The palace of Vanaheim was in ruins. However, when Sigyn looked more closely, she could see that a few small plants were creeping back into the ground. “Why is the growth back happening so slowly?” she asked.

Grandfather stared out into the distance. “After we made our alliance with , the Frost Giants reached us before the Allfather’s troops did. They used the Casket of Ancient Winters to freeze and shatter everything in their path – buildings, plants, even people. Everything but the hardiest seeds and most resilient microorganisms was wiped out.”

“Oh,” she said in a small voice, following him into the ruined palace. She was still concerned by Grandfather’s erratic behavior, so when he suggested they visit Vanaheim to escape the hullabaloo cause by the leviathan’s attack, she had agreed immediately, hoping it would ease his troubled mind. “Grandfather, what are you looking for?”

“The safe room.” He led her down the remains of a hallway and into what had once been the throne room. “The entrance is behind the place where the throne used to sit.”

“What’s the safe room?” Sigyn asked, stepping over a piece of rubble.

“A secret of the royal family.” Grandfather stepped around the shattered pieces of the royal dais and drew a key from his pocket. He twisted it in midair as if opening an invisible lock, then pulled it back. An opening in the air suddenly revealed itself, leading into a dark space with a dying tree at the center. “Come inside, little one. You must see it.”

“All right,” Sigyn agreed, stepping under his arm. The room had no visible walls; it simply ended where the tree’s branches did, making a circle about twenty meters across. “There’s a lot of magic here.” would be fascinated by this place, she added in her mind. I must bring him here someday.

“This tree is a seedling of ,” Grandfather explained. “The greatest feat of nature magic the ever accomplished. It generates and sustains this room, only allowing the royal family and guests of the king to enter.”

“Why is it dying?” she asked, touching the trunk gently.

“Its consciousness was deeply attuned to the Vanir people. When we lost so many, it was traumatized.” He placed his hand on the trunk beside hers. “I brought you here hoping you could heal it.”

“Me?” Sigyn asked doubtfully. “But… my powers work on animal tissue. Shouldn’t Uncle Frey be better able to heal a plant?”

“He could heal its physical form, but not the mind that sustains it. Try it,” he urged gently.

Still uncertain, Sigyn reached out with her powers. She found a core of something within the tree, something that was alive in an animal way. “I thought it was a plant!”

“A plant with a nervous system,” Grandfather smiled. “The rarest of all organisms.” She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. She focused on her memory of what Hlin’s power had felt like and searched for the tissues whose interaction could generate that feeling. She felt the tree respond to the stimulation and sought out the places where the pain signal was coming from. She eased them gently and felt something waking up and taking an interest in her. “Hello,” she whispered.

Hello, the something said. I am Room. Who are you?

My name is Sigyn. I am a princess of Vanaheim and of Asgard. I’m a healer.

I am pleased to meet you, Sigyn. The something felt stronger now, healthier.

“You’ve done it, child,” Grandfather whispered in awe. “Look!”

Sigyn opened her eyes and stared at the tree. It was looking a great deal better. Leaves were budding again and the room had grown bright. “It’s beautiful,” she whispered. And then something snapped closed around her wrist. She looked down to see what it was.

It was an incantation fetter.

“Grandfather, what are you doing?” she asked, shocked.

“You’re staying here, girl,” he returned firmly. “The incantation fetter requires magic to remove, so you can’t get it off, and without your powers, you cannot leave this room unaided.”

“Why are you doing this?” she demanded, pulling away.

Something was not right in her grandfather’s eyes as he looked at her. He looked angry and confused and somehow not himself. “That husband of yours will destroy you if you stay with him,” he growled. “I am putting you here for your own protection!”

“Loki wouldn’t hurt me!” Sigyn cried. “He changed for me, Grandfather, of his own accord. He hasn’t hurt anyone lately!”

“That won’t last!” Grandfather snapped. “Come to your senses, girl! He’s a madman and he cannot be trusted!”

“He is not!” she shouted.

Then Grandfather did something he had never done in her entire life: he pulled his arm back and struck her across the face. “Be silent!” he roared.

Sigyn dropped to the ground and put a hand on her stinging cheek. “You hit me,” she whispered in disbelief. “You actually hit me!”

Emotions warred in Grandfather’s eyes for a moment. He took another step toward her. When she shrank away, he cursed under his breath, whirled, and let himself out through another door.

Not knowing what else to do, Sigyn curled up at the base of the tree and wept. o-o-o-o

Sigyn was still missing the next morning. That quick little note about visiting Vanaheim with her grandfather – thief – no longer explained her whereabouts. It was at this point that Loki stopped being offended and became worried.

