Page 75 of Storm of Desire
Haakon stared at her.Don't doit.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, as she fought to place the ring in the curl of thedreki'sgreatclaws.
"I have gold in my saddlebags," he snapped. "I can fetch it for you, in exchange for thering."
Thedreki'sclaws closed around the ring, and it vanished from sight. "Keep your gold, mortal man. You have nothing to tempt mewith."
"Then what would tempt you?" he demanded, stepping right up to thedreki'sface.
"Careful," thedrekisnarled. "Or I'll ask for yourheart."
You already haveit.
"Haakon, no!" Árdís grabbed his wrist. "We'll leave, great lord. Please don't take offense. He doesn't know what he'ssaying."
"I—"
"He wants to hurt me," she hissed. "Because of my father. This is revenge, nothing else. Don't make itworse."
Rain dripped down his lips and chin. He glared into thedreki'seyes. "Whatwouldtemptyou?"
"A black diamond. A king's crown. The Holy Grail. The heart of a kraken." Fáfnir smirked. "Yoursoul."
"For a silver ring?" Haakon demandedincredulously.
Thedrekirested its head on its claws. "What is the price you would pay for it, mortal man? What is it worth toyou?"
Everything.
"Don't," Árdís warned, her eyes wide as she shook her head at him. "Please, don't agree to anything he says. You don't know what you're doing. It's just aring."
Haakon's nostrilsflared.
It was not just aring.
"Now begone, peasants." Fáfnir's eyes blinked slowly in the night. "Before I change my mind... and take both yourhearts."
14
The dooron the shepherd's hut banged shut as the wind tore it from Haakon's fingers. Dust covered the floor, and there was a cold emptiness to the hut that hinted it had been long abandoned. Little wonder. It was right on the edge of Fáfnir's territory. He'd probably eaten any sheep that dared stray closeenough.
Haakon tossed his bags and bedroll on the ground with a carelessness he'd never displayed before. He peered through the windows, frustrated at the renewing of thestorm.
"Damn it," he muttered, locking the door. "We're so close. But we'll get nowhere today." The horses were both exhausted, the conditions were worsening, and both he and Árdís had ridden through most of thenight.
Árdís turned in slow circles, surveying their surroundings. They'd left Fáfnir's territory an hour ago, and they'd barely spoken aword.
Perhaps she could sense his anger andfrustration.
Or perhaps she was exhausted. Dark circles shadowed her eyes, and she looked hollow, as if handing over the ring had drained her more than he'd haveexpected.
For a moment, a conflicting twist of sympathy curled throughhim.
You're imagining it. She didn't struggle to hand over the ring at all.She practically threw it at the ancientdreki.
"Tomorrow we should arrive at Dúrnir's. You'll have the bracelet off, and you'll be free to leave," Haakon said. There was a fire already laid out, thank goodness, and it flared to light with the swift strike of one of his matches. "You should get some rest while youcan."
Árdís flinched. "What are yousaying?"
