Exiled: Loki's Exile, #1

Chapter One

STANDING ON THE FRINGES of the battlefield, Loki cloaked himself in an illusion of shadow and surveyed the scene. Asgardian warriors fought beings that had seemingly appeared from nowhere to overrun the city. He’d watched on without being noticed as his brethren forced their foes out of the streets. They’d beaten them back to a grassy field where the little monsters were currently being decimated.

Short and squat, the Grimgorg warriors held crudely made swords in both hands. Their faces were triangular and their tiny mouths were filled with sharp, overlapping black teeth. Large and yellow, their eyes didn’t appear to have pupils. They were hunchbacked, and their heads bobbed like vultures pecking at a corpse when they ran. Clad in bronze armor that left their arms bare, their skin was a fungal green and sported unsightly lumps that looked like they would burst at any moment.

While his brethren had no idea who the interlopers were, Loki knew them well. He’d spent the past year negotiating terms and using his magic to upgrade their spells. Few knew the Grimgorg existed. Being banished yet again for an infraction had led Loki to their planet. It was his cunning and intelligence that had allowed him to forge an alliance with the disgusting aliens. Primitive and unsightly they might be, but they’d been instrumental in allowing him to make allies on other worlds that he wouldn’t otherwise have been able to visit.

He watched on as the mightiest of Asgardian warriors swung his beloved hammer, scattering Grimgorg soldiers in every direction. Tall, blond and wearing a gaudy red cape and magical silver armor, Thor towered over his enemies. Powerful in stature, he was terrible with purpose. Thor loved nothing more than combat and he was in his element. Raising his weapon, he called lightning from the swiftly gathering storm clouds and sent more of his adversaries to their deaths.

Sneering at the flashy display of power, Loki inadvertently let his cloak of shadow slip. One of the alien soldiers spotted him and charged. The common foot soldiers didn’t yet know him, or what his role in this battle was. They just saw an enemy and reacted to his presence. Pulling two daggers from his belt, Loki parried both swords, narrowly avoiding the whirling blades.

As he slid his dagger between the ribs of his enemy, his gaze was drawn to a motionless figure standing on a rise across the field. Dressed in a black robe, her face was hidden in the darkness of her hood. Shadows seemed to gather around her menacingly. Tendrils of her hair moved in directions that were contrary to the wind.

He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him when her clothing began to transform, but it had to be magic at play. Her robe turned into a formfitting black leather suit with a cape that fell around knee height. The hood remained, but the shadows receded from her face to reveal a mask that covered her eyes. Her body was slender, but had enticing curves. As he watched, she drew silver daggers from sheaths on her hips and started directly towards him.

One of the goblin-like aliens leaped at her and she deftly sidestepped his attack. Her daggers flashed out rapidly and came away stained with purple blood. The creature fell with multiple stab wounds to his chest. With her upper face covered by a mask, he couldn’t read her expression, yet he sensed she was coming for him.

Several more of the monsters made the mistake of getting in her way on her journey. She dispatched them just as easily as she’d killed the first one. Quick and graceful, she used one blade to block and the other to slice, cutting off limbs and puncturing vital organs. After each death that she meted out, her eyes returned to him.

A sliver of alarm ran down Loki’s spine when he realized that he might very well be in danger. These clumsy and primitive warriors were no match for his skills, yet the unknown female was altogether different. He noted that she only killed the aliens and avoided his brethren, yet she wasn’t an Asgardian. It was unclear what she was.

Distracted by an approaching group of aliens, he turned his attention back to staying alive, not that these soldiers had the ability to kill one such as him. His powers were still untapped and his full potential hadn’t yet been realized. Throwing a quick glance over his shoulder as he dodged inept swings from the trio of monsters, he saw the female closing in on him.

A blade sliced through his cape, drawing him back into battle. While his armor had been infused with magic to keep him from harm, his cape was vulnerable. Spawn of a spavined goat, he muttered and his blade pierced the creature’s yellow eye. Before he could finish off the last one, a small hand clamped down on his shoulder and a foot connected with the back of his knee. Pulled off balance, he went down.

Being on his knees wasn’t a position he was fond of. He tried to stand, but she somehow managed to hold him down. With a flash of movement, the unknown woman gripped his collar and swung her body off the ground. She kicked the surviving Grimgorg in the face hard enough to crush his skull. He fell with a quiet gurgle.

Landing lightly in front of Loki, the woman pressed her blade against his throat and flipped his helmet off. Taking a handful of his hair at the base of his skull, she tilted his head backwards and held him still. He swallowed and a thin trickle of blood welled when the tip of her dagger pricked his skin. He didn’t know how, but she’d circumvented the spells he’d cast to protect himself. Staring up into her eyes, he couldn’t determine their color.

