Page 122 of Clash of Storms
"Steal into theZinicourt, Tormund," he mocked, mimicking Haakon's voice. "Rescue a prince. It will be fun, they said."
Catching a glimpse of something coming from his right, he turned and head-butted another guard. There weren't many of them—most of the queen's loyaldrekihad flown out of Hekla to bargain with Rurik—but the few that were here were purebloodeddreki. Difficult to take down on the best of days. The bastards just kept getting up.
Swinging his axe in both hands, he buried the hilt in the guard's chest. "And stay down," he growled, as blood splashed across his trousers and the guard fell.
"What are we waiting for?" Elin cried. "My prince?"
The prince's smoky blue eyes came back into focus, and Andri stared at her for a long second. Elin blushed. Andri's face softened.
Tormund had seen this before.
Of course the prettiest girl in the area would only have eyes for the prince. He supposed those long black lashes and sulky mouth only made the youth seem like some hero of old.
Waving a hand between them to break their stare, he sighed when they both blinked at him. "Later, lovebirds. Where's your brother? Andyoursister? They're supposed to be here by now."
Andri finally looked grim. "There's been a complication. Roar found them. Sirius said they're taking one of the portals in the Hall of Mirrors. He said we should go without them."
"But what about Malin?" Elin whispered.
"Trust me," Tormund gave her a little nudge in the back. "From what I saw at the battle of Krafla, Sirius isn't going to let anyone touch your sweet sister."
Elin flashed him a relieved smile. "I'll go activate the portal then."
Andri cast one last longing look behind them as she scurried off.
"Something you're not telling me?" Tormund muttered, under his breath.
"He's in no condition to fight, though he won't admit it," the prince muttered. "I saw what they did to him in the throne room."
This was all going to shit. "Freyja is powerful. Rurik seemed to think she could handle a fewdrekiwarriors."
"It's not thedrekiI'm worried about. There's only one portal they can take from the Hall of Mirrors if they want to remain in Iceland. And it's guarded by a monster."
Drekling hurried past them. Tormund could see the eerie green glow of the portal lighting up ahead of them. He looked at it longingly. Then back at Andri.
Monster?
One of these days he was going to have to have a stern discussion with his sense of honor. He hefted his axe. "Go save your people. Get the girl out. Steal a kiss from her, for me. I'll watch your brother's back. Just what type of monster are we talking about?"
* * *
Sirius limpedto a halt in the middle of the Hall of Mirrors. Malin squeezed his hand, determined not to let him out of her sight again. "Which one holds the portal?"
Sirius ground his teeth together. "There."
Through the mirror, she could make out the steaming blue waters of a lagoon. Steam hissed off the waters. The sun glinted an unearthly blue through the ice surrounding it, and snow swirled as wind swept over it.
Malin swallowed. "The portal opens near the Gateway to Hel? You're taking us to Jörmungandr's territory?"
"I was thinking I could feed him. Preferably a side helping of bastard brother."
"Is this your answer to every monster? Feed your enemies to it?"
He gave her a long, slow look. "Monsters need friends too. I am making friends."
"Hopefully, he doesn't eatus."
The enormous sea wyrm had somehow crawled across the lands, and taken over the steaming hot waters of the lagoon. Wyrms were distant relations ofdreki, birthed by the Great Goddess all those years ago. Tiamat had given life to the dragon race, the leviathan and the wyrms, before her son had destroyed her. As her body and soul scattered to the four winds, her spirit had used the magic located deep within the heart of a volcano to create her ultimate children, thedrekirace. Fragments of her soul lingered in each and everydrekiborn.
