Eric Flint - Pyramid Power

And now there was a threat against that great feast! The Krim hierarchy shifted.

Leadership came to rest instead on one who possessed a body of flames. A creature not unlike the Krim themselves, in that energy and flames have something in common.

It would happen. Ragnarok would come, no matter how myth was twisted. After all, to the inhabitants of Midgard it would make little difference as to why Surt marched on Asgard.

Eric Flint Dave Freer

Pyramid Power

"There is someone on the beach to see you, Loki." Ran had amusement written on her normally austere face. "He is very uncomfortable coming here, to my castle."

That was just about the most words Liz had ever heard her use. Loki got up and walked down, and Liz followed out of curiosity.

The man on the beach had fishing tackle with him. For Liz that was always a good sign. "Who is he?" she whispered to Ran.

"Njord. A Vanir sea and wind god. The husband of Skadi."

That didn't sound promising.

"Njord," said Loki. His tone was not overly friendly. "Giantesses use your mouth for a piss-pot."

The Vanir shook his head. "You always did have a foul mouth, Loki. I was angry about that. It took me a long while to work out the kenning."

Loki shrugged. "If I had left you out, the?sir would have thought you were a friend of mine."

"If you'd left it well enough alone, it wouldn't have happened at all," said Njord.

"Yes. Maybe. It's a bit late for wisdom now. So why are you here, sea-god?"

"The Vanir want no part in this war that Odin drags us toward, not now that Oku-Thor is gone. And Frey and Freyja sent me to talk to you."

Loki raised his eyebrows. "Madam Cat-house, and your son who has swapped his good sword for a giant girlfriend."

"You're one of the giants yourself, Loki."

"I know. Most of the As are either giants or half-bloods. What I wanted to know was whether Frey still thought he was going to war with a stag's antler or not."

Njord shook his head. "No. Skirnir still has it."

"And Skirnir is still trotting on errands for Odin, is he? Dangerous paths, those to the dwarves and dark elves." Loki pursed his lips. "And how is Skadi?"

"Still in the pit. Odin has been unable, or unwilling, to remove the spell of binding from her." Njord did not seem too upset about his wife's situation, though.

Loki snorted with laughter. He clapped Njord on the shoulder. "I'll explain that sometime. In the meanwhile… I need to know that I can trust you, Vanir. You've a reputation for executing hostages, if you don't mind my reminding you."

"Of course I mind," Njord said. "But it wasn't my stupid idea to chop off Mirmir's head. I'd have chopped off H?nir's."

"H?nir was always too long-legged to be caught," said Loki, with a nasty grin. "Mirmir would stop to think about running or try reason."

"Sometimes running is a better option," admitted Njord.

"Yes, it is. Let's work out how we can make you a nasty surprise for Odin."

"Oh no," said Njord. "No, no, no. Forget your crazy schemes, Loki. Frey, Freyja and my Vanir cousins made it clear to me. They won't take up arms against Odin and the other?sir."

"Not much good as allies, are you?" said Loki dryly.

"Maybe not. But we will fight against our hereditary enemies. Surt and the sons of Muspell are our meat."

"They're not involved, Njord. I've been talked out of asking for that alliance. For now. Anyway, why would I want your help fighting my own side?"

"My cousins in Vanaheim say the long lines of fire-wielders are assembling in the East, Loki. They come, and not at your bidding or naysaying. Odin has made common cause with Surt-against you."

There was a long silence. "Ragnarok comes, then, whether we want it or not."

"And the Vanir cannot stand against Surt's hosts and the sons of Muspell on their own, Loki," said Njord. "We're not coming to you to help. We're coming for help. Vanaheim has no walls, unlike Asgard."

Eric Flint Dave Freer

Pyramid Power

The ravens still flew across the heavens bringing word to Odin about the troop build-up in Jotunheim, which was stretching even Loki's power's to exaggerate. They also, in exchange for their favorite jelly beans, brought word of what was happening in the halls of Asgard. Odin was doing his best to ready the?sir for war. He had sent messengers to the Vanir and South and East to Surt and Muspellheim.

It was the news from there that was worrying. Surt really did have millions of minions. He also, according to Hugin-and separately confirmed by Munin-had a black, five-sided pyramid for a neck ornament.

Lamont came to Jerry and Liz's shared room. "What's happening?"

Jerry bit his lip. "It looks like the end is Surt-ain. We're still, even with all of Hel's corpse warriors, very short of troops. And this is exactly what I was trying to avoid: that apocalyptic war."

Lamont snorted. "Surt-ain! I guess we'll just have to make sure it's a dead-Surt." He sat down on the bed. "I've been thinking. I'm not finding any answers to my problem with Marie, except to leave her like that forever. And I don't think that's what she would have wished. You're supposed to have acquired knowledge too, Jerry. Have you got any ideas for me?"

Jerry sighed. "Don't get your hopes up, but in one way, yes. The thing is, it would take magic or a miracle to cure Marie. Science and medicine can't do it. At least here, well, magic can work. I can think of two possibilities. One we get this world's foremost magic-user to help. The trouble is, that's Odin-and he's a tricky, Krim-controlled bastard. Two, if we could somehow get Marie to the world of Egyptian myth, we've got contacts there. And my magical skills there are a long way ahead of what they are here."

"I didn't even know that you could do magic here at all."

"Magic isn't as big a part of this mythology as it was in the Egyptian. Magic here tended to focus quite heavily on foretelling the future. Runes were used to invoke certain powers, and symbolism is vital. It goes a bit beyond the principals of similarity and contagion, although of course those do apply."

"Don't you love it when he talks in foreign languages?" said Liz.

Jerry grinned. "It gets worse. Poetry-verse and heiti and kennings-are all part of it. So are items of power." He paused, chewed his lip and then said, "I have to point out that there are plenty of examples of Odin raising dead warriors and restoring virginity, and there are also things like one-handed Tyr, and blind Hod, and dead Baldr. But there definitely are magical aspects that ordinary humans can manage."

"And how are you getting on with learning this lot?" asked Lamont.

"Slowly. Our biggest need is time, and that seems to be what Surt and Odin have worked out too. They're rushing things on. Surt has no major barriers to his west, just Myrkvid. We have to either cross Midgard, or the sea or the great river Elivagar. And Loki's Naglfar-ship is big, but it is a lousy ferry."

"Lamont knows this, Jerry," said Liz tiredly. "We've been consulting with him about the pontoon bridge."

"Xerxes," said Jerry.

"What?"

"History, dear," said Jerry. "That stuff you disapprove of. Where most problems had to get solved before, and we don't learn anything from. Xerxes was supposed to have crossed the Hellespont-that's the Dardanelles-on a bridge of boats with an army of two and half plus million men. Back in 490 BC, if I recall correctly."

"So it can be done?"

"Apparently."

"Good. Because we're ready to start planking. How wide are the Dardanelles?"

"I remember less geography than history."

"A pity. The Elivagar is about a mile wide and flows strong enough to shift most anchors. Lamont showed them how to make kedges, and I finally got through to the dumb trolls that straight down is not the right place for an anchor."