Page 104 of Storm of Desire
"Remember that little discussion we had about choices? Count me in." Tormund's heavy step fell in behind him. "This sounds like a legendary quest, and while Haakon Dragonsbane has a certain ring to it, Tormund Sigurdsson is missing a littlesomething."
"Certainly not humility," Haakon said, with a tight hawkish smile that faded as he rested his hand on Tormund's shoulder. "There's no one else I'd rather have at my side. Make sure you don't get yourself killed. Dead legends can't reap the rewards. Think of all the hearts you mightbreak."
"I don't intend to die." A flash of white teeth. "I have good solid Danish kroner to spend, and Árdís owes me a fistful of emeralds. And acrown."
Haakon rapped on the door to the passenger cabin, where Marek was stillrecovering.
"You think thedreklingcanhelp?"
"I think thedreklingknows more about the queen's court than any of us, including my wife. Her mother guarded her fiercely, whereas Marek was part of the brewing revolution. He knows who wants to throw off the queen's yoke. And he might know some of the queen'sweaknesses."
"Clever," Tormund said, rubbing his hands together, as Marek opened thedoor.
18
What are you doing?"Malin demanded as Sirius strode to the edge of a sharp jutting cliff. She was tired and sore, and so far there'd been no sign of Árdís. They'd spent a day in Reykjavik, trying to track the princess down after a young man said he'd seen her get on a ship. Sirius had left Malin in an inn while he scoured the countryside on wings. He'd picked up the trail outside of town, and came back for her, and they'd ridden across half the countryside in circles, while Malin stubbornly kept her mouthshut.
"Why is she moving so slowly?"He'd sounded utterlyperplexed.
"There's a man with her. Justone."
And:"What in Tiamat's name is she thinking to venture intoFáfnir'sterritory?"
He'd finally given the horses to a farmer, with coin and instructions to hold them for him, and led her up here to the top of thecliff.
She had a bad feeling about hisintentions.
"I'm changing form. I'm done with this slow meander, and this body." Sirius paused, his black cloak fluttering around his heels. "We'll hunt her from the air. We know where she went, but we can't follow her. Not in mortalform."
Malin glanced up, to the flapping shapes on the horizon that were not birds. Roar and his fellow hunters had all wheeled toward the volcanoes that graced the interior of Iceland, presuming, perhaps, that the princess would have sought allies. But they'd been circling back around allmorning.
Unsuccessful. She smiled on theinside.
Sirius held his hand out toward her and growled. "Do you want them to find herfirst?"
"No." Malin's good humor faded and she eyed his hand. "I've never flownbefore."
Something shifted in his expression. "Never?"
"Did I forget to mention the one time I finally changed shape and managed to flap my ways into the skies?" she snapped. "No? Oh, that is right. It neverhappened."
"Ah." Faint amusement crinkled the edges of his eyes. "I get to be your first,then."
A flush of heat went through her. Surely he hadn't meant that the way itsounded...?
"I can stay here," she protested. "You'll be unencumbered withoutme."
"I swore I'd deliver you to Rurik," he replied. "And that's what I intend to do. You're not safehere."
"I shouldn't think you'd be soconcerned."
Dropping a bag at his feet, he swung the cloak off his shoulders. "I keep mypromises."
"A sense of honor, my lord?" A startled laugh burst from her.Fromyou?
Sirius's eyes narrowed, and his fingers went to the buttons on hisshirt.
What is he—?Malin stared at him for a second, but when he began to slip the shirt from his broad shoulders, she suddenly comprehended. Sirius paused, as if aware of her eyes, and gave her a very smokylook.
