You Made Me Believe in Magic

Is magic real? Yes. 
Well, prove it.
Laeviss can only say with a great deal of certainty in this regard that the magic he performs is not only real, but he has seen the proof of its working.
When he was about seven years old, Laeviss had a dream. In this dream, Laeviss met a man with a top hat (referred to as the Doctor, though Laeviss is quite sure he was *not* a Time Lord) who explained to him the sort of pain he would be subjected to in this lifetime.  This pain was referenced symbolically, but Laeviss has no doubt as to the reality of the lecture he was given. It would, the kind Doctor explained, begin here and end there and both Laeviss' father and Laeviss would have to agree to the manner of it. This we both did, as we were supposed to do. Laeviss has played this game often enough before, you see.
And then Laeviss lived his life, and played that game of Snakes and Ladders. He made sure the client got the ladders, and Laeviss himself took those snakes. (He has always had a fondness for snakes.)
Laeviss has had no doubt about the veracity of the information he was given by the gods later in his life, because it corresponds with memories of past existence. "This is how the magic works, this is what you specialize in, and this is what you do."
Yes, creepy little dog though he may be, the Earth-wyrm that is Laeviss worked his magic with the help of his earthy cohorts, the Dwarves. And then saw the proof of its working with his own eyes, and heard the story of its working with his own ears. Success! And the Earth is a better place, even for old Laeviss.
The Dwarves will take any kind of energy in payment. Not only the "usual and customary" sort that a skratta might employ. It pays to be creative when, in Midgard, all time is of the essence and all space is not here.

Transformers

   Way back in the day, Laeviss had a witchy friend, who would cackle and conjure and do all of the sorts of things witches do. And she'd often look at Laeviss and say, "Little Wren, there is more to you than meets the eye."
   Laeviss is so much more than meets the eye, in almost every way imaginable. In fact, what the eye sees of Laeviss is the worst possible judge of what Laeviss is, but is what most people use to base their versions of Laeviss reality on.
   Unfortunately, the perceptions of the eye guide all with the ability to visually perceive things in ways that deeply affect their lives. Foods that don't *look* appealing to us are often not tried, no matter how tasty they might actually be. I know Laeviss certainly won't try foods that don't look appealing to him.
   It's all in the visual presentation. If things aren't attractive to our personal sight, then they just aren't attractive. And there's not much we can do about it.
   Like one person who would like very much for Laeviss to be attracted to her. Or him. Or whoever s/he is at any given moment. And Laeviss can't force it.
   The person knows the rules about sexual attraction. They have recited them to Laeviss in rants on numerous occasions. ("If one more person tells me that being gay is a choice, I'm going to punch them in the face," s/he has told me.) One either *is* attracted, or is *not* attracted. There is no "choice" involved. One can't choose the persons to whom they feel an attraction.
   But still, hope endures.
   "I want to do what your boyfriend does for you," s/he tells Laeviss.
   "You can't do what my boyfriend does for me," Laeviss responds honestly.
   "Yes, I can!" S/he says. "Just tell me what he does for you, and I'll do it."
   "You can't do what he does for me. It's not possible, because I'm not attracted to you in that way."
   "You just haven't opened your mind, yet," s/he answers. To which Laeviss responds, kindly but firmly, "You can't force someone to want to f*ck you."

   Yes. It is a Universal Law. You can't force sexual attraction. You can't change it. You can't control it. It isn't a "choice." It just *is.* Or it is *not.*
   When there is more to you than meets the eye, it can be difficult to find partners with whom one shares a sexual attraction.  (And, in Laeviss' experience, usually the attraction is all on one side or the other, almost never is it mutual. And it always, always - however much else spiritually and mentally and emotionally is involved - depends on the physical appearance.) And when you find such a mutually-agreeable partner, what do you tell them about yourself? How much do you tell them? Is the physical perception of who one is amounting to false advertising? Or is a verbal assertion a false truth?
   Laeviss is more than meets the eye, indeed. But most people will never know. Because you can't force someone to want to f*ck you.
   
