After the false alarm in the dungeon, Sif and the two remaining Warriors Three heaved sighs of relief.
Since Queen Frigga's death during the previous dungeon rebellion, Asgard's security had been heightened to its peak. Solomon could see the Asgardian "ships" gliding across the sky—literal sailing ships, a testament to the Asgardians' unwavering aesthetic sensibilities. Out of sight, Asgard's garrisons across its territories stood vigilant, ready to respond should Malekith, the Dark Elf King, attempt further destruction before using the Aether.
On the Bifrost, Solomon and Thor stood with one hundred fully armed Einherjar warriors behind them. Heimdall nodded to Thor and activated the bridge. As the Einherjar filed into the shimmering pathway, Solomon grabbed one particular warrior trailing closely beside Thor.
"I've got my eye on you, Loki."
The mage's voice was calm, but his grip was firm. Using the Pierce Disguise spell, Solomon saw through Loki's illusion, revealing the God of Mischief's true form as if it were a translucent shell draped over the Einherjar's guise.
Loki, ever composed, smiled as he dispelled the illusion. A pair of conspicuous handcuffs clamped around his wrists—a precaution imposed by Odin. Though the Allfather had begrudgingly allowed Thor to involve Loki in the quest for vengeance (Loki had refused to bow his head, no matter how much Thor pressured him), his supervision was non-negotiable. Several Einherjar were assigned to shadow Loki at all times, Thor included.
Sif and the Warriors frowned but said nothing. Sif believed that since Solomon had already identified Loki, there was no need for further disguises. Without an illusion, Loki would be easier to monitor. After the battle, they would ensure he returned to the dungeons.
But Solomon wasn't so optimistic.
With the official decree now in hand, Asgard would owe Midgard a favor if Loki didn't return to his cell. To Solomon, Loki embodied treachery and deceit—he would undoubtedly seize any opportunity to escape. This mission was the perfect chance. Solomon doubted even the Einherjar could keep Loki contained.
Discreetly, Solomon placed an invisible Arcane Mark on Loki's neck. Though a simple cantrip, the mark was incredibly resilient, lasting up to a month when applied to living beings. It served as an anchor for summoning and detection spells, ensuring Solomon could locate Loki no matter where he fled.
Loki felt the mage's subtle spell and smirked dismissively.
A mere magical mark? As the Nine Realms' greatest sorcerer, I could dispel it with—
Smack!
Jane Foster stormed up and slapped Loki across the face. Everyone pretended not to notice.
Thor grabbed his brother's arm and dragged him toward the Bifrost, his hold tight as Jane landed another slap. The God of Mischief stuck out his tongue playfully but made no further resistance. Solomon followed swiftly, with Sif escorting Jane close behind.
The Bifrost deposited them in a familiar location: Jane Foster's London apartment, which doubled as her laboratory. It was also where Solomon had taken a crash course in Midgardian physics.
The sudden arrival of one hundred Einherjar warriors and the spectacular descent of the Rainbow Bridge drew a crowd of onlookers. Nearby police officers approached cautiously, their hands hovering near their weapons. In the wake of the Battle of New York, books on Norse mythology had flown off the shelves, and Thor was now widely recognized.
Jane hadn't expected such a spectacle outside her home and lab. If not for the intimidating presence of the Einherjar guarding the entrance, curious onlookers might have rushed in for selfies.
Solomon quickly pulled up the hood of his mage's robe and cast a minor illusion, subtly altering his voice and mannerisms. Even the Phoenix on his shoulder took on a mundane appearance, resembling a slightly dimwitted bald eagle.
The police drew their guns, but Solomon subtly waved his hand. Suddenly remembering some other urgent task, the officers left the scene.
Still, Solomon knew this was only a temporary solution. The police would return as long as the Einherjar remained. He sent a text message to the relevant authorities, hoping Agent Coulson's team was nearby. If not, he'd arrange a portal himself.
Loki smirked knowingly at Solomon, seemingly suggesting he use more magic to deal with the mortals. Solomon rolled his eyes in response.
"Let's head inside," the mage said to Thor and Jane.
Before they could move, loud thumping echoed down the staircase. Darcy Lewis practically bounced out of the stairwell, her loose slippers flapping as she ran.
"Hey!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the Einherjar's bulging biceps. Without hesitation, she poked Thor's chest plate, prompting simultaneous eye rolls from Sif and Loki.
"I didn't think you'd bring Jane back. If she stayed in Asgard, I could use the microwave without her nagging…"
"Darcy!" Jane interrupted sharply.
"Okay, okay," Darcy relented. "We brought Erik back, by the way. He's gotten… weirder. I'm not sure if he's actually insane, but he's been running around Stonehenge without pants. It made the news." She raised her voice as she walked into the corridor. "Erik! We have guests! Put some pants on! You too, Ian!"
"Who's Ian?" Solomon asked.
"My intern. Don't look at me like that. I'm a professional; having an intern is normal."
"You mean someone nobody else wanted, stuck doing grunt work? Isn't that how Jane hired you?"
"You—"
"You!" Erik Selvig emerged from behind a desk, still pantless. He pointed an accusatory finger at Loki before realizing the room was full.
"Hello, Thor." He walked over and embraced the God of Thunder with enthusiasm.
"Hello, Erik. It's good to see you as healthy as ever."
Sif, Volstagg, and Fandral also received hugs, though reluctantly. When Erik approached Jane, she mustered all her strength to push her half-mad mentor away. Solomon declined the embrace outright—he had no interest in being hugged by an elderly man in yellowed underwear.
"This is less a welcome and more a punishment," Solomon muttered, eyeing Erik with disdain. He secretly wished Erik would try hugging Loki instead; the trickster wouldn't be able to resist.
"So, what brings you here?" Erik asked once the awkward greetings were over. "And why… him?" He gestured at Loki with clear distrust. "I hope it's not something catastrophic."
"I'm afraid it is," Thor replied, placing Mjölnir on the floor. "Midgard is in trouble. We're here to help… and to seek vengeance."
"Vengeance?" Erik's brow furrowed.
"Yes. It's as bad as it sounds," Thor said. "But we have time. We can explain."
"We're still waiting on one more participant," Solomon interrupted. "He can join the meeting via phone if necessary. Phoenix, fetch the materials we need."
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