Divided Chapter 18

Eidra watched Brenna trudge up the stairs with a candle holder in her hand. She'd handed her the paper sack full of medicine for Brynn when she first walked in the door, then gave her a hug which had lasted longer than usual.
“Did you have a good time?” Eidra whispered in her ear.
“Yes Mama, I had Sophie with me all day. Mister Stark was very gracious.” Brenna had stepped away and Eidra noticed how drawn she looked, her face pale, smile forced, “He said as soon as you get low again, tell him and he will procure as much as you need. He also suggested you get Brynn re-evaluated on Midgard. New treatments are becoming available all the time.”
“Baby steps, my dear. Perhaps I will broach the subject to your father at a later date. You seem tired. Are you well?”
She'd nodded, kissed her on the cheek.“It has been a long day. I will tell you more on the morrow.”
Eidra stood at the bottom of the stairs, hearing her door latch shut. Folding the paper sack securely, she drifted into the kitchen to set it on the table until morning.

In her bedroom, Brenna sat before her dressing mirror staring into her own eyes. “A tumor,” Tony had told her, “you have a tumor.”
She touched her fingertips to her forehead. He'd suggested that she not use her power unless it meant saving a life, knowing she would do so regardless were the situation to arise. She had begged him not to tell her father, reasoning that if he found out she was ill, not only would he be furious Tony had subjected her to testing but also would he possibly prevent her from starting college. Perhaps he would forbid her to return to Midgard at all.
She clasped the Uruz in her hand. Not that he could really stop her now though she preferred to return to Midgard with his blessing. Despite her frequent disregard for his wishes, especially the ones she thought far too strict, she had grown to respect him for the prince he was, love him for the father he tried so hard to be.
She changed into her robe and lay down on her bed to read one of the new books she'd picked up in New York, trying to draw her mind away from her worries. Finally she set the book onto the floor, extinguished the lantern, studying the stars outside her window until her eyes drifted shut.