  


  

Laeviss' Version of the Lokasenna

Another reprint from my other blog. Enjoy.

Laeviss’ translation of the Lokasenna in plain English, sprinkled liberally with UPG:
After he got hold of the gigantic cauldron, Aegir held a big feast in his hall for the Gods. A whole bunch of them came, including elves. Odin and Frigga were there. Thor wasn’t there, because he was out east. Thor’s wife, Sif, was there, and also Bragi, his wife Idunna, Tyr, Njord, Skadi, Vithar (one of Odin’s sons), Loki and Aegir’s two wizards, Fimafeng and Eldir.
Everyone at the feast was praising the abilities of Aegir’s wizards, and Loki, being thus challenged, bested Fimafeng, the Clever-Handed one, in a wizardly duel and won, causing Fimafeng’s death. The Gods shook their shields and howled. This was a good show. But Loki had caused a death in a place of celebration, and was driven out to the forest.
He turned back on his way to exile, and returned to the feasting hall. Outside, he met Eldir.
Loki: Tell me, Eldir, what they are talking about in the feasting hall.
Eldir: They are boasting of their weapons and prowess in battle, but not one here speaks of you.
Loki: I think I’ll go to this feast and give them reason to talk of me.
Eldir: If you go in there, it will be the worse for you.
Loki: If you bar my way, I’ll best you in a battle of spells for I’m richer by far in that art than you.
Eldir knew this to be true, so Eldir let him pass.
Loki: Set a place for me at your banquet, Gods. (There is a pause during which you can hear crickets chirping.) Hey, answer me, Gods! Are you too proud to respond?
Bragi: There will nevermore be a place for such as you with the Gods. Only real men gather here.
Loki: (ignoring Bragi and turning to Odin) Remember your oath to me, Odin. We are sworn brothers, and in your oath you vowed to pour no drink unless it was shared with me, also.
Odin: Arise, Vithar, and let the wolf’s father sit at our banquet. If we do not, he will curse us.
Vithar pours a drink for Loki, and Loki toasts the crowd.
Loki: Hail, to all the Gods and Goddesses here tonight. Except Bragi, who is a coward.
Bragi: Oh, my Gods, I will pay you off if you just shut up and go away!
Loki: You will never have enough money to pay me off, Bragi. Only those brave in battle earn the spoils of war.
Bragi: If it weren’t forbidden to shed blood in this hall, I’d have your head for that statement.
Loki: Oh, brave words now when we all know you can’t back them up! Come on outside the hall and we’ll have a duel, then.
Idunna: Bragi, do not fight with Loki! He is Odin’s brother, and the repercussions would be vast.
Loki: Shut up about brothers, Idunna! You slept with your own brother’s killer!
Idunna: (Sticking her fingers in her ears) La la la, I can’t hear you!!! I am merely trying to prevent my drunk husband from causing a scene.
Gefjion: Why are you arguing? It’s part of Loki’s job to point out hypocrisy.
Loki: I see through your disguise. You’re really Freyja, and I know who you’ve slept with.
Odin: Don’t anger her, Loki. She and I both have the gift of foresight, and know the fates of men.
Loki: Shut up, Odin! How often have you set someone up as your champion, then given the prize to another?
Odin: That may be so, but you used sex magic to get treasures from the Dwarves for me, and in doing so, played the woman.
Loki: Well, it is said that on Samos Isle you learned seid and dressed as a witch in order to do so, thus playing the part of a woman yourself.
Frigga: Let’s not talk about these things you did together in your youth. It isn’t seemly to make such information public knowledge.
Loki: Oh, be quiet, Frigga! You’ve had both of Odin’s brothers in your bed!
Frigga: If I had a son like Balder, he would challenge you for making that statement!
Loki: It’s technically my fault that Balder is no longer with the Gods.
Freyja: Don’t say that. Frigga knows well the truth, though she keeps quiet about it.
Loki: Well, you can just hold your tongue, too, Freyja! You’ve slept with all of the Gods and Elves here present!
