Page 13 of Heart of the Mountain King

"Sten put hand here," Rask said huskily as he lifted his palm just enough for Sten to slip his underneath, attention concentrated on holding the magic tight.

As unruly as one of his goats, it would do as it pleased if Rask did not take care. And for a moment, the bergsrå wondered if Broken-Horn and White-Foot had escaped their pen again, or —

Wrenching his awareness back into place, Rask hummed low and steady, allowing his melody to flow into the quarry wall in a small, controlled stream.

"Woah," Sten breathed softly, his hand warm where it lay completely engulfed by Rask's own. Through the muscle and sinew and bones flowed the bergsrå's magic, a pleasant sensation buzzing along the length of their connection. "That's… Excitable, aren't they? I guess I should…"

He turned to look up at Rask. "What do I say?"

Rask chuckled. "Intent important, words not. Vættir hear Sten's heart."

"Alright then. Um… Hello? Thank you for acting as our guardians," Sten said to the rock, then laughed. "Oh, it's — yes, yes, calm down — it's this entire area at risk, isn't it?"

He looked around, gaze landing on his mother.

"It's — It's really… Ma, you should have Rask show you this too — Er, I mean… If it's alright with you, Rask? But… it's like I can see inside the rock. I told you before: Ma's one of Thane Uffark's bonded clerks. She's in charge of bookkeeping for the whole quarry. He'll listen to her if she swears we've got to close down this section."

She was watching Rask warily, but gave a sharp nod when she saw him glance her way.

"Aye, that's true enough. If this isn't some kind of trick." She threw an apologetic look at her son. "I can only swear to my own experiences, Triggy. You know that."

"I do, Ma. That's why you gotta trust Rask, so he can help us."

Then Sten turned those huge eyes of his to Rask, and the bergsrå found himself helpless to do anything else but agree.

"Not easy. Big magic if Arndra want thank vættir," Rask warned, releasing the melody and Sten's hand both. "Sten already paid price. Sten's mother — "

"I'll pay her price too," Sten said quickly. "Only, can you show her before I spend a whole 'nother day criss-crossing the countryside solving a riddle? I don't want one of the workmen wandering over here and have something bad happen to them while I'm busy collecting bumblebee eyelashes or whatever."

Rask mulled it over. He'd already pushed the bounds of their Bargain going this far, sharing his magic to help Sten listen to the vættir.

"Sten can try," Rask answered finally. "Song maybe, maybe not accept. Not Rask's choice."

Not that Rask wouldn't have chosen Sten over his mother to fulfill the payment of such a Bargain any day. Thanks to their previous Deal, there was already an attachment between Sten & Rask's melodies. Rask had to admit, he wouldn't mind another. An attachment with Sten's mother, however, left Rask feeling unsettled, hoping the Song would play to Sten's favor after all.

"Sten deliver bottle of brännvin to Rask's cave for one year — " Rask's mouth shaped, the magic bursting like citrus over his tongue. " — at each season start."

Arndra hissed as the villagers behind her began to mutter.

"Not Mistide," she said more than asked. "Surely you cannot be so cruel. Out there in the Mists? Without the protections of a Jarl's Hall, he'll die."

"It's not really Rask that's asking," Sten explained, turning to the bergsrå. "Is it? It's… I don't know — the magic itself, or something. The thing he keeps calling the Song. I think he's more bound to it than I'd be."

"Sten say no," Rask warned in a low growl, attention squarely on the man. "Sten must say no, now. Bad Bargain. Can refuse. Must — "

"I'll swear it," the blustery man interrupted, stepping forward. "I'll swear to Thane Uffark and anyone else who'll listen, that I witnessed your son and this…expert perform a sacred ceremony to converse with the vættir."

"I'll swear it too." Another of the villagers said as she stepped forward as well, glancing behind her. "We all will, won't we?"

There came a general chorus of agreement from among the humans, but Arndra merely held up her hand sadly.

"Thank you, Ojson, Iduth; everyone. But none of you are bonded clerks," her gaze landed on Rask. "I took an oath to serve in times both sweet and bitter; I'll bring you the payment."

Rask shook his head, scowling. "Song named Sten. Sten say no, then Arndra and Rask make Bargain, but Rask not know what Song ask of Arndra."

"Don't worry, Ma," Sten chirped brightly. "I'll think of a way. I solved the last one easily enough."

Rask smiled softly, glancing over at the man. "Sten very clever. Even surprised Rask."