Heart of Ice (The Snow Queen #1)(33)

“I will not abandon Verglas. I won’t allow you to enslave these people,” Rakel said, her voice shaking with anger.

“It’s too late, Your Highness.” His breath was warm on her face. “Don’t throw yourself away for a beautiful dream.”

“A dream?” Rakel growled.

Farrin slid his free hand under her chin, forcing her to look at him. “A dream,” he repeated. He stared at her for several long moments—his forehead furrowed—and Rakel could see the battle raging in his eyes. He traced her jaw line with a finger before he released her hands with a sigh and stood. “Go, and—if you care for any of the people who serve you—leave Verglas.”

Rakel—unnerved by his touch—gaped at him. “You’re letting me go?” she asked, losing her studied elegance in her surprise.

“I’m allowing you to flee in honor of the care you have used when fighting my soldiers. Next time, I will not hesitate to drag you back to my camp with me.” He flexed the hand he had used to touch her face, frowned, then glanced at her. “Think over what I’ve said, Your Highness.” His black cape swirled behind him, and he was gone, carried away by his speed magic.

Rakel was paralyzed with shock for several long moments. What just happened? What could have moved him to release me? Remembering the intensity with which he studied her, Rakel shivered. She drew her cape around herself and set off in the direction the sleighs had gone.





CHAPTER 9





MUSINGS ON MAGIC


Oskar leaned back in his chair and tapped his nose. “So they’re attacking tomorrow, hmm? Do they have any reason to think we know they’re going to attack?”

“Not necessarily,” Phile said, her hands planted on her hips. “We arranged Graydim’s office exactly as it was. I’m confident he doesn’t know we visited his quarters.”

“However…?” Rakel said.

“They might change their plans because of our small excursion. It still confuses me that Graydim let you waltz on your merry way, Little Wolf.”

“I do not understand it either,” Rakel said, watching Gerta and Kai run past, dragging a patient reindeer with them by his leadline.

“We’ll set up scouts and prepare for an attack, just in case they decide to rush it. If they do not move today, we’ll set up a trap of our own tonight and catch them on their march to our camp,” Captain Halvor said.

“How can we set up a trap? They could attack from a slew of angles,” Oskar said.

“Perhaps, but there is one route that will be quickest and easiest for them, particularly if we can force them to take it,” Captain Halvor said, looking at Rakel.

“How can we—oh,” Oskar said.

“You want me to make areas impassable?” Rakel asked.

“It would go a long way to fortify our attack.”

Rakel frowned. “If you show me the areas, I will attempt it tonight.” Under cover of darkness. No sense spreading unease amongst our ranks.

Captain Halvor bowed. “Thank you, Princess.”

“Did you uncover anything else pertinent to the attack?” Oskar asked.

Snorri shook his head, but Phile spoke. “Of the attack, no. But I did learn something else.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. Farrin Graydim recently received a letter that outlined the Chosen’s intensions for King Steinar, Rakel’s brother.”

Rakel had been watching Kai race past, riding the reindeer, but at Phile’s words, she snapped to attention.

Oskar glanced at her and leaned forward in his chair. “Are they going to move him?”

“No,” Phile said. “They’re going to kill him.”

The air left the lean-to in which they were huddled, and Rakel felt disembodied.

“When?” Captain Halvor asked.

“In two weeks.”

“Two weeks? We’ll be lucky if we’re occupying Glowma by then,” Oskar said.

Captain Halvor rubbed his eyes. “It’s a troubling situation,” he said.

Phile tipped her head and frowned. “How so?”

“Because they’re working with me,” Rakel said, sensing their inner struggle. “Steinar is my little brother. If I hadn’t been born cursed with magic, the crown would have been mine. As it is, Steinar is captive, and Captain Halvor and Oskar have been acting according to my wishes. They are in an awkward situation, strung between two royals of the same house.”

“He’s your little brother?” Phile frowned. “But he looks older than you!”

“You’ve seen him?” Rakel asked.

“I spied around Ostfold and the palace a bit before joining you at that Chosen garrison.”

“I see. The difference is likely a result of war on his end and magic on mine. Steinar is nineteen. I am twenty-two,” Rakel said dryly. I wonder if Phile could tell me what he is like…

“No—you don’t look a day over eighteen!” Phile declared.

Rakel ignored the observation and shifted her attention to her closest advisors. “Once we get through tomorrow’s attack, draw up plans to rescue him.”

“Princess?” Oskar said, his forehead wrinkled with concern.