Page 87 of Storm of Desire
"And theothers?"
One was the murky green shades of swamp slime; the other a vibrant red with a scar of gray across his grizzled shoulder. "Ylve and Balder. Ylve's mine. She's the more vicious, and I know how to fight her. We need them on the ground, and in mortalform."
"Easier said thandone."
She shook her head, hurrying toward the slim, leather-wrapped bundle on the back of Snorri. "We just need to make the air above us unsafe. Then they'll have to land, if they want a chance atme."
The chestnut shied away, but Árdís grabbed his bridle and glared into his beady little eyes. "Not now, you fat carpetbag. If you're good, then I won't let the baddrekieatyou."
She withdrew her sword with a steely rasp, and then let himgo.
"They won't seek to wait usout?"
"They'redreki,Haakon." She stepped to the middle of the opening into the rocky tor, and glared up at Roar. "To wait us out indicates they consider the pair of us a threat. Arrogance will be theirdownfall."
"A specific trait of the species, itseems."
"I heardthat."
A faint chuckle sounded. Then it died. "What are youdoing?"
"Are you ready?" she demanded, waving her sword to get thedreki'sattention. "And what do you think I'm doing? I am playing bait. You just focus on your shot. If you miss, then we'redoomed."
"I'm not going to miss," hegrowled.
"Now, who's beingarrogant?"
"I swear to thegods—"
"Roar!" she yelled. "You ugly, overbredbat!”
Roarscreeched.
A shiver ran down her spine, but she could feel something else rising up within her. An answering roar of fury within her that made her blink. She'd never felt herdrekibare its teeth like thatbefore.
"I think you got his attention," Haakon muttered, and she could hear him winding something behindher.
She shot him a ferocious grin, then returned her attention to her half-cousin. "You overgrown lizard! Your mother was a dragon! Why don't you come down here and fightme?"
Roar banked, his eyes narrowing to thin slits. She could sense him trying to communicate psychically with her, and refused the link. Letting that vile creature connect with her mind would be like diving naked into one of the stagnant pools that dotted thelandscape.
"Here he comes," she warned, taking a steady stepback.
"Got him in my sights. I need him as close as you can gethim."
Roar began to dive toward them, his wings tucking flat against his sides. Árdís's breath caught. If Haakon missed the shot, then she had little doubt she'd be plucked in those ferocious claws and dragged kicking and screaming into the skies. Her hand firmed on the hilt of her sword. If so, then she was going to do her best to shove her blade right between Roar'steeth....
"Get ready to get out of the way," Haakonwarned.
Árdís's knees flexed. Then she hesitated. She didn't want to make a move until Haakon was ready. If Roar dodged and the shotmissed—
"Árja!"
The graydrekibanked at the last second, his claws coming up to pluck her from theground.
"Now!" she screamed, and dove out of theway.
A crack sounded, and something flew past her ear. Roar hissed in fury as he saw her hit the ground and roll. Árdís's shoulder ached, and she landed against the base of one of the boulders, her view of Roar obliterated. All she could see was the metal rope grow taut, and a sudden scream ofrage.
