Page 47 of Storm of Fury
“May I try?” he asked the prince.
Marduk flashed him a dangerous look, but Tormund held his hand up. “Peace, my prince. Your sister has been locked away in a cold, dark hole for years. This may be overwhelming for her.”
Marduk pinched the bridge of his nose. “I can hear her song in my head. It sounds like the crash of waves against a cliff, or a raging storm. I can barely shut it out.”
“Then let me try.”
Marduk gave a brief nod.
Tormund gave the princess space, holding out his cloak toward her. “Here,” he said. “This is warm and heavy, and if you pull the hood over your head, it will cut the brightness of the sun’s rays.”
Ishtar dug her nails into her forehead.
He set the cloak down beside her. “Would you like to sit by me?”
It was as though she didn’t hear him. Instead, she whirled upon him in a flurry of teeth and nails—as if the storm that was pushing at Marduk overwhelmed her.
Tormund enveloped her in a big hug, resting his chin on the top of her head. At first she fought to break free. But eventually her struggles became weaker, her sobs a little less fractured. And then she relaxed limply into his arms as he squeezed her gently.
“It’s all right,” he whispered. “It’s all right. I know there’s so much to take in right now. I know this is all strange to you. Friend Tormund is here. It’s all right. You’re safe.”
When he lifted his head, both Bryn and Marduk watched him with surprise. He gestured to his cloak, and Marduk swiftly gathered it for him.
“I’m going to put my cloak around your shoulders,” he told her. “It’s nice and heavy and warm. You can wrap yourself in it, and nothing will be able to touch you. You’ll be safe.”
She trembled as he slowly eased his arms from around her, replacing them with his cloak. Burying herself in the cloak, she pulled the hood up until he could barely see the tip of her nose.
“Why don’t you sit here under the shade?” he suggested, pointing to the nearest tree.
“Thank you,” Marduk said quietly as Tormund stepped aside. He knelt beside his sister, slowly offering her something to drink from the flask Bryn had given him.
Bryn’s stare had softened when she looked at thedrekiprincess. “You dealt with her well.”
“She’s not something to be scared of,” he said, a brief moment of anger filling him. “My cousin’s daughter, Kari, has moments where the world overwhelms her. It took a few years to realize what she needed at those times. She likes the quiet and the dark, and she has a special patchwork blanket that makes her feel safe. It’s this ragged old thing Leah would love to take and repair, but even washing it upsets Kari, so Leah has to leave it alone.” He looked toward the princess. “Ishtar’s just frightened, and her magic is powerful.”
Bryn looked away. “Her magic scares me.”
And it was that, perhaps, that did the most damage.
“People fear what they don’t understand,” he said. “Perhaps Ishtar’s magic has the potential to destroy the world, but I don’t thinkshehas the intention of doing so. She’s just lashing out when she’s frightened.”
“Every day, you surprise me anew.”
He bumped shoulders with her. “Third rule of defense: You don’t always have to attack that which you don’t understand.”
An implacable expression crossed her face. “In my world you do. Or you did. Otherwise you were dead. Attack first. Ask questions later.”
It was the slightest hint of insight into her background, and every part of him urged to demand more. But patience would be the key to unlocking her.
“As much as I’d hate to reverse your good work,” Haakon called, “I think we need to prepare to leave. Our surly overlord is here. And it looks like he’s got company.”
He tilted his head toward the sky, where an enormous blackdrekiglided toward them. In the distance, circling around the volcano like a stirred heap of ants, were dozens more.
Sirius. Thank all the gods.
Marduk scrambled for Tormund’s axe, wrenching it from his sheath.
Tormund staggered off balance. “What are you—? Oh.”
