============================= CHAPTER III =============================











Loki was bearing down on us fast, an odd feathery cloak fluttered behind his back and he flew fiercely through the dusky sky. I had never seen a man fly like that. He was flapping his arms awkwardly behind him like he was some toddler who had just seen Peter Pan. It was perculiar. His long blond hair whipped behind him like the lead singer of some 80's hair- band, the fake wind blowing his hair back in his close-up.

Loki landed. He was not cloathed in his usual chain mail. Instead he was in something feathery and long. It was disquieting seeing a man of power in what looked like a flowing night gown covered in falcon feathers.

He turned his blond so that his hair fell in a shimmering wave. He had a long, thin, broadsword strapped around his waist which seemed to glow red. For some odd reason he seemed to be more birdlike than before, mostly because instead of arms he had large wings tucked behind him.

Merlin bowed deeply before the ten foot tall man. His beard glowed red in the shimmer of the sword. "What be so fine, Loki?" said Merlin loudly with a bright, sophisticated smile. "I see you carry a sword of the Vanir, one your father does not even weild. What fine sights do you share now?"

Loki turned his head in a large jeer. He didn't seem to like being questioned by a wizard. Loki found a seem in the dress with his huge wings. He opened and beneath was revealed what looked like the highest of attire for a Viking. Loose gray legging and high leather boots were jacketed in shimmering gold leg cuffs. He was wearing a deep brown shirt made of who knows what covered in gold scale-mail. Atop his head he wore a leather headband with two large horns protruding in the front. The wings had disappeared.

"Nothing so fine for you old man." Loki seemed to be in a vindictive mood, even though as April had told, he was nice to Merlin in Hel's domain. I assume the presents of All-Father Odin made him tone down a bit. "I carry this as a gift from Njord. He has heard of our quest and wishes to help. The same as regards Oller of Archer and Aurvandil the Bold." Loki turned his head haughtiliy at Merlin. He cast a look down at us and his lip twitched into an odd curve. A smile? If so a forced one.

"Where are the others?" asked Merlin quietly, glancing at the sky. The others must fly too. Loki pulled the long red sword and examined it thoroughly. He glanced back towards Merlin, a fierce glare in his eyes.

"They are coming. They bring my kinsman as their mounts. My son, Slepinir, can travel from Asgard to Midgaard in mere seconds but his sons and daughters were bred from war-steeds. They will take a considerebly longer time to travel through all of the nine realms to reach the land of mankind." He threw his head back to stare at the sky.

Two small dwarf females escorting a tall person in a white gown and veil out of the mouth of the Great Diggings. Etain. Poor girl. Even I knew how big of deal this was, not loving someone you have to be close to, and not being close to someone you love. I knew how hard this must be. Me, who tried to remain indifferent and practical, although it was now becoming more difficult than ever. What the hell was I trying to prove. Courage? No. That's David's job. He was the brave one. Intelligence? Maybe, but even Hawkings is intrigued sometimes.

No judgement, no fear, stay alert, show no fear! These were my rules for staying alive and sane in Everworld. Loud noises were now echoing from somewhere behind the clouds. I didn't know what the sound was but it sounded like hoof beats. Hoof beats from nowhere. No suprise.

A group of six large dark brown horses dipped down from the clouds, one was much larger than the rest. They were soaring, but they had no wings. Instead they were galloping on the wind with eight magnificent legs each. Each horse carried a ride, all of which seemed to be giants. Three I recognized as Baldur, Thor, and Odin. The other three were a mystery. I assumed the large one carrying the bow of what looked like layers of dark brown feather was Oller, the archer. The other two were both definately giants.

One was narrow eyed and muscular, like pro wrestlers are muscular. He was wearing bronze field-plate mail and carrying a long pick-axe-like Butterfly Axe with small gold wings on each side. He was wearing a large helmet that looked a lot like a salad bowl with spikes.

The other was tall and broad-shouldered like a boxer. Not as muscular as the other, but still quite strong looking. He was dressed in clothes much like Loki's. They would be top fashion in their eras. His long brown hair was set back into an elegant tail. For some reason the fact that he only had a left hand stood out very well. All six landed in a group of loud cluttered cracks. The horses clear blue eyes glowed red when they hit the ground.

Odin was the first to dismount, and all he others followed. There was a lot of groveling and kneeling, but eventually they kind of formed ranks.

Merlin stood forward before all us. "May I present your warriors of Old World." He waved a hand lazily behind him. "Lord Jalil," he said, his grizzled head fell towards me, "The scientist of DaggerMouth." A bunch of murmuring from the gods. The murmuring slowly died down. "And enfin good sir Christopher, who carries a Druiln sword of Merlinshire." He sounded like a sports announcer. We both stepped forward.