She looked down at him dispassionately, then stunned him by leaning down and pressing her mouth firmly against his. For the space of a few moments, he was frozen in shock. His body reacted before his brain could engage. His daggers dropped from his hands and fell to the ground. Grasping her legs, his hands slid slowly up to her waist. He pulled her closer, deepening their kiss.

It had been a very long time since he’d bothered to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh. While his base instincts held a certain appeal, he usually took more interest in plotting chaos and mayhem than in courting women. After two marriages and several children, he’d had his fill of family life. One wife had died and the other ended up hating him. As for his children, they scorned him as much as everyone else in this realm did. After two centuries of being alone, he’d become used to the solitude.

A faint tugging sensation in his mind almost intruded on his enjoyment of the moment. The female touched her tongue to his and his hormones took over. She pulled away just as he was truly starting to enjoy himself. Who are you? he asked when she stood up straight again. A wave of dizziness swept through him and he swayed slightly. His hands tightened on her waist for balance.

My name is not important. Her tone was offhand and almost disinterested, which didn’t boost his ego much. His heart was still thumping from their brief, yet intimate encounter.

She took a step back and he had no choice but to release her. What do you want? he asked acerbically as he retrieved his daggers and helmet. He assumed there was a reason why she’d cut her way through the battle to him. He suspected it wasn’t due to any passion for him on her part.

I want many things, she said with a brief twist of her lips that spoke of wry amusement. Know this, Loki Laufeyson, your future now hangs in the balance. He wasn’t surprised that she knew his name. He was the scourge of Asgard after all. He’d been banished for his misdeeds several times, but the last one had made him infamous. The decisions you make will have consequences that you cannot possibly imagine, she told him ominously.

You do me a great disservice, he replied with a smirk. I have never suffered from a lack of imagination. Her head tilted back as he rose unsteadily until he was looming over her. She was barely five and a half feet tall and so slight of frame that he could crush her with one hand. How could someone so small have held him down so easily?

You have been warned, she said. I will see you again soon, God of Mischief.

He opened his mouth to retaliate to her mocking tone, but his wits failed him for once and he had nothing to say. She turned and encountered a Grimgorg as he was swinging both blades towards her. Almost too fast to follow, she pulled her second dagger and parried his swings. She kicked the alien in the stomach, air whooshed out of his lungs and he staggered back a step. Her daggers were already in motion as he pin-wheeled his arms for balance. They plunged into his stomach in six rapid stabs, then she crossed her hands and simultaneously drew them across his throat. Purple blood spurted as his head was almost severed from his body.

Touching the small nick on his neck, Loki met the mysterious woman’s eyes when she glanced back over her shoulder. I can hardly wait for our next encounter, he said with thick sarcasm, glad he’d regained his wits enough to have the last word. Another group of invaders came between them and when he’d dispatched them, she was gone.

Settling his helmet back on his head, Loki paused as another wave of dizziness hit him. When it passed, he sheathed his daggers and pulled the shadows around him again so he was hidden from view. It was almost time for his plan to reach fruition. Slowly and carefully so no one would see him, he moved around the edge of the field and approached a small group of Grimgorg soldiers. When he dropped his illusion and revealed himself, they went on the alert and hissed menacingly, readying their swords to attack.

Halt, a deep, gurgling voice said even as they recognized him to be an ally and lowered their weapons. Allow the Asgardian to approach. These guards were some of the few who knew what his part in this battle had been.

They parted to reveal a bronze throne that was set low to the ground. Their king perched on the ungainly seat and regarded Loki with his disturbing eyes. He allowed the sorcerer to come within touching distance, but his guards remained on full alert. Loki had a reputation for trickery and they couldn’t be certain that he wouldn’t turn on them at any moment. While they were allied with him, none of them would ever fully trust him.

Teetering on the edge of a lifechanging moment, Loki spared a glance at his kin. Mighty and noble, they’d banded together to fight these new enemies, unaware that he was responsible for the attack on Asgard. He was tired of being evicted every time he did something that Odin and his cronies didn’t like. It was time to return the favor for once. While he always managed to find his way back home, he highly doubted his brethren would manage it.

Taking a dagger from its sheath, Loki drew it across his palm. In blood, our bargain is forged, he said and held his hand out towards the creature sitting on the throne.

King and head shaman of the Grimgorg, Rho produced a dagger of his own. Purple blood flowed when he sliced his four fingered hand open. In blood, our bargain is forged, he echoed and they clasped hands. Making a blood oath had bound them by magic. They were now linked and were past the point of no return.

