Chapter 10

Why, Ephus thought, was Thor acting like a child? He was sure that Thor was happy to be dealing out some revenge, but really.

For the fifth or sixth time, Thor asked if Ephus really thought that Loki would be this stupid.

It will Thor, as mad as he is. I’m surprised he didn’t attack himself, returned Ephus’ thoughts.

I was, ... well I was wrong, here they come now. Thor thought as he took out one last ice giant. A broad smile on his face, he took off at half speed.

That’s good, Thor, just lead them here. Ephus thought, then turned to everyone there. “Alright, he’s on his way back, places, I just hope I can get more than three. The more I get, the weaker he’ll be. He’s already lost quite a bit when he lost the dark elves and stone giants.”

All seven of the Valkyries, Odin, Frigg and Freya went to their positions they’d been in before.

Thor flew to the edge of Ephus’ shield, stopping, allowing the Valkyries to almost reach him. A moment later, Thor vanished, confusing all the female warriors.

Thor appeared within, smiled and nodded to Ephus. Ephus returned the nod, then concentrated. For a moment nothing happened, then there were four flashes. First a red-headed female, then two blonde females, lastly a raven-haired female appeared.

Ephus nodded as he looked at each of the four females. Only confused a moment, they turned their angered attention on Ephus. It was at that moment that Göndul stepped out.

“So, you are serving the false leader. Odin is free, so there is hope,” Göndul said.

The red head snarled, “it is you who serve a false leader, I...,” the red head started. She then could only stare as both the blonde females dropped their spears, staring at Ephus. “What is wrong with both of you? Geirdriful, Geirönul, retrieve your weapons. We four can end this threat too...” she stopped again as the raven-haired not only dropped her weapon but was moving as if drawn to Ephus.

“It appears that you are the only one who is against me here. Why not give up, nothing will happen to you,” Ephus said.

“Bah! I am more than enough to end your existence human,” The red head said.

“You are wrong, Geiravör,” Göndul said as she deflected Geiravör’s spear.

“So, you are a coward, as the great lord Loki said. I will...” Geiravör said as Ephus motioned Göndul back, drawing his sword.

An almost evil smile crossed the red-headed Valkyrie lips when she saw Ephus step forward. “It is hoped that this mere human defeating you, does not damage you.”

“It is you that should worry about defeat,” Geiravör said.

Ephus only smiled as he started almost timidly. Within a mere minute, the Valkyrie was hard pressed to keep from being hit by Ephus’ sword. Moments later, the Valkyrie’s spear went flying across the room, Ephus’s sword at her throat.

Ephus stared deep into her eyes, a small whimper escaped her throat, then she started to tremble. “I accept my defeat, end me that I do no further damage to the name Valkyrie.”

Ephus shook his head, Geiravör had suddenly gone almost limp as her eyes finally cleared. “L ... Lord Ephus? I offer my life to you I have shamed...”

“You have not shamed us, sister Geiravör,” the raven-haired Geirskögul said.

“Sister, I was defeated in armed combat, by the code I must...” Geiravör started.

“No sister, the code is for when we are in combat with an enemy. Lord Ephus is no enemy of us or Asgard,” the raven-haired Geirskögul said.

Odin walked out a moment later with the other seven Valkyries. “It is good to have as many of them back,” Odin said. “Lord Ephus? I hope that this plan of yours works. I have to admit that Loki’s power has indeed fallen greatly. I just hope that it is enough to defeat him.”

“Oh, believe me, I have seen his type before. The more power he loses, the more desperate he will become. Next thing we need to do is to take a few of the items of power I can feel he is holding on to tightly. Well, that and keep whittling away at all the numerous allies he has,” Ephus said.

“Yes, that I can believe, but what of these Titans that you mentioned? Those from Zeus’s realm?” Odin asked.

Ephus thought a moment then nodded to Odin, “Though they at present have no physical body, they still have a great deal of power. When I last faced them, I was slightly below their levels, now? I’d say I am barely past them. You also have to remember that there are about forty-two of them. Though, I believe only about eighteen or twenty are actually bad.”

Odin’s eyes went wide a moment, “I hope that you have some kind of plan to combat them. Loki and the fire and ice giants are a force to be dealt with. Though, now you say that there are enemies that are stronger? Plus, there are more of them than us at the moment with the power to destroy all of us.”

