Heart of Ice (The Snow Queen #1)(73)

Steinar studied the statue, his eyes tracing his features, the crown, and the sword.

Rakel’s throat stuck, and she had to swallow twice before her voice obeyed her and she was able to speak. “You don’t have to fear me, Steinar. I mean you no harm.”

“I know,” he whispered. He moved, and Rakel felt a butterfly touch on her arm—the lightest of brushes. Steinar left her, trudging through the garden and towards the palace.

She watched him leave, her slight smile threatening to bloom into an idiotic grin. “He can be reached,” she whispered. “Not today, and maybe not tomorrow…but soon.”

Her laughter broke free, and she threw her arms around Frigid, hugging the unimpressed reindeer. When she released him, he trotted off, intending to leave her behind, and then bellowed in shock when Rakel threw herself onto his boney back.

Joy and laughter bubbled in her heart. She had friends; she had managed to save her brother—not to mention that she beat Farrin—and they had recovered Ostfold. She couldn’t recall a happier time.





CHAPTER 18





REALIZATIONS


“Both of your mothers gave you permission to travel to Ostfold with your grandmother, Gerta?” Rakel asked, allowing Kai to cling to her arm. Gerta’s bright yellow cloak bent next to a tree. She must’ve found entrance to the rabbit’s warren she’d been searching for.

They were strolling across the flat plains that jutted between Ostfold and the forest, supposedly to give the children a chance to play, but also so Rakel could relax and stop worrying about all the palace servants and refugees watching her.

“Yes!” Kai said, kicking snow so it gusted up in the wind.

“I am surprised your mother allowed it,” Rakel said.

“I had to do many chores and voice many appeals before she said yes.” Kai said, his little-boy voice as grave as ever.

Phile cut into a block of cheese with Foedus as she walked. “Why did Gerta’s grandmother need to come to Ostfold in the first place?”

“General Halvor sent for her,” Kai said. “She was in contact with some of her friends even after the cities were occupied by Chosen forces. And General Halvor wants her to tell him how she did it.”

Phile handed Kai a piece of the cheese. “That is an impressive feat. I shall have to ask her myself how she accomplished it.”

Kai let go of Rakel so he could eat. Gerta’s marigold hood bounced farther into the forest as if she were skipping.

“Grandmother Hilda is very wise,” Kai said.

“So I gathered. Cheese, Little Wolf?”

“No, thank you. Gerta!” Rakel called. “Stay where we can see you!”

“Not hungry?” Phile asked.

“I am, but I would prefer not to eat anything that has touched Foedus’s blade.”

“See, here! I wash it thoroughly whenever I use it,” Phile complained.

“I don’t see you eating that cheese,” Rakel said.

Phile rolled her eyes and stuffed a piece in her mouth. “Happy?” She swallowed and wiped her lips. “Do you still see Gerta?”

“No, I’ll go get her,” Rakel said. “We should begin walking back to Ostfold anyway.” She glanced over her shoulder where the capital sprawled.

“I won’t argue.” Phile cut a large chunk off the block of cheese and popped it in her mouth. “I’m getting fiercely lonesome for Handsome Halvor and Ogle-worthy Oskar.”

“What does ogle mean?” Kai asked.

Rakel thrust a finger in Phile’s direction. “You will not explain that to him,” she forbid. She stepped into the shade of the forest, following Gerta’s tracks.

Gerta had apparently moved much faster than anticipated, for Rakel followed her tracks for five minutes until she found the little girl, talking to a tall man who had hair the color of black tea.

“Gerta.” Rakel clenched her hands into fists and tapped her magic.

Gerta and her companion—Farrin Graydim—turned to face her.

“Princess! There you are—Mr. Graydim said he was looking for you,” Gerta said, skipping towards Rakel.

Rakel caught the little girl her by her shoulders. “Gerta, I want you to follow your tracks back to Phile, and tell her you met Mr. Graydim. Can you do that?”

“Yes, Princess!” She bowed and hopped on her way.

“Run, Gerta,” Rakel said, not daring to turn her back to Farrin. Though she hoped this would be like their other private meetings—civil, not hostile—she wasn’t willing to risk her welfare and relax.

Farrin held his hands up as he drew closer to her. “Your Highness,” he said.

“Colonel Graydim, what brings you this close to Ostfold?” Rakel asked, forming five ice swords and setting them spinning in a circle around Farrin.

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“I find that unlikely,” Rakel snorted. “You came back to spy—or for your sword.”

“Before you took Glowma, you asked me why the Chosen wished to take over Verglas. I told you it was to claim a land for our own, and you—”

“Won’t believe it any more now than I did then,” she warned him.

“I have since found the real reason for my superior’s Verglas aspirations.”