Freyja: You have angered the Gods by telling these things, grief will come to you from it.
Loki: Oh, shut up! Don’t call the kettle black! You, yourself, have slept with your brother!
Njord: We don’t care that Freyja slept with her own brother. We just can’t stand it that you slept with yours.
Loki: Yeah, you drank giant piss, Njord. Who cares what you think?
Njord: Well, anyway, I have a really cool son in Frey. He’s the best!
Loki: You slept with your own sister to produce Frey. So there!
Tyr: When Frey joined the Aesir, he freed himself and his men from those old Vanic traditions! They now follow the Aesir laws of matrimony.
Loki: Tyr, do you really want me to tell everyone the story about how you lost your hand to a wolf?
Tyr: Yeah, I lost my hand, but you lost something just as important to you, didn’t you? How does that make you feel, bitch?
Loki: Shut up, Tyr. Your own wife bore a son to me, and I got away with that scott-free! How does that make you feel?
Frey: The wolf will remain in fetters until the world’s end. And we’ll make sure you stay fettered, too, wizard of evil!
Loki: You gave your sword up for the daughter of a giant. Now you will be weaponless at the last battle!
Byggvir (Frey’s servant) : If I were in a higher position like Frey, I’d crush you like barley corn.
Loki: Get back to your grindstone, you little kernel! Who the Hel are you to speak to me in this way?
Byggvir: I am Frey’s proud servant, and pour ale out to all!
Loki: You would cause argument and strife in the banquet hall, except you, being cowardly, are the little pieces they missed during harvest gleaning. Thus, we walk all over you.
Heimdall: Be quiet, Loki! You are drunk and raving. Why not leave this be?
Loki: Be silent, Heimdall! You, especially, among all this crowd know what I speak of, as you have been privy to its secrets.
Skadi: What I say is now coming to pass, that you, Loki, will no longer have the freedom you have long enjoyed. The Gods will bind you to the stones by iron bonds, forged at the death of your son.
Loki: That may be so, but I remind you that I led your father to his death.
Skadi: I have nothing but grim words for you, Loki.
Loki: You had better words for me when I gave to you my manhood.
Sif: (Pouring Loki a drink) Loki, have this fine drink of mead, and remember that I am one you cannot find fault with!
Loki: (Taking a drink) Well, I do know someone who slept with you besides Thor, your husband! So there!
Beyla: (Frey’s servant) Speaking of Thor, I hear him coming! He will silence your slander, Loki!
Loki: Shut up, Beyla! You have dirt enough on you for all of the Gods!
Thor: Shut your mouth, Loki, or my hammer will shut it for you! In fact, I’ll knock your head off!
Loki: Big words, Thor! Will you have as big an action when the wolf is threatening to consume Odin?
Thor: Shut up, unmanly one! My hammer will send you flying so far east that you’ll never be seen again!
Loki: I plan on living a long time, Thor. Remember how poorly you fared in the realm of giants? I am at home in that realm.
Thor: I tell you my hammer will shut your mouth and send you to Hel!
Loki: Oh, okay. I’ve said all I came to say. But since you really might smite me with that blessed hammer while you are in battle frenzy, I’ll go. But before I do, I say that Aegir will serve no more banquets for the Gods. I will curse Aegir’s hall with fire, that it be consumed by it.
After that, Loki went and hid himself at Franang’s waterfall, disguised as a salmon. The Gods found him, and captured him. They turned Loki’s son Vali into a wolf, who then tore apart his own brother, Narvi. Loki was bound to the stones with Narvi’s entrails. Skadi fixed a poisonous serpent over Loki’s head, and the poison drips down onto his face. Loki’s wife, Sigyn, catches the poison in a bowl. When the bowl gets too full, she walks away to empty it, and it is then that Loki writhes in agony. Men call these writhings earthquakes.

