The tavern was alive with warmth and noise, the smell of roasted meat and spilled ale hanging heavy in the air. Mortals laughed and shouted over card games, their boots scuffing the floorboards, oblivious to the small booth tucked away in the corner—a booth that only gods dared occupy.
Hephaestus sat stiffly against the wooden bench, one hand wrapped around a mug she hadn't touched. Her crimson hair gleamed in the lamplight, but her golden eye remained sharp and calculating.
Across from her lounged Loki, a foxlike grin plastered on her face as she swirled her glass of wine lazily. She seemed perfectly at home here, stretching her long legs under the table as if she owned the place.
"So," Loki began, her voice dripping with mischief, "you're telling me you want my kids to play guard dogs for an entire day while you and your… friend disappear?"
Hephaestus's jaw tightened. "Yes."
"Oh-ho~. I can do that. But…" Loki tilted her head, her red hair falling over one shoulder. "…it's gonna cost you. Triple the usual fee."
"Triple?" Hephaestus said flatly.
"Mm-hmm. My Familia is the best in Orario. Even one day of protection is worth a small fortune. And besides…" Loki's grin widened as her eyes glinted with amusement. "…I might use that money to order a shiny new toy from a certain metal-obsessed redhead. Or maybe some custom armour for my children. Or both!"
Hephaestus gave her a flat, unimpressed look. "You're extorting me."
"I'm a businesswoman," Loki corrected sweetly. "And a brilliant one."
Before Hephaestus could respond, a soft laugh floated from behind her.
"Ladies, really. No need to squabble over something so small."
The two gods turned to see Freya, silver hair cascading like moonlight over her shoulders, gliding toward their booth with a smile that could make mortals forget their own names. She slid into the bench beside Hephaestus without waiting for an invitation, her perfume subtly shifting the air.
"I'll handle the security of the church and the shop and even live some extra for your own workshop," Freya said, her voice smooth and unhurried. "My children will keep watch I make sure nobody touches anything which they shouldn't."
Hephaestus blinked. "…You'll handle it?"
"Mm." Freya rested her chin on her hand, a glimmer of amusement in her violet eyes. "The Freya Familia has enough eyes in the city to watch a single church without effort. Your forge can rest easy, Hephaestus."
Loki, however, narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "We're away?" she echoed. "You're making it sound like you two are sneaking off together. Let me guess…" Her grin turned positively wicked. "…Luthar's involved."
Hephaestus said nothing, her expression neutral.
Freya only smiled wider. "Of course. We're having a little private outing."
Loki blinked, leaning forward. "…Private outing?"
"A double date," Freya said lightly, as if commenting on the weather. "A very secret, very exclusive trip. Just the three of us…and maybe next time you saw us would already be married."
The tavern seemed to pause for a moment. A nearby adventurer dropped a fork, and the clatter snapped Loki out of her disbelief.
"You—" Loki sputtered, pointing an accusatory finger at Hephaestus. "—are going on a double date with Freya and a walking scrap pile? And even plan to marry him!"
"Well, marriage with Luther doesn't sound that bad, it's just I haven't seen his face," Hephaestus said.
Freya's smile turned downright luminous, as if savouring Loki's irritation. "Oh, Hephaestus, I think we are going to have enough time to remove that mask, by the way let's go and talk somewhere else I don't think we need to make Loki jealous"
"Jealous?!" Loki's tail—if she had one—might have been bristling. "I just want to know what in the nine hells you're actually planning! I am not aware that those who don't understand Luther might be interesting, but he isn't an ideal partner for marriage."
"That shouldn't be your problem," Hephaestus interrupted, voice sharp but quiet. "We leave tomorrow. Originally, I wanted to hire your children, but it looks like we can only use Freya's children, plus my children, which should be enough."
Loki froze mid-sentence. Her instincts told her they were telling the truth… and also that she was completely out of the loop. For a goddess like her, that was intolerable.
" what nonsense are you talking why don't we talk it again I think I could reduce the price by 50% + I don't think you should bother Freya's children those guys are not reliable " she said while squinting she didn't want the free money run away if see new the Freya's is also involve she wouldn't coated the three times the price.
Freya sipped her wine, unbothered. "No need, we are just going for one day and if somebody really does do anything, I can only pray for their souls once we come back."
Hephaestus finally took a sip of her own drink, as if punctuating the conversation. "We only need your children if you insist on being paid. Otherwise, Freya's people can handle everything."
"Tch…" Loki leaned back, a sly grin curling her lips. "…Fine. But next time you sneak off with that red-robed weirdo, I'm coming along. I want a front-row seat—and maybe a few pointers. Gotta know the best way to… wear him out if I ever get my turn."
Freya's laughter chimed like silver. "We'll see, Loki. We'll see."
By the time the meeting ended, the plan was set:
Freya's Familia would cover the church for a day.
Loki would pretend to be grumpy but secretly sniff and keep the notes if something really happens.
And Luthar would make sure nothing went wrong. To ensure his journey with the goddesses went smoothly, he worked in the church's basement, shaping new devices with precise, patient hands.
After hours of quiet labour, he examined the two small constructs. They pulsed faintly, runes and circuits glimmering in the dim light. A final adjustment clicked into place.
Silent. Perfect.
Author's note: there is lots of going on when writing new chapters which have affected the speed of writing I am even planning to send back Luther in dungeon world to expand the different type of stories and going to other words and also working on a solid villain the only issue is I am not feeling energetic always low on energy 2 appoint I don't know what to do story have a problem as the number of subscriptions are dropping the mood isn't that great plus spending entire day on writing a single chapter isn't fun basically don't know what to do.