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Sleipnir nodded, glad that the storm-goddess agreed that she should remain to protect her young wards and in some agreement that his father spoke in nonsensical riddles. Sleipnir turned to look at his father who frowned in frustration. Explaining the magpie had long been a difficulty for Loki and it was a being that Sleipnir himself knew nothing about. “It would be easier to explain the riddle of the magpie if it wasn’t such an unknown variable to me.” Loki grumbled, shaking his head as he curled his arms around himself. “All I can say of it is that it craves death as others would crave water. It aided me for a time, but I’m uncertain of its agenda…only that when Creed arrives in Asgard I have no doubt that the magpie will do everything it can to set him out to slaughter as soon as possible.”
Sleipnir’s nostrils flared with distaste. “Although you would disagree, father…there are innocents who live in Asgard. Such innocent bystanders do not deserve violent death. We should see to their safety as soon as possible.” His ears flipped back and his sides twitched with distaste. “This magpie of yours sounds like a true monster.”
As much as Loki hated the label…he couldn’t help but agree. War was one thing...wholesale random slaughter was entirely another. Kurt’s question about the locations of Loki’s other children, tension flowed into the Trickster once more. “Like Clarice, Heimdall kidnapped Jormungandr, the Midgard Serpent before I could free him. I assume he is either with Clarice…or possibly dead.” He swallowed past the dread that closed his throat for a moment then sighed, shaking his head. His eyes closed and his face tightened with sorrow and pain. “Heimdall offered to free Jor from his captivity if I allowed him to take Clarice…I refused.” He said the last in almost a whisper. “I know Clarice lives…Heimdall appears to want her too much to kill her. As for Jor, I don’t know. I have not sensed him again since Heimdall took him.”
Sleipnir said nothing for a moment as the enormity of this settled over him. He was not the first to be offered freedom…but he was the first for which Loki was willing to trade. It was of little comfort. “As for the others…Hela has existed in Niflheim, the world of the dead. She has become queen of the dead and is content. Narfi is wandering the wilderness of Jotunheim and has not been seen since his transformation. Nari no longer lives, as most know….and Fenrir…I know not where he is bound but his captivity is far worse than any of the other living Children of Ragnarok.”
“He is here…somewhere upon Midgard.” Loki said, surprising the warhorse yet again. “Fenrir does not use magic so I cannot sense him…but I overheard Heimdall speaking of my children ‘scattered’ across this realm.” At that the Trickster shook his head. “So many have been ‘scattered’…Fen…Jor…Clarice…Creed…. It is difficult to know where to begin.”