There was a long silence. Kevan sneaked a glance at Odin and the older god's puzzled expression gave him more confidence than Thor's frown.
The silence stretched into minutes.
"Enough of this," shouted Odin. "Give up, you idiot, so he can tell us the answer."
"All right," Thor said sullenly. "I give up."
Elation flooded over Kevan. "The apple is the sun," he said, "the blanket is the sky, and the money is the stars." He grinned happily at the expression of rage on Thor's face. "Here's my third and last riddle," he said. "A long white barn, two roofs on it, and no door at all, at all." He almost held his breath as he waited.
Thor looked around the table as though he thought someone there might know the answer and signal him. But the other faces were as blank as his own.
"By Gimli," shouted Odin, "I think he's got you, son. And a good thing, too. It's high time that daughter of yours was getting out and learning a thing or two. Go on—confess you're licked."
His face red with anger, Thor nodded.
"It's an egg," Kevan said triumphantly.
The other gods around the table leaped to their feet and slapped Kevan on the back in token of victory. He had just started to take a drink of mead, however, and the result was that he choked.