Clearly they are waiting for me to leave. I guess all I can do is go south and then double back around LakeSno.
Angelique gave them a friendly smile and started to march south. She waited until she was hidden by a copse of trees before she cutwest.
She found Pegasus, who gave her a cursory sniff before he went back to digging in the snow, then tried to wait patiently for Stil to return from hismission.
By the time he finally appeared, she had pulled her white fur muff from Pegasus’ saddlebag and was sitting on a log, a white cloak draped across hershoulders.
“I hope you made that worthwhile,” she sourly said. “Because speaking to King Torgen was even less fun than we thought it wouldbe!”
“It was quite worth the trouble,” Stil assured her with a large smile. “I now have a cohesiveplan.”
Angelique waited for several long moments, but he said nothing more. “Do you care to share your great brilliance, or does your plan require secrecy?” She arched an eyebrow and watched Stil enthusiastically rub his handstogether.
“Yes, of course I’ll explain it.” He hesitated. “I actually will need yourhelp.”
Unsurprised, Angelique mashed her face in her white muff in an effort to scratch her nose without removing her hands from the warmth. “After all of this, I expected asmuch.”
“In my search, I met two men—I believe they were Gemma’s guards when she was held captive in the dungeons,” Stil said. “They provided me with some greatly useful information and agreed to helpme.”
Angelique scratched her ear. “How did you meetthem?”
“Er, I went to the dungeons to see if King Torgen was keeping Gemma there—he’s not. Thankfully, however, I encountered the guardsinstead.”
“Do they know where Gemma is beingkept?”
Stil’s easy-going manners left him, and he narrowed his eyes, his lips curling into a snarl. “Yes. It seems King Torgen has her locked in his wife’s oldquarters.”
Angelique grimaced. “That seems twisted,somehow.”
“Agreed,” Stil said in a very dark and not at all Stil-like voice. He shook his head and continued. “By the time I met the soldiers, I had already confirmed that there isn’t enough of the Snow Queen’s magic residing in Ostfold for me to properly rile it. But they were able to confirm a location that had it in plentifulamounts.”
“Oh?”
“Yes.” Stil swiveled and pointed west, to the tall mountain that was rather distinct among the northern mountains due to its unusual rounded top. “Fresler’sHelm.”
Angelique turned slightly on her log so she could also look at the mythical mountain. Legend had it the Snow Queen had once lived on Fresler’s Helm and had, in using her vast powers, blown the top of the mountain tosmithereens.
“The soldiers said they’ve heard rumors from other mages that a great deal of magic still pools around Fresler’sHelm.”
“Understandable given its history. But how will that aid your cause?” Angelique glanced at her friend and finallystood.
Stil cracked his knuckles. “It’s why I need your help. I’d like you to travel there and wait for my signal. When you see it, I want you to build the biggest snow storm you can. The bigger you can make it, the more the Snow Queen’s magic will notice, and hopefully then I’ll be able to draw itin.”
“And thesignal?”
“The soldiers and I are going to plant starfires around Ostfold. They’ll help me light them up when the time comes.” He held up one of the small, prism-like crystals as a sort ofprop.
Angelique glanced at the mountain speculatively. “I suppose with a spyglass I’ll be able to seeit.”
“It puts you alone on the mountain, though.” Stil frowned so deeply his foreheadwrinkled.
Angelique snorted. “Fresler’s Helm is far less dangerous than bearding KingTorgen.”
“Undoubtedly, but I don’t relish the idea of sending you off alone.” Stil folded his arms across his chest and stared down at hisfeet.
Angelique’s heart warmed.I’ve helped princes and selkies, kingdoms and duchesses. But I think Stil and Puss are the only two who have ever thought of my wellbeing in asking for aid. I’m so glad he has found Gemma, even if it means I am no longer most important tohim.
“I’ll be fine. I’ll have to ride Pegasus to make it in time for the wedding, and he’s a force to be reckoned with on his own.” She glanced at the constellation to see if he minded, but he was studying a tree with flattened ears and a serious look of contemplative disdain.I hope he doesn’t attack that tree just because it displeaseshim…
