Sorcha's Secret World, Part 2: Mystery and Mischief.

Chapter 4, Fárbauti.

The excavation of the caved-in hallway took days. Doc Lee's team moved slowly and with the utmost care to prevent accidentally damaging anything that could be hidden in the rubble.

In the meantime, the rest of his team concentrated on the rooms that were accessible.

The chamber with the Jotunn remains stayed a mystery to Loki's frustration. He was so desperate to learn more of his people and of his history, and now he was so close to finally learning more the waiting chafed.

He did become more and more convinced that their deaths had been neither natural nor accidental. The thought that several warriors in their prime would all die at the same time was too much of a coincidence for Loki to accept, and I agreed with him.

I hung around first of all, but there was little for me to do. Loki got along well enough with Doc Lee so I wasn't needed to keep the peace either, despite Loki's frustration. Instead of hanging around feeling useless, I went home, after making Loki promise to call me if there was any progress.

"Darling, perhaps it would be wise if you made your way back to the hold," Loki sounded hesitant.

"Everything okay, love?" I asked.

"We've uncovered a new room, and the excavation team has reassured us it's safe to enter. I would like for you to be here." His words were matter-of-fact but there was a slight tremor in his voice.

"I'm on my way."

Loki was waiting for me outside the hold, leaning against the doorframe.

"What did you find?"

"I don't know yet. We're just about to go in. I told them to wait until you were here." He motioned with his head towards the hallway, and we walked in together.

To anyone else Loki would have seemed calm and collected, carrying himself with his usual arrogance and confidence. But I knew him better than that. The set of his shoulders, and the slight tensing in his jaw all told me a very different story.

I slipped my hand into his. The corner of his mouth twitched into a lopsided smile as he gave my hand a gentle squeeze. As we walked towards the excavated part of the hallway his grip on my hand became tighter and tighter until my fingers turned white.

I held his hand almost as tightly. I was bracing myself too. Loki's life had been filled with pain, tragedy and disappointment. Why would the story of what happened here be any different?

Doctor Lee was waiting outside of the room.

"This part of the hallway is stable and secure, but we don't know what the condition of the room itself will be like. We are almost certain the collapse of the hallway wasn't natural, which means most of the rooms could still be intact. I thought you'd like to be there when we open it the first time."

Loki nodded silently.

The head of the excavation team slowly opened the door, shining light inside. He went in and came back out after a while.

I lost all feeling in my fingers, but I kept holding Loki's hand anyway.

"The room is secure."

Loki walked in without saying another word, and I had no choice but to follow. A member of Doc's team set up a light so we could investigate the room.

The room we were in was smaller than the ones we'd seen before and seemed to be a study or an office. Shelves, now empty, lined the walls, and a large desk made of elaborately carved stone took up half the wall facing the door, an elaborately carved chair in front of it.