Another Derek was the last thing I needed, but it was the best case scenario. It wasn’t what we had to deal with.

Yes, he did release the dwarf, who grumped off with Kanesha as escort.

“So, if you’re not a valkyrie, what are you? You look the part except for her.”

He was glaring at the door.
“She is my partner. And I am not a valkyrie, no, but I do work for Odin in some ways.” I had a feeling that if I told him who I was he’d jump me and I’d have to hurt him.

“You don’t have me outnumbered any more.”

“I doubt you could take me.”

Of course, he tried. And I hadn’t quite noticed him wriggling to get a cane behind the chair. The cane, of course, had a sword blade in it.

Fortunately for me, it was shorter than my blade and a non-edged rapier. I batted it away and out of his hand. “So…you’d attack somebody who works for Odin?”

“I’d attack a liar, now that her backup’s gone.”

My eyes narrowed. “How do you know I’m a liar?”

“Because you’re sleeping with another woman and a nig…”

He didn’t get to finish the slur before I hit him with the flat of my blade. He was lucky at that point that it was the flat. “Good job you said that after she left, or she’d kill you, and I’d have let her.”

“Odin isn’t served by perverts and negros.” He did at least avoid the slur this time.

“Odin can be served by whoever he chooses.” I knew people like this kid existed. I was disappointed to actually meet one. Skinheads thinking they could tell Odin what to do.

“And he’s made…”

I smiled. “Have you ever met him? Have you ever even met any of his servants?” I hoped Kanesha wouldn’t come back any time soon.

“I don’t need to.” He was still on his feet, but backing towards the balcony door.

The temptation to tip him over the edge was high. “After what you’ve done and those insults, what…”

“Are you going to demand satisfaction or something?”

I laughed. “No, because I could beat you with one hand tied behind my back.”

Which was, of course, the point at which he tried the same binding spell he’d used on the dwarf on me.

There’s a big difference between a dwarf and even an immature goddess. I batted the spell aside with my off hand and his eyes widened.

“I,” I said finally, “am Siglaugr Lokisdottir, daughter of the flame. And I have had quite enough of you.”

Thruor would probably have come to this point faster.

“Demon!” he yelled. And charged again.

This time I batted him aside. With the flat again. “I’m choosing not to kill you because you aren’t worth the explanations.”

He glared at me.

“Stand down.”

He tried another spell. This one threw ice at me, set hoarfrost on the carpet. He was definitely losing his security deposit.

I stepped towards him again, all set to stop messing around with the flat, when Kanesha came back in the door.