In the enormous house Thor had seen through the tiny window of his prison, the gods were invited to a feast in their honor. The house was gigantic, with totems surrounding the structure. The mansion had a red-and-black roof, and the walls were painted white with colored bands along the lower portion. Above the main door was a raven painted in black and red.

  Inside the great house, torches were lit, illuminating the enormous hall—basically a massive room with almost no decoration, aside from the columns holding up the roof, each topped with carved human headdresses. At the far end, the wall bore paintings of animals in red and black tones; and seated on a throne was Y’aahl. Beside him stood men with musical instruments, and two men wearing bear masks and bear pelts danced to the rhythm. The people, gathered for the occasion, sat facing the throne and the dancers.

  The four gods who had fought the Norse gods had managed—barely—to recover, thanks to the mead Ana carried in her pocket-dimensions. They were standing beside Y’aahl as well, together with several other gods.

  Meanwhile, Thor, Loki, and the other Norse gods sat facing the entire crowd, their gazes fixed forward. Menrva, Ana, and Epona were seated among the audience as well.

  “It’s a leader’s duty to acknowledge his mistakes,” Y’aahl told the crowd once the music stopped and the dancers ceased. “For that reason, I want to correct myself: these people are not demons, but very powerful gods who come from the other side of the ocean.”

  The crowd began to applaud, while Thor lifted his hand and waved at everyone.

  “So, in honor of the courage and valor shown by these gods, today we will hold a banquet for them,” Y’aahl continued, as the people kept clapping.

  Platters of salmon and boiled seaweed were carried out to each diner. Thor and the other Norse gods were served several roasted salmon—still skewered on their sticks—along with dishes of herring roe. Thor, who hadn’t eaten in a long time, devoured everything, leaving almost nothing for his other Norse “silbings,” who watched him with contempt.

  However, the climactic moment of the feast—the one Thor had been waiting for—was disappointing. The Haida did not drink alcohol, only pure spring water. Thor couldn’t hide his melancholy when fresh cups of water were placed before him; he had expected mead or wine, but neither was produced in that region of the world. Freyja couldn’t help letting out a laugh at Thor’s crushed expression when he saw the water cups.

  The goddesses of Orniskem enjoyed their food. Epona was quite satisfied with the seaweed and snail stews she received. For some strange reason, Epona had no problem eating mollusks—though both she and Ana would have preferred some beer. Menrva only sipped water from her cup while watching the Haida celebrate with genuine joy.

  At that moment, Loki left the great hall to look at the starry sky. However, without him noticing, Freyja followed him.

  “That was a good fight, Loki,” the beautiful blonde goddess said to the dark god.

  “Well, it’s something only I could’ve done. Y’all would’ve lost,” Loki replied.

  “Yeah. That’s pretty likely,” Freyja answered as she sat on a timber beam outside the lodge.

  “I suppose you came to interrogate me about Father Odin’s whereabouts, since you’re the only one who seems worried about it,” Loki said, still standing and staring at the stars.

  “You’re too perceptive,” Freyja replied.

  “Father Odin came to these lands disguised as a Viking explorer, but I don’t know more about where he might be. With all the time that’s passed, he could be anywhere—so it’s a matter of him finding us, not us finding him,” Loki answered flatly.

  “Do you realize that’s virtually impossible?” Freyja commented.

  “It’s not,” Loki replied with a malevolent smile as he looked at Freyja.

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  At that moment, Ana—stepping out to use the bathroom—saw them and overheard their conversation.

  “Lel knows Father Odin is in these lands. Some spy in Orniskem must’ve told them. So they came all the way here to kill him—and for that, they’re probably going to use us as bait,” Loki continued.

  “Which of Lel’s people, exactly?” Freyja asked.

  “El’s eldest daughter,” the dark god replied.

  Freyja jolted. She knew he meant Anat—El’s right hand and Lel’s current commander of arms. Her name was so famous and legendary among the gods that it inspired terror just from being spoken.

  “That’s impossible! Why would someone that important come here?” Freyja asked, stunned.

  “Because if the other eloah couldn’t kill Father Odin, she probably can,” Loki continued. “And besides—he’s weakened, and he’s in a territory where divine power is diminished.”

