Chapter 16

The Frost Giant let out an uncomfortable cough to try and get the Princes' attention. "May I present the Princes of Jothunheim, Helblindi and Býleistr," he repeated but the two men just kept wrestling on the floor of the throne room.

It was rather awkward for the gang to just stand there while the two brothers were apparently fighting about Norns-knows-what. Astrid's brow twitched before she stepped forward and cracked her knuckles. The gang cringed as she used her armguards of Strength to rip the brothers apart from each other.

"Who are you?!" the one Hiccup assumed was Helblindi bristled as he glared at Astrid.

"The better question is are you guys Royalty or a bunch of wild cats throwing a tantrum!" Astrid shot back as she let go of both the men. They quickly scrambled up and then saw the group that stood there.

"Your Highnesses, these are representatives from Asgard and Midgard, including the one and only Mistress of the Wind," their escort stated. "They have come to inquire about the fate of the interlopers we had in our territory."

"Those harpies?" Býleistr grunted looking not very pleased. "They got what was coming to them."

"On behalf of Asgard we wish to retrieve them and compensate you for any trouble they have caused. They are scouts that may have vital information to a threat to all the Realms." Sigyn stated as she stepped forward.

"Hah, see I told you they were Aesir!" Helblindi turned to his brother with a smug look. "And you thought that they were Vanir!"

"Why would Asgardians come here except to cause more conflict?" Býleistr muttered.

"But is that not what those screeching women did?" the other shot back. "They nearly ruined our plans!"

"May we have some clarification as to what had transpired?" Sigyn asked as she frowned. She had a feeling that things ended up more complicated than she thought.

"What happened?! What happened was a pure mess thanks to them!" Helblindi roared. "We had everything handled until those 'scouts' of yours started meddling in our affairs!"

"Maybe we should just calm down and get to the bottom of this," Hiccup suggested. The two giants turned and looked at the auburn-haired man before muttering "The runt is right."

"Sad day that we are taking advice from..... Midgardians," the other muttered while glancing at the group before them.

"Come," Helblindi's gruff voice echoed through the throne room. He indicated for the group to follow him to a room adjacent which turned out to be a large, and poorly kept, dining hall. The twins looked through the large hole in the wall to see how high up they were now. Cold wind entered the room and the group shivered but the Frost Giants seemed utterly unaffected.

Their escorts accompanied the Princes as well and lined the wall opposite of their guests. "Now...." Býleistr started, looking a bit more composed than before "Your people caused quite a lot of chaos for us. Their offenses include the willful destruction of property, aiding and abetting a traitor to the Jothun race and his co-conspirators, ignoring Jothun law...."

"Let's not forget being all around rude," Helblindi muttered. As Hiccup observed the brothers, sitting opposite to them, he noticed the differences. Býleistr seemed to be the more organized brother and thought rationally much faster. Helblindi was quick to anger and seemed to be a hothead but even in their wrestling match Hiccup noted that he did not hurt his brother much even though he was much bigger. Hiccup turned to Sigyn who he noted was gripping the table they were seated at with white knuckles. The table would probably snap if she gripped any harder.

The others must have noticed Sigyn's dark stare and even if it wasn't directed at the Frost Giants, several guards still shuffled in discomfort. The gang would have to find out just what Sigyn had done to earn that title and the respect and fear that accompanied it.

"What happened?" Sigyn asked with no inflection in her voice. So the brothers filled them in on the events, which also included the deposition of Laufey as a traitor. Sigyn's eyes darkened and at the end of the tale she asked "Where are the Valkyries now?"

"In the lower dungeons," Helblindi muttered. "Do not think that there will not be any repercussions."

"I have the authorization of the Allfather to make any and all decisions and deals to secure our people," Sigyn stated diplomatically but the threat was left in the air if you could read in between the lines. Hiccup had figured it out. Any decisions could also mean the complete flattening of this palace, and he and Astrid had no doubt that Sigyn would follow through. From the comments Tyr and Frey had made, Sigyn was quite the formidable force you did not want as your enemy. Both Helblindi and his brother sat up straighter as they heard the hidden threat. "Are any of them hurt?" she then asked.

"Not greatly," Býleistr muttered. "You may see them but they cannot be freed at this time."

Sigyn nodded. The following was a conversation not for the ears of others. The Jothun who had escorted the group indicated for Sigyn to follow him. Hiccup and the others stayed behind with the two princes.

"Sooooo......." Snotlout mumbled, not entirely sure how to start a conversation with them. "What were you guys fighting about?"

"Snot!!" Several, excluding the twins, turned to Snotlout. "Don't ask questions like that!" Dagur even proceeded to thump Snot on the head. "It's pretty invasive and probably personal!" But instead of being offended the two Jothun princes merely laughed.

