I told them most of what had taken place. Freya listened with horror-widened eyes, her kinsman in thoughtful silence.
"So Loki wishes you to join him," he muttered, when I had finished. "That is strange."
"I think it's only because he's lonely," I said. "He has nothing but contempt for these Jotuns, whom he means to use merely to crush the Aesir. I felt a little sorry for him."
Freya stared at me surprisedly. Frey's pale, handsome face tightened as he warned me.
"Heed not the arch-traitor's subtle persuasions, Jarl Keith! Never lived anyone who could harm man or beast by his silver tongue and handsome face as can Loki."
"Never fear," I reassured him. "My loyalty is with the Aesir. No tempting could ever change that."
I went on to tell them of what Loki had told me in his laboratory, explaining his intention to use his storm-cones against the Aesir.
"We must get back to Asgard and warn Odin, so he can prepare a defense," I concluded. "My flying ship is in the court on the citadel's riverside—"
"How can we reach your craft when we can't even get out of this locked cell?" Frey replied hopelessly.
"I think we can escape this cell, at least," I said. I drew from my pocket a handful of white chemical powder and showed it to them. "It's the chemical I always carried in my plane to melt ice from the wheels when necessary. I showed Loki this handful and then put it in my pocket."