Page 12 of Storm of Desire
"Your wife?" said the man's incredulousvoice.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Haakondemanded.
Árdís caught a glimpse of the innkeeper, gaping at the pair of them as she pushed herself up, trying to right herself on Haakon'sshoulder.
"Let him be," someone else said gruffly, and she saw a massive redheaded man nursing a tankard in the corner. Her heart skipped a beat as she recognized Gunnar, one of Haakon's oldest friends—and the one man who'd never truly approved of her. "The girl stole something that belonged to him, and now he intends to get itback."
"I didnotstealanything—"
"Certain about that?" Haakon demanded, and Árdís craned her neck to glare athim.
Hisheart.
If they were beingspecific.
Or perhaps their weddingring.
The innkeeper scrubbed at his jaw. "If sheisyour wife, then I'm of a mind to grant you your privacy. But I'd like to hear it from the lady's lips myself, if you don'tmind."
Finally. A man who hadn't lost allsense.
Haakon lowered her against his chest, until her toes almost brushed the floor. "Certainly." His eyes gleamed. "Why not tell the good innkeeper the truth. Are you my wife,Árdís?"
Her mouth opened. Then shut. Curse him. She wasdreki. Shecouldlie, but the consequences might be catastrophic. Words were power, and when one was created from raw Chaos magic itself, to breathe a lie might reshape the air aroundher.
If she saidno, she wasn't his wife, she could cost Haakon his life, if her magic chose to interpret her words in such away.
One of the very first lawsdrekiowned was to speak no word that wasn't true, or pay the price ofit.
"Come," he taunted, clearly fully aware of her limitations, though it was doubtful he knew the why of it. "Tell the man the truth. I know you've only a limited acquaintance with it, but surely all you have to do is say 'yes' or 'no.'"
So beit.
"I am his wife," she told the innkeeper, giving in tofate.
"And he means you no harm?" the good manasked.
Árdís glanced up from beneath her lashes at her husband. "He means me no harm. He's not that sort of man," she said softly, for there was nothing else in this world she was certain of except for the nature of the man she had married. "He just wishes to... talk. We've beenestranged."
They stared at each other, and Haakon seemed almost surprised, though a new wariness lingered in hisexpression.
Anger she could handle, but not the hint of pain she saw there, as if he fought to guard himself againsther.
There was no point fighting this any longer. She needed to remove herself from town before her brethren tracked her down, and the only way she was going to get out of here swiftly was by succumbing to Haakon's wishes. Árdís gathered a handful of her skirts and strode toward the stairs. "Well?" She threw over her shoulder. "Are youcoming?"
A glance toward Gunnar, and then Haakon nodded abruptly, following on herheels.
"Don't think I suddenly trust you," he whispered, as they entered the darkenedstairwell.
His enormous presence loomed behind her. Despite everything, a thrill ran down herspine.
"I owe you answers, and I will give you what I can," she replied, suddenly weary of it all. "And then I must leave, before the others find me. And you will take this cursed bracelet off me.Agreed?"
"Agreed. This way." Haakon directed her toward adoor.
It wasn't until they were inside the room, and the door clicked shut behind them, that she suddenly felt the weight of consequence weigh upon her. It was clear he'd been staying in this room for a while. All his belongings were packed neatly, but the very air smelled of him. A hunting knife and oiled stone rested on the table in the corner as if he'd been sharpening the blade that morning, and the enormous fur-lined cloak on the bed bore hisscent.
Thebed.
