Angrboda, of course, opened the gate to the dwarven kingdom. Then walked away, leaving me with no way back.

 

Probably, she didn’t want any more of the overly strong ale. Or she thought it was funny to leave me at dwarven mercy. We might be friends of a sort, but…

 

Then I practically got tackled.

 

By a dwarfmaid. “Oof, don’t forget you have a lower center of gravity than I do!”

 

She laughed. “And hopefully more tolerance of our ale…”

 

“She claims you spiked it,” I said as I disentangled myself from the twin. I had, of course, forgotten which was which.

 

“Great excuse. Come on. We need to talk.” She practically dragged me into the inn. I wasn’t sure if she was Ebba or Jorun.

 

The other one had already staked out a table and claimed a pitcher of dangerous ale. And poured glasses.

 

I was not going to escape getting drunk.

 

“How did you like Muspelheim?” the one at the table asked.

 

“Can you clue me in on which of you is which?” I pleaded.

 

Table twin laughed. “I’m Ebba…maybe.”

 

I rolled my eyes. Well, maybe it didn’t matter. “I…well, got arrested and nearly lost Balgefa.”

 

“Oh, she’d have found her way back to you,” Jorun said as she sat down. “She was forged for you, remember.”

 

“She wasn’t too happy.” A fire sword. A weapon for a fire wielder, not against one. I mused on that for a moment.

 

“Well, she was probably mad,” Ebba said, between sips of ale, “With you for stupidly getting yourself arrested by, who?”

 

I laughed. “The local sheriff. It was my fault. I assumed I’d be able to talk my way out of there. Actually, I was halfway to doing so when I got rescued.”

 

“Good.” Ebba turned serious. “You want us to do business with the giants.”

 

“I want peace.”

 

“It can’t last forever.”

 

I nodded. “Well, no. But it can last longer than it’s threatening to. You guys wouldn’t exactly benefit from Ragnarok either.”

 

She looked thoughtful. “No. We would not. But if they fight with weapons we gave…”

 

“If they fight with weapons they forge then Ragnarok happens faster.” I sighed. “And you know as well as I that fire giants will never stop being quarrelsome.”

 

“And that if anything happens to Surtur he’ll be replaced by worse.”

 

I thought on that. “Maybe. Maybe not. I don’t know the politics well enough.”

 

Jorun regarded me. “And you are a fire goddess.”

 

“And thus in a better position than most to learn, I suppose. They’re more likely to trust me.”

 

“Exactly.” That was both sisters.

 

I took a sip from the ale. It was as potent as threatened. I was also fairly sure it was not spiked.

 

Angrboda must be slipping.