Sacrifice (The Snow Queen #2)(20)

“If you want it,” he started.

“I don’t. And even if you abdicate, I would sooner see Halvor on the throne than myself,” Rakel said firmly. “I have no business trying to run a government—ignorant as I am.”

“If you had been raised at the palace with me—”

“It still wouldn’t be a good idea. I have a terrifying amount of magic. I wouldn’t be revered; I would be feared. There would be no checks in place to stop me. No, magic users are meant to be a different kind of leader. You have to lead the country, Steinar. There is no one else who can.”

“The people love you more.”

“Who wouldn’t love a hero who sweeps in and saves the day? It’s a story you can read in any child’s picture book. They love me loudly now, but even the resistance fighters must know I would make a terrible queen.”

“What if they don’t care?”

“They will,” Rakel said, recalling the words Oskar spoke to her long ago. He was right. I must lead them to Steinar. They will love him for being a good king and for being human the way they are.

Steinar squeezed her hand, making her smile in delight.

She tilted her head thoughtfully when she noticed a number of maps arranged on the walls, almost exactly the way she arranged them in her library on Ensom Peak. “I believe I have that same set of maps.”

“Do you? Fascinating,” Steinar said. “About the Chosen—” He fell quiet when muffled shouts filled the hallway. He let go of Rakel’s hand and stood, reaching for his sword. “What was that?”

“I don’t know.” Rakel moved for the door, gathering her magic but withholding from showing it—she didn’t want to spook Steinar. Steinar cautiously opened the door, releasing the full blasts of the shouts in the hallway.

“Stop! You cannot go in there,” Knut said, holding Gerta back.

“No, let me go!” The little girl thrashed, fighting to get loose.

Oskar kneeled in front of her. “Gerta, the princess is busy. Can’t you wait a few minutes?”

“I need her!”

“Tell me what’s wrong. I’ll help.” Phile tried to soothe her.

“No! I need—Princess!” Gerta shouted when she saw Rakel and Steinar standing in his doorway. Knut let her go, and she ran down the hallway, scrubbing at her tear-streaked face. “You have to come quick!” she hiccupped.

Rakel reached out to take the little girl’s hands. “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Kai. He’s got magic!”





CHAPTER 5





MOBILE MAGIC


Rakel’s heart stilled. “What?”

“You have to save Kai!” Gerta pulled on her hands.

“Oskar,” Rakel said.

The attendant picked Gerta up. “Where is he, Gerta?”

“Outside the city gates.” Tears and snot flowed down Gerta’s face. “I tried to find Grandmother, but she wasn’t in our rooms!”

Rakel and Oskar ran. Rakel was vaguely aware that Phile, Snorri, and Crow were on their heels, but her mind raced. Kai has magic? Impossible—he’s well past five…though my magic appeared when I was just three. Could he have such a delayed activation?

As soon as they cleared the castle doors, Phile streaked ahead of them. “Out of the way!” she hissed at a group of soldiers.

They left the palace grounds with baffled guards in their wake and zoomed through Ostfold. Folks yelped and leaped out of their way. They almost ran into a cart pulled by a pair of donkeys, but the owner dodged them at the last moment.

Rakel’s side ached with exertion when they reached the city gate, but when she saw Kai standing in the field of snow, she had renewed vigor.

The boy was standing trapped between several crude snow sculptures of horses and soldiers that moved. Whenever he tried to flee, a sculpture lunged at him. The rest of the mobile sculptures were occupied with brutally chopping and scattering motionless piles of snow.

“Kai!” Rakel shouted.

Kai didn’t answer. He cried and tried to back away from the snow creations. One of the soldier snow sculptures brandished its sword at him.

Rakel grabbed for her magic and reached for the snow, but it slipped away from her, mastered by another force.

“Stay here,” Rakel said.

“I wanna come with you.” Gerta put on a brave face, even though her eyes were clouded with terror.

Rakel placed a hand on her cheek. “You are a good friend, Gerta, but you can’t go.”

“Neither should you.” Worry gave Oskar’s face deep wrinkles.

“I have to.”

“It’s magic, Princess. He could hurt you.”

“He’s a scared little boy. He needs someone right now. And if I get close enough, I think I’ll be able to take control of the snow,” Rakel said.

“Good luck, Little Wolf,” Phile said.

Rakel nodded and started walking towards Kai and the snow sculptures. “Kai!” she shouted when she drew closer.

“P-P-Princess,” Kai sobbed. “I’m s-scared!”

“Everything is going to be alright. Try to calm down—your magic won’t hurt you.” Though it might hurt me.