Father of Lies

Michael held Desi’s hand tightly in his as they waited for the last of the Council to take their seats around the marble table. Odin remained standing, which concerned Michael, and, judging by the tense shoulders and serious expressions on the people around him, he wasn’t the only one.

“Thank you all for coming,” Odin said. “I realize this meeting was not scheduled and some of you had to make sacrifices to be here.” He smiled at Mahria who had been called back from a scouting mission to Niflheim and had only arrived minutes before the meeting started. Sweat gleamed on her smooth brow and she still wore her armor.

“I’ve called you here because it has come to my attention that Loki has reappeared and is causing a great deal of havoc on Midgard. More than that, he’s offering people an alternative to the quest - he’s offering them an eternity of servitude in Helheimer, but of course he doesn’t describe it that way.”