Welcome to CHAPTER 19 of the Kinsmen Die podcast, home of fantasy fiction based on Norse mythology that’s written and read by me, Matt Bishop.

In this podcast I read my first novel, Kinsmen Die, one chapter at a time. Every TEN chapters, or so, I recap the key plot points and provide some insight into the myths I’ve referenced in the book as well as some of the creative choices I’ve made along the way.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve recorded an episode. I’ve changed studios — switched closets — so hopefully the audio quality is unchanged…or, if I’m really lucky, like Matrim Cauthon, a bit better.

Before we roll into Chapter 19, here’s a quick summary of what’s gone before:

In Chapter 16, we were with Hodr — the son of Frigg and Odin — as he mucked out some stables and remembered the man, the warrior, he’d been. 

In Chapter 17, Frigg pulled double duty — damage control for her husband and as a Mom to Hermod.

In Chapter 18, Vidar engaged the enemy…without and within…and it didn’t go well for him.

In this Chapter, we’re back with Loki as he says goodbye to his family. 


Let’s do this.

Chapter Nineteen
Loki
Loki stood outside his longhouse beneath the high, spreading limbs of a yew tree—scant cover from prying, distant eyes, but it was early morning. Goldtooth was probably still recovering from the previous night’s drink even as he filled the next day’s cups. Or maybe, hopefully, time had become one continuous dark, muddled night for him.
And all thanks to some garrulous, green-feathered birds in Vanaheim. He smiled, hoping they might teach their hatchlings well.
“Smiling? Are you that happy to be leaving again, Loki?” Sigyn’s fingers flashed in the Jotunn hand speech. She stood silhouetted against the longhouse, its doors flung wide to let the air in. Melting water fell with a faint steady drip from the roof into open barrels. The Franangr’s roar was a mere backdrop.
Loki replied, fingers dancing. “Not at all. We’re bound together, you and I, no matter how far we are apart.”
Sigyn sniffed and stepped in closer, wrapping an arm around his waist. “Or how close,” she whispered.
Vali and Narfi walked toward them, leading horses that snorted, shook their heads, and stomped their hooves, eager to be out on the road. Loki saw that same eagerness in his sons’ eyes and his smile deepened, remembering when a similar feeling had swelled in his chest.
He was anxious for the last part of his own journey. Despite Ygg’s unexpected return, he’d decided to go ahead with the plans he’d laid over the past hundred winters. They would bear fruit, as would the Jotunn’s plans.
Whether he lived to see it was another thing entirely.
Vali and Narfi looked every inch the young Aesir warriors they seemed to be—round shields slung on their backs, axes by their sides, hands upon long spears, heavy leather armor over even heavier woolen clothes. They wrapped their reins on one of the yew’s low hanging, sparsely leafed limbs.
Loki’s fingers moved. “Take care in Ifington. Remember to split up when you get there. Slip away in the hours before Sól rises, but do it separately—”
“We know, Father,” Vali signed, with a lopsided grin on his narrow, sharp-featured face. “We’ve been over it.”
Loki frowned and leveled a finger at Vali. “If the army catches you traversing the Breach into Utgard, they’ll figure out who you are. Eventually. Then they’ll come here.”
Vali’s expression grew more serious as understanding bloomed in his eyes. Narfi just nodded, every bit the counterweight to his brother’s airier temperament.
“I’m sorry to be hard on you,” Loki signed, smiling, “but many plans are strung together. If they find one thread, they’ll find the others, and then the whole weave will come undone.”
Narfi signed, “We know, Father. We won’t let you down.”
“That thought never entered my mind,” Loki said, smile widening further. “Mine’s a father’s concern for his sons’ welfare. The enemy has eyes everywhere, especially in Utgard.”
Sigyn swatted his chest, and he glanced down at her. Her frown seemed to suggest that he should scold less and advise more. And maybe he should, since he might never see these two again. But they needed to be prepared. Not that words alone could do that.
“And when you reach Helveg, only Beli will know that you are my sons. That’s for your protection as well as my own,” he said, fingers dancing. “I know Beli well. He’s among the best of us, so keep your eyes and ears open. You can learn much from him.”
“We will, Father,” they signed.
“And you be careful, too, wherever you’re headed,” Narfi added.
He grinned. “Don’t worry about me. I’ve been in trouble more than I’ve been out of it. When it’s finally thrown, you’ll both be at the spear’s tip so—”
“Take care of each other,” Sigyn said out loud. She stepped from his side to hug and kiss both her boys.
Maybe he had been droning on, but another war was coming. He was proud that his sons had chosen his side. And should he fail, they’d be safer with Helveg than they would with him. Just as Sigyn would be safer with the Jotunn.
For now, though, he embraced both his boys, working hard to keep the tears from his eyes. Then he caught Sigyn in a fierce hug.
“Make sure you come back to me,” she whispered.
He kissed her cheek and said, “I will,” as if he were certain he would return. He doubted she believed him. She had hope, though. She would remain behind for a little while, doing nothing but playing the part of a devoted wife who knew little of the activities of a husband who was rarely around, and then herself slip away.
“Swift and true,” he said to Vali and Narfi.
And then he shifted into the shape of a large snow owl, and in puffs of snow, left the spreading yew branches and the ground behind. After a long curving upward climb, he looked down and saw Vali and Narfi had mounted and were heading toward whatever dooms the Norns had cut for them.
Just as he was.

OUTRO
Well, folks, that was CHAPTER 19 of Kinsmen Die. I hope you enjoyed it. 

Loki said goodbye to his wife and sons. Whatever they’re doing, they appear to have all taken sides against the Aesir.

Next week, we’re back with Odin as he arrives at the battle near Hals.

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I’d love to hear from you.
  
As always, I’m going to read from the Havamal, sayings of the High One, Odin himself.

I’m reading from both the Bellows and the Larrington translations


Bellows, Verse 19

Shun not the mead, but drink in measure;
Speak to the point or be still;
For rudeness none shall rightly blame thee
If soon thy bed thou seekest.

Larrington
Let no man hold onto the cup, but drink mead in moderation,
let him say what’s necessary or be silent; no man will scold you because you go off early to bed.