Býleistr was the first to recover and said "We do not mind you asking. It is after all fairly common that we fight."

"It was about who assumed the throne," Helblindi stated. "I think I should be the one since I am the oldest of us."

"But I am the more logical one." Býleistr commented. "Being a king is much more than displaying raw strength!"

"Oh," Hiccup mumbled. This could be rather troublesome indeed. With the brothers fighting like this a civil war might break out. "Well isn't it just the matter of which one of you is the Crown prince?" The two brothers were silent then as they looked sadly at Hiccup.

"Jothunheim's Crown prince was taken from us when he was born," One of the brothers stated. "Laufey has never quite gotten over that."

"He did recently comment that he was able to get in touch with his missing son but the invitation to visit Jothunheim was rejected." Helblindi stated now more solemnly. "Laufey never named our older brother and he refused to tell us by which name he went now."

"I would drag him back personally if I knew!" The Jothun prince stated passionately. "We just cannot afford to have civil unrest now. Our missing brother either needs to appoint a Regent or abdicate."

The gang looked at each other for a moment. For those knowing Norse mythology they had a pretty good idea who Býleistr and Helblindi's brother was. But now was not the right time to voice it since it was a pretty touch subject for the two princes it seemed.

Meanwhile, down in the dungeons, Sigyn and her escort approached the icy cells. The Frost Giant indicated to a cell at the back that housed the five Valkyries. Sigyn stopped at the indicated cell and peered inside. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the women huddled together for warmth.

"Absolutely disgraceful." She muttered as her gaze landed on the Valkyrie leader. Several eyes snapped up at her and the women looked wide-eyed at their visitor.

C-cap-captain Sigyn!" One of the women stood on shaking legs to greet her immediately.

"Brynhildr, just how far will you let the Valkyrie order sink." Sigyn's eyes were cold as she looked at her replacement. She did not address Brynhildr by her rank as that was a sign of respect. "Have you forgotten every lesson a Valkyrie learns!"

"We....We were just following orders!" Brynhildr mumbled with her eyes slightly downcast.

"Did your orders include the willful destruction of property or the interference with Jothun law?!" Sigyn asked as her eyes swept over the women. "Not only that, but you let Eir, your medic, get hurt!"

"I am seriously wondering about your leadership at this point Brynhildr." The current captain gulped. "You are scouts, you are meant to remain unseen! Not to go charging into an already chaotic situation where your people could have been easily hurt!"

"Our orders were to secure the Princes Ve and Vili, Sigyn. The Jothuns got to them before us."

Sigyn did not stop her scorching gaze though. "So your best plan was to attack the Jothuns?! Valkyries are trained in diplomacy as well as physical combat. Use it!"

"But those sava-BANG" Brynhildr did not get to finish as Sigyn grabbed the woman by her armor, yanking her forward and slamming her into the icy bars.

"It was your attack that led to Ve and Vili's escape, not the Jothun's." Sigyn hissed. "Because of your incompetence they may have joined up with the most powerful enemy these Realms have ever seen. Do not think that there will not be any repercussions!"

"Do not talk to me about repercussions Sig!" Brynhildr shot back now as spite clouded her voice. "You were the one to leave us! You have no say in how the unit is run now."

"How dare you!" Sigyn growled yet she did not let go of Brynhildr just yet.

"I know there will be repercussions for a failed mission like this." The woman muttered as she glared at Sigyn. "But I will not become you! Some failed relic sitting among dusty tomes! The high and noble Sigyn, giving up her illustrious position when she failed to protect Gungnir from being stolen by that bastard!" Brynhildr goaded. "So noble that you were willing to go into exile for your mistake. The Mistress of the Wind, The fleet-footed Valkyrie, nothing more than a librarian now." The woman spat. "So do not act all high and mighty to me!"

"Brynhildr.... Stop... that's enough." One of the Valkyries that Sigyn recognized as Mist muttered. Sigyn remembered the girl still being a trainee when Gungnir had been stolen. "You two spitting at each other is helping no one."

"But it is amusing as Helheim," A deep voice interrupted them. The women in the cell, as well as Sigyn, turned to the cell opposite of them to see a Frost Giant covered in bruises and sporting a dark smirk watching them.

"Laufey," Sigyn's eyes darkened and her mouth remained a straight line to show her displeasure.

"It is nice to see you too Sigyn," The former Jothun king joked. "Outside of the battlefields, I mean."

"I wish I could say the same for you," Sigyn muttered. The two stared each other down but neither noticed the malevolent red eyes that were watching the whole exchange from the shadows nor did anyone expect the explosion that rocked the lower prison right after.