The northern road remained quiet.
Too quiet.
Aurethar stood on the western wall, his enormous wings partially spread as he watched the darkness beyond Concordia.
Thor stood on the balcony below him.
Shadow, the black-and-white ninja cat, was perched comfortably on Thor's shoulder, her tail curled around the back of Thor's neck.
Lexander stood beside Io.
Loki leaned against one of the stone pillars.
Atreyu and Mara had arrived moments earlier, both armed.
Nobody spoke.
Then Aurethar's voice rolled across the courtyard.
"Someone approaches."
Thor narrowed her eyes.
"How many?"
"One."
"Alone?"
"Yes."
Loki looked toward the road.
"That's unusual."
Atreyu drew his sword.
"Could be a scout."
"Could be."
Mara moved beside him.
"Could be a trap."
Loki nodded.
"Also possible."
Lexander looked at Io.
"Stay here."
Io gave him an annoyed look.
"I'm pregnant, not helpless."
"I know."
"Then stop saying it."
Lexander smiled.
"Fair."
Thor stepped between them.
"I'll stay with her."
Io sighed.
"Of course you will."
Shadow gave a quiet meow.
Thor nodded.
"Shadow agrees."
Io looked at the cat.
"She always agrees with you."
Thor looked down.
"She has excellent judgment."
Shadow blinked.
The figure finally appeared.
A lone rider emerged from the darkness.
He wasn't wearing armor.
He wasn't carrying a banner.
He wasn't accompanied by soldiers.
He simply rode toward the city.
Aurethar lowered his head.
"Human."
Loki stared.
"Something about him is familiar.
Aurethar nodded.
"He feels powerful."
The rider stopped at the northern gate.
A guard shouted down.
"State your name and business."
The stranger looked up.
"My name is Baldr."
Loki froze.
Thor froze.
Mara's eyes widened.
Even Aurethar became completely still.
Atreyu looked at Loki.
"Did he just say—"
"Yes."
Loki pushed away from the pillar.
"Open the gate."
Atreyu grabbed his arm.
"Are you sure?"
Loki looked at him.
"Very."
"Why?"
Loki smiled.
"Because I know that name."
The gates opened.
The stranger rode through.
He was young.
Perhaps in his early twenties.
His hair was pale blond, almost golden under the moonlight.
His eyes were blue.
His clothing was simple, though there was something unmistakably regal about the way he carried himself.
He dismounted.
Then he looked up.
His eyes immediately found Loki.
He smiled.
“Brother."
Loki stared at him.
"Baldr the brave, my brother."
The two stood silently.
Then Baldr laughed.
"I knew it."
Loki walked toward him.
"You actually came."
"I heard you were here."
"And Thor?"
Baldr looked toward the balcony.
Thor stepped into the light.
Her expression had changed completely.
"Baldr."
He smiled.
"Thor."
Thor practically ran down the stairs.
She stopped in front of him.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Thor grabbed him in a hug.
Baldr laughed.
"I've missed you."
"You've been gone for a very long time."
"So have you."
Thor pulled away.
"You look different."
Baldr smiled.
"So do you."
Thor nodded.
"I've had a few lives."
Baldr laughed.
"Apparently."
Then Baldr looked past them.
His eyes settled on Lexander.
Everything changed.
The smile disappeared.
His breathing stopped.
Lexander stared back.
Something deep inside him reacted.
Not a memory.
Something older.
Something instinctive.
Baldr whispered:
"Father."
Lexander froze.
Io looked at him.
Baldr took one step forward.
Then another.
"Father?"
Lexander's throat tightened.
He knew the name.
Not simply from history.
Not from stories.
He knew it from memories that belonged to another life.
Odin.
His son.
Baldr.
Lexander whispered:
"Baldr."
The young man stopped.
Tears immediately filled his eyes.
"You remember."
Lexander nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Baldr's composure shattered.
He crossed the courtyard and embraced Lexander.
Lexander wrapped his arms around him.
For a moment, the king of Concordia wasn't a king.
He wasn't Odin.
He was simply a father who had found his son again.
"I thought you were gone," Lexander whispered.
Baldr laughed through his tears.
"I thought you were."
Io stepped forward.
Baldr looked at her.
His expression broke again.
"Mother."
Io's eyes filled with tears.
"Baldr."
He embraced her carefully.
Io held him tightly.
"I've missed you."
"I've missed you too."
Lexander watched them.
For a moment, the centuries seemed to disappear.
Lisbeth arrived moments later.
She had heard the commotion.
She stepped into the courtyard.
Baldr looked at her.
His face lit up.
"Aunt Freya."