He began by searching Njord’s residence in the form of a magpie. He flew in through one of the open windows and explored the entire house. There was no sign of Sigyn, and her grandfather was calmly cutting up fish for a stew.

Odd. If Sigyn was missing, one would expect her grandfather to be out looking for her, too, not bustling about the kitchen. Which could only mean one thing: Njord knew where she was.

o-o-o-o

Sigyn was awakened from a fitful sleep when her uncle appeared in the safe room, laden with blankets, books, and several cushions. “Uncle Frey!” She got up quickly and shoved her hair into place. “Have you come to let me out?”

“I can’t,” he told her sadly. “My key requires my magic to operate and only passes one person in or out of the safe room. You need the king’s key to transport multiple people.”

“So how do we get our hands on the king’s key?”

“We don’t.” Uncle Frey held up a hand to forestall her pleading. “It would do us no good, child. It’s bound to your grandfather’s magic; only he can operate it.”

Sigyn stamped her foot in frustration. “This is an idiotic design for a room!”

“It’s saved the royal family several times in our history,” he explained gently. “It’s possible to stay here indefinitely. The tree will grow whatever fruit you desire, and there’s a spring under its roots around the other side.” He handed her the books and began arranging the cushions and blankets into a bed. “In your case, your grandfather and I can also bring you anything else you need or want.”

“It sounds like a very snug little prison,” she grumbled. “Does Loki know where I am yet? Surely he can figure out how to dismantle the spell that locks me in.”

“Loki does not know where you are, nor will he ever.”

“What?” Sigyn demanded, eyes wide in disbelief. “Why not? Uncle Frey, what’s going on?”

“Sit down and be quiet for a moment, and I’ll explain.” He guided her firmly over to the makeshift bed and seated her. “This is Karnilla’s revenge on Loki, child – getting into your grandfather’s mind and making him lock you away. And the Allfather, for reasons he refuses to explain, has decided to let it happen.” “The Allfather is involved in this?” Her father-in-law had been minimally present in her life, but surely he wouldn’t do this to his own son!

“He won’t explain why, but I do have a guess.” Her uncle lowered his voice to a whisper. “It’s those creatures that attacked yesterday. They came from a world beyond the Nine Realms, where has no power or knowledge. He wants to change that. And somehow, taking you away from Loki increases the possibility that the gap between their universe and ours will be bridged.”

“How is that possible? Loki has worked more for Asgard with me than ever before!”

“I’m not sure, but I know the queen had a vision several days ago that disturbed her, and that Loki was somehow involved. She brooded over him ever so slightly the day afterward. I think Loki’s journey that leads to bridging the gap will bring him against Asgard, something he’d never do if you were by his side.”

Indeed not. “Then I am to remain here until Grandfather has a change of heart?”

Uncle Frey shrugged. “Or Karnilla’s mind control releases, or the Allfather decides to free you.”

“Odin could free me? I thought this room was bound to Grandfather!”

I am a seedling of Yggdrasil, the tree announced. Odin Allfather understands my kind as no one else does. He could force this room open if he chose.

“Then it’s a good thing Vanaheim was never at war with Asgard,” Sigyn grumbled. “So, how do we break Karnilla’s mind control?”

“We can’t risk it, Sigyn.” The blond diplomat sighed. “I didn’t want to tell you this, but… Odin is set on gaining power over this other universe. He won’t allow Njord to free you for fear of losing his chance. I fear that if Karnilla’s control is broken, your grandfather’s life will be in danger.”

It took Sigyn a moment to process this. “I thought they were friends,” she said at last.

“I suppose they are,” he allowed, “but Odin Allfather loves no individual so much as he loves power. Not even Prince or Queen Frigga. You think he suddenly announced an heir because he feels himself growing old? He’s preparing to give Thor Asgard so that he can concentrate on broadening his power beyond the Nine Realms.”

Fury against her treacherous father-in-law rose up in the young princess. “If you know all this, why do you do nothing? You are skilled with words; why don’t you incite a rebellion?”

“Odin is the least of many evils, dear child. It takes a being of great power and wisdom to bring order to the Realms. Did you ever wonder why he has only one eye? He traded the other for the wisdom to govern the Nine Realms. He is the only living person with both the power and the wisdom to keep the Realms safe. I’m sorry, Sigyn, but the number of lives that would be lost without him is too great.” Sigyn was tempted for a moment to selfishly disregard this fact, then remorse filled her. Is my freedom really worth more to me than so many other lives? Isn’t this the very line of thinking that frightened me in Loki? “Can you at least give Loki a message, letting him know that I’m safe?” she asked humbly, knowing what the answer would be.

