Sacrifice (The Snow Queen #2)(49)

Rakel hesitated and turned to Farrin. “Will you come with us?”

He offered her a deep bow. “It would be my pleasure. Please, allow me to tell you how breathtaking you are.”

“Thank you,” Rakel said, some of the heat returning to her cheeks. Don’t be foolish, she chided. This is just because of the new dress. They ambled after the group, walking side by side. “Phile told me you guarded me while I slept. Thank you.”

“There is no need to thank me. You asked me to guard you, and I will,” Farrin said.

Rakel stubbornly shook her head. “No, you deserve to be thanked. I do not wish to take you for granted. Ever since discovering my price, I have dreaded it. Your presence changes that.”

“I am glad,” Farrin said.

They walked in silence. She was hyper aware whenever his arm brushed hers, and she was tempted to scoot away from him, but she suspected it would feel like a retreat, so she did her best to ignore the warmth he radiated. When they reached Tana’s ice walls, she asked, “Are you satisfied with your treatment—and the treatment of your underlings?”

“Yes,” Farrin said. “We have faced less censure than I imagined we would.”

“Phile said things have been tense, but not dire.”

“I agree. Although I must credit the response to General Halvor, and to King Steinar.”

Rakel felt a small smile bud on her lips. “He’s more important than you thought, isn’t he?”

“General Halvor? I was always aware he was the military mind behind your battles.”

“No, Steinar.”

Farrin was quiet as they left the village and followed the group to the flat field that stretched to the west of the village. “Meeting you has changed him,” he finally said. “Previously he was hopeless… Have you asked him yet why he kept you on Ensom?”

“No,” Rakel admitted.

“Ask.”

Rakel was about to press the matter when a gruff female voice shouted, “Get off me, you stupid bird!”

Rakel peeked past Farrin and saw his scout—the shapeshifter—storm up the field. Holding her hand was Cronius Winderbag.

Crow gave the shapeshifter a charming smile. “No. I intend to never part with you, precious!”

“If you don’t, I will gnaw your arm off.” The shapeshifter glowered.

“Don’t say that. The whole camp knows we will soon marry and have little crow hatchlings of our own.”

Rakel stared at the spectacle. The shapeshifter always seemed confident and controlled—if not a little rough and tumble. But now her ears were beet red, and her shoulders were hunched with embarrassment as she stomped around with Crow meandering in her trail.

“What happened?” Rakel asked.

“He caught sight of one of Bunny’s animal forms when I sent her off to spy,” Farrin said.

Phile joined their conversation—she had reluctantly been forced to part with Oskar, and now dragged Snorri behind her instead. “He’s taken quite a shine to her.”

“Why?” Rakel asked.

Snorri mumbled, and Phile elbowed him. “She can shift into a crow,” Snorri said—louder and more clearly.

“He’s been infatuated ever since,” Phile added.

Rakel considered the matter. “There is some humor to the situation,” she said.

“Some?” Phile snorted. “It’s been the best campsite entertainment since Knut lost five card games and had to dress up like a maid.”

At that moment, Bunny stopped to fix a Verglas magic user’s stance. “What?” she barked when she realized Crow was staring at her.

Crow gave an exaggerated, love-addled sigh. “I love me a strong woman.”

Bunny’s face twisted, and she turned on her heels and strode away from him.

Rakel glanced up at Farrin. “Do you think she’ll become annoyed enough to hurt him?”

“No,” Farrin said.

“If I could recruit Bunny—and Crow—for my guild, we could pull off many a pretty heist,” Phile said, rubbing her chin. “Of course, Bunny is female.”

“As are you,” Rakel pointed out.

“Yes, but if I want to rival you and have a group of handsome men around me, I need to strenuously recruit the male demographic. Hmm, say, Snorri, what plans do you have for your future after the war?”

“Army,” Snorri said, not at all fazed even though Phile leaned against him.

“We’ll see,” Phile said. She glanced at Farrin.

He raised his eyebrow. “Yes?”

“No, I’m not even going to bother asking you—though you would give us a dashing air!” Phile said.

Farrin didn’t say anything in response, but he gave Snorri a nod of respect.

Snorri sighed and returned the nod.

“Was that a wordless exchange of compliments?” Phile asked.

“Yes,” Snorri said.

Phile squawked and kept speaking, but Rakel’s attention was drawn to the practice field.

It was a beautiful sight to behold—all the different magic users sparring and fighting. Tollak was huddled with Bluff, showing him some sort of lightning rod. Ragnar was drilling a few of the Verglas magic users who were villagers and possessed no formal training. Big balls of fire were sure signposts for Frodi’s location…but…something about it bothered her.