The next day, Loki arranged for a message to be sent, one that required his immediate personal attention. It gave him a reason to be gone from Asgard, for a few days as well. He simply left a note for Thor, explaining the situation, and another for Sif.
He rode out before dawn, assiduously avoiding seeing either of them. It wasn't that unusual. Heimdall opened the Bifrost so he could go to Vanaheim. There, he met with his contact, then rendered himself invisible.
By now, Heimdall was used to Loki not wishing to be observed. He no doubt still found it annoying, but he knew enough of the sort of work Loki did that he would hopefully not interfere.
Loki used the hidden ways to go to Jotunheim, moving invisibly among the giants. For the most part, he liked what he heard. The Jotun were angry, working themselves into a frenzy over the intrusion of the Destroyer onto their lands. Most neither knew nor cared it had been because of Amora's actions. They thought it an act of war.
Only Laufey seemed to shrink from war, counseling patience. Loki quickly realized that it was because the Jotun king - he refused to think of that thing as his father, whether it was true or no - knew the real reason for the intrusion, and had likely been working with Amora. It only made Loki more eager for this particular bastard's blood. His hands shook with rage, stomach churning with it. He had to pull a dagger into his hand to simply calm himself, a reminder that slitting this particular throat might feel good, but would not help him achieve his larger purpose.
He needed to think of the long game.
Loki observed what passed for Laufey's court for nearly a day, looking for the seed of discontent that he could use to make the Jotun king lose control of his people. He found it in one of the younger warriors, sullen and resentful and spoiling for war. With the most subtle magics he knew, he added one thought to the angry swirl already filling what passed for that monster's brain: Laufey is afraid of Asgard. He is weak. Maybe it's time for the old king to make way. And with no son, the new king will be whoever is strongest...
Then he stepped back and watched his work unfurl. It took two days of constant invisibility and silence, adding a few more little pokes and prods to the younger Jotun. But he had set up the board well. Laufey had few choices - either start killing his own, or start the war that the younger warriors so desperately craved.
Satisfied, Loki made his way back to Vanaheim, then called for Heimdall to bring him home. He kept his expression grave and composed, not even trying to disguise his exhaustion as he headed directly for the throne room, looking for his brother.
no subject
He rode out before dawn, assiduously avoiding seeing either of them. It wasn't that unusual. Heimdall opened the Bifrost so he could go to Vanaheim. There, he met with his contact, then rendered himself invisible.
By now, Heimdall was used to Loki not wishing to be observed. He no doubt still found it annoying, but he knew enough of the sort of work Loki did that he would hopefully not interfere.
Loki used the hidden ways to go to Jotunheim, moving invisibly among the giants. For the most part, he liked what he heard. The Jotun were angry, working themselves into a frenzy over the intrusion of the Destroyer onto their lands. Most neither knew nor cared it had been because of Amora's actions. They thought it an act of war.
Only Laufey seemed to shrink from war, counseling patience. Loki quickly realized that it was because the Jotun king - he refused to think of that thing as his father, whether it was true or no - knew the real reason for the intrusion, and had likely been working with Amora. It only made Loki more eager for this particular bastard's blood. His hands shook with rage, stomach churning with it. He had to pull a dagger into his hand to simply calm himself, a reminder that slitting this particular throat might feel good, but would not help him achieve his larger purpose.
He needed to think of the long game.
Loki observed what passed for Laufey's court for nearly a day, looking for the seed of discontent that he could use to make the Jotun king lose control of his people. He found it in one of the younger warriors, sullen and resentful and spoiling for war. With the most subtle magics he knew, he added one thought to the angry swirl already filling what passed for that monster's brain: Laufey is afraid of Asgard. He is weak. Maybe it's time for the old king to make way. And with no son, the new king will be whoever is strongest...
Then he stepped back and watched his work unfurl. It took two days of constant invisibility and silence, adding a few more little pokes and prods to the younger Jotun. But he had set up the board well. Laufey had few choices - either start killing his own, or start the war that the younger warriors so desperately craved.
Satisfied, Loki made his way back to Vanaheim, then called for Heimdall to bring him home. He kept his expression grave and composed, not even trying to disguise his exhaustion as he headed directly for the throne room, looking for his brother.
He had dire news indeed.