Sacrifice (The Snow Queen #2)(67)

“Come on, Little Wolf.” Phile coughed, clearing the scratch in her voice. “Let’s go find Frigid and get mounted up.”

Rakel moved to follow her but paused. “We did well,” she said as the magic users and soldiers checked their weapons.

Bunny—back in her human body with Crow hovering at her shoulder—snorted. “We did no such thing. We faced eight magic users and got pounded.”

Rakel stood taller and adapted her royal bearings. “Those eight magic users were trained for combat. We have been working together for just a few weeks, and most Verglas magic users are poorly trained. We did well.”

Bunny met her gaze and gave her a crooked smile and a playful bow. “We did, Snow Queen.”

Rakel kept her face pleasant, but after Kavon’s words, Bunny’s evaluation felt like a kick in the gut. Am I that much like Tenebris?

“Little Wolf?”

“Coming.” Rakel followed her friend to the various horses and ponies—and reindeer, in Rakel’s case—the party had ridden. She glanced north—towards Ensom Peak and her castle. I was able to push magic into the magic-leech, and I could feel every ice structure in the country that I had made. I wonder…could I use that somehow?





CHAPTER 14





CONCEALED TACTICS


Rakel stood in the shadows and watched the happy activity in the camp. The Verglas forces had set up their new headquarters much farther south and had been there for over a week. It had been a bit of an adjustment—going from hills and forests to the plains and fields that made up the majority of the southern lands—but they had reconnected with the resistance force and saved a handful of towns and villages.

Soon, though, they would have to face Tenebris.

However, almost everyone in the camp was occupied with celebrating their most recent round of wins. It was dusk, and smoky-sweet smells beckoned from every campfire. Oskar—standing with Pordis and Hilda—oozed charm, making the ladies laugh. Steinar was smiling and talking to several of Halvor’s officers, while the grim-faced general looked astonishingly relaxed listening to Liv and Snorri.

Farrin chatted with Knut while he kept an eye on Kai. The little boy played with Gerta and several children from the resistance movement who had joined up with them.

It was beautiful to see all the people she loved talking and laughing, but she couldn’t shake the thought of the mirror and Tenebris. The burden weighed on Rakel’s shoulders without mercy. If they defeated the Chosen, in several decades, would she become the next threat to Verglas? The thought made her shiver. My magic is strong, and I have so much of it…no. It was her choice, and she had chosen Verglas. Verglas needed this war to end, so she had to finish it with as few losses as possible.

Halvor would say magic isn’t always the best tactic—but against another magic, I think it must be.

Rakel closed her eyes and stayed in the shadows, trying to hold her head up as she struggled. I need to talk to someone. Rakel’s gaze was drawn to Farrin, and then Oskar, but she shook her head. She needed someone who loved her but would be honest and open. Farrin, Oskar, and even Steinar and Halvor would refute her questions out of sheer loyalty and love.

I need someone who understands my heart… Coming up with an answer, Rakel leaned forward to see if she could find her, only to realize Phile was already standing next to her.

Phile’s eyes glittered in the fading sun. “You alright, Little Wolf?”

Rakel smiled. “Phile, would you walk with me?”

Phile threaded her arm through Rakel’s. “Of course.”

They turned their backs to the camp and meandered to the edge, nodding to patrolling soldiers as they entered thawed fields that were soft and held the promise of green.

Phile sat down on a tree stump. “What’s on your mind?”

Rakel pressed her hands together. “Am I like Tenebris?” She was a little surprised by her own words, as she had planned to start by asking Phile about ending the war.

Phile blinked. “I’m assuming you don’t mean physically—because I have yet to see him don a dress and run around in a wig.”

Rakel smiled wryly. “I mean in power. I’m fighting for innocents, but the more I hear about him, the more I see similarities between us. He charmed Farrin to his side, just as I charmed him to mine. He won over magic users by saving them from dire straits, and I have won over the people of Verglas by freeing them. He has immense power that I can match, and his people are loyal to him to a point of dogma. The more I think of it, the more I am frightened. There was a moment, when he attacked Gerta and Kai, that I would have killed him. Gladly.” She wrung her hands and cringed, waiting for Phile’s judgment.

“There might be a few similarities.” Phile said.

Rakel turned away from her and had a hard time swallowing.

“But, Little Wolf, you’re missing something very important.”

“What?” Rakel whispered, afraid to hope.

“Tenebris let the darkness of the world get to him. He chose to meet hate with hate. He seeks power and crawls in the darkness.” Phile got off her stump and moved to stand in front of Rakel. She took her hands. “You, however, my brave friend, have chosen love. I know you, and I know you will never turn your back on that.”

Phile gave her such a glowing smile Rakel could feel her heart warm.