Dawn of the Ice Bear Read Online Free PDF

Stygians.”
    â€œIt’s possible,” Kral agreed. “We were delayed many days by fixing the Restless Heart, but they may have been equally delayed. Assuming he already has it is probably our safest course, though.”
    â€œAye,” Mikelo said. “My thought as well. The soldiers seemed to think he did. Their plan is to rest tonight and tomorrow, then to attack his home tomorrow night.”
    â€œThat leaves little time for us to locate him,” Donial pointed out.
    â€œBut locate him we shall,” Kral said. “Getting the crown back is too important not to. And we cannot let Gorian and his crew get their hands on it.”
    â€œKral,” Alanya said, an idea occurring to her on the spot. “If he means to take it back to Aquilonia, to deliver it to some sponsor there, why not let him? Would it not be just as easy to let them carry it back to Tarantia for us, then take it from them once they get there?”
    Kral shook his head. “I had thought of that,” he admitted. “But I know not who in Aquilonia Gorian works for. What if it is a more powerful mage than this al Nasir? What if there are a hundred soldiers in Tarantia to guard it instead of a handful? Besides, if we can get the Teeth now, we can take the Restless Heart and sail all the way around to the western edge of the Pictish lands. It will save time and be safer than going overland, back through Aquilonia.”
    She remembered that Kral was a wanted man in Tarantia, still suspected of murder, and that he had escaped from an Aquilonian prison. He would probably be happiest never to have to set foot in Tarantia again, or in any of the lands ruled by King Conan.
    â€œThat makes sense,” she said, easily accepting his reasoning. “If we can take the Restless Heart .”
    â€œWe can take it,” Kral said. He sounded utterly confident of his ability to do just that.
    They walked along in silence for a while. Overhead, the sky grew more gray. As sunrise neared, the wind began to pick up again. Alanya was trudging along, head down to keep windblown sand out of her eyes, when Mikelo sidled up next to her.
    â€œWhat they said earlier?” he began. “About me . . . you know, watching you.”
    â€œYes?” Alanya said. She didn’t know where he intended to take the conversation, but was uncomfortable with just about any direction it might lead.
    â€œI think . . . I think they were right,” he stammered. “It . . . it is difficult for me to admit it to you, but I . . . I do consider you a very beautiful woman. Never do I remember seeing another such as you. I cannot help but stare whenever my gaze falls upon you. If this displeases you or causes you discomfort, then I apologize, but my will is not my own in such matters. If I thought that you would have me, I would ask for your hand now, our ages and circumstances be damned.”
    Alanya kept walking, trying not to laugh, because Mikelo was clearly so serious, even solemn, about what he confessed. She would not take him as a husband, now or ever. She was sure about that. He was a perfectly nice boy. But that was all he was, and that was how she suspected she would always see him. A boy, not a man. Certainly not a vigorous, vital man like Kral.
    He had admitted that it was hard for him to say, and she had no doubt that it had been. Probably also something he could not bring himself not to say, once Kral had started the argument about it. “I . . . appreciate what you say,” she managed. “And I like you, Mikelo. But I am not interested in being betrothed. To you, or anybody. I hope you can understand that.”
    â€œOf course.” Mikelo sounded morose, but she could not see his expression. He had probably brought up the topic just now for that exact reason, knowing that the blinding sand would make it hard for her to watch his face.
    â€œDid the men give up the information about Shehkmi al Nasir