Heart of Ice (The Snow Queen #1)(46)

Phile studied Foedus with great nonchalance. “If only there was someone so crazily powerful, he—or she—could face him.”

Rakel pressed her lips together and gave her friend a warning look.

“What?” Phile asked, all innocence and sweetness. “We won’t be able to take Glowma back until Farrin can be dealt with.”

Rakel grit her teeth. “What if I could do it?”

Oskar stared at her.

“The wall I built? I can do more,” Rakel said.

Captain Halvor blinked. “More?”

“Much, much more.”

“Finally! She admits it.” Phile said, hopping up from her chair so she could thrust a finger in Rakel’s direction. “She’s been holding back because she didn’t want people to think she was monstrous.”

Captain Halvor frowned. “What are you yapping about?”

“She means that each time I cleared out villages and the garrison, and even when I fought Farrin, I didn’t use my magic to the fullest extent. I dared not against Farrin because it would be disastrous if he reflected it back at our forces, and during the other times it seemed…prudent to minimize my power,” Rakel acknowledged.

“But this has to be the end of that,” Phile said. “You need to drive the soldiers away—frightened and screaming—instead of whisking them away with soft snow like they are babes in a cradle.”

Rakel threaded her fingers together. “I don’t know if I agree with that.”

Phile tilted her head and studied her with glittering eyes. “You claim you want to save your brother. Is his life really that precious?”

Rakel nodded.

“Then you’ll have to do this,” Phile flatly said. “You can’t fight half-heartedly anymore. I’ve seen you make life-sized reindeer sculptures for the children. Apply the same method, but make swords and spears of ice and fling them around.” She plopped back down in her chair and leaned forward in her eagerness, almost toppling over.

Phile’s words stung, but Rakel couldn’t deny her argument. “I don’t want to use my magic to kill,” she said.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t injure anyone,” Oskar said, rubbing his chin.

Captain Halvor spoke up. “While your morals are admirable, I am not certain we will win this fight if you do not bend in some way.”

Rakel clasped her hands together. “We’re not fighting against monsters, but other people.”

“Yes, people who have slaughtered our armies and plan to kill your brother. They’ve already maimed you,” Phile said.

“Fighting is not something to be reveled in, Princess. I would spare you the pain of it if I could,” Captain Halvor said. “But you know that the leaders of the Chosen army are evil. Some of their underlings might not be, but the actions of the armies are a loud testament to the state of their commanders’ souls. I do not wish for blood to be on your hands, but I would rather that you live to see the dawn of tomorrow than die as a martyred innocent.”

“War is a grave matter, Little Wolf,” Phile said. “This rebellion is guaranteed to cost lives. The real question is whether the lives will be those of the innocent or the tyrannical. Your magic could be the determining factor.”

“Do even you know how much you can do?” Oskar asked.

Rakel studied her hands. “I can make things, but I know only architecture and animals—not weapons.”

“Oh, yes, you do,” Phile grinned. “I heard all about the statue you made and impaled with an ice sword.”

“It was a poor replica. I am certain I forged it wrong,” Rakel said.

“It doesn’t matter if the sword was balanced or not. When faced with a cloud of ice pikes, even the best swordsman will tremble in his boots,” Oskar said.

“Don’t worry,” Phile smiled. “We can work together to come up with all sorts of fearsome attacks. You will enjoy it.”

Rakel frowned. “I find that unlikely.”

“There is another thing that should be discussed,” Captain Halvor said, carefully. “Princess…when you fell unconscious, was it due to blood loss…or your limit?”

Rakel’s frown deepened. “Neither, I think. Though my wounds were painful, they were not deep. I did not feel lightheaded at the time.”

“But it had to be your magic. You used too much,” Phile said.

“No. Building the wall did not tax my magic. I had plenty left. It must be my price. Could it be that I fall unconscious whenever I use a sizeable portion of my magic instead of a loss of energy, or something else similar?” Rakel asked.

“It is plausible,” Oskar said.

“It has never happened previously, and I’ve been using my magic for years.”

“Yes, but have you used as much as you flashed around yesterday?” Phile asked, tapping her nose. “Even before you built your monolith of a wall—which was wretchedly cold, I’ll have you know—you were throwing magic left and right.”

“Phile mentioned the cold, and I agree. Your ice-castle feels like normal ice. That wall…” Captain Halvor shook his head.

“It was a frozen temperature I’ve never experienced,” Oskar said.

Rakel frowned. I hope that’s not my price. Pain I could endure, but being knocked unconscious for a time in which I am out of control? That is unacceptable.