‘That wasn’t part of the deal,’ I said. But I knew the old fox had me cold. As soon as he gave me that runemark, some part of his glam and mine had merged. If I returned to Chaos now, they’d know I had betrayed them. And now, I had no other choice but to go with his offer of godhood.

‘You bastard. You knew this would happen,’ I said.

Odin gave a wry smile. ‘Then that makes us brothers in trickery. But I told you the truth,’ he said. ‘I’ll never forget what I owe you. I’ll never take a drink of wine without first seeing your goblet filled. And whatever your nature drives you to do, I promise that none of my people will ever lay violent hands on you. You’ll be as close as a brother to me. As long as you promise to serve me, of course.’

What choice did I have? I gave him my word. Not that a promise means much to a demon – or a god. But I did serve him. I served him well; though half the time even he didn’t know what he really needed. And even when he reneged on the deal . . .

But more of that later. Suffice it to say: never trust a brother.

Lesson 4 Hello and Welcome

LESSON 4

Hello and Welcome

Never trust a friend.

Lokabrenna

AND SO I CAME TO ASGARD, where Odin introduced me to my new friends, the twenty-three Aesir and Vanir. All of them burnished, sleek and well-fed, dressed in furs and silks and brocade, crowned in gold and gemstones and generally looking rather pleased with themselves.

You’ve probably already heard of Asgard. The Worlds were already full of tales about its size; its magnificence; its twenty-four halls, one for each god; its gardens, cellars and sports facilities. A citadel built on an outcrop of rock so high above the plain below that it seemed part of the clouds themselves; a place of sunlight and rainbows, accessible only by the Rainbow Bridge that linked it to the Middle Worlds. That’s the story, anyway. And yes, it was impressive. But in those days it was smaller, protected by its location; a cluster of wooden buildings surrounded by a palisade. Later, it grew, but at that time it still looked like a pioneer stronghold under siege – which was exactly what it was.

We met in Odin’s hall, a sizeable, warm, vaulted space with twenty-three seats, a long table set with food and drink, and Odin’s gilded throne at the head. Everyone had a seat but me.

It stank of smoke and ale and sweat. No one offered me a drink. I looked at the cold faces around me and thought: This club isn’t taking new members.