Hilde will be pleased.”
Hilde? Good thinking, Hartwin.
“It’s in the shrubs with my other clothing,” she said to Hartwin, then turned back to Etainen. “Obviously, I’m not a whore at all. I was just doing a favor for Hartwin with coin he gave me. I use money—not my body—to pay for information.”
Etainen finally released her wrist. “So your warriors would have their princess get such things for them? And what of Pompey’s other accusation, that you were asking about Siegfried the Fox?”
“I have a very close relationship with my men. Ooh, that sounded really, really wrong. Not that kind of relationship. The drinkish, friendly sort of relationship. As to the other accusation…well…Ulf was one of my sources.” She looked to her men and snarled a little like a Beast. When the pain hit, she snarled even more.
Lovely, now everyone definitely heard that.
“Something stuck in her throat.” Hedwig poured blueberry ale in Freya’s mouth until she choked. Freya flailed as she tried to push the ale away. The distinctive white wine taste told her it contained Delirious.
“At least the old general didn’t know your true name,” Faramund said.
Just the mention of a true name and anyone knowing it made Freya shudder and feel dizzy from what felt like bolts of lightning shooting around in her skull.
“She was very convincing,” Etainen said. “At least now I know where she learned her language.” He frowned at Faramund.
Hedwig slid sideways to let Faramund sit on her other side, managing to brush her breasts across his bicep. The chieftain’s men found other available seating.
“I shall have to watch you,” Etainen said to Freya, “as you seem the sort who will find trouble.”
Freya glared at him. “Me? Rome and Pompey will protect me. As long as I’m with Rome, I’m on the side of right, and I don’t have to be worried. Why, if it weren’t for Rome, I’d never have any peace of mind. I’d always be wondering if some pirate were going to climb in my window and take advantage of me, hold me down, and do all sorts of terrible, horrible things. I think I’d just faint.” She sighed, her hand on her neck, feeling dampness pool between her legs at the thought of Siegfried climbing in her window.
“Sounds like fun,” Hedwig said.
“How could you say such an awful thing?” Freya cried. “There’s nothing fun or funny about pirates. I know what is fun, though. Let’s do the most fun thing ever. Let’s play hnefatafl and talk about Rome.” Her teeth felt like they would shatter from smiling so hard. She placed a few gold coins on the center of the table.
“I see you’ve indeed had a unique education.” Etainen laid four gold coins upon the table. “A Roman tutor must have been pricey.”
“Chiron was Greek, actually. He showed up in my childhood, offering to tutor me in exchange for only food and a room.”
“Perhaps an even odder education than I’d thought. I would not have expected this from even a gratis tutor.”
“Yet here you are, gambling and drinking. So, you have the same education. I see our marriage will be blissful.” She met his stormy gaze as she set the hnefatafl board. Damn, the fluttering in her stomach when he looked at her. Why should she find him so attractive when he was being so mean?
“Did Chiron show you Quicksilver? Now that…that is a thing of beauty.” Hedwig had a wistful expression on her face.
“What’s Quicksilver?” Freya asked.
“If you have to ask, then you missed out.” Hedwig licked her lips. “Chiron and I, we moved in the same circles. He suggested me as a lady’s maid for Freya.”
Hedwig had slept with her tutor? Freya was fast becoming convinced, given Hedwig’s beauty coupled with her proclivity for handsome men, that she had slept with most of the men in the Otherworld.
Etainen shook his head. “So, your greatest concerns are drinking and gaming, Freya. No wonder you want to bring this poor excuse for a
Hilde? Good thinking, Hartwin.
“It’s in the shrubs with my other clothing,” she said to Hartwin, then turned back to Etainen. “Obviously, I’m not a whore at all. I was just doing a favor for Hartwin with coin he gave me. I use money—not my body—to pay for information.”
Etainen finally released her wrist. “So your warriors would have their princess get such things for them? And what of Pompey’s other accusation, that you were asking about Siegfried the Fox?”
“I have a very close relationship with my men. Ooh, that sounded really, really wrong. Not that kind of relationship. The drinkish, friendly sort of relationship. As to the other accusation…well…Ulf was one of my sources.” She looked to her men and snarled a little like a Beast. When the pain hit, she snarled even more.
Lovely, now everyone definitely heard that.
“Something stuck in her throat.” Hedwig poured blueberry ale in Freya’s mouth until she choked. Freya flailed as she tried to push the ale away. The distinctive white wine taste told her it contained Delirious.
“At least the old general didn’t know your true name,” Faramund said.
Just the mention of a true name and anyone knowing it made Freya shudder and feel dizzy from what felt like bolts of lightning shooting around in her skull.
“She was very convincing,” Etainen said. “At least now I know where she learned her language.” He frowned at Faramund.
Hedwig slid sideways to let Faramund sit on her other side, managing to brush her breasts across his bicep. The chieftain’s men found other available seating.
“I shall have to watch you,” Etainen said to Freya, “as you seem the sort who will find trouble.”
Freya glared at him. “Me? Rome and Pompey will protect me. As long as I’m with Rome, I’m on the side of right, and I don’t have to be worried. Why, if it weren’t for Rome, I’d never have any peace of mind. I’d always be wondering if some pirate were going to climb in my window and take advantage of me, hold me down, and do all sorts of terrible, horrible things. I think I’d just faint.” She sighed, her hand on her neck, feeling dampness pool between her legs at the thought of Siegfried climbing in her window.
“Sounds like fun,” Hedwig said.
“How could you say such an awful thing?” Freya cried. “There’s nothing fun or funny about pirates. I know what is fun, though. Let’s do the most fun thing ever. Let’s play hnefatafl and talk about Rome.” Her teeth felt like they would shatter from smiling so hard. She placed a few gold coins on the center of the table.
“I see you’ve indeed had a unique education.” Etainen laid four gold coins upon the table. “A Roman tutor must have been pricey.”
“Chiron was Greek, actually. He showed up in my childhood, offering to tutor me in exchange for only food and a room.”
“Perhaps an even odder education than I’d thought. I would not have expected this from even a gratis tutor.”
“Yet here you are, gambling and drinking. So, you have the same education. I see our marriage will be blissful.” She met his stormy gaze as she set the hnefatafl board. Damn, the fluttering in her stomach when he looked at her. Why should she find him so attractive when he was being so mean?
“Did Chiron show you Quicksilver? Now that…that is a thing of beauty.” Hedwig had a wistful expression on her face.
“What’s Quicksilver?” Freya asked.
“If you have to ask, then you missed out.” Hedwig licked her lips. “Chiron and I, we moved in the same circles. He suggested me as a lady’s maid for Freya.”
Hedwig had slept with her tutor? Freya was fast becoming convinced, given Hedwig’s beauty coupled with her proclivity for handsome men, that she had slept with most of the men in the Otherworld.
Etainen shook his head. “So, your greatest concerns are drinking and gaming, Freya. No wonder you want to bring this poor excuse for a
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