Page 37 of Storm of Desire
But what was a full day on foot, compared to a single hour in the skies for mostdreki?
They wouldn't be looking for her on the ground, true, but it still made her feel entirely toovulnerable.
The blasted bracelet around her wrist made shape-shifting impossible, and it was becoming very easy to hateit.
"I swear to all the gods, Haakon, if I ever get this off...." The threat died as she slipped on the slope and almost fell flat on her face. Árdís grazed her palms as she slammed onto a boulder, and lay there, gaspinghard.
"Princess?" Marekcalled.
How on earth did mortals manage to live their entire lives in thisform?
It would be easier to just return to court and accept herfate....
What difference did it make if she was bound to mate Sirius tomorrow night, or at some indeterminate date in the future? She'd made it clear she would not invite him into her bed, and if Sirius had found his twin flame, then he wasn't going toinsist.
Haakon would vanish on the winds of a tide in a matter of days, and he'd be safeforever.
But Marek would beslaughtered.
And her mother would never allow her out of her sightagain.
No.
"I'm fine," she called, as Marek tried todismount.
She couldn't accept the mating bond with Sirius without at least attempting to break free of her mother's chains. Rurik had done it. Marduk had done it. It was time she threw them offherself.
No matter what it costsyou?
Cursing under her breath, she forced herself back to her feet. She'd deal with otherdrekiwhen they became a problem. She was made of sterner stuff than this. She wouldn'tmelt.
She was, however, freezing. And her back ached from the heavy oiled pack she carried. She was fairly certain she'd be moaning about her feet too, if she could feelthem.
"Quit your whining," she muttered, trying to haul the sealskin hood up over her forehead. A single trickle of water slithered down her neck and between her cleavage, which was a sudden shock to her drybody.
Nothing important was ever gained without a littlediscomfort.
And Marek had sufferedworse.
She slogged through acres of mud, gritting her teeth and trying to hide as much of herself beneath the oiled sealskin she wore as possible. Reykjavik had to be nearby. It all looked different on the ground, but surely they wereclose.
"How far?" shecalled.
"Three miles,perhaps."
They had to movefaster.
For the day was swiftly giving over to night, which meant her head start would soon vanish as her mother started to wonder where shewas.
And Haakon had promised to sail with the dawntide.
* * *
"You wished to see me?"Sirius called as he strode through the enormous golden doors that marked thedrekithrone room. The room stood empty now, apart from his father, aunt, bastard brother and a handful of guards, but Amadea preferred to make her demands from a position ofpower.
The summons had come almost half an hour ago, and he'd stalled as long as hecould.
His father scowled down from the dais, his hand resting lightly on his sister's shoulder. Queen Amadea regarded Sirius with glittering eyes, but she lifted a hand to rest her fingers on her brother's and saidnothing.
