Heart of Ice (The Snow Queen #1)(60)

Phile said nothing to this revelation, but she clenched her hands so tightly they shook.

The room suffocated with silence.

Oskar smoothed his hair. “If we can attack from a different direction, I feel it would be best for the magic users to battle it out north of the palace—or what is left of it, anyway.”

“Agreed, but unless we choose to attack Ostfold first, there is no alternative direction,” General Halvor said. “Pushing through Ostfold would be a poor choice, as it would give the Chosen more time to secure the palace. Also, they might be less inclined to flee because we would have them pinned in on all sides by the mountains.”

Rakel kept her face impassive as they argued the finer points of tactics. Feeling eyes on her, she looked over and smiled at Liv—the female magic user.

“Thank you for inviting me and the other magic users to the meeting,” she said, keeping her voice low as she glanced at the model. “We appreciate being kept in the loop.”

“You are as important as our soldiers—and unfortunately there is no structural organization for us, so it is harder to communicate everything,” Rakel said, lifting her shoulders in an elegant shrug.

“Yes, but I especially appreciate it. I felt so useless sitting out the battle for Glowma,” Liv said.

“Phile tells me you saved many lives by purifying wounds and banishing infection.”

“I’m glad I could help, it’s just…I wish my magic were more useful. I liked it enough when I was younger—it was easy to hide—but now…” Liv shook her head. “I can purify wounds, yes, but it’s not like anyone needs purified water or food on the battlefield.”

“Purified water has its uses,” Rakel said, thinking of the various experiments she had run with different kinds of water and her ice magic over the past decade.

“Yes, to drink,” Liv said bitterly.

“No, there’s also…”

“This still doesn’t solve our magic-user problem. If Ragnar and his elf-friend are fighting the other magic users here, who will take care of Colonel Graydim?” Oskar asked.

Rakel’s thoughts scattered in a million directions. Liv’s power, purified water, ice, and the way she had captured the strength magic user…could she? “Liv and I will.”

“What?” Liv squeaked.

“Forgive me, Princess, but that is an unacceptable suggestion,” General Halvor said.

Snorri said something.

“You’re mumbling, Snorri,” Phile said.

“How?” Snorri asked.

Rakel took a wooden cup of water and passed it to Liv. “Could you purify this?”

“Yes,” Liv said, flushing under the sudden scrutiny. She took it from Rakel, and light played oddly on the water’s surface. “Done.” She handed it back.

Rakel took the cup and tapped her magic. Snow puffed around her fingers, and frost twirled around the outside of the cup, but the water did not freeze. “Normally when water reaches a certain temperature, it freezes,” Rakel explained. “But there is an exception: purified water—if undisturbed—will not freeze until it is agitated.” To make her point, Rakel slowly tipped the cup and poured out some of the water. It poured like liquid, but when it hit the table, it began to form a crinkled column of ice.

“How did you discover this?” Oskar asked, pushing his eyebrows up in surprise.

“When Steinar first ascended the throne, I was suspicious that he might have me poisoned, so I froze a lot of my drinks to watch for different poisons.”

“Who would have thought that your paranoia would come in handy?” Phile said, winking at her.

“I assume the plan would be for Liv to purify water, for you to freeze it, and then to pour it on Farrin?” General Halvor asked.

Rakel nodded. “It won’t be part of a magic attack, so he can’t deflect it. While he tries to get out of the ice, someone should retrieve his sword. He’ll be much easier to deal with then.”

“Why?” General Halvor asked.

“Because he uses his sword to activate his reflective powers. He can reflect without it, but the sword gives him a way to direct his attacks, and I suspect it is much harder for him to use his power across his entire body at once.”

“How do you know this?” Snorri asked.

“Because he told me,” Rakel said.

“You know,” Phile said, tapping her nose. “I think I have an idea how we can attack the east side—should Little Wolf be willing.”

“Sing out, Robber Maiden,” Oskar chuckled. “It can’t be any stranger than purified water turning into ice!”

Phile grinned and almost fell out of her chair as she leaned forward with eagerness. “Just wait,” she promised.

Rakel turned half an ear to Phile’s plan and mentally congratulated herself. I knew there was a way for me to beat him. I can’t wait for a rematch—I’m finally going to beat Farrin Graydim!



Standing at the foot of a mountain, Rakel felt at home. The air was cooler and the snow much heavier—perfect for what she wanted.

She exhaled and leaned against her reindeer. He bumped her as he lowered his head to scratch his leg but did not seem to mind the contact.

“Can you do it?” Phile called as she approached, her hands shoved in a fur muff she had liberated from Rakel’s belongings.