The Age of Odin - James Lovegrove [57]
Freya saw the ravens first, long before anyone else did. She made us halt without explaining why, until the two birds were visible to all, winging towards us from out of the sunrise.
"Oy-oy," said Cy. "Message from HQ."
"You mean those are Odin's?" I said, recalling the ravens that had been perched on his shoulders at the banquet.
"Huginn and Muninn," said Paddy. "And don't go asking which is which, because all ravens look the bloody same to me."
"And they're, like, carrier ravens? They'll have little slips of paper attached to their legs with Odin's orders on?"
"Not exactly," said Cy. "Wait and see."
The ravens circled above us for a while before descending. One landed on each of Freya's outstretched arms, and bugger me if she didn't greet them with a bow and a "good morning," just as if they were people.
"Huginn, Muninn," she said. "You have flown long and far, and I humbly thank you for your efforts."
The birds went "cawww" and "arrrkk" in turn, and flapped their wings and waggled their beaks, as though acknowledging and returning her courtesy.
Neither of them, I noticed, appeared to have brought any message container with it. I looked at Cy and Paddy. "So what now? She Dr Dolittle or something?"
Paddy just raised his monobrow in a way that said keep watching.
"You who are the All-Father's eyes and ears abroad," Freya said to the ravens, "you who go where he cannot and witness what he cannot and bring back news to him of all that happens, speak to me now in his words. Tell me his wishes."
"Arrkk!" said either Huginn or Muninn, and I thought we were in for a long morning if we were going to stand there until one of those birds actually started talking.
Of course, I ought to have known better by then, because one of them actually did. Both, in fact. They opened their beaks simultaneously, and out came the voice of none other than Odin himself. Odin, in bizarre avian stereo.
"Freya Njorthasdottir," the ravens said, "I see that Gid is among your number. He looks as well as can be expected. You have discharged your duty with your customary diligence."
"I did not do it for praise. To serve the All-Father is its own reward."
"Aye," Thor agreed.
"Nevertheless," said the ravens, "praise is due. I now have another job for you and your men to perform."
"Name it, Odin."
"Originally I dispatched Huginn and Muninn with the sole purpose of making this rendezvous with you and establishing mission status. On their way, however, they observed a disquieting sight. Trolls. Not far from the Asgardian border."
"How many trolls?" Thor enquired eagerly.
"Three. If you turn a few degrees northward from your current bearing, you will encounter them in two, perhaps two and a half hours."
"You wish us to kill them, All-Father?" asked Freya. I could tell the idea appealed.
"In days of yore I would have said yes," said Odin via raven walkie-talkie. "Trolls straying beyond the bounds of Jotunheim is not permissible, and these three look set to do just that. However, times are changing. New strategies are required to meet the growing threat of the true enemy. New allegiances too."
Thor gaped. "You mean...?"
"Yes, my son. I want them taken alive, not destroyed."
"Trolls - captive?"
"Annexed. Press-ganged. Recruited."
"Those brainless, lumbering -"
"- immensely strong, highly suggestible creatures, yes." The ravens stalked sideways up and down Freya's arms, canting their heads. "We discussed this. Several times. Were you not paying attention? If we can control a significant number of trolls, think what a blunt-force defensive unit they could make."
"I remember you suggesting something of the kind, father. I simply didn't -"
"Cousin," said Freya to Thor, butting in, "Odin's wisdom is not to be questioned. If this is what he desires us to do,