"Well, once we got past the pre-judgment parts and the psychoanalysis, I fancy we actually had a fairly good time tonight. Am I wrong?" Loki said as they walked back to the palace.

"We did," Sigyn said. "I am pleasantly surprised."

"Perhaps we have more in common than you thought," Loki said.

"Perhaps we do. You clean up well, at least. But I rather thought you were trending toward Angrboda. Does it really matter to you whether we have anything in common?"

Loki sighed. "It does, actually. As much as I do like Angrboda, there's still something… not clicking, with her. I don't know why – perhaps she doesn't like children, perhaps she doesn't like mortals, or perhaps she is simply not comfortable entering into a ready-made family, but she seems highly uncomfortable around my son, even to dislike him. And Judah has very swiftly picked up on that. He doesn't like her. He has registered his vote for you."

"I'm… sure she will warm up to him," Sigyn said.

"I hope so, but I want to hedge my bets. I don't want to bring a goddess into my son's life who will be bad for him."

"You would choose me over a goddess you seem to be very well-suited to, for your son's sake?"

"I don't know. I might have to. And it wouldn't be such a hardship. I like Angrboda, but it's not like I'm in love with her. And truthfully, I don't want to marry either of you. Odin backed me into a corner with this whole 'duty to the throne' thing."

"Why is it your duty and not your brother's?" Sigyn asked. "He's the Heir Apparent."

Loki sighed gustily. "Because I stole for him the means to marry his mortal and completely not-highborn lady love. I could have been beheaded for that, but instead I was sentenced to a life of Husbandry."

"All right, you're not taking care of farm animals," Sigyn said gently, "but I understand your meaning."

"Do you think I got off too easy? I committed another crime, after all."

"I don't think love, or the facilitation of love, should ever be considered a crime."

They reached the palace without incident and headed inside. They walked the long hall of the throne room in silence, their footsteps echoing in the grand chamber. About halfway along, Loki realized the chamber was not empty despite the lateness of the hour.

"Hello. What is this?" he said.

"What is what?" Sigyn asked.

"Father is here. And so is Forsetti."

"The god of justice? What would he be doing here? And this late at night?"

"Levying sentence, I shouldn't wonder."

"Maybe we shouldn't be here. Is there another way to the common area?"

"Come, my dear – they've probably been waiting for us for hours already."

"Waiting for us?"

"Waiting for me."

"What is this about?"

"When Father sentenced me to the Sanitarium, he didn't do it properly. Court was not in session. Now, that wouldn't be such a big deal, but there was no objective witness, either. The sentence doesn't stand up, legally. That, and the people don't like the verdict. Three days in a Sanitarium for treason and attempted fratricide? It's a farce."

"So, what, they're going to sentence you again?"

"That's about the size of things."

"You've known about this for a while, I take it. And you've just been living with this burden on your head all this while."

"I live with quite a few burdens on my head. I'll show you my helmet sometime – that in and of itself is quite a burden on my head."

"Loki, I know you use humor as a shield, but please do not get defensive with me."

They walked up to the throne where Odin awaited. Loki bowed. "Father. I take it you've come up with a solution to the problem of the inappropriate sentence."

"It comes as no comfort to me, my boy," Odin said.

"I daresay it will come as no comfort to me, either. Shall we have it over with?"

"Loki Odinson, here today, in the presence of this witness, it is the determination of this court that for the crime of treason and attempted fratricide, for which you have been found guilty, you be sentenced to caning."

The color drained from Sigyn's face. "Your Majesty, you can't," she said.

"The only alternative is life in the dungeons," Odin said. "Which would you rather receive, my son?"

"Oh please, give me the caning."

Sigyn grabbed his arm. "My prince, gods have died."

"But at least it was relatively quick. I've been in the dungeons, it's a slow descent into madness."

"When were you ever in the dungeons?"

"It's moot. I'll never go there again."

"Are we done here?" Forsetti said. "I've got a card game to get back to. I was on a streak."

"Yes, you may leave," Odin said. "My boy – I want your prospective brides to stand as witnesses to your punishment. I want as many witnesses to stand as possible. Let no one say later that the rod was spared."

"You won't make my son stand witness," Loki said tightly. Odin shook his head.

"Of course not."

"Then it is well. Tomorrow?"

"At First Call."

Loki bowed another short, swift bow. "I will see you in the morning, Father," he said, and marched swiftly out of the throne room without waiting for Sigyn or even looking back.

"This could very well be his undoing, you know," Sigyn said. "Hasn't he been tortured enough?"

"He is strong," Odin said. "He will withstand this."