The blinding silver-blue light gave me hope that we had made it to the bifrost. The numbness of my limbs prevented me from determining if the swipe I'd seen coming had landed.

I let myself float in the nothingness, trying to come to terms with my own death. Monster from Jötunheimr or poison shutting down my organs while I lay helpless in the hospital. Neither choice was on my list of top ten ways to kick the bucket.

The jerk pulling me out of my passive state wasn't welcome, but it wasn't unwelcome either. I stumbled over my feet and fell to my knees. Looking up, I found Mercy leaning over me, concern written on her face.

"If you do that long enough, your face will freeze like that," I muttered.

The Valkyrie frowned. "You must be okay. You are being snarky."

I shrugged, scrambling to my feet. "I'll be snarky until I'm in the grave," I warned. "It isn't a good indicator of my well-being."

She rolled her eyes.

I looked around, recognizing the area. "Hey! We're back at Valhalla. Yay. Full circle."

Mercy nodded. "I figured this was as good a place as any to regroup. Better than most, in fact."

I nodded, suddenly feeling the strain of our grand tour. I hobbled a few feet, exaggerating my exhaustion. "Race ya."

Mercy shook her head. "You would lose."

I nodded. "Yup, but you'd feel better."

She put her arm through mine, and we climbed the hill to the hall of Odin. She pushed me through the doorway without preamble.

"You rest," she said. "Then we continue."

I nodded, making my way through the tables to the room I'd rested in before. It looked the same, and I suddenly felt comfortable.

When I was rested and refreshed, I made my way out to the table where I'd spoken to Mercy and Rade... Had it only been a few days ago?

I shook my head. Time was so fluid and subjective here, I wasn't sure.

Rade was nowhere to be found, and Mercy had already set up a platter of meats, cheeses, fruits and flatbread. As I plopped down beside her, she pushed the food toward me and filled a pair of cups with a fruit infused water.

I ate, knowing it was more about feeding my spirit than anything else. The familiar act of eating, though, gave me a sense of calm and rightness in the world. Mercy simply watched and waited.

I took another swig from the cup and smiled at her.

"Better?" she asked.

"Much. It's amazing how one can need a snack even without a body." I grinned.

Her laugh was more relaxed than I'd heard from her in a while.

"So what was that thing?" I asked. "The naked cat creature?"

The Valkyrie shook her head. "I've never seen that one before. I don't know. It seemed... wrong." She frowned. "I've encountered many jötun, many monsters, all around the world. That one was... odd."

I frowned, but Mercy had already changed the subject.

"You said you needed to do something?" she asked. "Or you had an idea?"

I nodded. "I have some knowledge in my mind, but not easily accessed." I caught her curious look. "Skald and the Well of Urdr... You know, that kind of thing. I need to try to access that knowledge, I think. But I'll need quiet time to do so."

"Okay," the Valkryie said. "Just use the room and wherever else you would be comfortable doing that. Let me know when you are done. I'll spread the word that you aren't to be disturbed during that time."

I nodded. "It might take a while," I warned.

Mercy smiled wryly. "Remembering can be like that."

I sat on the bed piled high with furs, wriggling a little to get comfortable. I was reminded of doing this same thing on a hard plastic bench in a jail cell. The chill had kept me from going under for longer, but I'd finally managed it.

I'd gone through a small portion of the memories Huginn and Muninn had given me, hoping for a clue then as now. Over and over, I'd pulled the overwhelming amount of sensory information up, sifting through it for clues. It had taken hours, but I'd gotten enough to guide me when I'd needed it.

Now I needed a similar miracle.

After a while, I felt myself drifting away. I followed the natural path my mind took as it entered the semi-conscious space between everything.

A wave of numbness washed over my limbs and up my neck and jaw. I felt myself falling, free falling, falling into nothing, falling into everything. When I knew I was partially out and able to stay there, I tugged my mind in the direction I wanted.

I recreated the scene. Me, crouched in the roots of Yggdrasil itself, speaking to the Norn. She gestured at the pool of water so close to the well of knowledge where Odin had gleaned the Runes and the spells they created. The physical manifestation of several of those were on the chain around my neck.

I looked down into the water, unsure of what would happen. I remembered the lights and the voices, and I tugged softly on those memories.

Sights and sounds flooded my mind. I struggled to pick out individual pieces. They were too many, too fast. And the experience ended.

I breathed and refocused the tiny conscious part of my mind back on the task. I recreated the scene. Me, crouched in the roots of Yggdrasil itself, speaking to the Norn.

The memory came easier this time. Easier and more quickly. I plucked at bits of color and sound, but they were too many, too fast. And the experience ended.

I breathed and refocused my mind back on the task. I recreated the scene. Me, crouched in the roots of Yggdrasil itself, speaking to the Norn.

The memory came easier and more quickly. I grasped at bits of color and sound, but they were too many, too fast. And the experience ended.

I breathed and refocused on the task. I recreated the scene, crouched in the roots of Yggdrasil itself. The memory came easier and more quickly.

I grasped an image, though the sound was too muted to hear. Isabel led me to the man in the suit. Her assistant hovered behind her.

They were too many, too fast. And the experience ended.

I breathed and refocused on the task. I recreated the scene, crouched in the roots of Yggdrasil itself. The memory came easier and more quickly.

Isabel introduced me to the man, Mr. Lytle. Her assistant hovered behind her. Leon, his name was.

And the experience ended.

I breathed and refocused on the task. I recreated the scene, crouched among the roots. The memory came easier and more quickly.

I was speaking to Mr. Lytle. We were talking about economics theory and practice. Isabel had disappeared from the scene. I ate spice cake.

And the experience ended.

I breathed and refocused on the task. I recreated the scene. The memory came easier and more quickly.

I spoke to Mr. Lytle. Isabel moved to another corporate guy. Leon brought us spice cake. Mr. Lytle choked. I passed out muddy water.

And the experience ended.

I breathed and refocused on the task. The memory came easier and more quickly.

Leon brought us spice cake. Mr. Lytle choked. Leon brought in a bag of Fuller's earth. I passed out muddy water.

And the experience ended. I breathed and refocused on the task.

I spoke to Mr. Lytle. Nearby, a pair of protesters spoke about their gardens. One of the women spoke with a heavy Asian accent that I couldn't place.

"You have to be careful with it. Mulching Adelfa will poison the vegetables."

She showed her smartphone to the other woman.

"Oh, yes."

And the experience ended. I breathed and refocused.

"Mulching Adelfa will poison the vegetables." She showed her smartphone to the other woman.

"Oh, yes. That one is very toxic. We call it-"

And the experience ended. I refocused.

"Oh, yes. That one is very toxic. We call it Oleander."