Day of the Giants by Lester Del Rey

Author:Lester Del Rey [Rey, Lester Del]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Airmont
Published: 0101-01-01T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter XI

There was a dense crowd collected at the judging place before Yggdrasil, and Leif Svensen scanned their expressions, trying to estimate the seriousness of the charges. It didn’t look good. Loki whistled faintly in surprise as he stared at the Aesir, confirming Leif’s fears.

Frigg was speaking to Odin, and her righteousness was all too evident, even from a distance. Beside their father, Vali and Vidarr were nodding vigorously at what she said. Odin’s shoulders were slumped more than usual, but they straightened as he saw Leif coming, and a gesture cut off the words around him. Heimdallr was intently polishing the lens of his new telescope, and his face was totally inscrutable.

Fulla sat at the foot of Frigg’s dais, her face lowered. She glanced up at the stir around her, and her eyes met Leif’s for a moment. Something that might have been the beginning of a wan smile touched her lips, but it vanished as he stared back at her coldly.

Lee Svensen moved promptly to be beside his brother, and Thor lifted his body and followed, holding Rex in one hand, the big hammer in the other. A lithe young husky whom Leif recognized as Thor’s stepson, Ullr, scratched his head and moved doubtfully after them. They lined up beside Leif and Loki.

“Tell them all to go to hell,” Lee whispered.

It was more likely to be the other way, Leif decided. The very face that he was getting such obvious support was welcome—particularly from Thor—but it indicated that the ones rallying to him were sure he was in desperate need of help!

Odin’s voice cut off any chance to ask for information.

“Leif, Son of Sven, a time has come for judging. There is treason in Asgard. I have promised my son Thor that your words shall be heard and justice rendered. But how shall we believe one who is sponsored by Loki as a hero, yet who spends little time on the field where the heroes practice their skills? Nevertheless, speak and defend yourself before we pass judgment against you.”

Thor let out a bellow of indignation, probably provoked by Lee’s quick commentary on the unfairness of the words. But Leif cut in before the god could speak. The sickness of Fulla’s lack of trust, and of Vali’s murder of Andvari was back inside him, and he was tired of bowing to the will of such gods as these.

“With such justice as you offer, Odin, what’s the use of saying anything? When the judge is biased, there is no justice. Well, I’m not surprised. I’ve had one sample of the justice of Asgard this morning. I should have expected something like this. But at least tell me what in hell I’m supposed to have done. If you mean the explosion in the workshop, there —>was treason enough—against me and my workers! On that, you might try cleaning the filth from your own household before you clean outside it.”

He saw Fulla’s eyes wince at the reference to the morning, but he snapped his gaze back quickly to Odin, whose one eye seemed to be shining from a thundercloud.

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