Free Power Play: Act 1 Svartalfheim (Ragnarok on Ice) by Jeremy Croston Page A

dear.  The Allfather gave me a task, but that did not mean I could not improvise and improve upon it.”
    “Will you not share your improvements with me?”
    Ahh, that look, it was so hard to resist!  “I will tell you what I can, but all will be revealed in time.  As you know, the Allfather wanted me to bring Thor home.  Well, another was needed in Asgard and with luck on my side, I was able to bring him over and make it look like an accident!”
    She sighed and closed her eyes.  “If Odin finds out…”
    “But he will not!  The one who was brought over should already be headed far from Asgard.  His destiny was here anyway, I just made sure they found each other.”  I loved it when a plan came together.
    “Husband, you are not messing with fate again are you?”
    I loved my wife dearly but she worried too much.  Maybe it was because she was married to me after all, I did not know.  “Messing with, of course not!  I am just getting the pieces into position.”  It was my turn to get serious.  “The Norns have spoken and certain events cannot be stopped.  Unless we prepare ahead and are diligent, Ragnarok will start and we will all perish.”
    I did not mean to scare her, but her facial expression told me I had.  “So it is to pass then?”
    “I did not say that.  The twilight of the realms is upon us.  It is now up to us to make sure we see another day.”

Part Two: Power Play

Chapter 20 - Practice
     
    Welcome to Manchester, Pennsylvania, my home.  Even though the town only has two bars, three stop lights, and most of the locals have lived here since the day they were born, it’s a decent place to live.  The real calling card is it’s a great place to play hockey.  The local team, the Bears, had been here for years and on game nights everyone flocks to the arena.  Not even a blizzard with a dash of ice for fun could keep our loyal following from coming out to the game last night.  We beat the Admirals in overtime three to two.
    It was a mixed bag of emotions for me.  I scored our second goal of the game late in the third period which is always gratifying.  The goal, however, made me the all-time leading goal scorer in the Eastern Hockey League which meant I had been in the minor’s way too long.  Oh by the way let me introduce myself: my name is Jack Skelton, minor league hockey player extraordinaire and captain of the Bears.  I’ve been here for three years and before that I played nine years with the Huskies.  A few times I was close to getting called up at the start of my career, but as the years have gone by most pro teams wanted younger guys on the roster.  They don’t want someone like me who at this point is the old dog that can’t learn any new tricks.
    I love hockey, probably too much, and that’s why I keep playing.  Right before the Huskies traded me off, I got called into the general manager’s office with an offer of a different sort.  He wanted me to retire from the game and start coaching.  The head coach at the time was even prepared to make me his lead assistant.  Within a few years I could be a head coach somewhere, even make it to the pro’s.  I told them I was honored they thought so highly of me, but I still had a few more years left in me and I wasn’t about to give up the ultimate goal yet.  I figured they would support that and when the time came closer we could revisit this idea.
    A day later, I got the call that I was being traded to the Bears.  The Huskies were happy with my years of loyal service, but they needed a fresh start with some new faces.  When I told my wife what had happened, I once again was shocked by the response.  Instead of supporting my decision to continue on, she ridiculed me for thinking only of myself and that she couldn’t take it anymore.  She left that night and not too much longer later we were divorced.  She didn’t even ask me for anything, not even alimony.  Her lawyer told mine that she felt as if I had no