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PROLOGUE

Two men in a room of many doors One tall in his robes, stern, ence, the other shorter, very lean, his hair a shock of surprise, his garb a changingthe eye

The short led sound as likely to kill birds in flight as to bring blossoh

“I have su to hold the other in place, though his hands are at his side

“A fine trick, Kelem”

“You know me?”

“I know everyone” A sharp grin “You’re the door-e”

“And you are?”

“Ikol” His clothes change, tattered yellow checks on blue where before it was scarlet fleur de lis on grey “Olik” He smiles a smile that dazzles and cuts “Loki, if you likey”

“Are you a god, Loki?” No hureat and terrible concentration in stone-grey eyes

“No” Loki spins, regarding the doors “But I’ve been known to lie”

“I called on the most powerful—”

“You don’t always get what you want” Alot me”

“You are a god?”

“Gods are dull I’ve stood before the throne Wodin sits there, old one-eye, with his ravens whispering into each ear” Loki soes”