This Loki is a world away from the relaxed guy who joked around and helped me trick his brother. His reaction yesterday shocked me; the anger rolled from him as strongly as any storm could come from Thor. I’m unnerved, as if there’s a different man beneath the joker, one who is capable of malevolence. I could never believe those rumors, until now.
I reach beneath Loki’s cloak and fold a hand around his. He’s cold and doesn’t respond, as if unaware I’m here for a moment.
“Loki.” I squeeze and he refocuses on my face. “We’ve more battles to win than the Trials. Don’t play into their hands.”
He nods, dark fringe brushing his eyes as he does, then stands. “Okay guys, let’s see what they have to throw at us.”
THOR
Loki knows this terrain, and we sit around the large table watching as he sketches a rough map. We haven’t spoken since our fight, and as I watch him I can’t help the doubt edging my thoughts. Has he somehow helped Skoll, Eros, and Adonis, who are competing alongside and against us?
I chastise myself. No.
Loki was right, though. Our task: travel from the city through the Jotunheim Mountains to a town on the other side, a journey taking us through an area inhabited by frost giants. This isn’t as great a worry as it could be; they’re stupid and rely on brute force, and I doubt they’ve planned anything strategic in their lives. So, we’re dealing with savage creatures who use instinct and not their brains. This is a challenge that can only be won by agility and strength—cunning is unlikely to work and neither is strategy.
Artemis is distracted, watching Triton as he straps his wrists ready for battle. Despite the cool temperature in the room, he’s stripped down to his pants, completely oblivious to the effect his almost-nakedness has on her. Seriously, the girl’s tongue will hang out in a minute. Me and Triton match each other’s bulk, although I use mine to either intimidate or seduce. He uses his…well, not often. I’ve told Triton the goddesses love his mysterious, broody nature and then laughed at his confusion.
Triton has expressed disgust at Dion’s lifestyle too, unhappy with how he behaves around girls, and refuses to treat them the same way. I think most have given up on trying to catch Triton’s attention; he hardly notices because he’s lost in a world of his own with his books and wherever the hell he goes to escape the Academy. Maybe Dion’s jokes he has a secret harem are true and he needs to keep quiet about who they are. Personally, I think he’s too caught up in his determination to read every book in the library.
What does Triton think of Artemis? I haven’t seen them talk much, but I’ve seen him watch her with the same interest as the rest of us. Loki said he saw them talking in whispers in the library. Maybe a girl has finally caught his eye? I told Triton that Artemis informed us she wanted equality to stretch to having more than one lover and he laughed. Was the laugh amusement or interest?
Is that why he’s showing Artemis that his tattooed chest and arms are worth her exploring too? See, she’s bloody distracting us from this trial.
Loki runs a finger along the map. “There’s a path leading through the center of their territory, and one that skirts the edge of the mountains. I think that Eros and his team will be more likely to take the outside route, but it will add time to their journey. Direct is quicker.”
“Depending on how many giants we need to fight to get through there,” grumbles Triton.
“Do you have any way to persuade the giants to let us pass, Loki?” asks Dion.
Loki snaps his head up. “Are you suggesting I’m also friends with people who want to kill my brother and father?”
I chew my lip. Loki’s dark mood increases the longer we stay here, and I’m worried this will throw him off his game.
“No, I mean…” Dion trails off. “Sorry. I don’t know. I don’t understand your politics, but this is a realm you’re familiar with.”
Loki throws down his pen. “I can try to map the area, but I can’t help you with the giants you come across. That’s your job.”
I lean over to look at his sketch. “Loki. Are you sure this is the right way?”
“Seriously, Thor? I know this area. I spent a lot of time here as a kid. Why don’t you show everybody that you know a better way.” He steps back and crosses his arms. “Don’t bother with my map if you know it all.”
“Dude, I’m just saying... Okay, draw on here the way we should go, and I’ll follow that.”
Skoll and Eros walk in, followed by Adonis. I square off with Eros, hardening my features to tell him one thing: I’ll win.
Skoll looks over Loki’s shoulder at the map and a slow smile crosses his face. “Interesting route you’re sending your friends on. That’s not the way I’d go.”
Doubt creeps in. Skoll knows this area too, giving him the same advantage as us. What’s Loki doing? Surely the idiot wouldn’t play tricks on me now. Loki shrugs and doesn’t look at me.
“Thor knows the way,” says Dion. “We’ll be okay.”
“Uh huh.” Eros grins and looks at Skoll. “I guess we’ll find out.”
“I guess you will,” replies Triton.
“Well, I’ll see you at the finish line, boys.” Eros pauses and chuckles. “When I’m the winner waiting on the other side because you’re lost in the mountains.”
I stare after them as they head away, then look back to the map. Loki meets my eyes and pushes the map across the table. “Decide who you want to believe, Thor. Seems you already made your mind up last night.”
Artemis inspects her bow and regards our weapons. She points at a large conch shell on the table beside my hammer. “What’s that?”
I incline my head to Triton. “It’s his. The shell’s sound scares giants.”
Artemis’s mouth twitches into a smile. “Ah, it works on kraken too.”
Triton seizes his conch. “From your test?”
Artemis nods, uncomfortable with the memory.
Triton gives a curt nod and turns away to find his shirt. Artemis watches him for a moment, her expression softer than I’ve seen around the others, as if upsetting Triton bothers her more than when she banters with us.
Dion takes the map and I seize my hammer. I look upward, to the ceiling stretching far above us, and anger seethes to my bones. Whoever planned my failure will be fucking sorry when I win.
29
ARTEMIS
The journey to the other side of the mountains begins in silence, each of us on guard for any movement around. Children followed our party to the town’s edge, some shouting good luck and others mocking son of Odin, asking why Thor would trust the trickster. Loki remains behind and waits for our return. We’ll be escorted back once the Trial is over—as winners or losers. I’m happy Loki isn’t here to listen to the taunts. It’s obvious how much this entire trial setting bothers him; that was clear from his argument with Thor.
We skirt around the first giants’ village despite this taking more time; Eros, Adonis, and Skoll are still behind us. The snow covering frozen ground disguises the paths, and despite my agility I slip on the scree for the fifth time. I’m not the only one; Dion swears behind me and hangs back after stumbling over a rock hidden beneath the snow.
“Guys, we can’t do this. I’m going to land on my ass or break my leg.”
“Are you following Loki’s map?” asks Triton.
Thor runs a hand through his hair. “Sort of.”
“Sort of?” exclaims Dion. “Please tell me you are.”
“Didn’t you see what happened earlier? I swear he’s written the map wrong.”
Triton’s mouth gapes. “No way. Loki wouldn’t fuck this up.”
“Maybe he’s pissed he isn’t in the trial. Or after last night and how he reacted to me; I wouldn't put it past him.”
“No,” says Dion firmly.
“Do you trust him a hundred percent? He does weird shit a lot for no reason and without considering the consequences.” He nods at Triton. “Remember when he gave you some ‘helpful’ information before an exam and you were caught with the actual test paper? How you have a black mark on your academic record for that? Your parents lost their shit.”
“Loki wouldn’t do this,” I say quietly. “Not for a trial. You’re being unfair.”
“Yeah? Well why are we stuck in impassable mountains?” snaps Thor.
I spot doubt on Triton’s face and my stomach sinks. Perhaps I don’t know Loki as well as I thought.