Heart of Ice (The Snow Queen #1)(57)

“No, Princess. I was never excused from my post. My men and I will continue to guard you, under Colonel Vardr’s supervision.”

Rakel’s gaze flicked from Halvor to the smirking Vardr and clenched her hands together to keep herself from taking Halvor by the shoulders and shaking him. “Very well, then. I am giving you a field promotion to the position of general.”

Halvor stared; Knut—who hadn’t left as he hadn’t been specifically dismissed—cheered, and Vardr gasped. “That’s impossible! A captain cannot be elevated to the post of general in a single day!” He sputtered, turning purple with rage.

“Really?” Rakel asked coolly, leveling her glacier blue eyes on the colonel. She took a step towards him. “Even though it is Halvor who aided me in freeing villages and encampments? Even though it is Halvor who organized and led the retaking of Glowma, giving orders to hundreds of soldiers who, while not belonging to his company, followed him gladly? He has more than proven his abilities.”

“I will not follow a captain!” Vardr said.

“Then you will leave,” Rakel said.

Vardr backed up into a wall, still sputtering. “B-but, you can’t just—!”

Rakel smiled—not the pleasant one she tried to show the villagers and soldiers, but an icy cold smile of winter. “Can’t I? I am Princess of Verglas. The only one with the power to overturn my decision is my brother. You are free to take your complaint to him, though reaching him will prove to be challenging. You could always try to physically stop me, which, frankly, will end more poorly for you than if you tried to infiltrate Ostfold alone.”

Vardr choked on his self-importance.

“General Halvor,” Tryggvi said, “if I might be so bold as to offer a suggestion. I feel, as the commanding officer, you might find it in your best interest to hold a re-organization of the army—to promote and demote. I’m afraid to say some officers did not act as they ought to while we were occupied. My staff would be glad to share our observations with you.”

Vardr stared at Tryggvi in outrage.

Tryggvi smiled.

“King Steinar will hear about this,” Colonel Vardr declared as he stormed from the room.

I hope he does…it would mean he’s still alive, Rakel thought.

Tryggvi chuckled and clapped three times. “That was the most fun I’ve had since the start of this wretched invasion—you cannot imagine what a pain that man has been since he arrived in Glowma.” He turned to Halvor and smiled kindly at him. “Congratulations on your promotion, General. You are quite deserving of the position.”

“Thank you,” Halvor said.

“If you will excuse me, I must return to the party,” Tryggvi said.

Rakel started to follow the constable, but Halvor said, “Princess?”

She paused. “I will be along in a moment, Tryggvi.”

“Take all the time you need. Good evening, Princess, General.”

Halvor waited until Tryggvi left, then he gestured for Rakel to enter the hallway. “Knut,” Halvor said. He joined her and closed the door to his bedroom.

“Yes, sir!” Knut saluted him and retreated down the hallway. He remained within shouting distance.

Rakel blinked at the change in location. “You’re not concerned that we’ll be overheard?”

“I trust Knut, and as you are a princess we can never be too careful in guarding your reputation,” Halvor said.

Rakel furrowed her brow. “My reputation?” Is he forgetting I was the most infamous being in Verglas until this invasion? I don’t think being spotted alone with him could blacken my status more than that.

Halvor awkwardly cleared his throat. “The pureness of your character, Princess.” The pained expression in his eyes begged her not to question him further.

“Oh. Oh.” Rakel said when she finally understood. “I see. Thank you.” She was tempted to also awkwardly clear her throat, but instead she plunged forward. “You wanted to speak to me, General?”

“I cannot accept this promotion.”

“Oh?”

“To be a major, perhaps, but a general? I would never make such an auspicious post in normal times.”

“Perhaps, but these are not normal times.”

Halvor shook his head. “It’s not right, Princess.”

“Do you think I can trust Colonel Vardr, Halvor?”

“Of course, Princess.”

“With my life?”

Halvor hesitated.

“Do you think I can trust him to guard me when I sleep for hours on end after using too much of my magic?”

He had no answer.

“Do you think he will understand my reluctance to fight? Will he mercifully use the other magic users and me, or will he attempt to wield us like weapons?”

Halvor stared at the floor.

“Perhaps you are right, General. Normally, you would never make such a rank because it seems the Verglas army does not reward those who act with honor. Unfortunately—though both the army as well as myself are reluctant to admit it—I am the driving force behind this resistance. In order to face the Chosen army, I—and other Verglas magic users—are necessary. If ranking officers and liaisons of the army cannot work with us, we will fail, and Verglas will be taken. I chose to make you a general because I am confident in your skills, and I know you are a man to be trusted and respected. So, you have a choice, Halvor. Do you want to free Verglas, or do you wish to follow protocol?”