a shadow over the land

Things were moving in a darker direction than even Skoll had intended for them to go. The mention of Hati, the Betrayer, creased his face in a snarl he was quick to suppress. "I never wanted to lead," he said repeated, his voice quieter, calmer, than before, "but I will see this family get the honor and the glory, and the empire they deserve, even if I have to do it all myself rather than leave it in the hands of someone who would waste what they were given." His mind turned disdainfully to Eyfura, to Nott. Though Eyfura was a daughter of Hroovitnir, she was not of the stronger bloodline. Weaker, never meant to lead on a grand scale. And Nott... well, there were so many things wrong with that idea.

His brother continued to dwell on his loss to their uncles, and Skoll resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Barely. Well, maybe he did roll his eyes. Just a little. And maybe sigh in a rather put-upon manner. "Of course you lost. Vili and Ve had been fighting their whole lives beside Hroovitnir. You would have been outmatched even if they had fought fair. And you know they don't fight fair. I don't even know what you were thinking." He fixed his brother with a pitying look. "You're lucky Thor was there to save you. And then you got Thor banished too. No, Baldur, we needed you there to take take care of us. To lead as our brother, not to pick fights with your uncles over something stupid."

Baldur's snapped insult earned him a full-on eye roll, but the next words drew Skoll up short in surprise. "What, really? Just like that, you'd go back to get Hodr with me?" And Baldur got him considering, too, the merits of just... not dealing with Vili and Ve at all. Let them have their own little mini-empire while the Hroovitnissons take those who were willing to leave and come down here. Make their own pack - or packs! Who said they all had to be ruled by one wolf? The gears were turning in Skoll's mind now. "Hey, yeah, I would do that. Get Hodr and come back here, sounds like a plan. Just us or did you want to find your buddy Thor? I'm sure Hodr would be ecstatic to see the two of you together again." His mind was only half on his words as plans and plots raced through his thoughts.



"Speech"

My declaration embedded deep under my skin

A permanent reminder of how it began

No hesitation when I am commanded to strike

You need to know that you're in for the fight of your life