With a nod, King Rho motioned his magicians to initiate their spell with a staff he always carried. Blinding light flashed up from the ground where they’d laid their trap. Hidden just beneath the soil were tens of thousands of portals. They’d been painstakingly joined together by dozens of Grimgorg shamans. It hadn’t been easy to keep their presence hidden, but Loki’s magic had been strong enough to accomplish it. His brethren deserved their banishment and Odin would rue his treatment of Loki. He’d been branded a trickster for his entire life. Now it was time for him to live up to the hype.

When the light faded, the Asgardian warriors were gone and only the Grimgorg warriors remained. They might be hideous, but they were skilled in magic. Their shamans could work mighty spells, yet Loki had improved this particular one himself.

Farewell, oh mighty warriors of Asgard, Loki said softly with a self-satisfied smirk. He was willing to pay any price to rid himself of his kin forever. Even if that price was his home planet. After all, there were many worlds out there for him to conquer.

Chapter Two

LOKI STOOD ON THE BALCONY of his quarters and stared down at his kin as they were herded away by Grimgorg warriors. King Rho’s shamans had placed glowing silver collars on the Asgardian prisoners. The magic dulled their wits and made them compliant. They would do whatever was asked of them, even if it brought them pain.

Turning away from the cowed captives, he couldn’t wait to be gone from Asgard. King Rho had personally constructed the portal that would enable a contingent of his soldiers to escort them to meet their allies face to face. So far, they’d communicated with Uldar, leader of the Viltarans, through one of the magical doorways. It had taken a lot of convincing to get the gigantic gray alien to agree to their plan. Loki knew the Viltaran wouldn’t truly believe in his magical abilities until he gave them a demonstration in person.

Sighing, he crossed the black marble floor to the table and poured himself a glass of wine. Taking a sip, he looked around at the opulence that surrounded him. Gold was the predominant color. It graced the walls, ceiling and furniture. The drapes that adorned the large windows fell to the floor in graceful golden shimmers. Even the plates, glasses and utensils were flecked with gold. Doorways led to his bedroom and bathroom that were just as beautifully decorated.

Soon, he would put this life behind him and he would never return. Asgard was already changing beneath the rule of the Grimgorg. The beautifully landscaped gardens were being neglected and the buildings would be sure to follow. Used to living in squalid huts in swamps, the invaders had no appreciation for beauty, or for the finer things in life.

His lips twisted in distaste at the thought of joining forces with the Grimgorg and Viltarans. He’d truly sunken low to consort with these creatures, but he’d been left with little choice. Odin had brought this upon his own people by banishing Loki. Heimdall was also to blame. He’d been the one to send Loki to the Grimgorgs’ horrid planet.

Lounging on a gold couch that was piled high with cushions, Loki remembered hurtling along the bifrost after he’d failed to overthrow Odin. He’d landed in waist deep, odorous water. Tall, sickly trees were draped in clumps of mud and rotten twigs that indicated the changing tide level.

Drenched in the putrid liquid, he’d slogged his way over to land. Feeling eyes on him, he’d quickly found himself surrounded by ugly little green beings with huge yellow eyes. One of the creatures had worn a tattered black cloak over his crude bronze armor. He’d stepped forward and addressed Loki. Who are you? What do you want?

Understanding alien languages came naturally to him. Lifting his hands, he’d used the smile that most found to be devilishly charming. I am Loki, of Asgard. I am an exile and I come in peace.

He’d been taken to a large village of crude huts that had been constructed on stilts. They’d climbed a rickety ladder and made their way along swaying plank bridges to a large shack where he’d been introduced to King Rho. Before long, he’d convinced the shrewd ruler that they could work together to engineer the downfall of the Asgardian race. To do this, they would need strong allies.

Rho had shown him a silver mirror that they used as windows to view other worlds. It seemed that they’d been spying on the race known as Viltarans for some time. Warlike and bloodthirsty, they possessed technology that could help them bring humanity to its knees quickly and easily. Their cities were vast, but showed evidence that war had erupted and the damage hadn’t yet been repaired. Strangely, none of the buildings had windows.

Fascinated by the portal, Loki had been gripped with the idea of imbuing it with his power. Blue magic had begun to pulse around the edge. He’d shocked the Grimgorg magicians when he’d put his hand through it. Without quite knowing how, he’d altered the portal so it could be used as a doorway rather than just a window. It was almost as though someone was whispering instructions into his subconscious.

A few items had been thrown through the portal as an experiment. They had all landed