Lisbeth stopped.
She stared.
"Baldr?"
He smiled.
"Hello, Aunt."
Lisbeth immediately embraced him.
"Oh, gods."
Baldr laughed.
"I've missed you."
She pulled back and touched his face.
"You really are him."
"Yes."
Lisbeth shook her head.
"I never thought I'd see you again."
"Neither did I."
Mara approached next.
Baldr looked at her.
His expression became amused.
"Brynhildr."
Mara smiled.
"Baldr."
He bowed slightly.
"Still terrifying."
"Still irritating."
"Good."
Mara laughed.
Then Baldr looked around.
"Odin."
"Frigg."
"Freya."
"Brynhildr."
He turned toward Thor.
"Thor."
Then toward Loki.
"And Loki."
Loki raised an eyebrow.
"You remembered me?"
Baldr smiled.
"Unfortunately."
Everyone laughed.
Loki placed a hand over his heart.
"I'm touched."
Baldr eventually noticed the eye patch.
He looked at Lexander.
"Your eye."
Lexander touched it.
"Yes."
Baldr looked at Loki.
Loki immediately raised his hands.
"Before you say anything—"
"You did it."
Loki nodded.
"I did."
Baldr looked back at Lexander.
"Why?"
Lexander answered.
"To restore my memories."
Baldr nodded slowly.
"Then I suppose I owe you a thank-you."
Loki smiled.
"Finally."
Lexander laughed.
"You've been waiting years for someone to say that."
"Yes."
Thor shook her head.
"He's never going to stop mentioning it."
"Absolutely not."
The reunion continued late into the night.
Baldr met everyone.
He learned about Concordia.
He heard about the alliance.
He learned about Io's pregnancy.
When he discovered that she was carrying twins, he smiled.
"Two?"
Io nodded.
"Two."
"Your children?"
She looked at Lexander.
"Our children."
Baldr's smile became enormous.
"My siblings."
Lexander laughed.
"Apparently."
Baldr placed a hand carefully against Io's stomach.
"May I?"
Io smiled.
"Of course."
Baldr touched her stomach.
For several seconds, nothing happened.
Then one of the twins kicked.
Baldr's eyes widened.
He laughed.
"Hello."
Another kick followed.
He smiled.
"They know me."
Io laughed.
"Apparently."
Baldr looked at Lexander.
"They're going to be strong."
Lexander nodded.
"They will."
Baldr looked toward Aurethar.
"And you must be the guardian."
Aurethar lowered his head.
"I am."
Baldr smiled.
"Good."
Then Aurethar looked at him.
"You are not entirely human."
Baldr raised an eyebrow.
"Neither are you."
Aurethar laughed.
Thor looked at Loki.
"They're going to get along."
Loki nodded.
"Definitely."
The next morning, Baldr joined the Watch.
Atreyu was hesitant at first.
Not because he doubted Baldr.
Because he understood what his arrival meant.
Baldr had spent years traveling.
He had encountered people connected to Surtr.
He had heard rumors.
Seen movements.
Intercepted messages.
And, most importantly, he had learned how Surtr's forces operated.
Atreyu spread a map across the table.
"Tell me everything."
Baldr sat down.
"Surtr isn't building an army in one place."
Atreyu frowned.
"What?"
"He's learned from Ragnarök."
Baldr pointed toward several locations.
"He's building small forces throughout the northern territories."
Mara leaned over the map.
"Why?"
"So destroying one won't destroy the whole."
Loki nodded.
"Distributed forces."
"Exactly."
Baldr pointed again.
"These aren't ordinary soldiers."
Atreyu looked closer.
"What's different?"
"They're collecting magical artifacts."
"How many?"
"Dozens."
"Purpose?"
Baldr looked at Loki.
"To counter the First Flame."
Loki's expression hardened.
"Of course."
Baldr continued.
"Surtr knows he can't simply overpower the First Flame."
"So he's looking for ways to contain it."
Aurethar's eyes narrowed.
"He will fail."
Baldr looked at the dragon.
"Perhaps."
Then he looked back at the map.
"But he's trying."
Baldr revealed more.
Surtr had spies within several noble houses.
Some were willing collaborators.
Others had been threatened.
A few didn't even know they were being manipulated.
Surtr was also gathering information about Concordia.
Its defenses.
Its population.
Its construction.
Its political factions.
And most importantly:
The twins.
Atreyu's expression darkened.
"What does he know about them?"
"Everything he can discover."
"Does he know about the prophecy?"
Baldr nodded.
"Yes."
Mara frowned.
"How?"
"Because one of his oldest followers discovered it."
