Chapter one
Sifa
The Time Is Near
“You’retoobeautifultobe a shield maiden.” The voice that spears at me from down the hall is loud, full of bluster.
Got him.
Even in a land filled with Valkyrie, some men can only see us as bedmates.
It makes them very predictable.
Which comes in handy in my job.
Turning, I give the male, Thrym, a smile instead of the smirk he deserves for being so easy to snare. He’s one of the tavern’s wealthier patrons, an older male who may have been handsome in his youth. The drinks that flow freely inVanatia—and an ugly demeanor—probably stripped him of his looks years ago. Thrym’s known to bed any woman who’ll have him. He’s not nearly careful enough for a man with his wealth and appetites.
“Can I help you, Meistari?” I force my tone to be flirty, although I want nothing more than to sneer my disdain at his advance. Instead, I saunter toward him, my hips swaying in a rhythm that can mean seduction or swagger. I let the rest of my body tell him which.
“Maybe I can help you,” he responds as he closes the distance between us and reaches out to caress my shoulder with his sweaty fingers.
It takes all my strength to resist the urge to wipe off his touch. Even after all these years, my skin still crawls whenever someone touches me that way, as if my body is theirs to abuse. I don’t know if that angst and anger will ever go away.
But I don’t let him see that side of me. I can’t. I’m finally starting to get jobs from Bevin, the most important overseer in the town. Thrym’s got information Bevin wants. If I don’t get it from him, I may not get another chance. And if I can deliver, Bevin will trust me with his more sensitive work, bringing me closer to the country’s ruler, Konungr Beron.
More importantly, I’ll be a single step away from the Konungr’s wife, Dróttning Nerthus, the true source of power and knowledge in this land. Even the dragons bow to her, heeding her call before the calls of their riders. She controls the information I need.
If I can get to her, I might be able to find my way home at last.
I need to get Thrym alone. So I reel him in. “And what do I need help with?” My voice is low, sultry.
“I could help you find my room.” His face shifts to an expression he probably thinks is attractive. I hold back the groan that wants to come out. “Make sure you never have to work again.”
“What if I like what I do?”
“You’ll like my money more. I’ll make it worth your while.”
I let my gaze track down his body, pausing at the growing lump in his pants. It’s not much to brag about, and I’d wager good money it’s all he has to offer.
“Yes, I bet you would,” I whisper before looking back up at his face. Holding the smile I know will keep him hooked, I rest a slender hand on his arm. “Maybe I could use a little extra coin this week.”
He nods and reaches behind me, placing a palm on my ass as he pushes me forward. It’s all I can do to stop myself from grabbing a blade and taking that hand from him. Instead, I hold my tongue as I let him guide me down the hall, my dark curly hair bouncing on my shoulders with each step. There’ll be plenty of time for knives when we get into his room. I can’t very well leave a bloody path for just anyone to follow.
Thrym directs me to one of the tavern’s better rooms, but I’d have been surprised if he stayed anyplace else. This mark likes to flaunt his wealth. The problem is he’ll do anything—betray anyone—to replace what he throws away. He hasn’t gotten punished for that yet.
Today his luck changes.
Bolting the door behind us, my lusty suitor leans against the wood and loosens the cord around his waist, his gaze landing on my tits and never straying. As soon as his pants are loose, a clumsy paw reaches inside to squeeze what he finds there.
“Strip,” he snarls, all hints of the seductive tone he’d feigned in the hall gone.
Well, that’s not gonna happen.
Sauntering toward him, my fingers tugging on the belt hugging my hips, I drop my skirt just as I get close enough to touch him. It’s black leather, perfect for hiding the knives on my thighs while giving me easy access to them. Before he can move, I’ve got one against his neck. He isn’t staring at my tits now.
“What the fuck is this?”
From the corner of my eye, I see a hand reaching down, so I grab another blade and shove it through his palm, driving it into the wood. His eyes bulge so hard I almost laugh, and then he squeals like my cat, Thor, when Toffer pisses him off.
