Heart of Ice (The Snow Queen #1)(45)

“That doesn’t matter. It must have frightened you.”

“Thank you for welcoming me back, Oskar.”

He squeezed her once more—being careful for her side and arm—and released her.

“If you’re giving out passionate embraces, I’ll take two for starters, please,” Phile said with a winning smile.

“You were the one who brought her back?” Oskar asked.

“Yes,” Phile said, throwing her arms wide. She shrieked in surprise when Oskar picked her up and whirled her around.

“Thank you,” he said.

“O-of course.” Phile’s face turned such a brilliant shade of red, she glowed in the torchlight.

“Considering you have the shame of a dirty old man, you appear to be easily embarrassed,” Rakel said when Oskar put Phile down and she tottered away.

“You,” Phile snarled.

The exchange got several chuckles from the soldiers and villagers who accompanied her.

Phile scowled, but she slung an arm over Rakel’s shoulders. “Come on—you need to get your wounds checked again, and I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for bed.”

“What does your bed have to do with me?”

“I’ve decided that we’re bunking together. I don’t care if Captain Halvor and Oskar get all prissy about you being a princess—we’re sharing a room!”

“As you wish,” Rakel said. In spite of her warm welcome and her new determination to trust her people, it was hard to focus. I can’t undo years of self-preservation in a single night, but Phile is right. I need to trust them more, and that starts with my magic. If I want to take Glowma and rescue Steinar, I’m going to have to use more of it in the open.

Remembering Farrin, she thought dimly, but even that might not be enough.





CHAPTER 12





VERGLAS MAGIC USERS


“Princess, how’s your side? Mother said you were hurt real bad,” Gerta said, staring at Rakel’s uninjured side. Her gaze was so intense she almost tripped when she walked into a dip in the road.

“It was the opposite side I injured, and I am well enough. I sustained a minor wound compared to most,” Rakel said, smiling tightly at the little girl as they strolled past a gaggle of gossiping women.

Kai pursed his lips. “I don’t like magic users at all—except you, Princess!” he hurried to add.

“Kai, that’s mean!” Gerta said, her eyes wide. “There’re nice magic users, too! It’s just like reindeer; the mean ones are the ones everyone talks about.”

“Have you been talking with Phile?” Rakel asked as they approached the long, skinny building that housed Oskar, Captain Halvor, and most of his squad.

“No…why?”

“It is nothing. If you’ll excuse me, children,” Rakel said, stopping in front of the door of Captain Halvor and Oskar’s shared quarters.

“Yes, Princess,” Gerta chirped.

“We’re still searching for a bull reindeer,” Kai promised.

“Thank you. Enjoy your morning,” Rakel said, slipping into the room.

The pair must have cleaned up the mess it sounded like Oskar had made the previous night, for the room was spotless.

Phile was seated in one of the chairs, leaning it back so it balanced on two legs. She nodded in a greeting. “Your strapping manservants are gone gathering some reports. I expect they’ll arrive at any moment.”

“They are not manservants.” Rakel smoothed the fabric of her gray dress and eased into another open chair.

“What else do you call an attendant and a pet-captain?” Phile asked.

Rakel frowned. “They deserve your respect.”

Phile flashed her a toothy smile. “I know. I just wanted to make sure you remember that, too.”

Oskar and Captain Halvor made their entrance, each bowing to Rakel and seating themselves.

“We need to discuss yesterday’s battle. It went…poorly,” Rakel said.

“It was unfortunate we did not predict that Colonel Graydim would have a second, more lethal magic, though I don’t believe we can be blamed. Most magic users specialize in one specific power,” Captain Halvor sighed. “Unfortunately, there is no excellent way to counter him as long as he is absorbed with you.”

“Halvor and I were thinking we could travel south and free a few more sets of Verglas troops. If we had more troops, we could face Glowma without your powers—except for, perhaps, a few key moments,” Oskar said.

“What about Steinar?” Rakel asked.

Captain Halvor was mute, and Oskar shook his head, his eyes mournful. “Saving him is beyond our reach at this time, Princess. If we can make it apparent that we are a force to be reckoned with, perhaps they will spare him in hopes that he can be used as bait or for bargaining.”

Rakel stood. “That’s not good enough. The Chosen are ruthless. They’re confident they’ve won already, and they don’t care at all for those who don’t have magic. They’ll kill him.”

“It cannot be prevented, Princess,” Captain Halvor said. “If I thought we stood even a chance, I would march on Ostfold, but you are our only magic user, and you cannot counter Farrin.”