Weakness | Loki [Book One]

Chapter Eight

Loki and I rode back to Asgard in a comfortable silence. We arrived around dinnertime, and we walked with Thor on the way to the dining hall. He'd spent much of the day across the bridge, keeping an eye on the woman, whose name, I had learned, was Jane. 

The hall was nothing short of what I had expected from my reading. Big, overdone, and filled with Asgardians. People filled the room, talking, eating, and drinking.  

I followed Thor and Loki to what was obviously their usual table since they were welcomed by what I assumed were the Warriors Three and Lady Sif. In the stories, Sif and Thor had ended up married, but I refrained from telling them so, considering the Midgardian Thor had affections for. 

"Welcome back, my friend," Hogun said. "How goes it on Vanaheim?"

"The battle was victorious," Thor said, "The two enemies are now peaceful."

"Peace?" Volstagg asked. "You are not one for treaties, Thor."

"No, but Loki's friend here managed to convince them to come to an agreement." He motioned to me, patting me on the shoulder.

"Who's she?" Fandral asked.

"'She' has a name," I said. Just because I wasn't Asgardian didn't mean I was going to let these people step all over me.

"Delta is a scholar who knows more about Asgard than most people I know," Loki said. "Since Thor and I were returning to Asgard for a short time, we consented to bring her along."

"You invited me," I corrected.

"You as in the brothers collectively or you as in Loki?" Lady Sif asked slyly.

I scowled. "For all you know Thor could have invited me."

"Loki invited her," Thor said.

"Brother!" Loki reprimanded.

"What?"

"Do you fight well in battle?" Sif asked.

"Better than your average Midgardian."

"We'll see." She returned to her dinner. I knew she had feelings for Thor, but I wasn't about to mention it. Thor had feelings, not for her, but for a human, after all, so I presumed that was not a good topic. 

I ate in silence, listening and answering the occasional question. I mostly just observed the way the people of Asgard acted. The frequent drinking, laughing, and noise in general grated incessantly on my nerves. I was used to quiet, secluded places. 

"Is the noise bothersome?" Loki asked. I didn't know if he could read minds, like in the mythology books, or if he was just extremely observant. 

"Somewhat, yes. I'm used to the library. Silent, calm, no one around."

He paused for a moment. "How would you like to learn magic?"

Wait, what? Magic? "Like, magic magic?"

"Yes."

"Yeah, totally!" I'd read about many types of magic in all the stories. Warlocks who believed the source of their magic was from a high power. Sorcerers who harnessed magic from within themselves. Wizards who learned magic from reading. Mages who create their own spells to fit their needs. I'd heard of them all.

Loki, on the other hand, didn't seem to fit into any of the categories I'd heard of. He didn't seem to cast any spell (but then again he could just be good enough to say them in his head), he didn't channel the magic through an object, and he didn't worship any gods other than himself. The illusions intrigued me more than anything else. How did they work? Do they disappear if touched? Are there different types of illusions?