Page 7 of Storm of Fury
She’d never met a man who made her feel instantly at ease.
“You certainly think highly of your charm,” she noted. Keeping him at arm’s length was proving difficult. The man shrugged off insults and seemed immune to her cooler glares.
“It’s not my charm I think highly of.”
Bryn snorted. “Oh, I’m sure.”
A girl shivered on the corner of the street, holding a plate out for passers-by. Bryn’s gaze slid over her, then she sighed and reached into her purse, dumping a handful of coins there. “Freyja’s blessing upon you,” she said.
The girl gave her a startled look, before her eyes widened when she saw what Bryn had given her.
It would never be enough.
But she’d been cold and hungry before. She knew the gnawing ache in her belly the girl no doubt suffered from. And while there had never been anyone there to assuage that hunger forher, she could offer assistance now.
Behind her, she heard Tormund adding a few more coins.
“That was kind of you,” he said when he rejoined her.
“Foolish,” she replied. She didn’t want to talk about it.
And clearly he understood her reticence.
Tormund looked toward the mountains in front of them. “Dare I ask how you know Marduk has a golden crown tattooed on his ass?”
It was tempting to tell him she’d seen it firsthand.
But keeping her lies to a minimum was the first rule Bryn owned when working a job. You never knew when something was going to trip you up.
“The blacksmith’s niece saw it,” she said dryly, as they reached the edge of the village. “And the innkeeper’s sister. And the mayor’s daughter confirmed their accounts. Needless to say, the prince left in a hurry.”
“Ah.” His smile softened. “So you didn’t personally meet the prince.”
“I wouldn’t be here if I’d met him.” No. Marduk would be trussed up in Solveig’s dungeon if she had.
A small dot grew larger on the horizon. Bryn tugged a leather gauntlet from behind her belt. She slipped it on, knotting the laces.
“Lucky for me then that you didn’t.”
Bad. This was bad.
She had to stop this flirtation right here, right now.
“I am here for one thing, and one thing only. Marduk.”
“A pity. I could have changed the course of your life if you’d let me.”
Bryn held out her hand as the flash of feathers dove toward them. “Who says I want to change the course of my life?”
Tormund jerked back as the merlin banked and landed on her wrist, her feathers grazing his cheek.
“Jesus Christ.” The words tore from him as he clapped a hand to his chest. “Where did that thing come from?”
“Is the big, bad warrior afraid of my little fluff?” Bryn cooed, scratching the little merlin under the chin. Sýr closed her eyes and leaned into the caress. “Did you scare him, my precious sweet girl?”
“That thing nearly took my ear off!”
“Thatthingis called Sýr.” Bryn glanced up from beneath her eyelashes as she thrust her wrist forward and set the merlin free. Sýr launched into the skies, content with her pat. “She hunts at my side, and she has far better discretion than to touch such a big, bearded lout.”
