Page 8 of Competing Against Thor

I stepped through the portal that led from Earth to the god realm and let out a satisfied sigh. There was something in the air here that was different, and it made me glad to be back home instead of back in my hotel room. And not just because my muscles were aching after a day in the studio. I was used to working hard, particularly in a forge or workshop, but it was something else to have to do it in a small, unfamiliar space.

And with someone so distracting nearby. I knew I shouldn't be paying any attention toDaisy Chainsnext to me, but it was impossible not to. She was so dedicated to her work, I could see it in every move she made towards the metal.

I pushed the thought aside. I couldn't let myself be distracted by a mortal. That was always a good way to get myself hurt.

A part of me just wanted to head home and crash in bed, but the rest of me needed to unwind, which was how I ended up heading into Kvasir's bar.

He nodded to me and started pouring me a cup of mead without me even asking.

"What is it this time?" I asked as he set it down in front of me.

"Cherry," he responded.

I raised an eyebrow. "It's noMead of Poetry."

"That was a one-time thing," Kvasir responded. "And it wasn't anything special. People just get talkative after they drink it, and if you ask the right questions, they sound like scholars."

"Disappointing," I admitted. "I much prefer the version where it turns anyone that drinks it into a wise scholar."

Kvasir snorted. "You know I died in that story, right? TheMead of Poetrywas made from my blood."

I looked down at the cup in front of me. "Maybe I don't want cherry mead today."

He chuckled and went over to serve one of the others who had come into the bar.

I took my drink over to the corner and sat, nursing it and thinking back over my day. I was pleased with how my sculpture had turned out, but it definitely hadn't been the best of the ones created. There had been several others that I thought fit the theme ofmythical creaturesbetter. Hopefully, next week's challenge would be better for me.

I finished my mead, only for Kvasir to set a bottle down on my table without me asking for it. I smiled at him in thanks and refilled my cup. The cherry was good. Not his best, but I wouldn't know what that was until I tried them all, and whenever I thought I'd found it, he went and got a load more flavours. I was sure he did it on purpose to make sure I kept coming back.

The chair opposite me scraped back and I looked up to find Hel already sitting down. "Hello, Uncle." She gestured for the bottle of mead.

"I think we're too old to bother with that, don't you?"

She laughed. "Maybe. I'm not going around calling Lokidaddyany more."

I grimaced. "Please never let me hear you say that again. You're the ruler of Hel, you shouldn't be calling anyonedaddy."

"That's what you think," she muttered under her breath.

"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that for my sanity," I responded. "You're my niece."

She shrugged. "Didn't used to be a problem. Loads of people married their nieces."

"And they probably shouldn't have," I pointed out.

She must have decided that I was taking too long to hand her the bottle, and grabbed it herself, pouring a generous glug of mead into a cup. "I can't change history. And the afterlife takes care of itself," she said. "Which you well know."

"Someone has to rule it in name."

"Lotsof people rule it in name. Do you have any idea how impossible it is to get things done when there are so many gods trying to do one job? And don't get me started on the whole Hades and Persephone drama, I am so over that." She downed her mead in one and refilled her cup, proving the truth of her words.

"What's happening with them?"

She stared at me. "You don't know? They broke up decades ago, and Hades has been sulking ever since. And trying to have a conversation with Persephone about anything other than Hades is impossible." She flicked her light blue hair over her shoulder. "Seriously, they talk about each otherwaytoo much considering they claim that they're no longer together. It's only a matter of time before they make the move."

"Interesting. So that's what I should expect if I see Persephone while she's judging? Everything is going to remind her of Hades?"

"Oh, your competition thing?" Hel asked.