Sacrifice (The Snow Queen #2)(16)

“I was thinking of melting the iceberg when summer comes,” Rakel said.

“Wouldn’t that flood the palace with water?” Phile asked.

“No, it would fill the gorge, though.”

“And re-fortify the west side of the palace. I see what you are thinking, Princess. A well thought plan,” Oskar said.

“Thank you. Though I believe the water would be too cold for anything to live in it.”

“That makes it an even better border guard,” Oskar said. “Is something wrong, Phile?”

Phile squinted and pointed to the capital. “There’s a bunch of folk gathering on the border of Ostfold.”

Rakel turned Frigid and shielded her eyes. Several dozen commoners gathered at the edge of the city. Rakel could hear their cheers, and they waved something above their heads. “Is that a flag the closest villager is waving?”

Phile crowed with laughter. “It is—it’s your flag! They’ve come to see you off, Snow Queen!”

Rakel was prepared to scoff, but she fell silent when the breeze made the flag flap, and she caught sight of the familiar white snowflake and ash gray reindeer on a blue field.

“Snow Queen!”

“Go ahead, acknowledge them,” Oskar said.

“They think too highly of me,” Rakel said.

“With your brother hiding, they need someone they can believe in,” Oskar said.

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Rakel said. But it would feel rude to ignore them…as if I thought they were beneath my notice. She hesitated, then raised her hand and waved.

The cheering grew louder.

Embarrassed, Rakel turned Frigid away. “Are we ready to leave, yet?”

Oskar grinned. “Just about.”

Phile watched Rakel like a curious bird.

“What is it?” Rakel asked.

“Nothing.” The Robber Maiden smiled. “Come on, let’s go find Snorri.”

“You wish for Snorri? When Oskar stands in front of you, available to pine after?” Rakel asked.

Oskar laughed, but it was an uncomfortable sound. “Princess.”

“I do love to ogle Oskar, but Snorri is guarding Crow.”

“I see,” Rakel said with pricked curiosity. “Very well, let us find Snorri.”

Phile laughed. “I do love your curious mind, Little Wolf. Come!”





CHAPTER 4





THE MIRROR


The party traveled west—skirting Ensom Peak—until Crow found the tiny, drift-riddled path that led into the mountain range. When they passed her previous home, Rakel caught a glimpse of her ice-castle. The sight filled her with both joy that she was no longer forced to stay there…and a little bit of homesickness. She had poured so much effort and passion into her castle, the magic locked in its walls reached for her.

Under Crow’s direction, the group followed the path as it turned north and traveled through the vast, unnamed mountains that stretched across the northern border of Verglas. The path was steep and difficult, but not as dangerous or impossible as it would have been without Rakel there to clear the road, hold back the snow, raise the temperature of the air, and—when necessary—forge thick slabs of ice that spanned deep valleys and gorges.

They had been in the range for just short of a week when Snorri was able to pick up the trail of the mirror.

“Here.” He stared down a small crack of a path that squeezed between two mountains.

Oskar furrowed his forehead with worry. “How do you know?”

Snorri held up the mirror shard—which Rakel had handed over at the beginning of their journey. “It has the same aura.”

“How close is it?” Rakel asked, fascinated. Looking at the mirror shard made her uneasy, but she couldn’t detect even the faintest whiff of magic that wasn’t hers.

Snorri tilted his head, thinking. “We will find it today.”

General Halvor dismounted. “We’ll have to leave the ponies and the bulk of the supplies here. A small party will remain with the animals—and Crow.”

“You don’t mean to let me join you? That’s harsh, that is.” Although the words sounded like a complaint, Crow shivered and remained happily perched on his pony as he watched birds fly overhead.

“Shouldn’t everyone go together?” Oskar asked.

“We cannot allow an enemy soldier to learn the location of the mirror,” General Halvor said.

Phile raised her hand. “I thought the point of this expedition was to destroy it.”

“It is,” General Halvor said.

Oskar glanced at the sleighs. “It would be wise to have a soldier or two remain with the supplies, but I would rather have Crow where we can keep an eye on him.”

“Must you?” Crow asked through chattering teeth.

General Halvor raised his eyebrow. “You have alternate plans?”

“No. I just imagine wherever this cursed mirror is, it will be even colder.”

General Halvor rubbed his stubbly chin.

“We could always kill him to hide the mirror’s location,” Oskar said.

“What?” Crow yelped.

“Oscar!” Rakel frowned.

“It is an option, Princess. If this mirror is as powerful as Colonel Graydim claims, it will be dangerous if any word of it gets out,” Oskar said.