Sample Scene Three
Gorpat’s eyes flew open, and she
jumped to her knees. “Fire! Fire!” She pointed to the ice dwellers, then lifted
Ven out of his bedroll.
The blue man screamed, trying to
swat the giant while dangling upside-down in the air.
Ryne jumped to his feet and kicked Ven’s
bedroll. A red stone rolled out, its color fading to pale white as it came to
rest beside Ryne’s foot.
“It is not a fire, you beast!” He
pointed at the giant, his pale eyes lit with fury. “It is Ven’s warming stone.”
Gorpat’s face fell, and she dropped
Ven back on the ground. He hit the dirt with a thud, cursing as he rolled onto his side.
Zier scratched the back of his head,
sharing startled looks with his cousins. “Warming stone?”
Ven stood and limped to Ryne’s
bedroll, scooping up the stone. “I use it to chase away the chill.”
Zier turned to Alec, an excited
gleam in his eyes. “Is this stone like the one Markus used to deflect the
goddess’s magic?”
Alec nodded, finally relieved he had
proof his story was not a hoax. “It’s exactly like the stone Markus used.”
A chorus of excited whispers broke
out as the dwarves jumped to their feet, heads bent and arms wildly waving.
Zier hobbled over to Alec, patting
him on the knee. “I’m sorry for doubting you, son.”
“Why do you ask?” Ryne’s booming voice
cut through the dwarves’ chatter.
All eyes shot to Ryne, and not a
sound could be heard except for Gorpat blowing her nose into her sleeve. Ryne
glared at them with legs braced apart, his hand on the hilt of his blade.
Zier rubbed his beard, eyeing Ryne
for a long, tense moment. “How many do the ice people have?”
Ryne jutted a foot forward, speaking
through clenched teeth. “Again, why do you ask?”
“I would gladly trade any of my goods for such
a stone,” Zier answered.
Ven tucked the stone back in his
bedroll and went to stand beside Ryne, his youthful face transformed into a
mask of hard angles. “This stone has been in my family for generations and is
not for trade.”
Zier rubbed his hands together. “I
have spices, gold, weapons.” He waddled back to the campfire, lifting the
shield with a groan. “Look at this fine workmanship.”
“Again,” Ryne boomed as the other
ice dwellers rose from their beds and flanked him, “this stone is not for
trade.”
“Very well.” Zier heaved an
overly-dramatic sigh and lowered the shield. “But if you should change your
mind—”
“Our minds will not change.” Ryne said firmly.
Alec’s breath caught in his throat
at the murderous look in Ryne’s eyes, the same look the dwarves were
reciprocating as they flanked Zier, their hands resting on the hilts of their
swords. The dwarves outnumbered the ice dwellers seven to one, not to mention
they had a giant on their side who could flatten them all into hotcakes.
Brendle ran behind Des, shaking as
if he’d just been pulled from an icy river. Tar stood between the dwarves and
Ryne, dancing on his paws.
“Come here, Tar!” Ryne growled.
Tar nuzzled Grim’s hand before
slinking over to Ryne, his tail between his legs.
The dog didn’t want to see his
master fight with the dwarves, and neither did Alec. He had to think of
something, and fast, before their disagreement escalated.
He stepped between the dwarves and
Ryne, holding up both hands. “Why don’t we all get some sleep?” He did his best
to keep his composure, despite the wild beating of his heart. “We can discuss
the stone in the morning.”
“Are you as daft as the dwarves?”
Ryne pointed at Alec with an accusatory finger. “There will be no discussion.”
“Go to bed, Ryne,” Alec spoke
through a frozen smile.
“Do not tell me what to do.”
Ryne was either very stubborn, very
foolish, or both. Either way, Alec had had enough of his temper. Balling his
hands, he channeled his dead father’s dark and violent moods as he stalked
toward Ryne. “I said, go to bed!” He jutted a finger at Ryne’s bedroll, feeling
the heat creep into his chest as he and Ryne locked gazes for several
interminable, thudding heartbeats.
So enraged was Alec, he was barely
aware of his own shallow breathing or of Gorpat sniveling behind them.
“Friends no fight.” the giant cried.
Alec couldn’t let Ryne win this
battle of wills. As the dwarves’ grumbles grew louder, Alec knew their lives
depended on Ryne backing down.
