She scowled adorably at him, and a bit more meltwater dripped from his cold dead heart. Shaking Vig loose, she put a hand on her hip. “You needn’t punish the rest of us for your poor choices, Reynir.”
Rey let out a long, sufferingexhale.
“If you want answers, you’ll need to ask nicely,” continued Silla. Vig snickered behind her, earning himself a glare.
She was baiting his temper. Had she no sense of self-preservation? Not when it came to Rey. She’d never been afraid of him. He remembered her face when she’d stormed up to him and spoken the words which had first stirred his blood.
You cannot frighten me away.
With an irritated breath, Rey tried again. “How does your Breaker skill feel different?” he asked in his softest, most placating voice.
“Better,” said Silla in amusement. “Next week we’ll work on the wordplease.”
Please,he heard her begging in his mind.Please, Rey. Please!
Rey shook out his shoulders. “Do not play games with me, woman,” he growled. “I am not in the mood.”
“Did you just growl, Galtung?” said Vig with a chuckle.
“He does that,” said Silla blandly. “Don’t worry. I’m unaffected.”
Vig’s eyes were alight with glee as he watched the exchange, and Rey took another threatening step forward. Helga the goat screeched.
“All right, Axe Eyes. Lay down your weapons.” Silla sighed. “When I pushed you across the field, it felt like a…vibration in my hands. Like a thousand popping bubbles. But for Vig, his Breaker skill feels like a bright heat, radiating from his chest.”
Rey’s brows drew together. Thatwascurious. “Did you access your Breaker skill last night?”
She shook her head. “I haven’t since Kopa.” Since her fight with Skraeda, then. Rey recalled the way she’d pushed him—with such strength he’d flown. How could she have done that without Breaker skill? But surely if she had a second source, she’d have some awareness of it…
“I suppose it will come in time. You must continue your training.”
“We’ll work together,” said Vig with a mischievous smile that Rey wanted to wipe right off his face. The man was taunting Rey. Daring him to act.
“You shouldn’t be out here,” he said in a low voice. “The serpent is due to strike today. And you”—he leveled his gaze at Vig—“you and I have traps to set.”
“Vig has already baited the trap,” answered Silla. Rey’s brows rose in surprise. “Runný has added an extra layer of wards, and Vig is far too valiant to allow harm to befall me in his own yard.”
“Valiant,” repeated Vig with a broad grin. “I think I like that. Valiant Vig of the mountains, protector of goats and curly-haired women.”
“Valiant Vig whose mouth was so smart it was sewn shut,” muttered Rey.
Silla made a face. “Thank you, dear Rey, for your concern, but I cannot stay indoors. Not when I’ve work to do.”
Rey saw the stubborn look in her eyes—could tell there was no convincing her. Whirling on his foot, he strode to the stables to saddle Horse and begin his patrols. Rey hoped Vig had some brennsa stashed away in his saddlesack. What he needed right now was a good nip of fire whiskey.
So much for sobriety.
Chapter Forty-Six
SUNNAVÍK
Saga rubbed her gloved palms together as she stood outside King Ivar’s study. Cursing her erratically beating heart, she forced in a deep, calming breath.
It was only Ivar. But the thought did nothing to calm her. Only the man who’d murdered her parents. Only the man who’d given her like an object to his son.Saga despised that when Ivar looked at her, he saw victory, and as a rule, she spent as little time with him as possible.
But this was bigger than Saga’s discomfort. Those Galdra, strapped to beds in the chamber beneath Alfson’s study, had haunted her all night. Each time her eyes had fallen shut, she’d seen the woman’s snarling face—saw the bone-deep wounds cut into her arm. Alfson was carving her up. Feeding her flesh to others. And Saga had left her there.
Those in foul room are lost already,Rurik had said.