“I can’t.” Her uncle hugged her gently. “If Loki knows that you are alive and faithful to him, he will never turn on Asgard, for your sake. If Odin’s plans are to come to fruition, he must believe you either dead or faithless. Probably, I’m afraid, the latter.”

And once again, all Sigyn could think to do was cry.

o-o-o-o

“She’s alive somewhere, Father,” Loki insisted. “Look at the way Njord is behaving! Please, Father,” he begged, “help me find her.”

“I will search,” Odin finally agreed, “but it will take time, my son. The Nine Realms are a large place, and I have many duties.”

Loki fought down the urge to demand what other duties were more important than finding Sigyn. If he offended his father, she might remain lost forever.

o-o-o-o

Once she calmed down enough to think logically, Sigyn decided to have a conversation with Room. “Where is this place, exactly?”

Neither here nor there, the seedling of Yggdrasil replied. It is outside the Nine Realms, just touching Vanaheim – and now Asgard, connecting to your Grandfather’s house.

“Where does it end?” Sigyn could see no walls, but there was a sense of finity to the space.

This safe room is as large as it needs to be to accommodate its occupants comfortably. Why? Do you wish it larger? Smaller?

“It’s fine as it is, Room. I just want to understand my prison a bit better.”

Prison? The tree sounded shocked. This room is no prison. It is a safe room. You are here because the King of Vanaheim deems it necessary for your safety. No harm will come to you.

“Then why do you think I just cried myself senseless?” Sigyn pointed out. Maybe I can reason the tree into letting me go!

Because you feel betrayed and miss your husband, Room answered, as if it were telling her what three plus five was. Here, have a pomegranate. The irony of this particular choice of fruit was not lost on Sigyn, though Room had probably never heard of the Greek legends. “Thank you,” was all she said, plucking the fruit that suddenly developed on a branch overhead. If she had to be honest, the act of smacking the pomegranate open on the floor was highly satisfying as a release for her frustration. “So… how aware are you? Can you see?”

No, the tree admitted. But I hear. I can sense thoughts.

“Can you tell what I’m thinking right now?”

You are thinking that in order to escape, you must learn to shield your mind from me.

“Has anyone been able to do it before?”

There has never been a need.

o-o-o-o

For the next several days, when her grandfather was not visiting, Sigyn practiced compartmentalizing her thoughts and sealing off certain compartments. Room was oddly cooperative about telling her whether it could or could not sense a given thought. Usually, the answer was yes, but she was finding that the less emotional her response to the thought, the easier it was to hide. How am I ever going to hide an escape plan?

Do not bother, Room told her. Even if you can learn to hide from me – and thus from King Njord – you will not be able to leave without a key.

Tell me more about these keys, Sigyn thought at Room. She found that communicating telepathically was excellent practice in controlling her thoughts. At least she had Queen Frigga’s lessons to build off of!

Each key must take the proper shape, as with all keys. In addition, it must be powered by Vanir magic from a member of the royal family.

What makes the king’s key special? Sigyn asked.

When a new king of the Vanir is crowned, he is brought to this room, demonstrates his magic for me, and I thereafter recognize him as the king. It is the king’s magic that makes his key special.

Well, that meant that copying or stealing her grandfather’s key was as useless as Uncle Frey had explained. What about my magic? Do you recognize that?

Indeed. It is for that reason that you can hear me. It is also why I answer your questions.

So, if I could get this fetter off and access a key, I could escape?

Yes.

o-o-o-o While waiting for his father to be ready to look for Sigyn, there was little for Loki to do but brood. And that was what he did, day in and day out. His mother and his brother attempted to cheer him up, but, as usual, failed.

Loki attempted to cheer himself up with mischief, but found that even tormenting Sigyn’s enemies gave him little enjoyment. After all, what fun is there in being brilliant if there’s no one to admire you?

Even more than having her share in his mischief, Loki missed Sigyn for her own sake. He was even lonelier than he had been when he sent her home to her grandfather, for this time, he had the shock of going directly from paradise to nothing. He missed seeing her smile for no reason, hearing her laugh at his jokes, watching that look of intense concentration when she practiced her healing, feeling her nestle into his arms. He even missed the limitations she imposed on his tricks. After all, it meant someone cared for him and that he cared in return.

The only satisfying idea for trouble that he could come up with was to interfere with Thor’s training as the heir to the throne. Not only was he certain that he would be a far better king than his half-wit brother, but he suspected it was no coincidence that Sigyn had been taken from him the very day that Thor was chosen as the future king.

