Page 17 of Storm of Fury
“Chaos magic and charming, reckless princes.” Tormund sighed as he shot Haakon an exasperated look. “Why couldn’t you marry some plump, pretty blonde with a dozen goats? Why did you have to fall in love with adrekiprincess?”
Haakon flashed him a smile. “Because life is meant to be an adventure. Why settle for hearth and pasture when you can ride the storm?”
“Because you live longer.”
Bryn lifted Sýr into the air as the pair of them bickered. “Hunt,” she told the merlin, and let her fly. The bird soared into the sky with her wing feathers spread. She’d scour the forest for food before returning.
Today had been difficult—Haakon watched Bryn with calculating eyes, and the Blackfrost was clearly suspicious about the sword—but she was one step closer to finding Marduk.
And now she had to ensure she didn’t get left behind.
“Thank you for your help today,” Haakon told her, as if he was thinking of the same thing. “We’ll see you safely back to town and then be on our—”
“I want to come.” Bryn tugged her leather gauntlet off and tucked it behind her belt.
“We will travel far before we find Marduk,” the Blackfrost told her.
Haakon stiffened. “And this is not the type of journey for a—”
“Woman?” She arched a brow. “I can hold my own, Dragonsbane. And there is clearly money to be earned in this venture.”
“I wasn’t referring to your gender,” Haakon replied. “You’ve said yourself: You’re a mercenary. And we haven’t offered you more coin.”
Damn it. She’d been too eager. “I think I’ve proven I’m worth the gold. And you might need another sword.”
Tormund shot her a slow, steady look. “She might be useful.”
The cousins exchanged glances.
“We don’t travel by foot,” Haakon replied. “And this is a personal mission.”
“Why are you so interested in finding the prince?” the Blackfrost asked.
Bryn pressed her lips together. If they left her behind, she’d never have a chance to earn Solveig’s reward. “You want the truth? Marduk owes me good coin, and I want it.”
“You’ve met the prince?” Tormund’s eyes narrowed suspiciously upon her, and she knew he was thinking of her earlier comments about the handsome blond prince seducing half the women in town.
“Not face-to-face. I did a job for him up north,” she lied, “and he vanished before he could pay my employer. It was a lot of coin.”
“How much does he owe you?” Haakon asked her, reaching for the purse at his side.
“More than mere gold,” she told him, staring at him flatly as her heart kicked along. She was so close she could taste it. “And I will take the payment from him, and not an emissary.” She tipped her chin up. “You could say mine is a personal mission too.”
Tormund’s mouth pressed thinly together as if he’d tasted something sour.
It was probably a good thing. She’d seen him looking at her with the kind of interest she often saw in males. And though he had pretty brown eyes, a generous mouth, and a set of arms that made her look twice, she couldn’t help thinking it wouldn’t be a good idea to fall into bed with him.
This was a job.
And she was going to betray them.
The stakes were so high she couldn’t risk allowing physical—or emotional—entanglements.Sorry, big man.It will be better this way….
“I won’t interfere in your mission,” she promised, then looked the Blackfrost in the eye. “But Marduk gave my employer his word. Anddrekimust always keep their word, is that not true? As his cousin, you owe me the chance to recoup my earnings from him.”
“I say nay,” Haakon said abruptly.
Sirius opened his mouth—
