“He sent you here.”
“No, he sent me to the Glass Peaks.”
“Why?”
I folded my arms. “Why do you think?”
“To track down Draugr. That’s what you do. It’s what you’re good at. Don’t try to pretend it’s not.”
“Oh, I am excellent at it. Is that a problem?”
“It is when it gets innocents killed.”
“Innocents?” I let out a bitter laugh. “Please. I’ve seen what Draugr can do. The magic burns them up, along with everyone else who made the mistake of being near them.”
His eyes swept across my face, and I took the opportunity to search the yellow for any sign of that fire. The kind that consumed someone until there was nothing left of them but ash. Those who used the magic—even just once—became corrupted by it. It was impossible to turn away once you had a taste of it. I understood why. The power of it was intoxicating, far greater than even the four elements combined.
Rivelin towered over me. He pulled a dagger from his belt and pressed the tip against my chin. The sharp point dug into my skin, but I did not flinch away. I just kept my hard, steady gaze on his face.
“Do you know why I’m here?” he asked with lethal quiet.
I swallowed, my throat bobbing against the blade. “To win the Midsummer Games.”
“No.” He leaned in closer. “I’m here to protect the Isles. That includes the Glass Peaks. And I’ll protect them from anyone Emperor Isveig sends our way.”
“So then he’s right. There are Draugr in those mountains. Why would you ever want to defend them? Don’t you know what they can do?”
He shook his head. “I shouldn’t let you walk away from this.”
“And yet you still haven’t shoved the tip of that dagger into my neck.”
With a growl, he dropped the blade and slammed it into the sheath. “Only because I vowed never to spill blood here unless mortally provoked.”
“So you didn’t bring me into the secluded woods to stab me? That’s a relief, though I think you’ll find I’m not that easy to kill.”
“We need to collect some wood for the boat.”
“Ah yes, for the competition you want me to help you win, just after you threatened me with your dagger.”
“I don’t trust you,” he grunted.
“I don’t trust you, either, especially after that.”
“Good.”
“Fine.”
He narrowed his gaze. “You say you’ve spent your entire life in captivity, except when you’re out on quests?”
“Yes. Lucky me.”
“On these quests of yours, did you ever spend an evening at a tavern?”
I blinked at him. “Pardon?”
“Have you ever gone out for the night, drinking and dancing at a tavern?”
“Only a moment ago, you were poking my chin with your dagger, and now you want to know if I’ve ever been out drinking?”
