"Hmm?" Urd asked. "Oh, she uses it as a focus. When she gains control she won't need something like that," the words normally dismissive were said quietly. "Well, except for debugging the universe, and it works well for that, so the Almighty said to leave her be about it for now."

Belldandy moved to his other side and sat on the edge of the porch so she could speak softly and still be heard by him, one of her wings going around behind his back. It didn't touch, but there was still the sensation of a warm hug. And not the Olaf sort. "She is making a travel mandala. That will summon and beseech the gate to allow you passage."

"What exactly was your wish?" Urd asked, eyeing Skuld through narrowed eyes.

Unaware of all this, Skuld continued to sing and to draw what was becoming an increasingly complex design, each stroke, spiral, swirl, and dot exceptionally precise.