Loki looked at Atreyu.
"The same person we've been investigating."
Baldr nodded.
"Yes."
Atreyu leaned forward.
"Who is it?"
Baldr shook his head.
"I don't know."
"But I know where that person has been."
"Where?"
Baldr pointed toward the map.
"Here."
His finger landed on a region beyond the northern border.
A place marked with mountains.
Atreyu stared.
"The old fortress."
Baldr nodded.
"Exactly."
Loki's expression became serious.
"That's where Surtr is building his next base."
The Watch immediately began planning.
Atreyu wanted scouts sent.
Mara wanted aerial reconnaissance.
Loki wanted information from local contacts.
Baldr wanted to go himself.
Atreyu hesitated.
"You've just arrived."
"I know."
"You've been traveling for years."
"I know."
"You don't have to prove anything."
Baldr smiled.
"I'm not."
He looked toward Lexander.
"I'm protecting my family."
Lexander nodded.
"Then you're welcome in the Watch."
Baldr smiled.
"Thank you."
Loki leaned over.
"One condition."
Baldr looked at him.
"What?"
"You don't start calling me adopted brother."
Baldr laughed.
"I wasn't going to."
"Good."
"But you were adopted."
Loki groaned.
Thor burst out laughing.
Mara shook her head.
Atreyu smiled.
Even Lexander laughed.
Later that afternoon, Baldr walked through Concordia with Lexander.
The city was nearly complete.
Construction workers were finishing the last buildings.
Children ran through the streets.
Merchants filled the markets.
The great central plaza was beginning to resemble the vision Lexander and Io had once imagined.
Baldr looked around.
"You built all this?"
Lexander nodded.
"With a lot of help."
Baldr smiled.
"It's beautiful."
Lexander looked at him.
"You should stay."
Baldr stopped.
"I intend to."
Lexander smiled.
"Good."
Baldr looked toward the palace.
"Mother looks happy."
"She is."
"And Lisbeth?"
"Still terrifying."
Baldr laughed.
"Good."
"What about Thor?"
"Still Thor."
"And Loki?"
"Still Loki."
Baldr smiled.
"Then perhaps the world isn't as different as I thought."
Lexander looked at him.
"It is."
Baldr nodded.
"But some things survived."
"Yes."
They continued walking.
That evening, Baldr stood atop the western wall with Aurethar.
The dragon looked toward him.
"You have changed."
Baldr smiled.
"Everyone says that."
"You are not the Baldr I knew."
"No."
"Are you still him?"
Baldr looked across Concordia.
"I think so."
Aurethar nodded.
"Then perhaps reincarnation is not the loss of a life."
"What is it?"
"A continuation."
Baldr considered that.
"I like that."
Aurethar looked toward the palace.
"The children will need you."
Baldr smiled.
"I know."
Then he looked toward the city.
"And I think this city will need all of us."
Below them, Concordia continued to glow beneath the evening sky.
Thor patrolled the streets.
Shadow sat on her shoulder.
Loki and Atreyu studied maps.
Mara organized the Watch.
Lisbeth fussed over Io.
Io rested comfortably while Lexander sat beside her.
Lysandra returned from school with Maggie, Corin, and Elara.
And for the first time in centuries, Baldr had found his family.
He had come to Concordia because he had heard that Loki and Thor were there.
He had expected to find siblings.
Instead, he had found his parents.
His aunt.
His fellow warriors.
And a family he thought had been lost forever.
But the reunion had brought something else.
Information.
Surtr was moving.
His forces were spreading.
His spies were already embedded.
His plans were accelerating.
And now Baldr knew where some of them were.
The Watch had gained an exceptionally formidable warrior as its newest member.
One who knew Surtr's movements.
One who remembered the old world.
One who understood what was coming.
And one who would fight not only for Concordia...
but for his family.
Far to the north, beyond the mountains, a fire burned beneath an ancient fortress.
Surtr stood before a table covered in maps.
A messenger knelt before him.
"My lord."
Surtr looked up.
"What?"
"The reincarnated one has arrived in Concordia."
Surtr's eyes narrowed.
"Which one?"
"Baldr."
Silence.
Then Surtr's fist struck the table.
The maps scattered.
"Baldr."
The name seemed to burn in his mouth.
Another piece had entered the game.
And this time, Surtr knew exactly what it meant.
Odin had returned.
Frigg had returned.
Freya had returned.
Thor had returned.
Loki had returned.
Brynhildr had returned.
And now Baldr had returned.
The old family was gathering again.
And Surtr knew better than anyone what had happened the last time they stood together.
He would not allow history to repeat itself.
Not this time.
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