The gods had gathered in Tania and Rodrigo’s room to discuss what the goddess of fire and Anpiel had spoken about the previous night. Anxiety and unease filled the air.

  Tania explained the doubts she had been harboring since the beginning of the mission—questions that Ana and Epona admitted they shared as well.

  Why would Loki escape from his prison in Yggdrasil, and why had none of the Norse gods tried to recapture him? Why now, of all times? How did he escape? And according to the prophecy of Ragnar?k, wasn’t Loki supposed to bring war upon Asgard—not upon the Earth?

  All those questions weighed heavily in the room.

  Then Ana stood up. “I’ll go speak with Athena myself. I won’t let any of you die on this mission.”

  “I can’t let you go alone! What if Athena tries to kill you?” Tania said, rising to stop her.

  “She’s not that kind of monster—I know her,” replied the dark-haired goddess firmly.

  “It is my duty to accompany you, Lady Ana,” said the angel, still seated with his hands folded.

  “I must support you both, but I also cannot ignore any detail of this mission,” he added solemnly.

  “Negotiating with a level-one criminal is punishable by death under Lel’s laws,” Anpiel continued. “I won’t report this to my superiors, but I must be fully aware of the situation we’re dealing with.

  And I can’t allow you to rejoin that deity’s faction—even hypothetically.”

  Ana went silent.

  “I would never join her again, understood, Anpiel?” she snapped after a tense pause.

  “I’m not asking, my lady,” the angel replied. “I’m ordering it—as your appointed supervisor.”

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  “Fine,” Ana said curtly.

  “Let me come with you,” Rodrigo interjected.

  “No, Rui. Not this time,” Ana said, avoiding his eyes.

  “Please—I promised to protect you. It’s the least I can do,” he insisted.

  “Athena would have your head on her spear before you could even look her in the eyes,” Epona said bluntly.

  “Even so, I’m willing to give my life for her,” Rodrigo replied, standing tall. “After losing my family and my village, the only purpose I have left is to help you both. If there’s anything I can do—anything at all—I’ll do it, no matter the cost.”

  “Rui…” Ana whispered, meeting his determined gaze.

  “You’re insane, Rodrigo,” said Tania.

  “You don’t understand, Tania—it’s loooove,” Epona said dramatically, teasing him with a grin.

  Rodrigo blushed but didn’t back down.

  “Let him go with you, Ana,” Epona said finally. “I wish I could find someone willing to risk their life for me, even knowing the odds of survival are next to none.”

  Ana looked at Rodrigo, who now stood beside her.

  “You’re quite an interesting man, sir Rodrigo,” said Anpiel, placing a firm hand on his shoulder, his eyes resolute.

  Ana smiled faintly. “Then let’s go.”

  “Good luck—and come back alive,” said Tania.

  “And don’t shit out over the mission, you two,” Epona added with a sarcastic smirk.

  “Unlike you, we’re not horses that crap every two minutes,” Ana shot back as she closed the door behind her.

  She could still hear the blonde goddess cursing from inside the room.

  It was six in the morning. Ana still felt the weight of last night’s wine, but her anxiety forced her awake before dawn—just like the others. The streets were still cloaked in dim twilight, deserted and cold.

  “It’s Sunday,” said Anpiel, “so the townsfolk will wake to the cathedral bells for Mass.”

  “That works in our favor, in case something happens,” replied Ana.

  They finally reached the inn where Athena had told them to meet her. Inside, they asked the innkeeper if a guest matching her description was staying there. He pointed them to a room on the first floor.

  They approached and knocked.

  “Come in,” said a voice from within.