The members of Orniskem moved away from Loki's cell and gathered in a circle.

  “Wait! Don’t leave me here in the cell!” Loki shouted, but he was ignored.

  Menrva stared at the group members and swallowed hard, as if what she was about to say would be to everyone's displeasure.

  “We will have to release that idiot,” Menrva said.

  “What? No!” Tania snapped furiously.

  “I refuse as well,” Ana added, and Epona nodded in agreement.

  “Ladies, I believe we must approach this diplomatically,” Anpiel said calmly.

  “Did you forget what I said earlier, Anpiel?” Tania retorted. “That bastard is a genocidal warmonger with no regard for mortal lives.”

  “If he truly means to help all the people he harmed, then—and only then—I will accept it,” she added.

  “Is that your condition, Tania?” Menrva asked. The fire-haired goddess nodded.

  “And you two?” the Etruscan goddess asked Ana and Epona.

  “I want him to apologize to Rui for what that monstrous serpent—under his command—did to him,” Ana replied.

  “Very well. And you, Epona?” Menrva asked.

  Epona hesitated, scowling at the Etruscan goddess. She did not trust her insistence on freeing someone as dangerous as Loki, yet she knew Menrva would proceed regardless.

  “That he remain in chains and under our supervision at all times,” Epona answered.

  “Good. That was precisely my intention,” Menrva replied.

  She turned to Anpiel and Susanoo.

  “Any suggestions? Any objections? Will you speak this time, Susanoo?”

  “If it serves the common good, I agree he should remain chained,” Anpiel said.

  “’Tis of little consequence to me. Should he dare to assail us, we shall assuredly vanquish him,” Susanoo replied indifferently.

  “I would like Rodrigo’s opinion,” Menrva added, “but he is not here.”

  “Know this,” Nanook interjected. “If you remove him from his cell, you must leave this kingdom immediately. I do not care where you go or what fate awaits you, but you may not remain in Nitassinan. Is that clear?”

  “Yes. We will depart at once,” Menrva answered. “We thank you for your brief hospitality.”

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  “We must retrieve your cabin, Ana,” Anpiel said.

  “Do not worry. When we left, I returned it to my own dimension,” she replied.

  “Then we leave immediately with that man. Chained and without ichor will suffice,” Menrva concluded.

  They returned to the cell, and Nanook opened the door.

  “Very well, Loki. You will go with these people,” the polar god said.

  Without warning, Tania struck Loki with a kick so powerful that it hurled him into the wall, cracking the ice. The Norse god spat a tooth and vomited blood.

  “Enough, Tania! He has no ichor—this could kill him!” Menrva protested. Tania ignored her.

  She seized Loki by the hair and forced him to meet her gaze.

  “Listen carefully, wretch. We have conditions for your release, and you will fulfill them—or I will tear out your entrails and make you swallow them. Understood?” she shouted.

  “Of course, ebony beauty,” Loki replied.

  Tania answered with a brutal headbutt.

  “My name is Tania, you idiot—not ‘beauty.’ And they are Ana, Epona, Menrva, Anpiel, and Susanoo. You will address us properly and with respect. Is that clear?”

  “Yes… Tania,” Loki answered, bloodied, one eye swollen shut.

  “First condition,” Tania continued. “When our business in Vinland is concluded, you will return to Jutland. You will aid every soul you harmed in your foolish war, and you will kneel before the king and publicly beg forgiveness from the people you harmed. Do you understand?”

  “Wait, beauty —why must I—” Loki began, only to be silenced by another headbutt.

  “Tania, you will kill him,” Anpiel pleaded.

  “I told you not to call me that—my name is Tania. Do you understand, idiot?” she shouted, ignoring him.

  “Y-yes… Tania,” Loki whispered.

  “Of all of us,” she went on, “it is Rodrigo whom you hurt most—nearly killing him, saved only by his tannin blood. When you see him, you will bow and apologize. Understood?”

  “Yes… I will,” Loki replied faintly.

  “Good,” Tania said, hurling him aside.

  She threw him with such force that the ice binding his legs shattered. He collapsed, limbs partially destroyed, screaming in agony.

  “Give him a drop of ambrosia so he does not die, Anpiel,” Tania said, turning away.

  “Of course,” Anpiel replied, producing a flask of mead infused with ambrosia and pressing it to Loki’s lips.

  Loki’s breathing steadied at once. His shattered legs regenerated and reattached.

  Ana stepped forward and tugged the chain binding his hands.

  “You will remain under my supervision, Loki. Attempt anything foolish, and Tania will kill you slowly. Understood?”

  “I suppose I have no choice,” Loki said, rising.

  “Though I shall endure, surrounded by four such beautiful women.”

  Outside, Rodrigo—still recovering from the cold—watched as the door opened and his companions emerged, Loki chained behind Ana.

  “Is that man coming with us?” Rodrigo asked.

  “We do not have many options,” Tania replied sourly.

  Ana kicked Loki sharply, forcing him to his knees before Rodrigo.

  “Loki has something to say to you, Rui,” she said, holding the chain taut.

  “I am sorry for what I did to you and your companions in Jutland,” Loki said, forehead pressed to the ground.

  “It’s all right, Loki,” Rodrigo replied gently.

  “I am sure that if you cooperate with us, we can become good friends, don’t you think?”

  “Rui, why are you always so soft?” Ana snapped, as Tania and Epona grimaced.

  Tania tried to speak, but Anpiel stopped her.

  “I believe you are the least suited to scold Rodrigo, Tania,” the angel said. She fell silent.

  “May I stand now?” Loki asked.

  “Yes. On your feet,” Tania sighed.

  Loki rose quickly and smiled at Rodrigo.

  “My friend Rodrigo, I would shake your hand were I not bound. Even so, I feel a great brotherhood flowing between us,” he said—only to receive a sharp smack to the back of the head from Epona.

  “Do not trifle with Rodrigo’s innocent heart,” the equine goddess said, stepping protectively beside the young tannin.

  Meanwhile, in the human world, the Innu who served Sedna sighted a ship approaching the coast. It was rowed by many men, and at its center stood a palanquin-like throne with a canopy of feathers and jaguar skins. Seated upon it was Tezcatlipoca, who had arrived in Nitassinan.

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