Loki: Bound and Determined

Laeviss is running a reprint of something that previously appeared on my other blog:

Thirty spokes share the wheel’s hub;
It is the center hole that makes it useful.
Shape clay into a vessel;
It is the space within that makes it useful.
Cut doors and windows for a room;
It is the holes which make it useful.
Therefore benefit comes from what is there;
Usefulness from what is not there.
(Tao 11, from Tao Te Ching)


We know Loki as a shapeshifter, a magic-worker, the bench-mate and brother of Odin, chief of the Aesir. But Loki was seen as so powerful that he frightened the Aesir, and they bound him on an island off the coast of Europe. What about Loki was so powerful that it had to be contained, and how was it so confined?
Why the stones? Why the holes? Why the bowl? Why the snake venom?
Snorri gives us one description of the binding of Loki. According to Snorri, after the Aesir got hold of Loki, they took three flat stones, set them on edge, and drilled a hole through each of them. They then fastened Loki to these three stones. He was bound with iron bonds across his shoulders, his loins and his knees, making him damn near immoveable, unless one had the key.
What exactly are these stones? This type of standing stone can still be found today in parts of northern Europe, and smaller versions of it are worn as amulets. One stands today in Cornwall, and is known as the Men-an-Tol, the Holey Stone. And one, unfortunately, from the Orkney Islands has been lost to us. This stone, which has been long destroyed, and the smaller amulets like it which are still worn today, are known as Odin Stones.
The purpose of these stones, as recounted in the lore which surrounds them, was to witness the swearing of oaths. Lovers would plight their troth on the Odin Stone, and any oath sworn thereon was accounted unbreakable, and anyone forsworn would suffer dire consequences, and be considered infamous and excluded from society.
“It is the holes which make it useful.” The Odin stones would not be able to be used to bind Loki were the holes not present.
Why the snake venom? Snorri claims that Skadi hung a venomous serpent over Loki’s head, so that the venom would drip onto his face. Now, Loki is no stranger to snakes, in fact, they are part of his family. They have been a part of Goddess-worshipping people’s households for millennia. But this snake is a venomous snake. Venom is an interesting word. It comes from the same root as the word Venus, the Love Goddess and Roman equivalent of Freyja, and originally meant a love potion, not a poison. Gives new meaning to the phrase “in your face.” The root “van” meant “wish, desire, gain.” And in modern German, the word venom signifies a “gift.”
Why the bowl? “It is the space within that makes it useful.” Cauldrons and bowls are transformative vessels. They are symbols of the womb of the Mother Goddess, and the creation of all works of magic, whether of the flesh or of the spirit. Loki’s wife, Sigyn, patiently sits, holding the bowl over Loki’s face so that the painful venom will not fall on him. She is the Keeper of the Bowl. But she must make periodic trips to empty the bowl, and when she is not there, the venom does fall. Snorri says the writhing that Loki engages in during this time is the cause of earthquakes.
So what was it about Loki that the Aesir felt they had to confine by not just one, but three solemn, binding oaths? What was his magic, and why was it so powerful that it frightened such mighty Gods?
It is said that the Dwarves made a jewel for Freyja that far surpassed the beauty of any other, and that Odin coveted this jewel, and ordered Loki to get it for him.
There is your key.
-Laeviss
websites for reference: (Odin Stone) www.orkneyjar.com (Snorri’s Prose Edda) www.sacred-texts.com

Freyja's Jewel

   Laeviss tells his UPG regarding the history of Freyja's jewel, and how it is of great significance: In very ancient times, the Goddess wore this jewel to indicate her representation of the Earth, and the powers that are encircled therein. It was her divine authority to designate the sacred king, and to honour him with the wearing of this jewel. He would wear the jewel for a time, spreading its energies throughout the land, then he would return it to the powers of the Earth as a sacrifice, to ensure the fruitfulness and prosperity of the people. A new king would then be chosen.

   Now, Laeviss says that the Vanir continued in this long tradition. Their king would be chosen by the Goddess, and that king would be her consort. As a symbol of this, he wore a braided cord around his neck, or a representation of one. (This sort of idea of a divinely bestowed kingly jewel has survived for a very long time. Even now, we would recognize it as a king's circlet or crown.) After a period of time, he would be sacrificed and a new king chosen.

