Sacrifice (The Snow Queen #2)(27)

As he spoke, Rakel’s thoughts drifted. It is strange…it has only been a few months since Oskar first approached me on Ensom, but Verglas has changed so much. Our people are no longer divided or seeped in shadows of hatred. Perhaps that is why we can stand against the Chosen and not because of my magic.



Farrin adjusted his sword belt as he navigated his way through camp, making for his tent. After a day of extensive patrols and tedious scouting and spy work, he was ready to fall into his bedroll and let his night officers take over.

Tenebris’s arrival meant security had to be heightened and more precautions taken. Additionally, Kavon had arrived earlier in the day to report that a large number of his mercenaries were gone. Reports said they had gone out to raid the small village of Begna roughly three weeks ago and had never returned. Farrin did not think it would be wise to tell Tenebris it was because Rakel had walled them out of Verglas.

Farrin held no grudge against Kavon, but he didn’t like the disorderly manner he held towards his post and troops. His soldiers were undisciplined and unruly, causing great tension between Kavon’s men and Farrin’s.

Whether the troops have magic or not, they need to feel respected and work as a unit if we wish to accomplish anything.

Farrin slipped inside his tent and gave his eyes a moment to adjust. He heard a noise and realized he wasn’t alone. He unsheathed his new sword—a clunky thing compared to his previous weapon—then realized it was Tenebris.

“Relax, Runt. It’s just me.”

“Sir.” Farrin saluted and sheathed his sword.

“How fares our camp?” Tenebris asked.

Farrin lit an oil lamp, illuminating his leader—who was sitting cross-legged on a cushion. “Well enough, sir.”

“Has Kavon’s arrival caused any upsets?”

“None worth your notice.”

“Good.” Tenebris’s gold eyes lingered on Farrin’s sword belt. “It surprised me when I heard the Verglas Princess swiped your sword. I thought you treasured it greatly.”

“I do, sir. It was inconvenient, but my magic works just as well with my new sword,” Farrin lied. Using his magic with a new weapon wasn’t as easy as that. He knew every groove and notch in his two-handed broadsword. He knew its balance and could counter swing and parry with it with his eyes closed. Getting to know a new weapon so intimately would take time—more time than Farrin had. When I can get away long enough, I’ll have to reclaim my sword—and speak to Rakel if she is in Ostfold.

“That is good to hear,” Tenebris said, his voice light and easy. “I certainly wouldn’t want my best colonel hindered in any way.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I know I can trust you to carry out any order I give. You have always been my best. As such, your failure to conquer the north and to instead lose territory came as quite the shock.”

Farrin bowed his head.

“Which got me thinking. I’m afraid your missing sword is only a symptom of your dilemma.”

Farrin blinked. “Sir?”

“Yes, you have lost ground ever since the Verglas Princess began her march,” Tenebris continued. “Normally, I would say she must be quite powerful—and if Sunnira is even half-right, she sounds like a true monster. But even a monster shouldn’t be able to beat you, Runt. Not with your magic. This means you must have held back when fighting her.”

“When I first met Princess Rakel, I had hopes she could be convinced to fight with us.” Farrin realized his mistake as soon as he spoke. If he knows she’ll never join, he’ll have her killed before she faces him in battle. “I still believe she could be recruited,” he added.

“It doesn’t matter,” Tenebris said. “Even if she was brought over, she’s too powerful. Her strength lies everywhere. She can defend and attack—she could even cripple a country just by using her powers in their growing season. That is too much power. I stand on my previous judgment; she’ll have to be put down.”

Farrin’s heart roared with rage and desperation, but he kept his face bland and his arms locked behind him. “As you wish, sir.”

“Mmhmm. But that still leaves the matter of your failure. I can accept that you were not too harsh on her from the start, but it doesn’t explain why you failed to kill or capture her in your numerous meetings with her.”

“I have no explanation for my failure, sir.” Giving an excuse would only make it worse.

“Ahh, but you see, I do. I heard about Kavon’s plan to have one of the princess’s own guards kill her. It would have been beautiful if he could have pulled it off, but Kavon chose a poor target to carry out the deed, and it failed. It was a shame, but it was also so very interesting. I heard how you raced off the minute you found out about the plot—in order to warn the princess.”

Farrin was very, very still.

Tenebris drew closer. His eyes glittered in the darkness, and his smile was wide and toothy. “If you had failed me because of her power, I could have forgiven you, Runt. But to fail me because of personal feelings? Because of a weak attraction?”

“I do not know of what you speak, sir.” Farrin’s voice was strong, even though he knew what was coming. The best I can hope for is that he will punish me, and not Rakel…

“Do not lie to me,” Tenebris hissed. He placed his hand over Farrin’s heart. A black flower made of shadows bloomed around his fist.