Amazing. I’ve never seen any woman eat so ravenously. Never seenany woman eat so much, or drink so much mead.”“There is,” said Loki, “an obvious explanation.” He took a deep breathand watched Thor inhale another whole salmon and pull a salmon skeletonout from under his veil. It was like watching a magic trick. He wonderedwhat the obvious explanation was.“That makes eight salmon she’s eaten,” said Thrym.“Eight days and eight nights!” said Loki suddenly. “She hasn’t eaten foreight days and eight nights, she was so keen to come to the land of thegiants and make love to her new husband. Now she is in your presence, sheis finally eating again.” The maiden turned to Thor. “It’s so good to see youeating again, my dear!” she said.Thor glared at Loki from beneath the veil.“I should kiss her,” said Thrym.“I wouldn’t advise it. Not yet,” said Loki, but Thrym had already leanedover and was making kissing noises. With one huge hand he reached forThor’s veil. The maiden who was Loki put out her arm to stop him, but itwas too late. Thrym had already stopped making kissing noises and hadsprung back, shaken.Thrym tapped the maiden who was Loki on the shoulder. “Can I talkwith you?” he said.“Of course.”They got up and walked across the hall.“Why are Freya’s eyes so . . . so terrifying?” asked Thrym. “It seemedas if there was a fire burning inside them. Those weren’t the eyes of abeautiful woman!”“Of  course not,”  said  the  maiden who  was  Loki  smoothly.  “Youwouldn’t expect them to be. She hasn’t slept for eight days and eight nights,mighty Thrym. She was so consumed by love for you that she dared notsleep, she was so mad to taste your love. She’s burning up inside for you!That’s what you’re seeing in those eyes. Burning passion.”“Oh,” said Thrym. “I see.” He smiled, and licked his lips with a tonguebigger than a human pillow. “Well, then.

Freya’s Unusual Wedding