Heart of Ice (The Snow Queen #1)(56)

Pordis gestured around the room. “Magic isn’t feared like it once was—at least not in northern Verglas. Folk might be uncomfortable around it, but magic users aren’t hated. That would be your doing, Princess. Even the army is more welcoming of magic. Wouldn’t you say so, Colonel Vardr?”

Colonel Vardr, a Verglas officer who sat next to Rakel, focused on his food. “Of course,” he said woodenly.

Struck by the merchant leader’s insight, Rakel looked away to give herself a moment. Attitudes are changing? Does that mean it is as I hoped, and if I throw out the Chosen, magic users really will be accepted? She watched Oskar—whose red hair was radiant in the flickering torchlight as he moved from one table to the next, charming everyone he came across—as she ruminated on Pordis’s words.

“Around here, folk loved you even before you saved Glowma,” Tryggvi said.

Recalling Phile’s advice to show more emotion, Rakel smiled at Tryggvi and Pordis. “I thank you for your compliments. I hope as a result of these new attitudes, more magic users will step forward to help us when we march on Ostfold,” she said, shifting the topic. As much as it warmed her heart to know they didn’t hate her, she found it a little embarrassing to be told so.

“Ahh, yes. I heard the Chosen troops stationed here had to retreat to join up with the rest of their regiment in Ostfold,” Pordis said.

“It is the most likely location they would retreat to, as Ostfold is the most heavily fortified in the region,” Rakel said. “Captain Halvor can better explain the situation.”

Where is he, anyway? Since her initial conversation with the captain after waking up, Rakel had seen nothing of him—which was unusual, as he seemed to live for meetings.

“I could offer my expertise,” Colonel Vardr said.

“Certainly,” Pordis said.

Rakel studied the loud, cheerful crowd of celebrators, her eyes tracing over the faces.

“Are you looking for someone in particular, Princess?” Tryggvi asked.

Rakel hesitated. “Yes, Captain Halvor.”

“Oh, I do not know if he received an invitation.” Tryggvi scratched the back of his head.

“What?” Rakel said.

“We gave the army an allotted number of invitations and let them decide who should attend,” Tryggvi said. “I assume you invited the captain, Colonel Vardr?”

“No,” Colonel Vardr said, his lip curling with distaste. “As he is only a captain, and there were several majors held prisoner in Glowma, we prioritized by rank.”

Rakel, who had her hands lightly clasped on her lap, clenched the edge of the table. “I beg your pardon?”

“Captain Halvor will no longer be in control. Instead, I will be replacing him as your primary military expert.”

Rakel pushed her chair away from the table. “If you’ll excuse me,” she said, snapping her skirts. She was vaguely aware that Tryggvi and Colonel Vardr hurried after her as she sailed through the celebration—people scrambling out of her path.

She approached one of the soldiers standing guard at the doors. “Where is Captain Halvor?”

The soldier bowed. “I believe he is off duty and is in his quarters, Princess.”

“Thank you.” She left the hall and navigated her way down the straight-shot hallways of the municipal building.

“Princess, is everything alright?” Tryggvi asked as they left the building and stepped into the wintery night.

This is why I detest falling unconscious—things spiral out of control, and I’m not even aware of it. “No, but I shall right it shortly.”

“This is nothing personal, Princess. It is how the army operates,” Colonel Vardr said, his voice stiff and unbending. “We have to uphold the system—even in times of war—or rank will mean nothing, and foot soldiers will ignore orders.”

Rakel ignored his useless sputtering and walked towards the barracks. “Knut,” she said, calling out to the gap-toothed soldier as he ambled past.

“Princess!” he bowed.

“Where are Captain Halvor’s quarters?”

Knut looked behind Rakel, saw Colonel Vardr, and put on a smile that split his face. “Right this way, Princess.” He led her into the stone, rectangular-shaped building and up to the second floor.

The whole time, Colonel Vardr lectured about order and rank. “Really, Princess, you are lucky to have made it so far with a mere captain aiding you. A major was held in the garrison encampment. He should have taken over leadership immediately.”

Knut stopped outside a room.

Rakel decided that if Halvor hadn’t heard Vardr’s lecture as they moved down the hallway, he deserved to be surprised, and she threw the door open with more force than necessary.

Captain Halvor was seated on a chair, in the middle of polishing his boots, so it seemed. “Princess,” he bowed to her and snapped a salute to Vardr. “Sir.”

“Why is it that Colonel Vardr claims he is my new military expert?” Rakel demanded, barely registering when Tryggvi leaned against a wall and rubbed his hands together in glee.

“He is my superior, Princess. It is a natural re-organization,” Captain Halvor said. “There are many in Glowma who outrank me, making them better choices to work with you.”

“So you were going to step aside and place my life in the hands of a man I do not know.”