Sigurd pulled his fur cloak tight around him to combat the chilling wind that blew in through the open windows.
He stood in the mighty Halls of Hlidskialf, an old stone fortress at the peak of small mountain. It was an old fort, dating back from the days of the Viking raiders, but it had been renovated and kept alive by the Church of Thor throughout the years.
The Thorites saw this as a holy place. A locale rich in the power that was once Asgard, the home of their gods and their savior, Thor. The cells of the Church rarely came into contact with each other, preferring more to stay in single groups not knowing where the others are. That way if one was captured, the other congregations would be safe.
Hlidskialf, though, was a place were the heads of the respective divisions of the Church would come together and meet on matters of great importance. And no gathering held more urgency than the one called today.
"I still don't see how you could think I'm Thor", Sigurd shook his head as he sat on a stone bench that ran along the side wall of the great hall.
"Of course you have your doubts", Fandral replied as he watched the halls lone entrance.
"All great heroes do at first. But your visions tell a different story."
"Dreams, that is all they are. Strange as they may be, they hold little significance."
"That may be", Fandral nodded,
"but it may be otherwise. We will soon find out, in any case."
"Come", Fandral bade Sigurd to follow him as a horn sounded out into the cold night air.
"They are arriving."
The doors of the mighty hall opened up, and in strode a lithe blond woman accompanied by a small group of well-armed warrior women.
"Brunhilde, my sweet", Fandral smiled devilishly to the beauty as he walked towards them.
"Such a pleasure to lay eyes on true beauty once again."
"Save it, Fandral", Brunhilde barked.
"Is this him", she asked as she eyed Sigurd.
"Doesn't look like much."
Sigurd opened his mouth to protest, but Fandral quickly interceded.
"You of all people should know looks can be deceiving. Be that as it may, we will soon find out."
The horn rang out again as an armored man strode inside the hall, followed by a group of soldiers in full body armor and carrying plasma cannons.
"Hail, Balder", Fandral called out as the warrior moved to join them.
"Looking as bright as ever."
"How are you, my friend", Balder smiled to Fandral.
"I am well", Fandral replied.
"And, if it as I think it is, this will be the dawning of a new day for us."
"We will see about that", Balder said as he eyed Sigurd, trying to get a read on the man.
The horn sounded again, signaling the arrival of a raven-haired warrior woman and her entourage of light-armored soldiers adorned head to toe with tattoos.
As soon as Sigurd saw her, he could not take his eyes off of her. She carried herself with discipline and grace. She had the presence of a battle-hardened soldier about her, but her feminine beauty was not lost on Sigurd.
"My Lady Sif", Fandral bowed low.
"You honor us with your presence tonight."
"Save the pleasantries, Fandral", Sif spoke,
"let's get on with this. We'll see if this man is as you claim him to be."
"He certainly looks the part", she stated as her eyes wandered up Sigurd's body.
"But we'll see if he's truly the second coming as you say he is."
"Do not worry, my Lady", Fandral winked,
"I think you will be pleasantly surprised."
"Who are we waiting for?"
"Who else", Brunhilde sighed.
And, as if on cue, an explosion of mystical energy erupted in the room's center. Surprised warriors stepped away from the swirling vortex of magic as it began to dissipate, leaving the form of a voluptuous woman standing in it's place.
"Hello, Amora. Such a pleasure to see you again", Sif said through clenched teeth as the witch joined the group of Church heads.
"Lady Sif, I am pleased you decided to come down off your lofty perch and grace us with your presence today", Amora said flatly, venom dripping from each word.
The animosity between the two was palpable for all, so Fandral quickly interceded before anything more could be said.
"Now that we are all here, let's have a seat and get down to the business at hand."
"Ah yes", Amora smiled seductively as she looked on Sigurd.
"The second coming of Lord Thor. I must say, he is definitely a prize specimen."
"I do hope he's right about you", she whispered in Sigurd's ear as she gently ran her fingers across his chest.
"Enough games", Sif frowned,
"let's just get on with it. I have important matters to attend to up North."
"Right", Fandral said as he led the group to the large stone table in the room's center. The heads of the Church all took their seats around the table, along with Sigurd, as their entourages silently took their places along the outskirts of the large hall.
"Sigurd, I think it is best if you begin by recounting to them your visions..."
