Page 131 of Storm of Desire
"That's not true," Rurik murmured. "If you defy your father thenhe'llhave no choice but to face me. You want Malin to be safe? I'm the only one who can keep her out of his hands. Your choice, Sirius. Stay off the field of battle. Defy your father. And both your brother and your... Malin mightsurvive."
"You don't know what you're asking," Sirius called as they both stepped away from him.Damn them.He wasn't a fucking hero. Amadea had made certain of that thirty yearsago.
Árdís held out her hand toMalin.
"Your choice," Rurik said softly as power blurred around him, leaving only a powerfuldrekibehind.
Chapter 23
Battle arrivedon the wings of a storm, just as the sun began its steady decline toward thehorizon.
Árdís landed on the grassy plain that marked the edge of Rurik's territory, and Haakon slipped down from her back, looking faintly queasy. Thick brewing clouds darkened the west, and she could see lashes of lightning flickering there and a hint of wings. A brief shimmer of her power, and she stood next to Haakon in her mortal flesh. He handed her the bag with herclothes.
"Magnus fought in hisdrekiform," he murmured, his hard gaze raking thedrekiin the air opposite them. "You truly think they'll change to mortalshape?"
"There's too many of us," she replied, dressing swiftly. Lightning crackled above them as Rurik landed with Freyja and Malin astride him. "Drekidon't fight in numbers. There would be simply too much damage, and more than tendrekiclashing would tear the earth apart, and fuel a set of storms that could change the weather patterns of the entire world. We'd send a sudden winter hammering down through Europe. It's a pact between the different courts that even my mother dares notbreak.
"It will be a challenge, one-on-one," Árdís added. "Mostly physical, to keep magic out of the fray as much as possible. One of them will challenge Rurik. He's the strongest male here. Another will possibly challenge me. Or your claim uponme."
"Your customs make no sense," hemuttered.
"You're talking about an entire race of arrogant creatures driven by conceit," she pointed out. "Honor is everything. To defeat another in battle is a source of pride, but how can one be proud if you destroyed a puny mortal? It's an uneven battle. It means nothing. It isshameful."
"Watch your back today," he said, helping her into her lightweight leather bodyarmor.
He wore a shirt of chainmail, with a ruff of fur on his shoulders. He looked dangerous, and vicious, and allhers.
Árdís kissed him quickly. "I will. You watch yours. I've managed to shield you psychically, so they cannot overcome you the way they did last time. You're difficult to kill, but notimpossible."
He grinned at her suddenly. "Nothing's impossible to kill. I plan to add to my tallytoday."
She rolled her eyes and sniffed. "Dragons don't count. They're practicallywyrms."
"Tormund thinks he's going to cut down moredrekithan I." Haakon drew his sword with a steely rasp. "I have a point to prove. But Iwillwatch my back—and yours—and tonight we'llcelebrate."
Men.
She wished she had half his confidence. Her eyes lifted to the skies.One, two, three, four,five....
"She's not here," Árdís whispered, searching the group for the distinct emerald green scales of her mother. Her heart lifted as hope began to tease through her. "My mother didn'tcome."
A singledrekisoared in slow circles in the air above them. Keeping track of the forthcoming battle for Amadea, nodoubt.
"Why would they not bring their greatest weapon?" Haakon murmured, his eyesnarrowing.
"They'redreki," she said, as if that explained everything. "And she can wield her powers from adistance."
"Her powers are stronger if she's closer. Isn't that what yousaid?"
Árdís shrugged. "Maybe she's afraid ofme?"
No. That didn't feel quite right. Árdís frowned. Her mother would be wary, but there was more than one way to handle a threat.I will definitely be watching myback.
They joined the others, watching as Tormund, Gunnar, and Bjorn rode up behind them. The enormous ballista lumbered along on a wagon driven by Marek, just in case the tides of battle turned, but the three men were here to fight byhand.
It evened out the numberssomewhat.
A lonedrekistood on the hill overlooking the grassy plain. She didn't need to look closer to know who itwas.
