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I FOUND HIPPOCRATES FASCINATING as we discussed his medical theories and the processes he wished to fix. It wasn’t until a man stepped out of the building he had pointed to earlier and cleared his throat that Hippocrates stiffened and glanced over his shoulder.
“I’m sorry,” he said as he collected his things. “I should have been back, helping my father, ages ago.” He picked up the now empty tray and paused. “Do you have a place to stay?”
Stay?
My mind stalled. I had not considered that this mission would take more than a day. I slowly shook my head as my mind conflicted with my mission. I should whisk him off to Valhalla right now, but I could not muster the motivation to kill him.
“No,” I whispered.
He glanced over his shoulder and then took a deep breath before he focused on me. “Do you have money?”
Money. Ha. Odin didn’t send me with anything but the clothing on my back. The only thing that I had of value was my mother’s dagger, and I wasn’t hawking that for coin. I shook my head. “This is all I have.” I waved at myself, wondering what the hell I was doing. I should be reaping this man and going home, and yet I found I couldn’t. Not without a valid reason. And I hadn’t seen one yet.
But I certainly was going to look and if I found one, I wouldn’t hesitate.
He worried his lower lip for a moment. “Wait here. I will return in a few moments.” He didn’t wait for a response. He turned and rushed over to where the other man—his father I presumed—stood with his foot tapping impatiently. Although I couldn’t hear the hushed conversation, both men were animated enough for me to get they were not on the same page with whatever was being said. But the glances my way certainly confirmed I was the topic being discussed.
Hippocrates hung his head and nodded before turning on his heel and heading toward me. I climbed to my feet and faced him as he reached into his pocket, pulling out some coins. “Go to the tavern and tell them I sent you. This should get you a room for the night.” He took my hand and dropped the silver into my palm.
“I cannot take this,” I said, but he closed my fingers gently around the money.
“I’ll help you find a suitable place to stay if you choose to linger here in Kos.” He smiled at me. “And I would very much like you to stay.” He backed away with that smile that both thrilled and terrified me. And then he turned and climbed the steps, disappearing into the building behind his father.
I turned away with the money tucked into my tight fist. At least my hunger had been tamed with the bread, olives, and grapes. But soon enough my stomach would be growling again, and I would need sustenance. I just hoped it was enough for both food and bedding because it had been more than a millennium since I slept on the ground, and I still remembered how uncomfortable it was. I doubted I would get more than five minutes of rest even with a comfortable bed with all these heavy uncertainties swarming in my head. I also wished I had something more than just this skimpy outfit.
As I walked through town, looking for the tavern Hippocrates spoke of, I noted there weren’t any dress shops like back home where one could get almost anything they needed. The town had a few blacksmiths and some pastry shops, but nothing like the mecca that was Asgard.
Damn Thor and his misogynistic attitude. I would freeze in these clothes out in the open.
I spied the tavern, and the scent of fresh baking bread had my mouth watering. Food first, then lodgings. And then some serious reflection because as of this moment, I had disobeyed orders and would have to answer to Odin soon enough.
The moment I entered the tavern, all conversation stopped. Everyone’s gaze swiveled to mine. Anyone standing shuffled toward the walls or the farthest points away from me. Fear tinged the air with a bitter taste, and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.
“I am not one of your angry gods,” I said, although pretending to be might have its advantages. “I am just passing through, so please do not incense me with your fear.” My gaze swept the room, and many people seemed to relax at my words. But what replaced the tension had me second-guessing my announcement.
Their gazes reminded me of Thor’s. It was as if I had openly invited them to my bed instead of scolding them for their fear. I might need to put a few of them in their place if they dared to approach me. My back itched, but I ignored it. If I pulled out my wings, I didn’t know what these people would do. As it was, my outfit was enough to shake them; wings would likely drop them to their knees again. As I stepped to the bar, I wondered whether that might be the wiser choice rather than fielding advances.
“What can I get you?” The leering bartender reminded me of a few of the crooked and greedy shop owners in the bad section of Asgard that the Valkyrie had to crack down on every now and then to get them to deal honestly with the public. What was left of his hair was mangy, like a street mutt and his teeth when he smiled made me shiver in revulsion at the brown and black marks splashed across what once may have been white.
“Food and drink.” I placed the coins on the counter, pushing them toward him.
His eyes widened, and he smiled in a manner that made me suspect he was as greedy a bastard as I initially thought. I just wanted him to not smile because that truly would kill my appetite if I had to stare at his mouth full of rotting teeth.
“That should cover both food and drink, and lodging for the night.” I smiled sweetly as his gaze locked with mine. “Or I will introduce you to my good friend death.” I did not mention that Hippocrates had sent me. I had been in enough taverns on Asgard to hold my own.
He paled at my words, but his greedy eyes didn’t stop their assessment of me as he swiped the coins off the counter. “As you request.” He executed a half bow and hurried away behind the corner. Hushed whispers reached my ears, and I turned to stare at the crowd, who had yet begin to converse like they had been when I pushed through the door.
Before I could make a determination of foes in the crowd, the bartender returned with a plate of fresh bread and fruits, sliding it in front of me as he poured a strong-smelling liquid into a glass. He placed the mug next to the platter and gave me a nod. “When you finish, I will bring you to a room.”
“Thank you.” I dug into the bounty placed before me. This bread was fluffy and warm, as if it had just come from the oven. The fruit was sweet and satiated my thirst. And the drink...the drink was strong. Stronger than anything I drank on Asgard. This one made my limbs heavy, as if I had drunk an entire bottle of Asgardian wine.
I finished the food in the midst of hushed whispers, and then the bartender handed his apron to another behind the bar and came to my side. He gripped my upper arm as if he now owned me. It reminded me of Thor’s grip on my arm on the Bifrost.
I yanked from his grip. “Do not touch me,” I snarled.
I hadn’t anticipated his backhand, and it stung my cheek and rocked my head to the side. Red veiled over my vision as my fury ignited.
When I turned my gaze back to him, his eyes widened with surprise, as if he had expected me to fall with the power of his weak strike or perhaps blubber because the mean man hit me.
Oh, this fool had no idea who he was dealing with.
A growl ripped from my throat and my wings fluttered into existence on my back. I flexed them, spreading them out far enough to make everyone in the tavern drop to their knees.
The little bartender’s fear radiated through the room, mingling with the edge of surprise and terror gripping the patrons. But his fear also mingled with the acrid stench of urine. The front of his wrap darkened.
“You dare raise your hand to a Valkyrie?” I thundered, clenching my fists in an attempt to keep my temper from flaring beyond control. If I lost it, I would wipe out this entire bar in a matter of seconds.
The man stumbled back, catching his heel on a chair, and promptly fell on his ass. “I thought you were a whore,” he cried, as if that gave him the right to strike a woman.
I reached down and grabbed the front of his wrap, lifting him up off the ground. “You have no right to treat women like that. You have now made me into an angry goddess.” The stench of urine nearly made me gag, and I tossed him into a group of men, knocking them all over before turning on my heel. Before I marched out of the tavern, I seized the corked bottle of the drink he poured me, and took a fresh loaf of bread that had been placed on the bar for someone else, and then left with it, my hands full so I didn’t take out my aggravation on the nearest person.
I took flight before I let this anger burn into an uncontrollable fire. I wanted to rip that bartender to shreds for his actions. If a bartender on Asgard dared to strike a Valkyrie, he would find himself in Hel before he even blinked.
Why couldn’t Hippocrates have been as nasty as that bartender? That type of greedy bastard would have been easy to put down. But no, I had to deliver a saint instead.