idst of this wood was a cave, at the mouth of which sat an ancient
giantess, gnashing her teeth at all who passed by.

This seeming giantess was none other but wicked Loki in disguise, but
this Hermod did not know.

As the Asas came near, she greeted them with shrill laughter, and
asked them if it was dull in Asgard that they came thither to her iron
wood. But they answered that they came not for gibes but for tears,
that Balder might be saved. Then she laughed louder and cried:

"Is Balder dead? And do ye come for tears?
Weep him all other things, if weep they will:
I weep him not! let Hela keep her prey."

And with these mocking words she fled to the dark recesses of her
cave, repeating again and again:

"Neither in life, nor yet in death,
Gave he me gladness.
Let Hela keep her prey."

Heavy were the steps with which Hermod returned to Asgard, and when
they had heard the news of how one creature had refused her tears, the
eager faces of the Asa folk grew dark with woe, for they knew that
never more would they see Balder--Balder the Beautiful.

But the future days brought peace to the tormented soul of Hoder, the
innocent cause of all their grief.

For there was born to Odin a child who grew to his full size within a
few short hours. And on the first day that he arrived in Asgard he
fared forth with bow and arrow, and one of his shafts found mark in
the heart of Hoder.

And so, from henceforth, the blind god and his twin-brother are
together in the realms of Hela.

CHAPTER XIV

How Loki was Punished at Last

_This is the tale the Northmen tell of how Red Loki
was punished at last for his sins._

When the Asas knew that it was Loki, disguised as Thok, the
giant-woman, who had refused to shed the tears that would have won
Balder's release, they determined to bear with his presence in Asgard
no longer.

So with many a hard word and ugly look they drove him forth, bidding
him never enter those gates again.

But the Asa folk were still sad and heavy of heart: for at every
moment the gloom that lay over the city reminded them of the loss of
their bright young Balder.

AEgir, god of the sea, saw their forlorn condition, and he prepared a
great banquet in the caves of coral that lie underneath the sea, and
bade all the Asas attend it as his guests.

"That though for Balder every guest
Was grieving yet,
He might forget
Awhile his woe in friendly feast."