“I will give you drug for sleeping to sneak you out of castle. Give you nice room on boat. Many soft furs and books for reading.”
“Doors?” she asked, her heart pounding.
“One door to lower deck. Not to outdoors.”
“Windows?”
“One window, so you might look at ocean if you are wishing. Or cover if you are not.”
“People?”
“Rov and Druzhina. Good, trusting men. Crew stays on deck—they are having shelter above.”
Saga ran her hands through her hair absently.“What if they see me? What if I panic?”
“I can sit in your room if you wish,” he added. “Can help you with tapping. And if you wish it, you may take seeds.” A mischievous smile curved his lips. “And Rov tells memedovukhawas saved in fire, thank the Mother Goddess. Lady Saga, you canpit2 if you are liking.”
Against her better judgment, a smile twisted Saga’s lips. “What is that?”
Rurik chuckled. “Get drunk,ptichka3. You can get pickled onmedovukhafor whole trip. I won’t tell anyone.”
“Another secret?” she asked wryly. Despite his teasing, Saga couldn’t help but feel strangely honored by the way he anticipated her needs, and the way he never judged her. And she wouldn’t deny that her skin heated at the thought of sharing a ship with this man…a room, perhaps…
“My sister,” she said, trying to shake some sense into herself.
“When we get to Zagadka, we will speak to High Prince. Make plans for your sister.”
Saga chewed the inside of her cheek, her stomach twisting. It was not merely the prospect of leaving the castle or venturing to the unknown space of the boat that had her anxious. It was Zagadka.
“I thank you for your offer, Rurik,” Saga said at last. “But I cannot leave my people or my sister in their time of need. I would like you to take me instead to Midfjord.”
Rurik’s jaw hardened. “Zagadka.”
“No.”
Irritation settled in his face. “Midfjord is not on way. Urkans might catch us.”
Saga crossed her arms. “Itmustbe Midfjord.”
“Zagadka!” he hissed.
“No!”
Desperation settled into Saga’s bones. Her place was in Íseldur. Her kingdom. But how could she convince this irritatingly stubborn man? “You are not here for the treaty,” Saga said. “You are searching for something, but you have not found it. Not in the armory. Not in the hidden passages. Perhaps it is not in Askaborg at all.” She thought of the name, Rökksgarde, which had come up time and time again.
As Rurik’s thick dark brows dipped down, she knew she was on to something.
“I uncovered something in Alfson’s study, before stumbling across that horrid room of beds. If what you seek is not in Askaborg, perhaps it was taken somewhere else.”
“Where?” he demanded, his voice a near growl.
“Take me to Midfjord,” said Saga. “And I shall tell you.”
“Tell me now, Winterwing,” he pressed. “Lives are at risk?—”
“As they are if I do not get to Midfjord.”
The air between them crackled with intensity, and Saga second-guessed herself. He approached, and she retreated until her back hit the wall.
