The Lokistone

Lokistone 6

"It is the still, small voice that the soul heeds,

Not the deafening blasts of doom."

-William Dean Howells

Jane opened her eyes.

Nothing had startled her—everything was quiet, and dark.

But the one lying next to her had stiffened.

She felt his tension ripple through her body, starting with the left side of her face, which rested on his heart, and traveling down her back. His thumb and forefinger moved against the back of her coat.

She shifted her head, her neck stiff, and frowned upward...

Silver moonlight bathed his marble-like face, his eyes gray and stunning. He didn't blink as he gazed intently straight out in front of them.

Jane frowned, started to turn her head—

"Don't. Move," Loki warned, his delicate lips issuing vapor.

And then she saw it.

Inches away from Loki's boots stood a great black wolf.

Moonshine spilled down across its massive shoulders, mane-like neck and sharp, rugged ears and nose. She could only see one of its eyes, which looked gray now, too—fixed on Loki.

Jane gasped. It was the wolf she'd seen earlier—the wolf who had come toward her in the clearing—

Jane took a fistful of Loki's shirt as her heart slammed against her ribs—

The wolf's attention latched onto her. His lips drew back from his glistening teeth, and he let out a low, rumbling, deep-chested snarl that shivered the air.

Loki held up a pale left hand.

"Now listen to me," he said to the wolf, his voice even and soft. The wolf gnashed its teeth, licked its lips and closed its mouth, but kept staring at Jane. Jane stared back, paralyzed.

"Listen," Loki said again. "I know we're not supposed to be here. We've trespassed and stolen. I understand that."

The wolf's jaws snapped at him. Jane flinched. Loki's head twitched back. Then he raised his eyebrows.

"It shan't happen again. We will be on our way by morning. We won't disturb you or your pack any further."

Pack? Jane thought fleetingly. There's more of them out there...?

The wolf yipped—which made Jane jerk—and he locked his attention on her again.

"Ah, but you see..." Loki said—and lowered his hand, resting it on top of Jane's hand. His touch was gentle, but cold. He shook his head. "This is not for trade."

What—What was he doing? Was he talking to the wolf? And was the wolf talking back—?

The wolf snorted. Jane's eyes went wide.

"No. Under no circumstances," Loki answered sharply. "Name another price."

The wolf growled again, his breath a cloud of steam, and stepped forward.

Loki sat up, eyes blazing. Jane grabbed him.

The wolf stopped.

"I already said no," Loki snarled at the wolf. "Do not force me to defend what is mine."

The wolf stayed where he was. He flicked one ear.

"A quarter," Loki said tightly.

The wolf's jaws snapped again, and he keened.