   The Aesir had abandoned this system ages before. Tyr had been king for a time, then Odin had been declared king, though Tyr didn't die like the sacrificial kings of old. He hung around to give his counsel and to help maintain order. The Aesir were at war with the Vanir, and Odin needed all the help he could get.

   Odin liked being king. He was well-suited for it, being both crafty and wise. There was no better to take his place.

   Freyja had foresight, and could see the fine character that Odin possessed, and what a fine king he was. She saw with her foresight that the world was changing, and what would be the best way to determine that the world changed in a way best suited to her desires. So she sent a messenger, one of the priests or "dogs of the Goddess,"  to Odin to tell him that she was willing to call a truce and end the war. She was willing to join her people with the Aesir and declare Odin king if he would take her as his wife, and that he would not be bound by the fate of the Vanic kings, but that he would be king as long as he liked.

   Odin was already married to a very fine Goddess, indeed, with all of the attributes of an excellent wife. But Odin knew a good thing when he saw one (and he saw a lot of good things about Freyja.) Odin was attracted to strong, confident women, who could give wise counsel when it was called for. There should be no objection to him having a second wife. This war had been dragging on far too long, with no signs of either side gaining ground.

   "Well, this sounds like a good idea. I will agree to it if I get the final say in all matters," Odin sent back. "Oh, and I get to keep your errand boy, too. I can see he has many uses."

   Laeviss says that although he has given vows to serve the Goddess, her order to him has been "Stand your ground in support of the King." He has done this quite happily, he says, ever since. It's what he was made for.

The Laeviss Loki Defense

   Laeviss has been, in turns, amused by and annoyed by the continued debate in certain circles regarding the acceptance or not of Loki as a god among the Aesir, and whether or not he is a being worthy of hailing at sumbel, or anywhere else.

   First of all, Laeviss would like to point out that it is entirely bad form to, on the one hand, state that "Snorri is right" in painting Loki in an evil hue, and then, on the other hand, denying that Loki is a god among the Aesir.  Really? You're telling me that you believe Snorri's view that Loki is evil, yet deny Snorri's statement that Loki counts among the Aesir? Tsk, tsk.

   Most reasonable people, when presented with facts that disprove one's personal beliefs, can move beyond their beliefs and form new opinions. Apparently, most people do not qualify as reasonable. Even when presented with factual, well-researched information on how our ancestors viewed Loki, and how Loki is presented in historic context, many Heathens cling to their personal prejudices. And when the subject of the worship of Loki comes up, a whole lot of Heathens respond like the Vatican when Galileo published a book that suggested that the facts show that the Sun does not revolve around the Earth.

   It's offensive to read responses to the discussion which amount to, "I haven't read that dang-blamed document that's all scholarly and shit, and oh, by the way, I'm going to prove I haven't read it by continuing to use the argument that Loki killed Balder, and he's the enemy of the gods. I'm so invested in my own belief that I avoid anything which might challenge it, or cause me to think and actually form an educated opinion. So there!"

   One thing that Laeviss has learned in his many years on the Earth is how to read between the lines of a document (or listen to the tone of voice and watch body language in a speaker) in order to discover biases that the author (or speaker) may have. Usually, if people are taking the time to write something, they have an agenda, a point of view that they are trying to get across or to push on people. Textbooks do this all the time. They emphasize certain details, and omit others entirely. (Anyone read, "Lies My Teacher Told Me" by James W. Loewen? Definitely worth a look.)

   Laeviss had the opportunity to review many different Heathen books over the years before becoming Heathen himself, or indeed, before having read any of the lore itself. One thing he noticed immediately was that Heathenism was rife with racism and homophobia both, which did not do much to recommend this faith as a personal devotion to Laeviss. (In fact, Laeviss most assuredly avoided it until Odin himself came to personally collect him.)

   One of the crafty Heathen authors that Laeviss read was so clever that he carefully scripted his writings so as to avoid any actual obvious reference to racism, while still subtly turning his readers' minds in that general direction. Others were openly scathing in their condemnation of both homosexuality and "mixing" of the races. These were the same authors who scathingly denounced Loki, and refused to count him among the Aesir. Laeviss can here make an educated guess, due to years of unpleasant personal experience, just what exactly it is about Loki that disturbs some Heathens so much.

