Page 46 of Storm of Desire
"But unexpected," she stressed. "The last time I fled, I went to the continent. There's no reason for us to head north. There's nothing there—except your sorcerer. We have to be unpredictable if we're to escape unwantedattention."
"Surely they'll expect you to flee toward yourbrother."
"But not from this direction. I just have to make it onto the lands Rurik has claimed. If they broach his territory, it's an act of war, and he'spowerful."
Far too many days of riding ahead of them, with her at his side. "What about yourfriend?"
"My name is Marek," the servant's eyes glittered watchfully, "and I will help protect theprincess."
He'd be lucky if he could even fall at an enemy's feet if they attacked, judging by the look of him. Haakon assessed him. "You won't make it more than a day's ridenorth."
"I can," Marek said fiercely, "and Iwill."
"He's unwell," Haakon said, turning the question over to Árdís. "The ride will either kill him, or he'll slow us down. He needs rest and ahealer."
"Marek, he's right. You have a fever." Árdís pressed her hands to her temples. "They won't sense him if they board the ship and he's hiding. He's adrekling, not adreki. His lack of magic is a boon in this circumstance." She looked up. "Could he sail with yourmen?"
Gunnar watched him from the ship, as if wondering what they were talking about, and a thought occurred. "He can rest in the passenger cabin. I'll send the ship north, to meet us in a cove near where the sorcerer dwells. If anyone sees it leaving Reykjavik, their search will turn up nothing. Then you can hand me the ring, I'll board the ship, and you can fly east. The subterfuge mightwork."
Árdís bit her lip thoughtfully, and he was struck by how familiar an expression itwas.
Haakon shook himself. He couldnotallow himself to fall for hercharms.
"It might work," shewhispered.
He nodded abruptly. "Stay out of sight while I unload thehorses."
She obediently tugged up herhood.
"Oh, andÁrdís?"
"Yes?" She looked upwarily.
"The second you have your wings back, I leave with the ring. Until then, I'm your guard. Nothingelse."
"Agreed," she saidsoftly.
It was the only way he could protect himself from the inevitable heartbreak, for it seemed she wasn't the only one skirting thetruth.
His heart still belonged toher.
A part of it alwayswould.
But he didn't dare let herknow.
* * *
Malin hitthe stone floor of the cell and rolled, turning to face theprince.
Sirius loomed in the middle of the cell door, his broad shoulders almost filling the frame. There was no way past him. No way through him. And the implacable expression on Sirius's face told her she wasn't going to be able to distracthim.
No, he was just like his father. Stellan and the Queen sneered at those like she who were born with impure blood, and couldn't manage the transition to fulldrekiform. Malin knew thedrekiwas within her—she could feel it whisper through her veins at the sudden implications of danger, and sometimes she almost imagined she could make flame wield to her whim—but it wasn't enough for those who preferredpurebloods.
Like the prince beforeher.
If not for the old laws the Loremaster insisted had to be maintained, Malin knew she'd have been outcast from the clan, or worse,made tovanish.
She had the terrible suspicion she was going to discover where it was certaindrekivanishedto. She found her feet, her knees bruised. There was no way in Hel she was going to greet her death on her knees. Not for him. Nor for his bastard of afather.