Loki absently touched hid fingers to his lips recalling his kiss to Eidra before he left for the palace that morning, how he'd surmised she was still asleep until she'd opened her mouth against his, her arms stealing around his neck in an embrace that had unlocked his legs, bringing him to kneel by their bed.
“Milord, will we be stopping at the longhouses this morn?”
Loki turned to Silas. “No. We will leave them to their work for another week then I will return with Master Denehy to check on their progress.”
At the mention of Colin's name, Silas grimaced, “Then you will have no need of my company.”
Loki pulled at Lightning's reins, slowing him to a walk, watching Silas do the same with his horse.
“I suppose I would need no escort.” Loki waited for Silas to reply. Finding none forthcoming, he  looked to Silas, “Master Denehy has been with us now for nearly two moons. Tell me, Silas, has your opinion of our guest changed for the better?”
While Eidra lay wrapped in his arms the evening previous, she had confessed to him a secret which had been troubling her greatly as of late, that of Ingrid's dilemma. She had told him how, one day  as they'd been hanging linens out to dry, Edie had run to Ingrid  while making strange gestures to her. When Eidra had asked her what Edie was doing, Ingrid had burst into tears. After some prodding, Ingrid had revealed what had transpired between Colin and herself along with Silas's adamant refusal to let Ingrid teach Edie to sign. Eidra had charged Loki with the task of getting Silas to listen to reason even though Loki was inclined to agree with him. Still, Eidra had said, Colin was only trying to help and for that fact alone, he should make an effort.
They had walked some distance without a reply from Silas, summarily, Loki steered Lightning a bit closer, “Silas, it is bad manners to ignore a question as if it had never been answered.”
“Milord I was of a mind to believe my silence was my answer.”
Loki stared at him, “Silas, what has Master Denehy done to leave such a bad impression upon you?”
Silas seemed as if he were about to explode, he swallowed hard, took a deep breath. “He is a Midgardian.”
“For that you condemn him? Even I have had to alter my opinion in the face of Colin's good character. What more has he done. Please I entreat you to tell me. If it is a slight, I wish to speak with him on it.”
Silas shook his head hard, “It is not a thing he has done directly to me but to my wife and daughter.”
Loki pulled Lightning to a halt. “Must I order you to tell me what troubles you so?”
Silas twisted in his saddle. “He has brought a Midgardian tome here to make a fool of my poor Edie! The Midgardians have made a language to let them speak with those who cannot hear. It consists of gesturing and flailing one's arms about! He would have her looked upon as one of the simpletons in the city streets!”
Loki held up his hand. “I do concur. Calm yourself. This is indeed a sinister plot.”
“It is?”
Loki had to bite his lip to keep from smiling. “Of course. Were you to learn to speak with her. You might find she is well nigh as feeble minded as you believe her to be and further still, were you to teach her the language, you too would walk about waving your arms about, making inane gestures. What would your fellow guardsmen think, and you a captain. No, better to shelter her. Easier than facing one's fears.”
Silas frowned, looked away, “I know what you are upon, Milord.”
“Do you, now?”
“You would have me believe it is wise to teach her the language, corrupt her mind with Midgardian thoughts.”
Loki nudged Lightning into a trot, “I said nothing of the sort. I believe I suggested you put such an idea out of your mind.”
Silas spurred his horse to keep pace with Loki, grumbling, “I never entertained the idea in the first place. It is you who seeks to trick me.”
“If the thought never entered your mind then I have done nothing wrong save ask what made you so upset. In fact I have agreed with you.” At this, Loki turned away, scanning the fields along the road with a smile.
“You seek to twist the truth so to confuse me.”
Loki heard the petulance in Silas's voice, “Then consider this, my friend. There are those who look upon Edie as a poor deaf mute. They see her as simple, ignorant. Would it be better thus to teach her to speak this language, no matter how strange it may look to others so that you may know what she is thinking. The joke would then be upon those who would scorn her because you would know better than they that she is a bright child.”
Silas grunted at this.
“Do you truly believe Edie is an empty shell, that she entertains nary a thought all day. Surely she cleaves unto Ingrid to feel safe? Would you not be frightened of your silent world?”
Loki thought then of Brenna, the seasons he'd lost with her because of his poor judgment, “I only entreat you to think again upon your decision.”
Silas stared straight ahead but his tone had softened, “I will, Milord, as you wish.”
Loki sighed as they continued along the road to the city, listening to the morning bird song, hearing a distant rumble of thunder from the clouds still some distant on the horizon. He felt old or rather, older in any case. Perhaps he could no longer trust his mind to be as quick as it had been before though it seemed he had not lost the gift of persuasion? He stole a look at Silas's face dark in thought. It was obvious he'd given the man a gutful to ponder through the day.
“We've tarried long enough, let us feel the wind in our faces.” Loki called as he kicked Lightning into a gallop and Silas followed suit.


Colin had wandered outside with the family to catch the evening breezes. He'd stood talking with Loki and Eidra while the children played about the yard. Fen and Gunnar had put on a mock swordfight with wooden sparring swords. Brenna excused herself early, claiming she was tired though Colin thought she seemed a bit off. Ingrid knelt in the grass, watching Edie play with the children. Silas stood stone faced beside her.
Gretten leaned in the back doorway chatting with Beth. Helgi sat knitting in a chair Loki had carried out for her. The children would bring her flowers and she would stick them in her hair, making faces while they laughed, running to find more.
“Colin, came you from a large family?” Eidra asked him, observing his smile each time the children would clamor for the flowers.
“Ah, no. I'm an only child.”
“Gods, it must have been so very lonely.”
Colin thought for a minute, “Not so bad as you'd think. I had my friends. When I had no choice to be alone, I made my own fun more often than not. Gave me a grand imagination because I had to think up me own entertainment.” He glanced about the yard. “Though if I had to admit it, I don't think I could ever have imagined this place in a million years.”
“You should look for a good Asgardian woman and settle down. Most men your age would have found mates by now.” Eidra nudged him with her elbow as Astrid clamored at her legs to be picked up.
“Rules are rules, Milady. It's my job to see I don't break them.” Colin looked up at the sun balancing atop a low hill, “And now if you'll pardon me, I'm calling it a night. I've journal writing to do.”
As Colin took his leave, slipping between Gretten and Beth and on into the kitchen, he was unaware of Silas's eyes following him until he disappeared from view.