   I daresay that in their own circles, those Asatru who are vehemently against Loki probably voice their real objections to Odin's brother fairly clearly. But in a public setting where political correctness is enforced, they must come up with a smoke screen that everyone will endorse as a "good reason" to ban Loki worship. Because they can't mention their real thoughts on the matter.

   So, let's discuss some of these other "reasons,"shall we? How about this one: "Loki is a murderer. He's responsible for Balder's death!" One would have to be a really *bad* lawyer indeed to base a murder case entirely on the testimony of one guy who not only didn't witness the event but had a known reputation for elaborating on details, and ignore the testimony of others who claimed that Loki wasn't involved. (And, even if you *were* going to insist that Snorri's account is the truthful one, even Snorri admits that Loki didn't actually throw the fatal twig. Hod did.) But, based on the most factual evidence the defense has presented, no jury is going to convict Loki of Balder's death.

   So, okay...they can't cry "Balder!" anymore. But, wait! Loki's still a murderer! He killed Fimafeng at the feast of Aegir! Except that we are given no details at all about Fimafeng's death, we are supposed to take the word of the author that Loki killed Aegir's servant out of mere spite or jealousy. And, on this word, we are supposed to brand Loki as unworthy of honor. "See, everybody," they say. "Loki *deserves* to be banned from our worship!"

   Hold on there, little buddy. This is very selective "reasoning" on your part. You are actually saying that I'm to ban all murderous gods from my personal devotions? Well, take off your Thor's hammer, big guy, because Thor is a murderer, too. He murdered the giant that built the wall of Asgard. In cold blood! All because (according to the lore, anyway) the guy rightfully complained that the Aesir were cheating him.

   "Well, that doesn't count, because giants are evil and against the gods and humankind. So, Thor gets a free pass on that murder!" is the usual response when I bring this up. "Really?" I say. "The Aesir seem really keen to accept the assistance of giants when it benefits them, and very keen again to throw them under the wagon when their assistance is no longer useful."

   So, say, we let Thor pass on that. Well, how about dear old murderous Frey? He sent his servant off with a magic sword, and told him to win the fair maiden for him whatever the cost. Apparently, part of the cost was Gerd's brother's death. Now, perhaps Frey didn't wield that sword personally, but he directed the hand who did. So anyone who has ever claimed, "Loki killed Balder, and that's why he is unworthy of worship!" had better be taking their down their godpoles to Frey, because he's a murderer, too.

   And how about Bragi? If we're in the habit of taking everything in the lore as the gospel truth (no cherry picking allowed) we simply must take Loki's word for it that, quite possibly, Bragi is the guy he meant when he accused Idunn of sleeping with her brother's killer. That potentially makes Bragi a murderer, too.

   "Oh, well," you say. "Maybe I won't use the murder argument against Loki anymore. But, instead of voicing my *real* objection to Thor's Traveling Buddy, I'll make up some other, equally-politically-correct-besides-murder, way of excluding him. Oh, yeah...he's a liar! That's the ticket!"

    Laeviss will merely say, at this point, that excluding known liars and oathbreakers from the list of worshipful deities in the Norse pantheon would leave a very vacant throne and both Odin and Tyr trudging off into exile, probably bickering all the while. However, Laeviss has never known of anyone in Asatru even remotely suggesting that Heathens stop worshiping either Odin or Tyr. So, again, this argument against Loki is merely a smokescreen put up to disguise the real reason some people just can't stand the Hound of Freyja.