Unfortunately, these ideas could not be executed as long as he needed his father’s help to find Sigyn.

o-o-o-o

“What is that?” Sigyn asked curiously, watching her uncle set down a flat metal box attached to a long black cord with a fork-like structure on the end.

Uncle Frey winked. “ technology.”

Sigyn stared at it for a moment. Technology from Midgard was forbidden! “Where did you get it?” When he gave her a patronizing look, she realized what a stupid question that was. “Well… why are you bringing it here?”

“To amuse you, of course. You remember that play you saw with Loki on Midgard? Well, they have plays that they record into moving, talking pictures. They call them ‘movies’ and this device is full of them.”

“But… I thought technology like this was dangerous to us!”

“Well, yes and no.” Uncle Frey looked at Room for a moment and a hole that resembled the end of the cord appeared in the side of the tree. “The electrical and magnetic fields it gives off disrupt our sleep cycle enough to make our magical powers misfire. However, since you’re fettered, that danger doesn’t matter.”

“Won’t it do anything to Room?” Having this safe room ‘disrupted’ while she was in it did not sound pleasant. I do not require sleep, Room explained. My nervous system moves slowly enough that maintenance can occur while I am conscious.

Sigyn quickly filed her academic curiosity in one of her locked cabinets. Can you feel that, Room?

Just barely.

“What are you doing?”

“Um…” Sigyn thought fast. “We’re playing a game.”

She is attempting to train herself to hide her thoughts from me so that she can escaped, that wretched Room clarified.

Uncle Frey gave a low whistle. “That’s quite a trick, Sigyn. It’ll take a lot of practice.”

She rolled her eyes. “I have nothing but time, Uncle.”

“I suppose you do,” he said softly. “Well, you’ll have the chance to practice hiding plenty of emotional thoughts. I’ve slipped off to Midgard for a movie or two, and they can evoke quite a response.”

“You’ll not tell Grandfather?” she asked in a pleading tone.

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair, as he always did when torn. “No,” he finally promised. “And Room, you’d better keep quiet, too. As I’ve told you before, the King is not himself. He might harm the princess if he finds out.”

The tree was silent for a long moment. Understood, it finally said. I will not inform the king voluntarily of your practices. However, if he asks, I am compelled to answer truthfully.

“He won’t ask.” The diplomat seemed confident. “He thinks this chamber inescapable without magic. It will never occur to him that Sigyn would have a chance.”

“Speaking of which…”

“Yes?”

“You wouldn’t happen to have books on this place, and the keys, and the incantation fetter, would you?” Sigyn gave him her best innocent puppy dog eyes. “Purely for academic reasons, of course.”

“Of course.”

o-o-o-o It was always awkward when Grandfather came to visit, which he did at every meal time to bring her food and eat with her. On the one hand, she was still furious with him for locking her away. On the other hand, he was being controlled….

“How long have you been wanting to do this?” she asked casually

“Eat dinner?” he asked mildly, sounding like the Grandfather Njord she knew and loved. “Since I caught the salmon, I suppose. Why?”

“No, no. I mean… how long have you wanted to take me away from Loki?”

He glared. “Since the day he tricked you into marrying him, child.”

“Why didn’t you do it before, then?” Sigyn asked, hoping to reason him into breaking out of the mind control. At least then she could feel safe with her grandfather again. And once she was free, they would find some way to protect themselves from the Allfather.

“I wish I had,” Grandfather grumbled. “I didn’t want you to lose your freedom, child.”

“Then what changed?”

He glared. “I realized that your freedom was worth less than your safety. Now stop playing mind games and eat!”

Sigyn placed her hurt in one of the locked boxes. Could you feel that, Room?

A little bit, yes.

Damn.

o-o-o-o

“I know you’re there, Algrim,” Odin said quietly without taking his eyes from the infinity beneath the Bifrost.

“My king,” the dark said respectfully.

“You are wondering why I have put off Loki?”

Algrim nodded grimly. “He grows depressed. He longs for news of her. When will you end his grief and let him move on?”

“Soon enough,” the Allfather declared. “I must give him time to doubt first before I give him the final news.”

o-o-o-o “I come bearing gifts!” Uncle Frey announced, walking in with a huge pile of books.

Sigyn paused the movie she was watching. “Ooh, really?”

He grinned. “I brought you the books you requested, plus some other books on various other aspects of Vanaheim as a blind.”

“I’ve read a lot of these,” Sigyn commented, “especially the ones on Vanir magic and fauna. But it never hurts to reread, and Grandfather will be expecting me to!”

