thor nor yourself are ready to take his place."

"You no longer need trouble yourself in the interest of sparing my feelings. We both know father always intended Thor to be his heir."

"Your father carries more burdens than the throne," Frigga continued.

"What do you mean?" Loki asked, puzzled.

"I go now to your father. Remain here with your son until he summons you," Frigga said, rising, ignoring Loki's question, "I'm sorry," Frigga said, moving to stand before Loki, embracing him, Loki returning the embrace, "He's my grandson. I care for him as well. Do not lose hope," Frigga said before stepping away from Loki and crossing the room to the tall, gilded double doors, exiting Loki's chambers.

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Loki entered Vanar's bedchambers, far larger than his bedroom in Boda's apartment, to find him playing with a set of small, square blocks that appeared to be made of the same material as the Rainbow Bridge. Vanar continued to build with the blocks, not acknowledging Loki as Loki sat down across from him and the structure he was creating. Wordlessly, Loki picked up a block from the pile on the floor beside Vanar and went to place it next to the one Vanar had just added.

"No!" Vanar exclaimed, Loki withdrawing his hand holding the block.

"I'll be careful," said Loki, "I spent many hours with these when I was a child as well. I once built the palace along with the Rainbow Bridge and Himinbjorg. It took an entire week. Once I'd completed it… I destroyed it."

"Why?" Vanar asked, perplexed.

"I was angry," Loki answered.

"With who?"

"My father, as usual," Loki responded as he placed another block.

"But your father didn't build it, you did," Vanar said, confused.

"It reminded me of him," Loki said, adding another block as Vanar watched him.

"I hurt someone. I broke a rule. I didn't mean to. Is he going to send me back?"

"You're going to stay with your mother until we can figure out how to stop it from happening again."

"He knocked the wall down. I was angry…I'm sorry," Vanar said sadly, "I'm really sorry this time. I'm not lying."

"It wasn't your fault," Loki said, continuing to add more blocks.

"Is he going to be ok?"

"The healer helped him."

"Everyone will be afraid of me now. They won't be my friends. I don't want to hurt anyone. I'm scared," Vanar said before throwing himself at Loki as he began to cry, knocking down part of what he had been building in the process, wrapping his arms around Loki as Loki held him, stroking the boy's dark hair that was so much like his own.

"The Shadow Man did something to you. I'm going to find a way to fix it. We'll speak with my father soon. Afterwards we'll pack up whatever we wish to bring with us and join your mother."

"You're going to stay with us?"

"I am."

Vanar pulled away from Loki as he turned to see the pile of blocks.

"Oops."

"Let's finish the job," Loki said, both alternating between laughter and monstrous growls as they reduced the remaining walls of the structure to blocks of rubble.

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Loki and Vanar neared the entrance to the throne room, Vanar nervously gripping Loki's hand tightly.

"Brother!" Loki and Vanar heard Thor's voice call out from behind them, turning as Thor caught up with them, "Mother told me what happened. She asked me to join you. Up you go," Thor said as he lifted Vanar onto his shoulders, the trio continuing to the throne room.

"You're not scared of me? I'm a monster," Vanar told Thor.

"You're not a monster," said Loki.

"I've fought monsters ten times your size, I've fought monsters ten times my size," Thor answered Vanar before addressing Loki, "If there's anything I can do…"

"Aside from finding a remedy for eitr poisoning or lifting curses, I can think of nothing–…actually there is something…when we're finished here we could use some assistance transferring our things to the cottage," Loki replied.

"You're staying there as well?" Thor asked.

"Would you not do the same? Do you believe me to be such a churl?"

"Yes…No...I mean, yes, I would do the same...no, I do not," answered Thor.

"I have a bit of unfinished business to attend to this evening. Vanar will be with his mother, but I'd rather someone remain with them considering the circumstances. I shouldn't be long. If you have no plans…"

"No plans that cannot be altered," Thor responded.

Loki, Thor, and Vanar riding on his uncle's shoulders, approached the throne to see Odin standing before it, Frigga at his side as Heimdall faced the King and Queen of Asgard. Heimdall placed his arm across his chest, bowing his head before turning and walking past the three.

"Has something happened? I mean, other than the reason we're here," Loki asked, aware that Heimdall would not leave his watch in Himinbjorg except in the case of an emergency or a summons from his father and also noticing the troubled expressions on his parents' faces.

"There has been a murder," Odin said gravely.

"Who has been murdered? By whom?" Thor asked, shocked as murder was an exceedingly rare occurrence in Asgard.

"Stian Halvorson, the shepherd. The perpetrator is not yet known," Odin replied.

"Stian? I've shared a drink with him in the tavern many times. I've never known him to quarrel with anyone," Thor replied.

"We will speak in my study," Odin said.

Odin and Frigga stepped down from the dais, Frigga looking to Loki with trepidation, locking eyes with him, before following Odin towards the entrance to the King's study, Loki, Thor and Vanar trailing behind.

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Arvid entered his abode, slamming the door closed behind him and crossing the room, sinking into an armchair.

"You know what's going to happen, what always happens. You'll have a few too many drinks, he'll charm you with that silver tongue, round and round we'll go again, just like always," Arvid said gruffly aloud to himself, "I must be the biggest fool in Asgard."

Arvid turned his head as he heard the bell ring at his door. Rising from the chair, he approached the door, opening it.

"Stian?" Arvid said in surprise at the identity of his visitor.

Though Arvid knew the shepherd, as did everyone in Asgard, the two were not close. He couldn't recall being visited by him in the past.

"May I come in?" Stian asked.

"Yes, of course," Arvid said, stepping aside, Stian entering, Arvid closing the door behind him, "Is there something I can do for you?"

"You assault a prince and are allowed to walk away?" Stian asked.

"I think it happens often enough the einherjar don't bother. It would have been worth the time in the dungeon," Arvid replied.

"You know him well?"

"Too well," Arvid answered, pausing a moment, a thought dawning on him, "Don't tell me...I shouldn't be surprised. As he always says, variety is the spice of life..."

"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. You're meeting with him this evening?"

"If he keeps his word, which I wouldn't place any bets on," Arvid answered.

"He's taken something of mine. I would like it back. I thought perhaps you could be of assistance," Stian said, taking note of a painting tacked to the wall, stepping past Arvid to the wall to stand in front of it.

"If he has something of yours, you must know him as well as I. Why would you need my help?"

"You were with him...at the museum?" Stian asked, studying the painting.

"How did you know about that?"