Heart of Ice (The Snow Queen #1)(23)

Relief invited Rakel to relax the stiff set of her shoulders. “Of course. Gerta, Kai, I apologize, but I must ask you to wait outside.”

“Do we have to?” Gerta asked.

“Yes. This is not a conversation for children.”

“We’re almost grown up,” Kai grumbled.

“I hope not,” Rakel gravely said.

“Will you play with us then, Phile?” Gerta asked.

Phile crouched in front of the children and gave them a lopsided smile, making her white teeth flash against her olive skin. “While the sentiment that I have not grown up is charming, I also must attend the meeting—I help with battle tactics and information gathering.”

Gerta and Kai, not quite taking Phile’s word, looked to Rakel, Oskar, and Captain Halvor for confirmation.

“She’s right, children. Phile is nearly one of the princess’s inner circle,” Oskar cheerfully said.

“I do not have an inner circle,” Rakel said.

Phile brushed off her knees and stood up “Sure you do! We’re the ones you trust.”

That is not entirely decided. Rakel turned back to Gerta and Kai. “I will find you when the meeting has finished, and we can feed the reindeer. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Princess,” they sighed.

“Come on. If we help Grandmother, maybe she’ll tell us a story while we wait.” Gerta led the way with Kai moving in her shadow.

Rakel dusted off her wool skirts and slipped inside after Phile and Oskar.

The captain—a man of sparse desires—shared his quarters with Oskar—who was prodigiously clean—so their room was neat and in better order than the library in Rakel’s ice-castle. It possessed several wooden chairs, a table, and two perfectly made cots.

Captain Halvor unrolled a detailed map of the area and lay it out on the gouged, rickety table. “The princess has managed to efficiently and effectively free a number of small encampments. She has secured us extra supplies and soldiers with short battles and no losses; it’s a wonder.”

Rakel studied him through narrowed eyes. “However?”

“It is time we take on a bigger target,” he said. “If Ostfold is our end goal, we will not survive by merely freeing rustic villages. We need a fortified town in a strategic location that will help us regain the capital.”

“It’s a good strategy. What location did you have in mind?” Phile asked, flipping Foedus across her knuckles.

Captain Halvor pointed to the map. “Glowma.”

“Why Glowma?” Oskar rubbed his chin and considered the map. “It’s a large trading town, and it does have walls, but I don’t think many Verglas soldiers are being held captive there.”

“It’s not a strategic location for us; it’s a strategic location for the Chosen,” Rakel guessed as she stared at the map.

Captain Halvor nodded in approval. “It’s their closest fortification to Ostfold. If we take it back first and hold it, their troops will have to come much farther to reach us when we reclaim the capital.”

“This battle will be different and, I am sad to say, more difficult than our previous skirmishes. The scale of the city is much larger; a greater number of Chosen soldiers are stationed there, and there will almost certainly be more magic users. The princess will have to be careful if we want to leave the city standing. It might hinder the use of her magic,” Oskar said.

“We have enough of a force that we can support her, and I’ll dispatch scouts to map out the city and find strategic locations,” Captain Halvor said.

“Excellent! I volunteer to go,” Phile said.

“As predicted,” Captain Halvor said. “You, Snorri, and Aleifr will infiltrate Glowma as a team.

“No,” Phile said.

The captain blinked. “No?”

Rakel was also surprised. “Why not? Normally male company is enough to swindle you into any task.”

“Perhaps, but for this trip, you must come with the other scouts and me.”

Rakel stared, dumbfounded. “Me?”

“Yes.”

“Absolutely not,” Captain Halvor growled.

“While I appreciate that you are trying to involve the princess, her skill set lies more in offensive action than spying,” Oskar delicately said.

“She doesn’t need spying abilities. She’ll be with me.”

“It’s too dangerous,” Captain Halvor said, the ridiculousness of the Robber Maiden’s request pulling more words from him than normal. “If the princess is captured, we will not be able to amass a rescue. She is our army, our sword, and our shield. Without her, all will be lost.”

“Then I’ll just be sure not to lose her,” Phile said.

“There is no reasonable argument for taking the princess with you, I’m afraid,” Oskar said.

“None,” Captain Halvor echoed.

“Of course there is. She needs to learn the layout of the city,” Phile said.

The revelation hit Rakel like an avalanche—not because Phile was right, but for other, more troubling reasons.

“All that means is that you’ll have to take extra care to scout well,” Oskar said.

“That is the duty of the scout,” Captain Halvor dryly added. “You’ll be going with Snorri and Aleifr, or I’ll pull you from the task.”