Page 171 of Master of Storms
“So you will hide in this castle and let them burn the world until it comes time for them to storm theZilittucourt?” Sirius sneered.
Solveig watched the byplay from beneath her lashes. With every word, the body language between the three males was growing more and more dominant. It was the first time she’d ever seen Marduk and Sirius working together.
“And what do you propose?” Draco snarled.
“Simple.” Sirius steepled his fingers together. “Your Chaos-wielders work together. We’ve seen what they can do when they’re linked. Maybe they’re not Ishtar, but together, using the diminished power of the key, they might be able to open the portal long enough for a small party ofdrekito slip into Álfheimr.We rescue Freyja and Ishtar, and return before they’re aware we’re even there. They’ll never expect it. And if we rescue Ishtar, then they’re trapped forever.”
“Except,” Draco said coldly, leaning forward and resting his elbows on his knees, “that even if my Chaos-wielders had the strength to do what you ask, the portal must remain open long enough for you to get into Álfheimr, rescue the two females, and then return. Time moves differently in Álfheimr.We can’t open the portal twice in a row. We can probably barely hold it long enough for your party to cross worlds. And the chances of the portal remaining undiscovered are slim.”
“Then sendusthrough,” Marduk countered. “Ishtar can bring us back.”
“No,” Draco said. “It’s too great a risk.”
“Please,” Rurik said, and Solveig could see how much it cost him to plead.
The room fell silent.
Rurik looked like he hadn’t slept a wink since Freyja had vanished. Draco hesitated to reply, as if evenhefelt some sympathy.
Andromeda pushed to her feet and crossed to Rurik’s side. “I am not Ishtar, born to Chaos, but what small skills I have are yours. Your wife saved my life, and for that I owe her a debt—”
“Andromeda.” Draco sat up sharply.
“I have heard your will,” she told him, shooting a cool look over her shoulder. “But your voice is not mine. And I will pay my debts.”
TheZilittuking served her a hot glare from beneath his eyelashes. “As much as I respect my queen’s opinion, she does not speak for my entire court.”
“Only for herself,” Andromeda countered. “And I have spoken.”
The timing was right to add her voice. Solveig could sense the mood of the room shifting. “You wish to rejoin thedrekiworld? Then this is the cost of bringing theZilittuinto the open.”
His anger turned in her direction, but Solveig merely arched a brow. “And if you choose not to walk this path, then there are… others with Chaos-wielders of their own whom we can approach.”
Like your brother.
There’d been a great uproar when they returned to find that Scorpius—previously locked in chains down in the dungeons—had escaped.
She might as well have said it out loud. Draco shoved to his feet. “You dare? I am the recognized king of theZilittu. My brother is in exile.”
A tricky situation. “Is your brother the onlydrekiwarlord in the northern realms who has Chaos-wielders at his side?”
“Please.” Rurik poured everything he had into that one word.
Solveig tipped her head toward Draco. “Sometimes a king must act instead of waiting for the enemy to bring the war to him. Freyja is a blow that strikes deep into the heart of theZinicourt, but Ishtar is another matter entirely. She was manipulated into opening the gates once. This time, she may unwittingly bring an entire horde of armoredalfarwith her.”
“We’re not ready for that.” Marduk finally spoke up. “I’ve travelled this world. Every court ofdrekistands alone. Some of us have alliances. Some of us share enmities. And while onedrekiis worth, what… ten elves? They would ride as a host, and each court by itself would be outnumbered. If we wait, then we will be forced to react. We will be unprepared. We cannot afford to react.”
Draco stared at her flatly.
Her blood stared to pound. “We attack first. We strike them where it hurts. The last time we went to war, we captured their queen—well, now they have one of ours. But we have Tyndyr. He may only be the king’s bastard son, but he is still valuable.”
“If you give me some time,” Árdís said. “I may be able to track down some old friends of Father’s who were actually involved in the original kidnapping attempt upon thealfarqueen. They will have information on the lands we shall find and the layout of the castle.”
“TheSadustand with theZini,” Solveig said.
The breath exploded out of Rurik. “Thank you.”
Andromeda squeezed his shoulder. “There are some things worth fighting for. Love is one of them.”
