Arn then quietly walked to Ivor's tent.
Arn poked his head in and saw that Ivor was fast asleep.
"Ivor, wake up." whispered Arn.
Ivor woke up that instant.
"What is it Arn?" asked Ivor.
"I have something important to tell you about…" answered Arn.
"Can it wait till morning?"
"No, it's about those four young men."
"What about them?"
Arn then told Ivor everything.
"So it would seem those Monkees are not from Odin at all." Ivor said after Arn was done talking.
"They must have been sent from Loki the trickster God to foil our quest."
"What are your orders?" Arn asked, "Shall I have them killed?"
"No." Ivor said, shaking his head, "They did help us through the Maelstrom, so they have been useful to us..." Ivor thought for a few moments, then reached a decision.
"Pretend nothing has changed." The Viking chief said, "Treat them as we have before. Perhaps they can still help us when we reach Beli's cave...we'll send them in first as bait." Ivor gave Arn a wicked smile.
Arn smiled back and then left Ivor's tent.
--------------
The next morning as everyone made ready to leave, Ivor came over to the Monkees.
"Did you four sleep well?" He asked.
"Yes...yes we did." Mike replied.
Actually, the guys didn't get much sleep as they were too worried about meeting the giant.
"Good!" Ivor replied, slapping Mike on the back, "You'll need your strength as we climb up to Beli's cave!"
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Peter asked, "I mean, you said Beli is big and strong."
"Of course I'm sure!" Ivor replied, "A Norseman never backs down from a challenge!" He looked over at Arn. "Are we ready?" He called.
"Yes Ivor!" Arn called back.
"Then let's be off!" Ivor cried, then pulled out his sword. "For fame and glory!"
"For fame and glory!" Arn and the other Vikings cried, drawing their swords as well.
As the Vikings made to move out, Ivor noticed the Monkees hanging back.
"Come along, it is time to go." He said.
"Um, we've done our job, Ivor." Davy said, "We've helped you get to the mountain."
"Yeah, the rest is up to you guys." Peter smiled, hoping the Vikings would let them go.
"Nonsense!" Ivor cried, giving the Monkees a big smile, "You four deserve a share in our fame and glory too!"
"Not really, it's your show." Micky told him.
"Give these men some weapons." Ivor told his men, ignoring Micky's comment. A few Vikings came over and gave the Monkees a sword apiece.
"There now." Ivor said, still smiling, "You will stay up in front with me and together we will face the giant!"
Ivor and Arn ushered the Monkees to the front of the line and then everyone began their ascent to Beli's cave. After several hours, they reached their destination.
Ivor and Arn were about to enter the cave, when they saw the Monkees walking backwards and away from the cave.
"Where do you guys think you're going?" asked Arn.
"Well, we'd love to join you in the search for the giant but we have to be going," said Mike.
"Yes we have to do something important and you know when you have something important to do you can't postpone it you know," said Davy.
"What is this important thing?" asked Ivor.
"We can't say it's a secret," Peter replied.
"Can you tell us what it is?"
"We can't because it won't be a secret anymore," said Micky.
Ivor and Arn looked at each other, then back at the Monkees.
"I think I know your secret." Ivor said, stepping toward the guys, who continued to back away.
"You do?" Peter gulped.
"You four haven't been sent by Odin, have you?" Ivor asked, "I think you four were sent by Loki, the trickster God to fool me."
"Oh no...no." The Monkees tried to laugh it off, then stopped when they felt the business end of a sword poke their backs. The guys looked behind them to see several Vikings glaring in anger.
"I heard the four of you talking last night in your tent." Arn said.
"That wasn't nice of you." Micky said, then winced when a sword poked his back.
"Who are you four, really?" Arn demanded.
"We're four musicians called the Monkees. We got these clothes in a costume shop and Peter twisted the horn on his helmet and suddenly here we are." Davy said quickly.
"Humph." Ivor sniffed, "I was wondering about those silly horns you have on your helmets. Still, this all sounds like something Loki would do."
"We don't know any Loki fella, honest!" Mike said.
"It doesn't matter now." Ivor growled, "You four are still going to help me kill Beli."
"How?" Peter asked.
"You four are going to go into that cave and lure him out for me." Ivor said, "If he doesn't kill you first, that is."
"But...but its dark in there!" Micky exclaimed.
One of the Vikings thrust a lit torch into his hand.
"Now, you'll be able to see your way." Ivor said, "Now be off, and don't try to look for another way out, because this is the only way out of the cave!"
The Vikings forced the Monkees into the cave at sword point and then settled down to wait for them to return.
Chapter 5
Chapter 7
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