“But the resistance fighters—” Rakel started.
“Will still be here when you wake up. He’s right, Little Wolf. You better take a rest,” Phile said. She untied her horse from one of the other army sleighs and mounted up. “Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye out while you slumber.”
Rakel frowned. “You make it sound peaceful.”
“Youlookpeaceful—no one would ever guess how jumpy and suspicious it makes you. Mind you, as paranoid as you are, I think it’s a wonder you sleep at all,” Phile said.
“I’m getting better.” Rakel let a bit of a pout seep into her voice as she lowered herself into the sleigh.
“You are,” Phile agreed. “But you have a ways to go.”
“I’m not so sure extra caution is a bad thing,” Oskar said as he tucked a fur around Rakel’s legs. “Caution keeps you alive.”
Phile adjusted the red kerchief she wore over her hair. “But fear can make a man live a shell of a life.”
“If you say so. Princess?”
“Yes?” Rakel settled into the sleigh.
“Let go of your magic,” Oskar ordered.
Phile snorted. “You sound like her parent.”
Oskar raised an eyebrow. “And what does that make you? You frequently lecture her as I do.”
Phile batted her eyelashes. “If you’re her father, I will volunteer to take the role of mother.”
Oskar ignored the flirtation and smiled at Rakel. “I’ll take note of tonight’s events and inform you of anything you missed when you awaken.”
Rakel exhaled and dropped her grip on her minty magic. In a few short moments, her muscles fell out of her control, going slack as her vision became fuzzy.
It’s an uncomfortable price,Rakel thought, her mind still under her control.But it is a small thing compared to the joy my magic gives me.
Before Rakel could further ruminate, unconsciousness stole her mind; her breathing deepened, and she sagged on the sleigh, unaware of the world.
CHAPTER 3
CONFIDENCE FROM THE ENEMY
“They have an impressive structure, given that only a few of them ever served in the military,” General Halvor said, caught in a rare moment of chattiness. “It seems they use merchants as a method of communication. It is a risky move as the Chosen could shut down supply trains at any time, but it allows them to communicate with one another in a timely manner.”
“I see.” Rakel walked shoulder to shoulder with the general and felt invigorated by his passion. Very little could bring out such pleasure in Halvor; meetings and tactics occupied the highest place in his life. It seems the resistance fighters had embraced both, gaining his respect.
“I believe it would be in our best interests to support them,” he continued.
“You wish to send them some magic users?” Rakel asked.
“No,” General Halvor said. “As I stated previously, we cannot spare them. I plan to send several officers and a small number of troops. Their superior knowledge of weapons and warfare will be a boon to the resistance.”
“You know,” Phile said, walking on Rakel’s other side. “My heart has been shattered.”
Rakel furrowed her brows. “Why?”
Phile chewed a hunk of bread and gave Halvor a reproachful look. “Because I’ve spent weeks buttering up to General Halvor, and this resistance has captured more enthusiasm from him in adaythan I have in the length of our relationship.”
General Halvor stared at Phile, his upper lip twitching in what was most likely disgust.
Rakel shook her head when Phile offered her a chunk from her loaf. “Calling your interactions a relationship may be a strain.”
