I whipped around. He was lying on the floor, twitching. Then I saw something that horrified me. His body was covered with green spray which the Midgard snake had spat upon him. Around his bandaged wounds, his flesh was turning black!
"The venom has entered his wounds!" I cried.
I had never thought that a snake the size of Iormungandr could be poisonous. No Earthly serpent larger than nine or ten feet possesses venom. But I had forgotten that Loki's science had developed it to its huge size.
Frey opened his fluttering eyes and stared dully at us. His lips moved feebly.
"I've fought my last fight… The poison of the Midgard snake has slain me…"
"Try to fight that venom!" I urged hoarsely.
"The Norns have spun out my long life-thread at last—" he mumbled. "I would that I could see Gerda before I pass. But Wyrd ordains otherwise." His blearing eyes grew strangely brilliant and clear for an instant. "Jarl Keith, you have been a worthy comrade. I leave my kinswoman in your care, for I know you love her dearly. Try to save her in the day that approaches — the day of Ragnarok."
Freya sobbed and the Aesir's eyes dilated, as though looking past us at some gigantic, terrifying spectacle.
"I see Loki riding in fire and storm to destroy Asgard — I see the Aesir dying — I see the whole land—"
His eyes closed abruptly, and his jaw sagged as his life departed.