Part 2
The first light of morn was already coming when the Traveller stirred himself, rose, shook the dust form his cape. He picked up his shield and great spear and was about to be off when he heard the falling of heavy feet and turned to see three giants approaching him. "Look what we have here!" said one giant, "A worm, come up out of the dust! Do you suppose it has any gold to fill our purses?"
"I do not know," said the second giant. "If you have gold, little man, worth our trouble, give it to us, and you may be on your way!"
"Pay us not," said the third giant, "and we'll stomp yoou back into the ground where you belong!"
"Great boaster," said The Traveller, "you may be three times my size, but do not think I am without strength! I am about to call forth my Power for this day. I would advise you to be gone. No man takes from a Child Of The Lords by threat! As the customs of this land are different, I will forgive you your threat this time, but if you are still here, after I have drawn power, I will put you down."
The giants began to laugh. "The little worm will put us down!" one said.
"With his puny weapons?" another said. "Oh, we tremble!" the third roared.
The Traveller drew his sword and held it aloft.
"In bright of day," he cried, "in dark of night, that those who worship Godden might, beware the Power of Morning Star's Light!"
There was a great crash, worse than any thunder, and a golden light descended from the sky down upon the Traveller and again and again it came. And when the final flash passed, The Traveller had changed. He was no longer a human, but a winged being with shiny, silvery skin! In rapid succession first his sword then his spear, then his shield took flight. Each found their mark in the forehead of one of the giants, lodging there, and the giant fell backwards, still as death. The Traveller walked over and retrieved his weapons while the giants moaned and groaned.
"I need money for my travels," he said, "let's see what you have in your purses." He took a share from each giant, filled his own purse, then started on his way. Thor, who had witnessed all of this from the next hilltop, looked in amazement as The Traveller approached.
"Greetings!" he said, "Who is it that travels through Odin's country and asks not his permission? Is it not still custom to request a King's permission before treading on his soil?"
"Yes," The Traveller said, "we call it now 'getting a visa.' I am Gerard, Servant Of The Lords Of Hades. I would seek Odin's consent to travel through his land and I would ask his favor to solve the problem that I have. Would Thor, the strongest of his sons, take me to his Father's abode, that I may speak with him?"
"You are welcome, Gerard," said Thor. "You are well named! You are the spear-thrower, indeed! This will be a great tale to tell in Valhalla as we dine this eve. Step up with me. We must make haste! It is a day's journey to Gladsheim."
"Tell me," said Thor as his chariot raced off, "how is it you change shape like that? I have seen my brother Loki do it, but I did not know others could."
"I cannot draw power on my human form," said Gerard, "I must change into that form to energize, then I can change back to a more pleasing form to move about. It's called transmutation. I must do it once a day to receive energy from my physical form that lives in Midgard."
"It sure made the giants stand back and take notice!" said Thor. "I'll be a safe distance away whenever you do it!"
Page 3