"Surely," said Odin, "not even the highest are free from
obedience to heaven's behests and the laws of right. I, whom
men call the Preserver of Life, have demeaned myself by
being found in evil company; and, although I have done no
other wrong, I suffer rightly for the doings of this
mischief-maker with whom I have stooped to have fellowship.
For all are known, not so much by what they are as by what
they seem to be, and they bear the bad name which their
comrades bear. Now I am fallen from my high estate. Eternal
right is higher than I. And in the last Twilight of the gods
I must needs meet the dread Fenris-wolf, and in the end the
world will be made new again, and the shining Balder will
rule in sunlight majesty forever."

Then the Asas asked Hreidmar, their jailer, what ransom they
should pay for their freedom; and he, not knowing who they
were, said, "I must first know what ransom you are able to
give."

"We will give any thing you may ask," hastily answered Loki.

Hreidmar then called his sons, and bade them strip the skin
from the otter's body. When this was done, they brought the
furry hide and spread it upon the ground; and Hreidmar said,
"Bring shining gold and precious stones enough to cover
every part of this otter-skin. When you have paid so much
ransom, you shall have your freedom."

"That we will do," answered Odin. "But one of us must have
leave to go and fetch it: the other two will stay fast bound