   So, what is this reason? Basically put, it is homophobia and transphobia. The people who scream the loudest about Loki seem to have a definite issue with acceptance of the diversity of natural human states, such as the continuum of gender and varied sexual orientations. In fact, anything that blurs their rigidly dogmatic lines of what they consider proper gender or sexual orientation code is horribly suspect to them. It states in the lore that Loki has not only become female at times, but has taken the receptive role in sexual intercourse, and this just twists some people's knickers into a knot. This receptive role is never overtly suggested for any other Norse god, therefore it sets Loki apart from the others in terms of both his nature and purpose. The god Odin does admittedly share many attributes with Loki, not the least of which is his gender-bending ways. However, Odin is perceived by most Heathens as a manly god who has employed the guise of a woman *as a means to an end* (that end being the understanding of and ability to employ the magic of seidh.) Odin *had* to walk a mile in a woman's moccasins, so to speak, in order to add to his storehouse of wisdom. Hel, even Thor had to wear a dress in order to reclaim his magic hammer. But, again, this is perceived in Heathenry as a manly god using a woman's guise *as a means to an end.* Loki's so-called "crime" is that this state of being isn't a means to an end for him, it is simply part of his nature. And, to some people, this is more than enough to damn him to an eternity of banishment from "proper Heathenry."

 

Brokk's forge

   "So, you have come," says Brokk, and turns to me, rubbing his dark hands on his leather apron. "I thought you might. But your client had better be a good one. I have little time to spare for pretenders."

"He is a good one. The best." I assure him. I wouldn't be here if he wasn't. I am that certain. Brokk grunts, unconvinced.

   "It's what they all say. They want to make a great chieftain out of a mewling pup. Huh. We can't make a king out of nothing, you have to give us something to work with." His brows crease as he sees I am serious, and he sighs. "Show me, then. And be quick about it. I must mind the bellows. What's his name?"

   There is water trickling down the wall of the cave, into a small cistern. A light glow emanates from within the depths. But the furnace glows hotter.

   "Odin, son of Bor," I say. And I wait.

   Brokk stares silently into the water. Then he chuckles to himself. "Oh, yes. I see him. Well, well...you may have something, here, Earth-Wyrm. You may, indeed. He looks most promising, in fact. A regular strutting peacock. Well!" He turns to his bellows, still chuckling. "There is plenty going on in that skull of his. And already a fine warrior. Has some skill at wordsmithing, too, I see. Well, he'll need all that and more." Brokk faces me again and fixes me with a very hard stare, I am rooted in place like bedrock.

   "You know," he says, conversationally, "that the sort of Ring you are requesting comes with a heavy price."

   "Yes," I say. What else is there to say? If Odin wishes this Ring, it will be his if it is in my power to get it for him. Whatever the cost.

   Brokk turns away, back to his furnace. "It means a load of work for me, too. You can bet I won't take a commission like this without serious pay. Oh, my brother is good, his Rings are legendary. Always work exactly according to their design. But they take a long time to craft, you see. And you must be willing to put in the effort yourselves on your end, or it will be for naught." He works the bellows, sweat dripping down his dark face and into his red beard. His shaven upper lip glistens with it.

   "We'll do it," I say. I am sure, at least, about my own half of the equation. I am in two minds about Odin's desires in the matter. I can remember how he has looked at me, and then again how he has looked at me. He is seeming of two minds, or maybe a mind and a heart divided. I would bridge that gap. I stare down at my fingernails. It will be so, I will to myself.

   Brokk ceases work to look at me again. "Oh, yes-you've picked a fine one. With the favor of the Lady, even. That's good. And there is more than enough willingness on both sides. So you tell Odin, son of Bor that we will undertake this commission from you. And when you come back, be ready to give your vow." He wiped his forehead with a damp cloth. "Any questions, Earth-Wyrm?"

   There can be but one question, and I feel I know the answer. But I ask it anyway. I watch the water trickling down the wall of the cave, into the bowl of the cistern. Water of life, flowing from the heavens to the Earth, and back again, as a gift from one to the other. "The price, " I say. "I need to know what it will cost me."

   Brokk chuckles again, and his eyes light up like fireflies in the dark. He smiles, then, a great, wide grin that bares his double rows of sharp, pointy teeth. "There is but one price for that Ring, Earth-Wyrm. And it is blood. Yours. All of it, mind. You will pledge your head to this work, sorcerer. You come with that pledge, and Odin will get his Ring."