Kevan thought for a minute and then suddenly remembered something. "I believe so," he said. "One of the days of our week is called Thursday. I believe that it was originally named after Thor." "Just the thing. When you leave here--wait, do you come from a particular province in the mortal world?" "Not exactly a province. I'm from New York City in America. It's the largest and greatest city in the world, located, I might add, in the greatest country in the world." "Of course," Loki said amiably. "Now, when you leave here you will stop at the first station you come to and send Thor a ravengram. You'll tell him that you're the American ambassador and--" "But I couldn't say that," protested Kevan. "It's not true." * * * * * Loki encouraged him. "You're an American, aren't you?" "Yes." "And didn't you tell me that this Alviss had sent you here as his ambassador to get Thrud?" "Y-yes." "Well, then, you're an American ambassador," Loki said with finality. "Tell Thor that you want to see him about presiding at a dedication ceremony for this day. It's been so long since a mortal asked Thor to preside at anything he's bound to fall for it. That will get you invited to Belskirnir." "I guess I could do that," Kevan said doubtfully. "But getting out will be harder than getting in, won't it?" "Nothing to it," said Loki with confidence. "Do you know any good riddles?" "Riddles?" repeated the amazed Kevan. "You mean things like--like 'What flies forever and rests never?'" "The wind," Loki said promptly. "That's the general idea, although you'll need to get newer ones than that. The really old ones Thor will know. Can you manage some more modern ones?" "I'll try," Kevan said. He remembered that his mother had often read riddles to him as a child and he thought he could recall some of them. "About three good riddles should be about right. When you get to Belskirnir, the first thing you'd better do is tip off Thrud why you're there. Then you challenge Thor to guess your three riddles. If he fails--and he will if you use good ones for nobody ever accused Thor of being bright--then he lets you take Thrud away." "That sounds all right, except for one thing. What if Thor doesn't accept the challenge?" "I'm coming to that," Loki said thoughtfully. "At the same time you send the message to Thor, you send one to my father." "Your father?" Kevan asked, wishing he could remember more of the old legends. He resolved to brush up on them if he kept this job.