Page 94 of Storm of Desire
"But surely she wouldn't think you would challengeher."
"You don't understand," Árdís cried. "I shouldn't have been able to do that. But now I have... I'm a threat to her, Haakon. My mother will have felt Chaos warp the land, and if she doesn't, then Roar will tell her. And yes, she will know that given time, I could master the magic only she commands. Of course she'll see it as athreat."
"She's yourmother—"
"Giving birth to Rurik, Marduk, and me meant she'd fulfilled the contract she owed my father." Árdís shook her head. "I know when you think of the word 'mother' you see your own. And I understand why, because Brunhild is the kindest, sweetest woman Iknow—"
"When she's not harassing you for babies." The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. He couldn't forget what she'd said last night about being unable to give himchildren.
Árdís paused. "If that is the worst thing your mother can do, then you know nothing about horriblemothers."
"And your mother doesn't want grandchildren?" He couldn't fathomit.
"Not if they're not purebred. Adreklingchild would be slaughtered before it could draw breath." Her fist pressed against her chest, as if she missed the ring. Her voice dropped to a whisper. "It would be an insult to my bloodlines to birth a half-breed. She'd probably kill metoo."
He froze, feeling the words wrap around him likeice.
She'd said it might be difficult for her to go into heat and give himchildren.
But had she been frightened,too?
"I'm not strong. I cannot fight her, not like my brothers can." Árdís's fingers curled in his sleeve. "I wasn't born to be a warrior. I onlywanted...."
"What?"
"To be safe," she whispered hoarsely. "To befree."
His arms tightened. He had the feeling he knew exactly what she could not say. She'd been abroad in the world. And she'd found him. Suddenly her curiosity about his life when they first met made so much sense. She'd lingered there, beyond when she'd known she should. She'd stayed in his arms, when she'd never intended to doso.
She'd marriedhim.
And then she'd suddenly left him, without a word. Without agoodbye.
He feltbreathless.
"Why did you leave me?" He captured her face in both hands. "Why? If it tears you apart somuch?"
Tears glimmered in her eyes. "You stupid fool, have you notguessed?"
She kissed him suddenly, with a storm of passion. Straddling his hips, she pushed herself into his lap, her fists curling in hishair.
It was everything he wanted. But it wasn't enough. He wrapped his fist around her braid, and drew back. "I want to hear it from yourlips."
"Haakon." She moaned and rocked against him.“This changeseverything.”
He paused. He'd heard those words in his head, as clearly as if she'd spoken them out loud. "What does itchange?"
Árdís's eyes shone like glittering diamonds as her tears obscured the topaz depths. "Because she would havekilled you. My mother would have killed you, if she came for me and found me in your arms. She would have salted the very earth your village stood upon until nothing remained, not even the memory of your family, or its name. I had to leave. I had to leave and I had to make sure you would never, ever come afterme."
* * *
She was right.
It changedeverything.
Haakon paced in front of the fire, glancing at her now and then. Árdís sat wrapped in his cloak, watching him with an expression he'd never seen on her before:defeat.
"Tell me," he said hoarsely. "Tell meeverything."
