GENESIS - THE BEGINNING. Book 1

CHAPTER 5 ... Asgard Valhalla, King Odins Hall

Rambling solid blue granite dwellings, hewn from blocks of granite, wood and silver, blended in with nature. Green lawns stretched between houses and business areas, and, , after careful planning and planting, became part of the exterior of a house itself. Travel was by horse or cart. Children ran about playing their games. Loud laughter. The odd cry of pain from a scuffed knee. Birds of every kind roosted in the trees close to passersby carrying packets of feed. Peace. From all over the realm they came to Asgard to do business or visit family and friends.

That changed within moments as shouts of alarm echoed back and forth across the vast city. Well-heeled boots stomped over gardens and flowerbeds. Dust settled on clothing hung up to dry. Wash lines, picket fences and small trees came crashing down to be trodden on and pulverized by hundreds, then thousands and ultimately, millions of shod boots as the huge military might converged on Valhalla, the centre of Asgard.

The once beautiful and calm surroundings became a shambles as mothers grabbed their daughters and ran for safer ground. On command, the platoons came to a shuddering halt. The sound of metal swords and locked spears echoed through the clinging dust.

Mothers hushed and hid their children, grabbed their own swords to protect hide and home.

Calm descended. , Sweaty, eager, silent warriors, covered every road and alley well beyond the great wall. Death was but a spark away.

***

"YOU WILL NOT SPEAK TO ME IN THAT TONE WOMAN. FOR YOU WILL COME TO REGRET IT."

Odin glared out of one eye at the woman's temerity. He sat on a winged and solid gold throne. Nine golden steps led down to the silver tiled floor. He used this sparsely furnished hall to survey and assess his creations.

She ignored his ouburst, "I will speak to you any way I wish. And not only will you take it but you will also accept it" Freya said without raising her voice. Outwardly, she was calm but her armour shone brighter and brighter as, she seethed with anger. Odin squinted.

"Through your inept bungling and incompetence we are standing on the verge of Ragnarök." She hissed and made an about turn. Her armour lost its bright glare. A grim smile spread across her face. "Or, my King, would it be wiser to call a meeting with the counsel if you seek vindication of the forty thousand or so charges charges I plan to lay before them."

"Heaven help me woman. I have no idea what you are talking about. What charges? What in hell's name are you on about?" He rubbed his forehead to get rid of a sudden headache. Dressed in a one-piece white toga, one would not think him to be the most powerful god in the Aesir worlds. He was a scrawny man with wavy, unkempt, long black hair, black eyebrows above solid black eyes. Nor was he handsome.

Freya stood before his throne, arms folded, tapping a foot on the tiled floor.

"Midgard..."

Odin stared at her and waited.

"Midgard, you fool!"

"I'm warning you for the last time Freya, keep a civil tongue about you. What about Midgard?"

"The time discrepancy between Midgard and the rest of the Aesir worlds? Do not tell me it slipped your mind because I know you have not forgotten. You conveniently neglected to warn us about it."

"Time discrepancy? What's wrong with the time discrepancy woman? How else are we supposed to get enough Einherjar if their measurement of time were the same as the rest of the Aesir worlds?"

"It affects us in many ways. Ways you and the other High Kings* must have known about."

Her armour glowed.