Heart of Ice (The Snow Queen #1)(35)

Her half-argument with Phile drifted through her mind. She is wrong. Magic is not a gift—she only says so because she isn’t cursed with it.

There was a heavy knock at the door.

Rakel stood. “Yes?”

“Princess,” Oskar said, peeking inside with his usual, generous smile. “If we could have a moment of your time.”

“We?” she asked.

Oskar stepped aside, unmasking Captain Halvor’s shorter, wiry frame.

“Come in.” She waited until they were inside and the door was shut, then seated herself on the stool again. “Please, sit.”

Captain Halvor leaned against a wall, but Oskar took the invitation and eased himself onto an unstable chair placed near Rakel’s stool. “We have come to speak to you, Princess, so Captain Halvor can live up to his word.”

Rakel blinked. “I beg your pardon?”

“I said I would tell you what I know of magic.” The captain rubbed his chin, scratching his stubble.

“Ah, yes. You mentioned the Chosen could track me through my magic,” Rakel said, recalling his words from their flight.

Captain Halvor nodded. His elbows were pinned to his sides, and his shoulders were unnaturally stiff. “It’s possible. Many magic users can sense when someone else is wielding power in their vicinity.”

Rakel frowned. “I don’t recall having ever detected such a thing, even when I was taking care of the Chosen weather-magic user. I know he was using magic because I could see it, and I could sense the tweak in the weather patterns as I do something similar with my magic.”

“It’s not unsurprising,” Captain Halvor said, picking his words carefully, “given your power.”

“I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

Captain Halvor rubbed the back of his neck, and Oskar smoothly stepped in. “What Halvor is trying to say is that it’s not a surprise you can’t feel the magic of others. Someone like that weather user has a pond of magic compared to your lake. With that much power at your disposal, it’s unlikely you would even pick up the feeling of weaker magic users. Correct?”

Captain Halvor nodded. “The more innocuous magics are nearly impossible to notice—things like animal taming or cloaking oneself. Big, flashy types of magic that more directly affect the natural world—like yours—are shining beacons when they’re being used.”

“In other words, I would do well to avoid using my magic near the Chosen unless I am launching an attack.” Rakel knitted her fingers together as she pondered the concept.

“Yes,” Captain Halvor said.

“I see. Is there anything else I should know?”

“I apologize, Princess; I know very little. I only happened to hear of such things as magic tracking and the usage requirement through pieces of information my scouts learned,” Captain Halvor said.

“Usage requirement?” Rakel asked.

“Yes, the limit put upon your magic, or the price you pay for it,” Captain Halvor said.

“Price?” she asked, feeling ill-informed when both Oskar and Captain Halvor stared at her.

“Princess,” Oskar started. “Have you never paid for using your magic, or found a limit?”

“No,” Rakel said.

Oskar leaned back in his chair. “Incredible,” he murmured. He glanced at Captain Halvor. “Shall I try explaining this one, as well?”

Captain Halvor nodded sagely.

“My understanding is not as clear as Halvor’s—I know only what he’s told me—but all magic users have either a limit or a price they pay for using their magic. Magics that have limits mean there is a limitation to their use. Some can use only a certain amount of their magic every day; or perhaps they are limited to working their magic on things they can touch, or only one thing at a time. The majority of magic users have limitations. However, there are some magic users who have to “pay,” so to speak, for using magic. They might use vast amounts of energy when using their abilities and feel depleted afterwards. Or perhaps their magic can be activated only with the shedding of their blood. Does any of this resonate?”

Rakel forced herself to sit up straight when all she wanted to do was hunch over. What kind of a monster am I that I have neither a limit nor a price? Aloud, she said, “No, I have never encountered such a thing.”

Captain Halvor pushed off the wall. “It is possible that you have not used enough magic to hit your limit or to be required to pay for its usage.”

“If that is so, you must be cautious in the future, Princess. According to the scouts, you will encounter it,” Oskar promised as he rose from his chair.

Neither Oskar nor Captain Halvor appeared to be frightened that she hadn’t encountered a price or limit on her magic. Instead, the set of Captain Halvor’s shoulders and the lines crinkling around Oskar’s green eyes spoke of worry…for her.

A smile threatened to bud on her lips. If I have received any gift, it is not magic, but Phile’s friendship, and these two men. Rakel tucked the thought away, saving it for a less critical time. “I understand,” she said. “I will be watchful when I build the snowstorm tonight.”

“Ah, yes. I nearly forgot about that. We’ll get ready to head out with you,” Oskar said.

“It’s not necessary,” Rakel said.