Welcome to CHAPTER 43 of the Kinsmen Die podcast, home of fantasy fiction based on Norse mythology that’s written and read by me, Matt Bishop.In this podcast I read my first novel, Kinsmen Die, one chapter at a time. And, with each episode, when it makes sense, I provide some commentary about the source materials I’ve referenced in the text.In chapter 39, we were with the Jotunn warband Helveg as it descended into a huge cave beneath...or within...a glacier. Using a device that looks like a divining rod, they found a doorway to another place. Vaft went through it -- and stayed on the other side.In chapter 40, we were with Frigg who tended to her wounded husband, Odin, after he sought counsel with the taciturn Norns and then fought a mysterious water spirit. This was the preamble to the council of Aesir at Ithavoll. There were a lot of white moths fluttering around.In Chapter 41, we were with Odin at the council. Everyone at the magical fruits, the more you eat the more you...uh...get younger. But, Odin and Frigg only ate half of their fruits while Odin dropped one into a bag and sent Geri away with it. Ignoring all the white moths, the council discussed Baldr's dreams -- the reason Odin was summoned back in the first place. Odin said he would figure it out with giving specifics. They also discussed the attack on Hals -- the how's and why's. Nobody could figure it out. But we did learn a bit more about the world and how much Odin hates the Jotunn. Next the discussed the broken, scorched "device" that Vidar had been working on. They thought that maybe it was that stick that prompted the attack.In Chapter 42, we were with Loki. Turns out, he's been around since Odin descended along Yggdrasil to Ithavoll. Loki left the council in moth form, then he transformed into an owl…and then he passed through a doorway, which was a pool of water, on one of Yggdrasil’s branches, and reached Utgard. He then paused to think a bit and then went to meet the Skrymir of the Jotunn. As a reminder, Loki's two sons Vali and Narfi are with Helveg. Loki watched "the work" occurring -- sleeping Jotunn being dragged out of the frozen lake and brought into the nearby cave. He then saw many Jotunn in a huge cave far below Utgard just kinda chillin and waiting for orders. We learned, also, Loki's nefarious plan: Murder Baldr. Why? We're still not entirely sure, but it sounds like revenge. Loki expected the Skrymir to say that the Jotunn would NOT attack when they'd promised...which kinda ruined Loki's plan...but he did not expect the Skrymir to ask him to proceed with Baldr's murder...which would also ruin Loki's plan because, as Odin says in the Havamal, only the live man catches the cow.This week, we're back with Odin.Please visit the podcast's public site for the episode transcript, which includes the entire chapter.Please review and/or share the show -- it is a huge help! And, please feel free to contact me: mattbishopwrites (at) gmail (dot) com.You can find me online at: https://mattwritesmyths.com/The show's public site is here: https://rss.com/podcasts/fensalirpodcast-kinsmendie/

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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