baronessekat | 2014 writing challenge

I winced as the glass crashed to the floor and she cried out “Bring me another!” Her cry was matched by three similar ones, all accompanied by the shattering of glasses. What the hell was I thinking, bringing these three here. I liked this bar. It was just over a mile from my place, so I could walk here and home if I needed to and I generally got left alone when I came to have a quiet drink. I really should have found some biker bar on the east side to take them instead.

I shot a look across the dimly lit bar to the bartender, Finn. He just shrugged, reached for three more glasses and a bottle. Before he reached our table I glanced at the tall blond sitting next to me. “Olrun, do you think you can keep the carnage to a minimum? I live around here, you know. I’d like to not be banished from my favorite bar.”

She slapped me on the back with a laugh and I managed to catch myself before I knocked my forehead against the table. “No harm meant, little sister,” she said as she picked up a glass before Finn could set it down on the table. “Your barkeep knows we only want to show respect.” I looked up at Finn and he just offered a half smile and went back to behind the bar.

Inwardly I sighed at the nickname she called me. Technically, I was not her little sister. The only blood kin I had left was my older brother, Gi. But Olrun, along with Eir and Sigurn – her actual sisters, and I were more or less in the same line of work. So I guess we were Brothers in Arms. Only… you know… women.

I looked down at the rather impressive pile of broken glass at our feet. “Be that as it may, eventually someone has to pay for all the broken glassware, not to mention clean it up. Break one more and I’ll tell Finn to start serving you in a red solo cup or worse, a dixie cup. That goes for you two as well.” I glared at Eir and Sigurn and they just grinned at me and slammed back another shot.

“Denz, you are too serious,” Eir said as she slammed down her glass, this time not breaking it. “We had a glorious battle. Many of the darkness no longer walk this land. Brave soldiers now feast in Valhalla’s halls. You and they made your ancestors proud. Relax and celebrate.”

She poured us all another shot and pushed my glass towards me. I picked it up and knocked it back. When a Valkyrie tells you to drink, there is little you can do but comply. I was good and did not actually cough and sputter. But I did make a face. Never did like Aquavit.

I wasn’t kidding about the Valkyrie part. These there were honest to goodness, real life, choosers of the slain, spear and magic helmet Valkyries. They are tall, well taller than me and I stand at six-one, athletically built, blonde and down-right gorgeous. Personally, I find them rather intimidating, but my brother Gi, calls them “Scary as fuck”. But, he’s a guy, so take that as you will.

“It’s hard to celebrate the loss of a good chunk of my team. They were good men and women and didn’t deserve to die.” I winced, even to me that sounded maudlin.

Sigrun shook her head and her long blond braid swung behind her back. “It is not for you to decide when it is time to travel across the bridge. But know this, I personally escorted 3 to their rest and they were all content when they arrived.”

I shrugged. “Well, I guess that’s something. Still don’t like it.” This time I poured us another round and slammed my drink back, not tasting it.

“Girl,” Eir said affecting a drawl, “we has got to get you a man.” The other two laughed and nodded. “How long as it been since you last took a ride?”

I flushed and tried to look away. “Um…” I stammered, trying to remember.

Olrun nodded. “If you have to think for more than 5 seconds, it has been too long, little sister.” Her eyes scanned the bar and frowned to discover that rest of the patrons had wisely vacated once the glasses started flying and the girls started really drinking. Her eyes landed on Finn and motioned to him with her chin. “What about him?”

I blinked. “What about him, what? You mean Finn? No. No way.”

Eir turned her eyes to me. “Why not? He’s pleasing to the eye, looks like he could keep up and best of all, owns this establishment.”

I pointed to her. “There, that last one. ‘Owns this establishment.’ That’s why. As my granddad used to say ‘You don’t shit where you sleep and you don’t fuck where you eat.’ “ Granddad did have a way of turning a phrase. “This is where I come to relax.”

“I can’t think of a better way to relax than a good hard ride,” Sigrun said with a dreamy look on her face as she looked over Finn. Okay, yeah, he was good on the eyes. He was around my age, just a little taller than me, with short dirty blond hair that kept falling into his right eye, strong chiseled features and from the way his t-shirt clung to his torso, in good shape. But, no. I considered him my friend. And I don’t have one night stands with my friends.

“No,” I said firmly and with a tone of finality. All three turned to look at me and actually pouted. “Seriously, you’re going to pout at me? Are you 5 years old?”

The exchanged looks and shrugged in unison. “If not him, you need a different one,” Olrun advised.

“I do not need a man!” I cried out and then blushed at I saw Finn turn and look at me.

Eir grinned at me, mischievously. “A woman then? Have you taken to other pursuits and not tell us?”

I groaned. “No. No women. I don’t need anyone. Seriously. I’m good.” Why was I having this conversation? When did it become all about me?

“Cadenza Minuet Coda, it’s primal. You fight, you win, you ride. You are too tense, and too serious. We are going to get you laid tonight, whether you think you need it or not. “ I sighed and looked at Eir with a disgruntled glare. “If you do not want the barkeep, that’s fine. We will just have to go find someone else.”

“I really am not getting a say in all this am I?” All three grinned and shook their heads. I knew better than to argue. The only thing other than battle and soul collecting that Valkyries did was finding themselves a partner, or two, or three for a bit of bed sport. The less I resisted the less trouble they would cause in the process of finding me someone.

“Fine, but I need another drink first.”

Olrun laughed and poured us all another round. “Fine, but just one more. You’ll not have any fun if you are comatose.”

I sighed dejectedly and slammed back another shot.

topic: "just one more"