On the way to his bedchamber, Colin paused outside Brenna's room, considered checking on her but decided against it, instead continuing on to his room. He sat at the writing desk, making himself comfortable, half wishing he'd  fixed a cup of tea to bring to his room. Before he could begin his daily journal, however, there came a light rap on his door.
“Come in.” He looked up from his tablet, half expecting to see Brenna walk in. When Silas entered the room, however, Colin sat up straight, trying to hide his discomfort.
“How can I help you?” start off ignorant, let him throw the proverbial first punch.
Silas strode to the desk and stared down at the tablet lying there in front of Colin. At such close quarters, he was acutely aware of how solidly built the young Asgardian was. One good punch from him and he was sure he'd not wake up until morning, if he woke at all.
“I have served Lord Loki since I was seven seasons old. He has taken me into his household, employed my wife in tending to his children though it could scarce be considered thus, so dearly does Milady treat her. I would lay my life down for his family and so to that end, when he implored me think hard upon my decision to disallow Ingrid to teach Edie your alien hand language, I was obliged to do so.”
Before he could continue, Colin was already reaching into the satchel at his feet, drawing out the spare tablet and turning it on.
“I was fer hoping you'd see the error of yer ways. The language takes getting used to but it'd become second nature over time.”
Colin held out the tablet to Silas who backed away from it, “I do not trust your Midgardian devices, and I do not ken your reasoning.”
Colin was taken aback. “I simply saw a way to help yer daughter communicate.”
Silas took a step forward. “Of what concern is my family to you?”
Colin stumbled, sat down hard in the chair, “Haven't you ever done something because you felt it was the right thing to do, because I've come to..,” to love?, “...to feel comfortable here in Asgard. What is it you've against me? It can't be only because I'm Midgardian, there has to be something else.”
To his surprise, Colin blinked a few times, then gazed down at the tablet in Colin's hands, “We have been taught your people are selfish, barbaric, lazy, greedy. Would you not believe that which you had been told all your life?”
“I would, however, my grandad, being an armchair philosopher, had a quote for most any situation. One of my favorites seems to fit our very situation, if you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
When Silas looked at him blankly, Colin sighed, “All I'm asking you to do is forget what you know about Midgardians as a whole and judge us individually.”
Silas pointed to the tablet, “Show me the sign for daughter.”
Colin typed “daughter” into the search bar, watched Silas with a gentle smile as he mimicked the movements on the screen.
“Of course you could spell her name as well. Yer alphabet is a bit different  so the signs wouldn't be the same, but given time, we could work out an acceptable substitute. Where there's a will there's a way.”
Silas reached out a hand though it hovered just above the screen, “I do not read your language.”
Colin held up his hand, “Let me help you.”
A couple taps and the keyboard was transformed. Silas smiled for the first time as he touched the letters.
“Now hit the green square.” Colin prodded him. “I'm still learning Asgardian. You typed “mother”?”
Silas nodded. Colin handed him the tablet, standing as he offered him the chair, “Let me show you how to navigate the pages.”
Silas held the tablet in his lap as Colin swiped his finger across the screen to a new page. When he turned to Silas, the guardsman was staring at him.
“I am fearful of what I might learn but also am I hopeful, excited. I will repay this kindness you have done for my family.”
Colin tapped the screen again, “If you teach Edie to speak, 'tis all the payment I'll need.”