Page 22 of Heart of the Mountain King

"Animals scare or frighten, but not fearful, not dread," Rask tried to explain. "Messy not stay up at night thinking of ways scary thing could get worse."

"True enough," Sten replied, chewing his lip before casting a glance up at Rask. "Will you be able to look after her until I come back in the Spring? Sorry to ask after the fact. I would've come to you first had I planned it, but like I said: they just kind of surprised me with her. I'll bring you something up with me to make it worth your time, I swear."

Rask blinked at him, both charmed by the thought of Sten returning as he was amused that Sten didn't think his presence would already be gift enough.

"Sten Welcome on Rask's mountain'," Rask reminded him, growing uncertain if the human understood all that entailed. "Sten's dog, too; if Messy behaves like good guest. All can hear in the Song: she and Sten both under bergsrå's protection. Rask keep her safe until Sten return."

"Oh," Sten murmured, looking shocked. "I didn't know. Um, thank you. That's… I don't even know what to say."

Rask merely flicked his fingers in reply, trying not to think about it. Such entanglements were dangerous, all these blessings and bindings Rask kept offering Sten without the surety of a Bargain to balance them. Often without the human even knowing, in fact.

But what else could he do, especially when it made Sten smile up at Rask so? It was well worth the cost and then some; the bergsrå decided.

"Y'know, all the stories tell of the Mist going after people," Sten mused. "Humans, ljósálfari, örkná, d'vergern… we all have ways of coping when the Mist comes, right? But the stories never mention what bergsrår do over Mistide. Or vættir, I guess."

Rask stretched out on the bench, enjoying the way the heat was soaking into sinew and bone until his entire body felt loose with it. "Mist not hurt bergsrår, and bergsrår do not fear thurs," he answered simply. "Thurs find Rask's kind boring."

"Oh, well… You're not boring to me," Sten whispered, wearing an idle expression now as he stretched out too, evidently enjoying the sauna's renewed heat just as much as —

Rask yanked his hand sharply out of the way as Sten's fingers bumped into him, giving the human space. Obviously, Sten hadn't expected the bergsrå to be there, or…

"What wrong Sten's face?"

Sten cracked out a harsh laugh, covering said face with his hands as if scrubbing something off.

"Sorry," Sten mumbled as his eyes skittered away, refusing to meet Rask's. "I forgot."

"Forgot what?" Rask prodded, curious now.

Sten shot him a sideways look. "That you're so different from me. Older, and… everything," he added, making a vague gesture at the much larger bergsrå.

Rask glanced at him in surprise.

The little human shrugged. "You're easy to talk to."

"Sten easy talk to, too," Rask admitted.

"And…you're still alright with my being here?”

"Rask invited Sten," Rask reminded him.

"It's just… if Hjarta died because he was trying to protect us and everything, and we didn't even know… I need to tell the village. Maybe we can put up a-a fountain, or a sign, or — "

"Hjarta would like Sten," Rask decided. "Even if Sten stupid."

"Hey!"

"Hjarta not fight thurs to get a sign. Hjarta just… being Hjarta; brave and kind, like Sten."

"But that's even more reason, don't you think? Because it was selfless."

"Sten want to honor Hjarta?" Rask asked him. "Help others, joke lots, and take long walks to gather flowers in the meadow."

Humming, Sten glanced up at Rask. "And… he wouldn't mind me being here?" he asked,

Rask shook his head. "Hjarta would say, Rask too long alone. Good have Sten as friend."

Sten's laugh was a warm and bubbling sound. "So we are friends then?"