The Age of Odin - James Lovegrove [163]
"The Three Sisters," said Mrs Keener. "How generous of you to grace us with your presence. We are honoured. Tired of one another's company, huh? Decided to leave your cottage and actually witness events for a change, 'stead of viewing them through your scrying well or whatever it is you're using these days?"
"It is Ragnarök," said jailbait Urd.
"The end of all things," said motherly Verdande.
"The cutting of many threads at once," said bent-backed Skuld.
"We Norns have long foreseen this time."
"And anticipated it."
"And dreaded it."
"Now it is upon us."
"All destinies converge."
"The spinning ceases."
Once again the three of them were doing that thing where they spoke one after another so flowingly and seamlessly, it was as if they had a single voice.
"We have come because there is no more to predict."
"The past has tightened to a knot."
"The future is unclear."
"It is a pivotal point, the moment of all moments."
"We must see it as it unfolds, with our own eyes."
"To learn the outcome as others do, while it happens."
"Without foreknowledge."
"Without foreshadowing."
"Without foreboding."
Mrs Keener chuckled delightedly. "I couldn't have asked for more. The Norns themselves, curious to know how everything is gonna turn out. Know what that means? Means I've done it. I've truly won. I am greater than destiny. If I have brought matters to the point where the Three Sisters are half blind now, only able to see what's in front of their eyes, then I have overcome all limitation, and anything is possible." She was almost hugging herself with glee.
"Do not exult just yet, Loki," Urd warned.
"Wheels turn," said Verdande.
"An end may yet be a beginning," said Skuld.
"You don't scare me," Mrs Keener retorted. "That's just sore loser talk. Wheels? Nothing's turning today 'cept me, sisters, and that's 'cause I'm on a roll."
She fixed her attention back on me.
"Now, let's not get ourselves distracted any more," she said. "Betcha eager to get this over with, huh?"
I made a yes-and-no noise.
"Then we'll have you tied up and screaming in no time. Bergelmir...?"
Just as the frost giant was about start attaching the ropes to me, Mrs Keener slapped her forehead.
"Wait just one cotton-picking moment! What an earth am I thinking? You asked two favours off of me, didn't you, Gid?"
"I was wondering whether you'd remember."
"Conjugal visitation rights with Freya, and... oh heck, what was the other one? Clean slipped my mind. No, wait, I've got it. You asked if I'd give up my 'inside man' - assuming I have one, of course. That was it, wasn't it? Let you have him and let you decide how he should be dealt with."
"Yup."
"Well, I said yes to your first favour, and so happens I'm inclined to say yes to this one too. Nothing pleases me - or amuses me - quite like seeing one man getting his satisfaction on another who's done him a bad turn. I know all about slights and injustices and how they can make you feel. Story of my life, some'd say. So, you asked me to reveal who the guy was, the double-crosser, the one you reckon was throwing spanners in the works and was responsible for getting a couple of your buddies killed. I said you describe who you think it is and I'll say if you've got your man. You did, and the result is... Boys?"
She was calling out to the nearest of the frost giants who were policing the crowd of onlookers.
"Him." She pointed. "Fella with the walrus whiskers. Yeah, him. Fetch him up here willya?"
The frost giants homed in on Backdoor, who looked aghast and dumbfounded. They grabbed him and strong-armed him onto the scaffold.
"What the - ?" Backdoor spluttered. "Gid, what the fuck is this? What are you doing?"
"Obvious, isn't it? You screwed us, mate. You've been Loki's bumboy all along, just like I said at Odin's funeral. I want to show you what I think of that. Worst crime of all - betraying your own side."
"But I didn't!"