Three sisters from Norse mythology who loosely control the past, present, and future (roughly corresponding to the “Fates” of other European mythology). Urdr, the oldest sister, rules the past, Verdandi, the middle sister, oversees the present, and Skuld, the youngest sister, foresees the future. The sisters are in charge of the world tree where Shadow undergoes Mr. Wednesday’s vigil, and they protect Urd’s Well, a magical well that has the power to restore Laura’s decomposing corpse.