Uncle Frey pinched her cheek affectionately. “Look at you, all grown up and clever.”

“Not quite yet, but getting there.” A determined glint entered Sigyn’s eyes.

Her uncle sighed. “I know you’re really hoping to escape, Sigyn, but… be careful. Remember that you might bring the Allfather’s wrath on us if you escape too soon.”

“We’ll find a way around him,” she insisted confidently. “I know Loki. If he turns on Asgard, hundreds of other people will lose their lives. I have to get back to him!”

“Yes…”

It was only after he left that Sigyn realized her uncle was merely trying to keep her occupied and believed, like her grandfather, that she had no chance of escape.

o-o-o-o

Loki had the worst dream of his life that night.

He was returning from the court to his chambers. Pausing outside the door, he heard Sigyn’s laugh and a man’s voice answering. What is this? he thought angrily. What other man dared approach his wife in this manner?

Hoping to find it was a member of her annoying family, he turned himself into a spider and crawled under the door into their suite. Sigyn was seated on the sofa with a man he did not recognize, but who the helm on the table proclaimed to be one of his father’s Crimson Hawks.

“I still can’t believe the Trickster leaves you alone like this every day,” the man said, stroking her cheek gently. “Were you mine, I would know your whereabouts at all times.”

“You object to the current arrangement?” Sigyn teased.

“Actually, yes.” The strange man leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I would take you away from that madman and make you mine.” Sigyn smiled at the man – his tender little smile. “I already am yours,” she said softly, in the purring tone that was supposed to be reserved for him.

The other man grinned and made a flower, which he tucked into her hair. “I can’t believe he courted you with a snake,” he chuckled. “Did he really think a woman could love such a man? A magician must use his powers wisely.”

She giggled. “Well, I must admit, your powers are…impressive.” She kissed him on the mouth. “And put to a very noble use.”

The man deepened the kiss, putting his filthy, wretched tongue into Sigyn’s highly exclusive mouth. She made one of the soft little noises he usually loved to hear and twined her slender arms around her lover’s neck. Then – Damn him to every Hell there is! – the man scooped her up in his arms and carried her toward the bedroom.

His bedroom. Their bedroom. The bedroom he shared with Sigyn, into which no one else was permitted. Sigyn, his precious, beloved Sigyn, was lying with another man in the bed she shared with him.

Loki shifted back into the shape of a man. He would not allow this to happen!

Loki awoke panting from the bloodbath his mind created. He glanced around the room. It’s not true. It’s not true! Sigyn never took another lover. She wouldn’t!

And yet…

o-o-o-o

“Prince Loki?” the guard asked diffidently the next morning. “The Allfather requests your presence in his throne room.”

Loki’s heart leaped within him. Finally, finally, his father was ready to help him find Sigyn. “I will join him immediately. Not willing to take the time to run down the stairs, he teleported himself into the midst of the throne room.

Aside from the one-eyed king on his throne, the room was surprisingly empty. “Father?” Loki asked. “You summoned me?”

Odin turned to him with an expression of grief. “My son,” he rumbled, “I have good news and bad news for you.”

“Is it about Sigyn?” he asked, scarcely daring to breathe.

“She lives.” Loki closed his eyes and let blessed relief wash over him. She lives. Even though he had guessed it, hearing it for certain brought a certain peace. Then he steeled himself for the bad news. “And… the other news?”

“She is outside the Nine Realms. And…” The king shook his head sadly. “The pocket dimension in which she resides has traces of her healing power all over it. She helped prepare it to hold her. I am sorry, my son.”

Loki staggered as the full impact of these words struck him. Sigyn helped create her prison. Which means… she’s not a prisoner. Unbidden, the image of Sigyn in another man’s arms sprang into the forefront of his mind.

Traitor!

o-o-o-o

“Goodbye, Grandfather,” Sigyn whispered, watching him return to their beautiful home by the sea, to the world where her Loki was waiting and worrying. Deciding she needed to distract herself, she opened up the device that Uncle Frey had called a ‘computer’ and flicked through the store of movies available to watch.

Seeing one with drawings of lions and other Midgardian creatures, she decided that one would be fun to watch and soothe her troubled mind.

That was a bad idea.

The pair of lion brothers was strikingly like Thor and Loki – the golden elder taking the throne, the clever and dark younger one tricking his way to power. When the younger betrayed the elder to his death, Sigyn felt her heart break. Taking the opportunity, she put that response in her ‘hidden’ cabinet.

Did you feel that, Room?

Feel what?

Sigyn smirked through her tears. “Nothing.”