Loki is in far more control of the current situation than anyone suspects. With Mjolnir broken, Thor may not be able to transform into Donald Blake again, which is a grave concern for both of them. Balder must negotiate with Dr. Doom, Kelda must say goodbye to her beloved to move with her people. Meanwhile, Volstagg is lamenting the transformation of the Asgardians into "distempered, clouted, vacant-eyed, toad-spotted, strumpt-born codpiece sniffers" (among other things) when Hogun and Fandral convince him that another course of action is available.