A great mobilization began within Adlivun to repair the damage caused by Sosondowah’s attacks.

  “Thankfully, nothing happened to you, Lady Sedna,” Nanook remarked as the polar goddess returned to her throne hall.

  “Sawiskera wanted me to kill or capture his messenger, to justify a war against us,” the goddess replied.

  “Who were they?” Tania asked.

  “They came from the Iroquois kingdom, a realm with which we have long been in conflict,” Sedna answered.

  “They dwell much farther south, near a group of enormous lakes,” Nanook added.

  “Yes, I remember that being mentioned on the map,” Anpiel said. “Those ruled by a god named Sawiskera.”

  The other members of Orniskem looked at the malak with surprise, impressed by how well he remembered the information.

  “I want you to understand that remaining in this kingdom puts you in danger,” the polar goddess said hurriedly.

  “It seems your enemies do not yet know you are here, but they will surely suspect it soon.”

  “Thanks to the shortcut through Greenland, we must have arrived earlier than Lel expected,” Menrva said thoughtfully.

  “That is true,” Sedna replied, “but that does not change the fact that Sawiskera’s men will return, and this time they will come for you.”

  “Then what were they looking for just now?” Anpiel asked.

  Sedna and Nanook fell silent for a moment.

  “I’m sorry. That is something we cannot tell you,” the Queen of Adlivun finally said.

  “Why not?” Menrva demanded angrily.

  “This is a matter of Adlivun, and only Adlivun may resolve it,” Nanook replied, raising his voice as well.

  Once again, an uncomfortable silence settled over the hall.

  “Let me see if I understand,” Tania said carefully.

  “That man who came is an ally of Lel, and they will come after us to kill us. But someone else on this planet is of interest to them… to Lel, isn’t that right?”

  “Are you hiding Bellona here?” Epona asked furiously.

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  All the members of Orniskem—except Rodrigo and Susanoo—rose abruptly from their seats, their faces marked by anger and suspicion.

  “Friends, please, let us remain diplomatic,” Anpiel pleaded, trying to calm everyone.

  “Shut up, Anpiel!” Epona shouted. “These people are clearly setting a trap for us!”

  “We do not want conflict, Sedna,” Menrva said, standing and walking slowly toward the polar goddess and her warrior.

  “Is Bellona the one being kept here?”

  “If you take another step toward my lady, you will regret it,” Nanook warned.

  “I will ask you again—tell us what you know,” Menrva said, continuing her advance.

  In that instant, Nanook conjured a harpoon in his hand and hurled it at the Etruscan goddess. Menrva caught it barehanded, though her palm was torn and bleeding by the weapon’s sharpened edges.

  “We owe you no explanations,” Sedna replied coldly. “If you withdraw now, we will not retaliate.”

  Menrva began generating electricity in her hand, crushing the harpoon into fragments. Lightning burst from her body, causing the bear-fur coat she wore to vanish. She stood revealed with her totema and golden spear, crackling with static energy.

  Nanook roared as his body swelled, transforming into a gigantic polar bear clad in armor. He pulled a shield from his back into his left hand and summoned an enormous harpoon in his right. His eyes burned red with fury.

  “Please, this does not need to become a fight,” Anpiel pleaded again.

  “Menrva, Anpiel is right! You gain nothing by fighting allies!” Ana cried in alarm.

  Rodrigo and Susanoo, who had remained silent until now, also rose and took defensive stances as several armored soldiers bearing harpoons rushed in to protect their queen.

  “I beg you, Queen Sedna, do not let this conflict escalate between allies!” Anpiel shouted, but the polar goddess ignored him.

  “No, Anpiel. They are hiding something. How do we know Lel hasn’t bought them as well?” Tania said sharply.

  Nanook, in his bear form, challenged Menrva.

  “My divine power has increased more than a hundredfold in this transformation. I advise you to withdraw before you are hurt.”

  Before he could act further, Menrva leapt at his face and struck him with a lightning-charged flying kick, hurling the massive bear into the walls of Sedna’s hall.

  “Should I begin to worry, then?” the Etruscan goddess asked calmly as she landed gracefully.

  Sedna prepared to join the fight, but Nanook stopped her.

  “Do not underestimate her, my lady. I will deal with this girl,” he said.

  “I do not wish to fight, Nanook. Just tell us who is imprisoned here,” Menrva insisted.

  “If we have someone imprisoned, it is because we are following orders,” Nanook replied, attempting to slam his massive body into her. Menrva stopped him effortlessly with one bare hand.

  Twisting her body, she struck his abdomen with a single blow, shattering his armor and forcing blood from his mouth. The bear-god collapsed onto his back.

  “Enough, Nanook! You are no match for her,” Sedna said. The bear struggled to rise again.

  “I will protect this place, do you hear me, girl?” Nanook growled, breathing heavily and spitting blood.

  Menrva dismissed her totema, her heavy coat reappearing around her, and sat calmly on the floor.

  “There is no point in fighting if you are not even trying seriously against me,” she said.

  Nanook reverted to his normal form and collapsed once more. Sedna approached Menrva and gestured for her soldiers to withdraw. They obeyed at once.

  “Asgard ordered us to imprison that man in our dungeons,” Sedna finally said, once they were alone again.

  “What man?” Menrva asked.

  “Loki,” Sedna answered.

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