Chapter 12: Forgotten

Rebecka stood just inside the doors to the Temple, her mouth slightly open, as she stared in awe at the interior. The building held a large circular green space with an ancient ash tree at the center surrounded by carved wooden statues of gods facing outwards. The walls of the Temple housed still more figures. Each statue had a tiered circular table around it to provide space for offerings. Candles, incense, food, trinkets, toys, and countless other items people had left behind filled the altars for each statue. She recognized some of the gods, but not all. For instance, Odin stood in the space facing the open front doors, a bearded figure in armor holding a spear with one eye obscured by thick hair, the other looking out unblinking. He looked vaguely like the old man she had met at Havamal's but stronger and younger. Rebecka was beginning to think 'Lance' had been the god all along. Behind the statue of Odin, the evening sunlight shown off the bright green leaves and curved branches of the large tree that reached high through a well maintained hole in the roof.

"My gods, it's beautiful," she finally breathed.

Locals, both families and individuals, quietly prayed before their chosen gods. Refugees like Rebecka wandered around taking it all in, careful not to cause any trouble. There weren't any knights within the Temple, but there were a number of people wearing bright colored robes and simple headdresses made of bone and antler here and there. Each had an ornate sheathed knife with a short straight blade in hanging from their belt.

"Can I help you?" A woman to Rebecka's left asked.

She turned to see a priestess, wearing a thick white robe with gold and black embroidered trim. She was tall, and physically intimidating in a way that reminded Rebecka of Sigyn the dragon, but this woman was human, her light skin free of scales and her ears round, unlike the elves she had seen so far in the castle. The woman's wild red hair made her crown-like headdress of short black deer antlers stand out all the more. The horns were another thing that reminded Rebecka of the dragon woman. Silver beaded fringe hung in front of the Priestess's eyes, stopping just at her nose.

"I came to pray," Rebecka said firmly.

"Then you came to the correct place," the Priestess said with a smile. She bowed her head slightly. "Even if you've come to pray to a god that is new to us here in Gullborg or new to Utgard. We welcome all in this hallowed hall."

She felt the wooden idol in her pants pocket. "Actually, would you be up for discussing the gods in general? I've heard the ones of Utgard are similar to ones I worship but..."

The Priestess raised an eyebrow then gave a deeper bow of her head, the beads of her headdress falling forward enough for Rebecka to clearly make out golden eyes the same color as those of the dragon.

"I see. So, you're the Blade Wielder. I was told you may come to the Temple. It is an honor to host you. Come. I shall escort you and will do my best to answer any questions you may have."

Rebecka bowed in reply. "That would be wonderful. Thank you."

They walked together through the Temple, around the tree. It was almost exactly like she had always imagined Yggdrasil to look. Beautiful, ancient, full of life and secrets. A few small birds flew in to settle into their nests in the higher branches as the sunlight continued to fade.

Rebecka noted the statue of Thor next to Odin looked more traditionally masculine, due to a full beard, than Thor did in the memory Aettartangi had shared with her the night before. Given that King Nygard had said Thor was helping with refugees on the mainland, she wondered if the statue was based on how the god looked at present. It had been a thousand years. That would be a long time to be on T, if that was an option for the gods. There were, unsurprisingly, more cups of beer and mead around Thor's statue than any other in the building, giving the area around it the distinct scent of alcohol.

A few giggling children scampered by, three of which wore tunics and one with a t-shirt and khaki shorts. Only one of them was an elf while another had cat ears almost too big for his head. The third kid wearing medieval clothing was human, like the child in the t-shirt. As she followed the Priestess, Rebecka caught sight of a woman intently watching the kids. She assumed her to be the mother of the one in the t-shirt and shorts. The woman nervously held onto a cross necklace while pursing her lips as her boy tossed a small ball to the elf girl who caught it and gently tossed it back.

"Do you understand any of the new people who've arrived here, other than me?" Rebecka asked.

The Priestess thought a moment. "There are more ways to communicated than through language, but I and the other Keepers of the Faith know a minor translation spell. We have cast it on some of the knights to assist with the refugees. It hasn't been perfect, given the disruption to magic, and some words being entirely new to this world. I do not know what a 'sail pone' is, for instance and I'm also not sure who Gee-zeus is, but we have welcomed his worshipers as best we can. There is a dedicated section of the Temple for new gods, you're welcome to use it as well as I understand you know of a lost god. Is that what you wished to speak about?"

Rebecka fished the statue of Loki from her pocket and handed it to the Priestess who carefully looked it over.

"That's my idol of Loki, the mischief maker. God of nets, knots, hearth flame, roaring wind, and transformation. Mother of Sleipnir. Father of Hel, Fenris, Jormungandr, Vali, and Narfi. Blood brother of Odin. I saw this god in person yesterday but no one here knows who they are," Rebecka explained.

"Did you say 'Mother of Sleipnir?'" The priestess asked.

"I did."

The Priestess gently rubbed her thumb across the statue's face. Rebecka wished she had shelled out the money for fancier idols instead of the set that was little more than carved wooden cylinders. But, then again, this stylized Loki with the big eyes and curly mustache reminded her of the Snaptun hearth stone, which she thought was cute. It and the ones of Odin and Freyja were small enough for her to grab before the fire destroyed Havamal's. In the end she was fortunate to have bought the simple ones.

"These markings around the mouth?"

"They're stitches. Loki's mouth was sewn shut by the dwarves who made Daupnir and Mjolnir, because he had tricked them into making such powerful weapons for the gods and wouldn't let them cut off his head," Rebecka explained. She was sure she was leaving out important details. It was hard to condense the entirety of what happened in the story, what with Loki initially cutting Sif's hair off and angering the rest of the gods then pissing off all the dwarves.

