Stressful meeting

Odin : "Are you blackmailing me kid ? I have to say, even for a devil you've got some balls"

The moment he said that I could feel all the soldier and Bruggä tensing. And wasn't that scary.

Alexander : "What ?! No ! When I said if all goes well I mean literally. I need your help to finalised something. If it work as it should, it would give you the information you want... I hope. I really don't want to force you to do anything. I may be a devil, but I'm not a greedy idiot."

Sensing everyone calming I continued my little speech

Alexander : "First of all, before I continue, can you swear not to kill or maim me before listening to the end of my speech ? I'm pretty sure there will be a lot of way for what I have to ask of you to end badly for me without the proper explanation or context."

It seems that it wasn't really the thing to say seeing everyone's attitude tensing again. But really... The moment I need to ask for his wife blood, I don't want to be disintegrated on the spot without him understanding everything.

Odin : "Since I only need to wait until the end of you explanation to smite you if needed, I accept. After all, if what you say is true, I do want to understand it. I Odin All-Father swear on my name that no harm shall come from me or my subject until the end of your explanation unless you decide to take action against me or mine !"

I admitted I did not think the guards would do something in presence of the king, but I latter realized he could have asked them to. Not that it was important really, after all like he said, it was just waiting until the end of a speech.

Alexander : "Thank you for the show of trust. The reason for the oath, is because for my endeavour to get finalised, I will need a fresh drop of blood from your wife's corpse, and I didn't know how you would take that request."

No need to say, not well. The look he was giving me clearly comforted me in my idea that the oath was not merely a precaution.

Alexander : "Before accusing me of anything, I would like to show you something that is in my workshop. Do you authorise me to cast a teleportation spell in the sole purpose of fetching an item of my possession ?"

Odin : "Do it. And your explanation better be good. I know very well what can a devil or a magician do with blood. And your request is taken as a clear aggression against Asgard."

Yep, clearly a good idea to have asked for that oath.

After a quick variation of the teleportation spell, and the life sized painting of Frigga was there for all to see on a golden easel (I did anticipate the golden touch of Asgard).

And I could see that the reception from my work was extremely positive by the look of shock and wonder I could gleam on the various soldiers. And Odin even showed a little smile.

Alexander : "Your majesty, this is a life sized painting of queen Frigga, done to the best of my abilities, based on the viewing of a memory of the Madrid conference of 1663 between the devils and the Norse pantheon."

Odin : "A marvelous painting, she look almost alive... I swear that despite your disgusting demand, even if you are executed today, your painting will be hanged for all to see, and a boon will be given to the Gremory family as a payment. This masterpiece deserve that much respect."

Alexander : "There is no need for payment All-father, and certainly not to my family." I remember my comment at that time did make him rise an eyebrow, but he didn't comment. "I do thank you for your praise though. It is always welcome for an artist to see his work being appreciated. But there is more to this painting that meets the eye.

I told you I needed blood from your wife. Well this painting is the reason. "And at that statement I could see everyone now looking wearily at my piece of art. "Using a process I will keep private, I 'imprinted', for a lack of a better word, your wife's personality from a single event of her life in this painting. I could activate this magical painting and she would then be able to move and talk with everyone present her like any living being could. But she wouldn't be YOUR Frigga. She would be my perception of what your wife should be, based on the event of Madrid in 1663 that I was made aware off.

But if I bind the painting with a drop of fresh blood from her body... She will become the true Frigga, queen of Asgard, and goddess of love, motherhood, and mariage at the moment of the bonding. A true resurrection, but as a painting.

It would mean she should remember what happened to her when she was assassinated. She would have needed to be aware of something though. If it was a invisible strike and she died with no clue, it won't help at all. But at least you would be able to talk to her again. And again, do not be mistaken, it WILL be her and not a construct. Her divine blood would assure of it."

To say that my audience was speechless was a true understatement. I could also clearly see the disbelief in the eye of Odin.

Odin : "How can you prove to me what you said ?"

Alexander : "I can't. But it doesn't really matter. All you need to verify my claim, is to take the painting, put a drop of blood on the canvas and activate the painting by saying the special sentence on this paper" I said showing a folded paper in my hand. "Don't say it until the blood has been absorbed completely. I'm not sure how long it would take. I estimate a minute or two, but divine components are always a bit wonky to work with. So drop the blood on a cloud in the painting, and wait until the red disappear completely.

She would then wake up, possibly screaming, since for her no more than a second would have passed since her death. Then just ask her stuff only she would know.

So, what do you say ? Want to give it a try ?" I told him forwarding my piece of paper.