Freyja taught the Aesir spells which Odin shunned although it was useful to know about them.
Because of wars in Midgard and threats from the giants and Nidhogg, the Aesir wanted stronger walls around Asgard. A man offered to build such walls in a year and a day in return for the sun, moon and Freyja. Loki persuaded the Aesir to knock the man down to half a year. He would fail but they would get part of a wall free. The man accepted provided that he could use his stallion, Svadilfari.
Near the end of half a year, only the gateway remained to be built. The gods threatened Loki. A mare lured Svadilfari into the woods. The gateway was not completed. Odin told the man that he would receive nothing. (Surely he should have received something? But mythical beings act in extreme ways.) The man revealed himself as a foul-mouthed giant and Thor killed him. Loki, who had been the mare, returned with an eight-legged colt, Sleipnir, which he gave to Odin.
More happens. This chapter is extremely condensed. I will stop for this evening. Tomorrow I will be on a (very) short Zen retreat from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
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