"So, this god could not eat?"

"I figured he removed the stitches later since Odin's known for not accepting an offering of mead unless Loki was also given one."

The Priestess raised her eyebrow again but didn't say anything.

"When you give an offering to Odin, do you give a second one to anyone? Because where I'm from Odin's said not to drink unless Loki is also given a cup," Rebecka said. She didn't know why she felt so desperate. It just...made her feel so sick to think that not only was Loki not known in this world, but it seemed the gods themselves had tried to erase him from history entirely.

"We do give a second offering, but many assumed it was because Odin is insatiable. Where has this god, Loki, been all this time?"

"Loki was...locked up. He was bound with his son Narfi's entrails, and a venomous snake set above him to torment him until Ragnarok. His wife Sigyn was supposed to have done what she could to help spare him from the worst of the venom," Rebecka explained.

The Priestess raised her eyebrow again, but this time only to the name 'Sigyn.' Then she asked, "Why was this done to him?"

"Because he tricked Odin's son Hodur into killing his brother Baldr with mistletoe," Rebecka said.

Yeah, okay. None of these are very pro-Loki stories, she thought to herself.

This is fascinating. Why would you worship such a god? He sounds like an asshole, Aettartangi asked.

Is that the 'technical term?' Rebecka shot back.

"I see. Our stories say Baldr's death was an unfortunate accident that occurred when the gods made a game of throwing things at him because he was impervious to injury. And Sleipnir's mother is said to have been a mare that happened by long enough to distract the giant stallion Svadilfari. As far as I knew she never had a name."

"So, Loki really was erased from your religion?"

"You do not know for certain if this god could eat the offerings they were given, correct?" The Priestess asked, still inspecting the wooden statue's mouth.

Rebecka froze.

Had Odin resewn Loki's mouth shut before locking him up?

The lime.

What about the lime? Aettartangi asked.

That may have been the first thing Loki got to eat in a thousand years, Aettartangi, she replied.

"I don't know," Rebecka said.

As far as she knew Loki only had to be offered things at the same time as Odin. There was no guarantee the god would get to eat or drink, and how could he if Odin had stitched his mouth shut again.

"I see. It certainly sounds as though this god is strong. Like all of us, even the gods have to eat. I know that for a fact. I have met Thor myself and he enjoys a feast," the Priestess said. She handed Rebecka the statue. "You are welcome to worship Loki here, and, if they are truly connected to Odin in such a way as you described feel free to do so near his altar so you can make your offerings appropriately."

"Thank you," Rebecka said. "I'd like to look around some more first, if that's okay."

"It is. If you need anything, please ask for me. My name is Sigyn," the Priestess said.

"Sigyn?"

"Yes." She gestured to the statue in Rebecka's hand. "Though, I admit I had not heard the story of Loki and his wife, Sigyn. I do wonder if my name was born from it a thousand years ago. Perhaps the other me would know."

"Other you?"

Sigyn smiled pleasantly. "The Sigyn you spoke with outside the Temple. It would seem she and I are the same, albeit from different worlds. She was most upset to find me."

"Holy shit."

"Is that something associated with Loki?"

Rebecka shook her head. "No, it's just a general expression. I'm sorry. Thank you so much for answering my questions and allowing me to worship here. My name is Rebecka, by the way, but I plan to leave tomorrow."

Sigyn bowed her head. "You are welcome, Blade Wielder Rebecka."

After parting ways with Priestess Sigyn, Rebecka found the corner for strangers to worship. It held a multi-level wooden altar filled with candles, crosses, statues of Buddha, Vishnu, and a number of other gods and artifacts she recognized from her world. A few people lingered near it praying silently. She tried not to stare, doing a quick circuit of the Temple, instead. A statue of Freyja in armor, flanked by her two cats, stood to the left of Odin's altar. Rebecka stopped and pulled a shotgun shell out of her pocket.

"Hail Freyja, goddess of war, I pray for your protection and guidance on my journey and offer you this weapon," Rebecka said softly as she placed the shell on the higher tier of the altar. She hoped it would be far enough away from any candles to prevent it from becoming a problem.

She continued on to the statue of Odin near the front doors. The glowing crystal lights in the Temple lit everything well. She was surprised Aettartangi wasn't pitching a fit about all the magic.

The lights are powered by electricity, Aettartangi said.

Makes sense if the giant knights are wearing robot suits. Why aren't you mad about the magic the Priestess mentioned? Rebecka asked.

It was cast on each priest and priestess. The magic involved is minimal. I am able to filter it out of my scans.

Rebecka let out a little huff of a sigh, then removed her statue of Loki from her pocket, and a couple sticks of cinnamon flavored chewing gum. She found a space on the altar to set the statue of Loki, but didn't put anything down yet. Instead, she looked up at the statue of Odin. If the Lance, the old man at the bar, had been him...he had requested food and drink for two and kept claiming it was for his friend was arriving soon. Which meant he still considered Loki a friend.

Right?

Was the Odin I met even the same one from this world? Or a double like the dragon woman Sigyn is to this Priestess? Rebecka wondered.

Not enough data, Aettartangi said.

"I hope you enjoyed the sandwiches," Rebecka said as she set the piece of gum on the altar. Then she put the statue of Loki on the clear spot with its own piece of gum. "Hail Loki, god of change, father of death, weaver of constructive deceit. May you find your place in this world and stay strong. Thank you for offering your aid yesterday. You will never be forgotten for as long as I live."