Goewynne suddenly stepped from the mouth of the Great Diggings. "Ah, Lady Goewynne. Might I introduce the final memeber of your party, Lady Goewynne, Queen of the Fallen Eire. She brings the power of the Driud elves in my stay." All of the gods seemed to hold a high respect for this. Is very odd how much respect they held for Merlin the Magnificent. I had never seen a mortal require so much attention from a god and have his wish be granted. "Now I must ask we all depart. I must be to Olympus. I bid you all the most sicerity in my farewells." He turned to Goewynne. "Is King Baldwin aware of our departure?"

"Yes Master Merlin," said Goewynne quietly.

"Than it is to the roads with us," yelled Merlin. All the gods lifted their weapons.

"SKOAL! SKOAL!" the bellowed in unison, all except Loki who hung back and cringed slightly. "SKOAL! SKOAL! To the Northland we ride, Skoal!" they all yelled, almost in unison. Odin got atop his horse, which towered over the rest. He pulled the reigns and his horse turned into wisps of smoke and fell throught the ground. Many of the gods were mounting, but those who were not were either thrusting upward, their capes fluttering behind them, or in Loki's case, pulling feathery cloaks over them. Loki pulled the hood over his head and he was no longer a Nordic god, but an overly large falcon. He flew up high towards the clouds and was gone.

I walked forward towards one of the beasts. This was impossible. Eight legs and the power to gallop on air. Baldur and Thor pulled the reins on their Slepinir children and suddenly they were galloping up a slope of nothingness. This was impossible. Just as impossible as Pegasus. No explination. I was about to fly, gallop, run, whatever, up into the air and to a realm that no lving human has ever been. I guess the old saying W.T.E. finally had its uses. No explanation, no need for one, no sense or purpose. Welcome to Everworld.

I wrapped my arm over the top of the horse's rough leather saddle and tried pulling myself on. The horse suddenly turned translucent. It took a few seconds to sink in that I was on the ground. It took even more to realize that the horse had just became somewhat not there.

The unknown man carrying the axe came over to me. Almost everyone else was in the air, except Christopher, who seemed to be talking to Etain through pursed lips, and Oller. Oller cariied his feathery bow slung across his enormous back.

The man with the axe bowed deeply, his muscles swelled bizarrely. "Lord Jalil, is it?" he said in a particularlly booming voice. I nodded silently. He looked like his left pinky could squeeze my head into a fine pulp. He stood over nine feet tall and cast quite the shadow over all of us. "Well than Lord Jalil. Might I offer some advice?" I nodded again. I didn't have the heart to say no. He would probably rip of my jaw and make me say yes with it. "You should grab the reins first. His name is Tiuya. He is quite the demonic one. Aha-ha-ha ha ah!" His laugh unhinged me for some reason. Or maybe it was just the fact that he was nine feet tall and carrying and axe and laughing like a ten year old watchig Bugs Bunny. I did what he said no matter.

I grabbed the bridle quickly, but backed away with out knowing. The fierce red eyes glowed sky blue and he suddenly. He turned his head to look directly at me. He certainly have Loki's stare. "Where to, my friend?" said the horse in an undertone. Okay, this made me particually nervous. I didn't like horses that much. This one talked, flew and haid eight fierce kicking legs. It bucked up and back, seemingly laughing instead of whinnying.

"Er...Asgard," said the giant with the axe. "Follow Odin I presume. Be nice Tiuya or Father Odin will take you to Skirnir once again." This seemed to do the trick. The eight-legged-horse stopped suddenly. "Up ya' go now Jalil." The man with the axe lifted me onto the horse with ease. This was very unsettling.

"To the Northland we all shall ride!" cried Oller. Common chant obviously. I glanced over at Christopher who was now seated on his horse, though not very well. The eight legs beneath me started to push powerfully forward. I wasn't exactly sure where to place my feet. The thing had no stomach, only eight muscular legs. I ultimately settled them onto the thigh, bent at the knee.

I payed very little attention to what was happening. As soon as the ground left me I shut my eyes tight. I was very afraid we might fall out of the sky, even though I could still feel the legs pounding forcefully against...nothing.

Eventually I opened my eyes. We were galloping steadily along the clouds, as if they were solid. They probably were, after all this was Everworld. The others galloped steadily around me. Christopher looked sick. His face was off color and his eyes were very wide. The giants were having the time of their lives. They all called out loudly to there horses and waved their weapons through the air. Oller pulled many bolts from his quiver and shot them randomly into the air.

After a few minutes their cheer wore off. They seemed bored. It was now actually boring. Just the dull thump of the hooves and endless clouds. You would think that riding through the air on a creature with eight legs would be exciting. It was disturbing and painful. This was the road to Asgard. Only one way to explain this. W.T.E.