Trapped

cage and plunged it into the neck of the faithful Sigyn.
    Loki’s wife gurgled her last breath, and the bowl of caustic venom toppled full into Loki’s face. He screamed and writhed violently, and still the snake dripped on, under the goddess Skadi’s command to continue. Loki jerked and pulled at his restraints, and the earth shook underneath Hel’s feet. He cursed her. He swore vengeance upon her. And then, as the venom continued to eat at his eyes and chew at the substance of his flesh, he begged her for mercy.
    But Hel had none. Mercy was an empty room in her heart, where nothing at all was sacred and no living creature, not even her father, could cry so piteously as to make her take heed.
    Loki bucked and howled as the venom bore deeper. He thrashed and shouted his defiance. The earth trembled more violently, and this grew and grew until his bonds were finally snapped and he was set free. Blood and tears streamed down his purpling cheeks, and he seized the snake that had tormented him so and burned it alive in his hands, his fire returned to him now that he was unbound. No freedom had ever been bought with so much agony, and he vowed it would be avenged sevenfold, beginning with the Slavic thunder god.
    We do not know why he focused on Perun rather than on the vampire who killed Thor; perhaps it was because he was a target of convenience. Loki knew that the entrance to the Slavic plane lay hidden somewhere in the Ural Mountains, and it was to these he flew upon first leaving his cave.
    He left Hel behind, without thanks, bereft of approval, and with no signal that she should begin Ragnarok. Unable to follow him, she returned to her realm, sullen and uncertain, to await further word from her father.
    » And that is why we must strike now and slay Fenris, « Frigg finished, clearly angling for the non sequitur of the year.
    » I beg your pardon? « I said.
    » We must demoralize Hel and prevent her from launching an attack on Asgard. Odin has decided that the best way to do that is to slay Fenris. «
    » Well, that’s nice, but we can do it a bit later. «
    » Now is the perfect time. «
    » I disagree. Vehemently. «
    Frigg’s eyes clouded, and the ravens above squawked. » You swore you would help us. You swore to render what aid you could in place of a blood price. «
    » And render it I shall. But not right now. I have an apprentice to bind to the earth, and until she’s bound, I’m not doing anything else. «
    Frigg shifted her eyes to Granuaile and pursed her lips in dislike, realizing that my apprentice was an obstacle to her goals. » Bring her along, then, « she said.
    » No way. « I shook my head to emphasize the point. » She isn’t ready yet. After she’s bound she could actually be helpful and may choose, of her own free will, to give us her help. But right now she’s a liability and a potential hostage. «
    I flattened my hand and used it as an impromptu shade against the sun as I searched out Odin’s ravens. I called out to them to make sure the mind they represented heard me.
    » If my apprentice falls victim to an ‘accident,’ Odin, I won’t help you at all, you hear me? Just be patient a while longer. «
    » And if Ragnarok begins while we are being patient? « Frigg asked.
    » I’ll take on Jörmungandr myself if it does, « I said. » That’s how confident I am that it won’t happen, okay? I think we have a year left. « At least, I hoped we did.
    » Based on what information? «
    » I’ll keep that to myself. But nothing is changed here, Frigg. I will keep my word as soon as my apprentice is bound. «
    Frigg had nothing nice to say, so she didn’t say anything. She nodded curtly and turned her back on us, floating up the rainbow into the northern sky. The ravens followed her.
    I hoped that after this encounter Granuaile would be more willing to talk, but my optimistic expression was immediately crushed when she shook her head at me and scowled.
    » A liability and a hostage, Atticus? « she said. » Really? «
    › Fall to your knees and grovel. Now! ‹
    » Well— «
    › Nope. Fall! ‹
    » I put two knives in that bear thing and distracted it while you missed, « she said, » but I’m a liability? «
    » Look, Granuaile, against human opponents, I’d say you could take just about anyone, « I said. » But Frigg was talking about messing around with the supernatural, and you’re not in that power class yet. You will be soon. «
    » So a vulture that turns into a