Loki laughed long and hard. The rest of us waited. Me, I wasn’t going to interrupt anything between the Asgardians, but I don’t know why Rafe and Hod let him go on so long. Maybe it was because the laughter seemed so out of place in a conversation about the end of the world.
Loki finally got control of himself. He wiped at his eyes with the back of a leather-clad hand and then placed his fist on his hips in a Superman pose. “Hah! Hod, you old fool. What makes you so gullible? You should know there is no advantage in my destroying Asgard. What would I gain?”
Rafe spoke without giving Hod a chance to answer, “Rowle says that the others, including Asgardians, want access to Earth again. That the other races are tired of being banished and want to reclaim lands they originally held.”
“Nonsense,” Loki said with an air of finality.
Hod crossed his arms and nodded. “There could be some truth in what Rowle has said. Not in most Asgardians, we’re happy with the way things are, but some of the other pantheons are not as happy. Having access to Earth would give some a chance to regain their followers.”
“Say what now?” Rafe asked.
The two gods stared at each other without answering. I was trying to decide if Hod could see through that ornate blindfold. He certainly didn’t seem handicapped by it.
After a minute or two, Loki nodded. “Hod has a point. Asgardians have experienced a resurgence of followers over the last fifty years. The other pantheons are consequently weaker in relation to Asgard.”
What? I was getting confused, hah, as if I hadn’t been confused ever since Hod showed up out of nowhere. But this talk of multiple pantheons and followers was beyond me.
“You’ve developed more followers?” Rafe said. “Well, bully for you. Then why would you want to see Ragnarök?”
“Exactly my argument,” Loki said.
“Excuse me,” I interjected, tired of being lost in the conversation. All three turned to stare at me. Sheesh, I hadn’t wanted to become the center of attention. “Could you please explain what you’re talking about? I don’t understand most of what you’ve said.”
“Lady,” Hod said. “Loki is referring to the resurgence of belief in the Norse pantheon in the latter half of your 20th century. The various pantheons strength comes from how many followers they have on Earth. It’s a prestige thing.”
“And humans are worshipping the Norse gods more than the others?” I asked.
“It doesn’t have to be true worship,” Loki said. “Just talking or writing more about us gives us an advantage over those that are ignored.”
“Even Loki has garnered much respect of late. A century ago he was thought of little more than a fool, now he’s gained nearly as many followers as Thor and Odin,” Hod said.
“I don’t get it,” Rafe said. “What’s behind this resurgence?”
I finally caught up with what they were talking about. I slapped my forehead with one palm. “Of course.”
Rafe stared at me. “Of course?” he questioned.
“Yes, don’t you go to the movies?” I asked.
“Sometimes, not too often,” Rafe said.
“Hod said that just writing about the gods give them more prestige. The Norse gods have been the center of a bunch of comic books and movies. Recently their movies have been huge productions with millions of people seeing them.”
“Exactly,” Hod said. “Although no one in Asgard can figure out why Loki has been figuring in so many of these movies.”
Loki laughed again. “That’s because my fellow Asgardians don’t have a publicist.”
“A what?” Hod asked.
“You have a publicist?” I asked, confused since he just claimed to not have dealings with humans.
Loki gave me a wink and a smile. “Did you think anyone would have that much screen time without a good publicist?”
“What is a publicist?” Hod demanded, his voice actually hurting my ears.
“It’s someone who promotes your work. It’s a celebrity thing among humans. The really good ones can get their clients much larger parts in movies,” I said.
“But Loki hasn’t been in any movies,” Hod said. “Or have you?”
Loki shook his head and grinned. “That’s the beauty of a publicist. I don’t need to be personally involved; I just need to make sure the actors playing me have a juicy role in the plots. It’s taken decades. I had to start with comic book writers. A little schmoozing at the right time, cocktail party invites to certain editors, and then after decades of work, I finally got the editors and writers at the same parties as the movie directors and producers. Like they say down here, Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
“You’ve sunken yourself to their level just to increase your fame and prestige?” Hod asked.
Loki gave me another wink and smiled at his fellow Asgardian. “There’s nothing like success.”
“How distasteful,” Hod said.
“Okay, so you’ve helped yourself in Hollywood,” Rafe said. “I have no problem with a man, or a god, having a publicist, but how does that prove you’re not in league with Rowle?”
“Seriously?” Loki asked, his voice betraying incredulity. “After decades of work to improve my position among the Asgardians you think I would destroy all that I’ve accomplished?”
“Well–”
“Oh for Verðandi’s sake!” Loki exclaimed. “Wanderer, you would look a gift horse in the mouth.”
“TANSTAAFL,” Rafe said, softly.
“What?”
“There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch,” Rafe explained. “It means everything costs, even if the costs are hidden. What does your help cost me, Loki?”
“Costs? Why nothing more than your friendship…and maybe someday you’ll be able to do me a favor.”
“What kind of favor?” Rafe asked.
“Nothing that would compromise your standards,” Loki said.
Hod harrumphed loudly.
Loki shot him a glare.
“I could not force you to do anything that you didn’t want to,” Loki added. “Whatever I ask of you, you may always refuse.”
Rafe seemed to consider it. After a few seconds,
