Page 34 of Storm of Desire
Which left only those who had been born in Árdís's father's court.Herpeople. Those she'd fought so hard for, until her mother finally found the one thing guaranteed to drive heraway.
"You want to tell my father?" He laughed bitterly. "Then go ahead, Árdís. How will you feel when the blood on your hands is that of someone who lovesyou?"
It struck herdeeply.
"I won't say a word." Backing away, she held the knife between them. "I'm going. You get your wish and so do I. Allow me enough time to get as far away as I can before you rouse thealert."
"Judging from the presence of thedreklingin the next cellar, I think the alert shouldn't be too far away," he said softly. "Just howdidyou get pastHaldor?"
Árdís froze. "Whatdrekling?"
He sighed. "I can smell the brand on him, Árdís. And you've both been making enough noise to make it easy to track you. You're playing a dangerousgame."
"You're not going to stop Marek fromescaping?"
"Father will be furious." Sirius's lashes obscured his eyes as he glanced down, fingering his dagger. "And I might be able to smell him, but it appears I didn't see athing."
Árdís released her held breath. "Why?"
A faint malicious smile kicked at the edges of his mouth. "Becausefather will be furious. And I don't particularly enjoy seeingdreklingburned alive. Just don't get caught. Stellan would like nothing more than to bring you to heel, and he'll most likely insist I do thehonor."
"I didn't know youcared."
"I don't." The Blackfrost gave her a dark look. "But if I'm forced to do his bidding, then my mate will never, ever allow me nearher."
Who could itbe?
For a second she felt an odd sense of kinship with him. Both of them were forced to play a role they despised. But she was taking her chance to escapeit.
"All you have to do is defy your father, just once," she whispered. "Then you could have it all. You're strong enough to challenge him. And if you don't like what they're doing to thecourt—"
"Oh, Árdís." A humorless smile stretched over his mouth. "If only we could all be so naive. My father has never been thethreat."
Árdís's blood rancold.
"And he's not alone." Sirius reached out with his hand, curling his fingers to snuff the flame of the torches. "Go. Before I think myself a fool for letting you escape. Before your enemies rise to tear you down. Go. And don't comeback."
She didn't hesitate anylonger.
Árdís hurried back to Marek's side, and together theyfled.
7
Gulls pinwheeled overhead,squabbling among themselves for scraps. Haakon watched as his men loaded the ship, helping to haul some of the heavier items aboard. The waters of Reykjavik harbor gleamed like the flat plane of a mirror, and ships bobbed in the water here and there. Rising over the town in the distance, snow-capped mountains tauntedhim.
Somewhere out there lay Hekla, several days ride to theeast.
It wasn't as though he expected to see adrekiin the skies, but some part of himhoped.
No matter what she'd toldhim.
But the sun was setting, and the ship was loaded. His men laughed as they slapped each other's backs and headed down the gangplank for one last night inReykjavik.
Twelve hours, and he would leave these shoresforever.
"Have you made up your mind yet?" Gunnarasked.
Haakon startled, and tore his gaze from the skies. "We sail with the dawntide."
