CHAPTER 11–CONVERSATION–page 44

Sorry about the delay in continuing Aelfheim. I've been so sick over and over the last couple months that it completely slipped my mind.

a TranscriptThey were led to a hut, its exterior showed signs of recent repair. Bundles of straw, no doubt to recondition the roof were set out. There didn't seem to be any danger of rain, so those repairs were surely to be done later.
A raven sat on the roof cleaning its beak. It hopped up to the peak, as though to be out of reach, at their approach.
Inside, the hut was furnished with chairs and cots. A pitcher and mugs were set out prominently. Hans filled the mugs and sat down.
"You guys may change your mind about staying here once I tell you what's going on."
Jinsoku sat up straight. "No, Madison. I assure you nothing can make me change my mind about staying in this realm."
"Hey, if you two are staying, I'm staying," Dave piped up.
"Hear me out. We're going up against Loki and his children, Jormungand and Hel."
"Loki?" Jinsoku exclaimed. "He was an evil Norse god, right?"
"Mischief and fire, actually. His mischief supposedly represented tha capriciousness of Fire. Something of great utility and benefit, but also capable of great harm. He was constantly playing tricks. And then going to all kinds of lengths to make up for it."
"How's that?"
"Well, like Sif's hair. Loki cut it off in her sleep, but then turned around and got the dwarves to manufacture a gold coif. And had Odin's spear, Gungnir, and Thor's hammer, Mjolnir, made at the same time."
"Cutting a woman's hair off in her sleep is a pretty spiteful thing. He would have had to come up with some pretty good gifts in order to get back in everyone's good graces."
"I heard another story where he and Thor rescued some chick out of a giant's castle. He wasn't even in trouble."
"Maybe, but he got Thor to dress up as a woman for that."
"Definitely, mischief there. Quite a few of his pranks were really overboard though."
"Setting Asgard up for a fall and invading Aelfheim goes a bit beyond overboard, Madison."
"I have to agree with that, but I wonder if there might be something else."
Jinsoku reached into his bag and tossed an object to Hans.
"A toothbrush! Thanks, Hasaki."
Jinsoku shrugged, "I always travel with two or three. My teeth grow back, but I try to avoid losing them in the first place."
Hans realized his leather skirt, even with the belted plaid underneath, wasn't hiding anything. He closed his legs together.