Sacrifice (The Snow Queen #2)(72)

This is it. Rakel’s heart beat erratically. I must defeat Tenebris. I must push my magic into Verglas. Any later, and the entire country will be in bloom.

Farrin, standing at her side, leaned over and rested his head against hers. “You’re not alone. We will claim victory and freedom for Verglas.”

Rakel gave him a trembling smile and kissed his cheek. She had to bite her tongue to keep from saying what her heart screamed. I love you. I don’t want to leave you, and I am so sorry.

General Halvor—riding a horse now that the snow had melted—shifted in the saddle, making the leather creak. “Is anyone unclear on any part of our strategy?”

Phile—standing on Rakel’s other side—shook her head and fed her horse a few blades of grass. “You pounded it in our heads so well, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of us dreamt about it last night, General.” She softened her words with a wink and exchanged knowing gazes with Rakel.

The Verglas plan was quite complex—it had to be wide-spread and encompassing in order to counter the imbalance of magic users between the Verglas troops and the Chosen forces.

Oskar led the resistance fighters, all of whom were outfitted with bows for long-distance combat. Rakel’s throat ached, knowing that she had already spoken to her bright-haired attendant for the last time, but to avoid raising suspicions, she didn’t protest his post.

General Halvor would lead the Verglas army—who would engage both magic enemies and the small army of soldiers Tenebris had left.

Farrin would guard Rakel—who would face off with Tenebris—and a team of five led the magic users. Phile would guard Liv and, according to Halvor’s plan, when Rakel lured Tenebris to the frontlines, she would signal Phile, who—with Frodi’s help—would set off a signal of their own to call Farrin back to pick up Liv and take her to the frontlines with Rakel and Tenebris, giving Rakel a final edge.

In reality, when Rakel was ready, she would signal to Phile with a giant snowflake in the sky, who would falsely signal in return. When Farrin fell back, Rakel would wall him and the rest of the Verglas troops out, and she would finish Tenebris and his army.

If she could.

Even if I expel everything, there’s no certainty that my magic really will seal off Verglas from dark magic. And there’s no certainty I’ll be able to defeat Tenebris.

“You’ll win it, Little Wolf.” Phile clasped her shoulder.

Rakel gave her a weak smile in return. “Thank you,” she said. She had already given the Robber Maiden letters to explain all she had done the night prior. That was the last they had spoken of their private plan. “For everything.”

The ground throbbed as the Chosen forces marched closer and closer.

“Of course,” Phile said.

“It’s time.” General Halvor wheeled his horse around. “To your stations—wait for the princess to attack,” he ordered. Rakel watched him ride to his post, her eyes tracing over his familiar back. Thank you, General.

“I believe that was an order, Robber Maiden.” Farrin raised his eyebrow.

“Are you that anxious to be rid of me? Oh—I get it. You want some alone time with Rakel. Very well then!” Phile said. She gave Rakel a quick, bone-crushing hug, then backed away, her expression fierce even though tears threatened to leak from her eyes. She nodded and threw herself at her horse, mounting up. “Stand proud, Snow Queen. You have no equal.” She rode off, her shoulders straight and her hair—pulled back in its usual ponytail and covered by her red kerchief—streaming in the wind.

Farrin looked from the retreating Phile to Rakel and raised an eyebrow. “Is there something I should know?”

Rakel struggled to smile. “No,” she lied.

A frown tugged the corner of Farrin’s lips down, but he nodded and turned his attention to the incoming army. “Tenebris is in the back, again, though he has positioned himself in the center—which is unusual.” He pointed out the black-clothed commander riding a fiendish horse. “As you can see, there is a bit of a line between the magic users and the regular troops. Try to reach him through there if possible—it should take less magic to clear.”

A tendril of her white hair kept sticking to her lips. Rakel tucked it behind her ear. “I see.”

“Watch for General Halvor’s signal, but you have some time. To begin attacking now would create a disadvantage for our soldiers,” Farrin continued.

Rakel nodded, shrinking when he gazed at her with his piercing gray eyes.

“You’ll do fine.” He slid his hand under her chin, tilting her face up to meet his gaze. “I will be with you, Rakel. The army stands with you. You are not alone.”

She nodded again and, on an impulse, hugged Farrin, soaking in his unique warmth.

Farrin’s arms surrounded her for a few glorious moments, and she felt his lips brush her cheek. I need to let go. I should step away. But she couldn’t. She clung to Farrin, his touch stabilizing her unsettled heart.

Farrin wove his fingers among the hair at the nape of her neck. “Are you alright?” he asked.

“Yes,” Rakel lied. She stepped away and ripped her gaze from him to make the lie more bearable. She settled on Halvor and watched him with bated breath.

The Chosen army marched closer still, spreading across the land like a dark nightmare. She started pulling on her magic, letting its minty flavor and frosty feel settle her pounding heart. She sucked in a deep breath, settled her shoulders, and raised her chin. I will not go down as a coward. I will end this!