#a retelling of the Edda's mixed with greek mythology

[marley-warriors]

Chapter 9 - Kings, Judges and Diplomats

Summary: Young Loki and Aletheia receive a grand promotion respectively. Meanwhile, Basim and Hytham go skydiving to liberate the Staff. 

Spoiler free preview: 

With a splitting headache, Basim exited the Animus, shaking off the ache in his muscles. 

No sooner had he sat up before Shaun and Rebecca crowded his space. 

A deep sigh escaped him as he brushed his hand through his hair to tie it back into a bun. 

The memories’ veil still lingered, the ache of approval from Havi…Once you were my brother… I really did love you…Why? Why did you hurt me so much?

He had trusted him with everything… yet the gift of hindsight revealed that Havi only sought a glorified weapon – a dog that would maim and kill on command. 

Basim was left little time to process his reflections as the assassins looked to him with anticipation.

“That was amazing. Full synchronisation without the mythological filters,” Shaun beamed, looking over Rebecca’s shoulder as she checked Basim’s vitals.

With furrowed brows, Basim noted the vehicle to be stationary, all occupants seemingly absorbed with his care. “How long ago did we arrive?”

Becs tried to suppress her grin. “A while ago, but we were too keen to see how you would handle Gullveig’s situation to pull you out.”

Tension lingered in his body as Basim felt the need to punch something. Instead, he softly rolled his shoulders to dissipate the emotional pain festering in his body. Curse you, Havi. Curse you.

Hytham looked up from his copy of the Edda, looking to Basim with a soft sigh. “Would you like to spar?”

Sparring would be nice right about now… Yet Basim was unsure if he could hold back on the sheer fury he currently felt directed at his past. “You know me too well,” Basim teased, freeing himself from the Animus’ contraption to take a seat beside Hytham. He squeezed Hytham’s shoulders softly while peering over the words in his lap.

Hytham chuckled slightly, placing the book beside him. “I know you better than anyone still left breathing…”

“I cannot believe you were a wolf,” Becs grinned, turning to Basim with a sparkle in her eyes.  “And you actually became a woman. For real. Was it weird?”

Basim chuckled, feeling slightly more relaxed at the change of topic. “Being a woman? It had its charms. Perhaps that’s why Nehal…” 

His brows furrowed slightly, deep brown eyes growing softer with a longing for a long past ghost. A shadow of himself – a reflection of who he once was.

Nehal had once seemed like a separate entity, a friend when he needed one most. She had her own form, voice, views, and in Basim’s mind, even a scent—of cinnamon, freshly squeezed lemon, and ginger. She smelled of home, love, and warmth. All the things Aletheia had smelled of.

Her touch felt like soft silks on a warm summer night. Like Aletheia’s. She had been more real than any physical object in this world.

Sometimes, he thought he glimpsed her at the markets or on quiet evening strolls. Then, he coldly remembered that she had never been real outside his imagination.

Because she was me. The greatest and most painful deception I ever pulled… was on myself.

A/N: Much happier with this chapter compared to the last. Hope some of y’all enjoy this too :D