  “I heard you created that stupid human war to recover Father Odin’s energy. Is that true?” Freyja said. “Do you think Father… can defeat that Anat?” she asked.

  “I did what I could, but I don’t know how much you can do against a goddess who’s literally went high on rivers of human sacrifices,” Loki said, disappointed.

  “Even so, she isn’t used to it, and Father Odin must’ve spent a long time already—more than a year—adapting to this barrier,” Freyja said.

  “Yeah. That’s why we need to meet Anat… only then will Father Odin show up,” Loki explained.

  At that moment, Loki realized Freyja was genuinely frightened and tense. Normally she was brave and strong, ready to face any challenge placed before her. But Anat was a challenge she never expected to face—now or ever. Still, the goddess swallowed and forced her face back into something like happiness.

  “It’ll be an interesting fight,” she said.

  “Possibly the last one we ever have,” Loki said, laughing.

  The two gods fell silent for a while, and Ana was about to leave for the bathroom when she was stopped by a question Freyja asked Loki.

  “Why did you have to kill him, Loki?” the blonde goddess asked the dark god.

  “You know I hated him,” Loki answered bluntly.

  “I think everyone in Asgard disliked that petty, arrogant boy, but still… he was Frigg’s son,” Freyja continued. “I’m sure a defeat would’ve been enough to humble his ego.”

  “Freyja, remember when I called you a whore in front of all of Valhalla?” Loki said, and Freyja’s face twisted.

  “How could I forget you humiliating me in front of everyone?” the blonde goddess replied, annoyed.

  “I’m not proud of it. But even if I regret it, what’s done is done,” Loki said.

  “I suppose you’ll never return to Asgard after this,” Freyja pressed.

  “I think I’ve found a place to stay. But like I told you before: even with our differences, I will never allow Lel to enter Yggdrasil,” Loki replied.

  “That’s enough for me,” the blonde goddess said as she stood.

  “A place to stay… does he mean Palas?” Ana wondered as she left them and headed to the bathroom.

  The bathroom was in a small room at the back of the lodge. Despite the crowd, there was only one person standing by the door—yet the person didn’t seem to be waiting to go in.

  “Excuse me—would you let me use the bathroom?” Ana asked the person, though she knew they wouldn’t understand her since she was speaking the divine tongue.

  “Gladly,” a woman’s voice replied—in clear divine speech. At that moment, Ana saw pink eyes gleaming in the silhouette, and she froze in fear.

  “Weren’t you going to use the bathroom?” the woman continued, as Ana began stepping backward slowly and nervously.

  “W-What are you doing here?” Ana asked. “How did you know we were here?” she continued.

  “Half of Vinland already knew those idiots—Thor and company—had come to this land. What I didn’t expect was finding you, Morrigan,” the woman continued.

  Then the strange woman stepped forward and the moon fully lit her. It was Anat—but she was dressed only in a purple dress; she wasn’t wearing her totema.

  “Why have you come?” Ana asked, tense.

  “Why? I think it’s obvious, Morrigan. To kill the rats of Asgard who’ve slipped into this territory,” the goddess said, stepping closer and touching Ana’s face with her hand.

  “And don’t try to scream or run. I’ve got the entire city surrounded with my personal guard,” she warned.

  Ana snapped out of it and struck Anat’s arm away as she leapt back and invoked her totema.

  The Irish goddess manifested her dark totem—though the white-and-gold variants she had achieved with Excalibur were not present. She landed, gripping her twin swords, Caladcholg and Fragarach.

  “I won’t run or scream. I’ll face you right here,” Ana said with a furious expression, though her legs still trembled from the terror she felt.

  “You can’t beat me, Morrigan. Even without my totema I can kill you without trouble,” the Phoenician goddess replied, continuing to walk toward Ana.

  “Though I wonder—how many people will you kill if you attack me right here?” Anat added, seeing Ana flinch at the thought of fighting out in the open.

  “I have to get her away from here… but how?” Ana asked herself.

  “Always with those moral dilemmas, Morrigan. That’s why you’re weak,” Anat continued, stepping in close again.

  “Go on, Morrigan. Attack me. Show me you’re not just a pathetic crybaby,” she ordered.

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  The next part will be released tomorrow.