“Oh, I have a plan, though at the moment, we have to wait for several pieces to move into place,” Ephus said as he looked at the twelve Valkyries,” a few have already gotten there.”

Odin started to grow angry, then, remembered what Ephus had already done in the short time he’d been there. He shuddered as he remembered the words of both Frigg and Freya. They were a force he didn’t really want to go against if they were angry and united.

Ephus watched as Odin shuddered. Hmm, he thought, wonder what that is about. “Is there a problem, Odin?” Ephus asked.

Odin turned to stare at Ephus for a moment, then slowly nodded. “I have only one wife, as I understand, you have more than four.” Here Odin shocked all there as he bowed to Ephus, “You are indeed powerful, to handle all of them.”

Ephus lifted Odin from the floor, “first I do not handle them as you say, they are more partners to me than anything else. I have learned the error of my ways trying to keep things from them.” Here Ephus shuddered much like Odin had. “I have also found that if they know? Things go much easier, less painful later on.”

Here Ephus looked at Freya and Frigg, who had very large grins on their faces. “Apparently we have an extremely intelligent male with us,” Frigg said.

Odin looked at his wife Frigg, then Freya. Finally, he nodded his head. “Yes, I agree with you my Frigg, the halvgud Ephus, is indeed wiser than I had at first thought.”

Thor walked up a moment later, slapping Ephus on the back. Thor looked at his hand as it slightly throbbed, a broad smile creeping on his face. “Ah! It is good we have as strong an ally as the Warrior Ephus!”

Ephus could only roll his eyes, warrior? No, he just had the power to survive was all. Though, he could still feel where Thor had smacked him. He was going to have to strengthen more. These Asgarian gods were far stronger than he thought they were.

The simple fact that he could draw in more than three of the Valkyries, showed that his power was actually growing. True, he had smacked Loki around, plus it was a little easier each time, it was still harder than it should be.

“So, warrior brother, what next? Lure more of the Valkyries to us and our side?” Thor asked, a smile on his face.

“No, not like we have, even as stupid and angry as Loki has been, I am sure he has caught on,” Ephus said as he thought over what had happened so far. Then again, Ephus thought, Loki was just as quick to anger as he had been the first time he had angered Loki. Could he be that stupid?

The fifteen beings watched Ephus when he went quiet, then they were worried when he suddenly got an almost evil smile. Then with the smile, they saw him start to nod his head. “Alright Thor, one more time, though we’re going to do it a little differently this time,” Ephus said.

They all listened with rapt interest, even as Thor began to smile hugely, his eyes shining in delight. “A most devious plan warrior, Ephus,” Thor said as he slapped Ephus on the shoulder.

Ephus rolled his eyes again. Thor most definitely liking the idea far more than he should. Odin and Frigg caught Ephus’ eyes roll as both of them smiled. “Do not worry Ephus, he is far tougher than he appears. The fact that he likes the idea, speaks volumes about you,” Frigg said.

Ephus nodded, “I am glad, though I am afraid that he will take risks that he doesn’t need to.”

Thor turned toward Ephus, “I am elated that you are worried over me, Brother. I will not fail you. I will be far more alert this time.”

“Good, though I believe I can anger him one more time. I feel that Loki will try to capture you this time. If I can take more of the Valkyries, I feel we can remove a good bit more of his power. Hopefully enough to actually weaken him,” Ephus said.

“Perhaps I could...” Thor started.

“No, you are powerful, though against the Titans? I am afraid you don’t have enough; I can barely take three of them and that is through trickery,” Ephus said. “For now, let’s weaken him, then we’ll attack another way.”

All of them there, nodded in agreement. As of yet, Ephus hadn’t been wrong.

Ephus looked at all of them, then nodded to Thor as he and Thor vanished.

Inside the Asgard fortress, Loki was pacing in extreme anger. This godling, Ephus, was becoming more than an irritation. Twice now he’d been embarrassed by him. Just the thought caused Loki to erupt into another fit of anger. How dare a mere godling make him look weak and stupid? He should...

“Do what? You little pissant of a god? Having to have the power of others in order to take over. Plus, the fact that Odin is not only free, he now has Gungnir in his possession,” Ephus said as he sneered at Loki.

“You lie! I have not felt its power here. To bad you are not actually here, then I could show you true power!” Loki spit.