“Thankyou.”
Rakel opened her mouth to say more, but she jumped when Captain Halvor appeared in front of her, plucking the dagger from the villager’s fingers.
“Idiot.” He head-butted him, and the man went down, held up only by his arm.
When Rakel released the wall, he hit the ground with a splat and was out cold.
“Are the invaders gone?” Oskar asked, stepping up to Rakel’s side. Although his words were light, his eyes swept the crowd with an unusual intensity.
“They fled the mountain,” Halvor answered.
“Do you think they’ll return?” Oskar asked.
“For certain, though I do not believe it will be for the villagers, nor do I believe they will come alone.”
Rakel clamped her hands around her pale hair, attempting to keep it from flapping wildly. “You think they will seek me out.”
The captain said nothing and eyed the villagers.
Few celebrated like Gerta and Kai. Most watched Rakel with wary eyes, murmuring and whispering to each other as they pressed away from her.
Though she was loath to, Rakel nudged the little girl away. “Is your grandmother safe?”
Gerta’s smile dimmed. “She didn’t get hurt, but the soldiers scared her.”
“Real bad,” Kai added.
“I’m fine, children. There is no need to act as if I am tottering upon death’s doorstep,” someone chuckled. A pudgy, elderly woman with a button nose, gray hair, and beautiful, vivid blue eyes stepped out of the house. “My name is Hilda—this little trouble-maker is my granddaughter. Princess, I thank you for saving us. No one else could have driven them out.”
Rakel blinked, surprised. “You’re welcome.”
“While I cannot repay your generosity, I ask that you would stay in my home for the night.”
“Itisgetting awfully late to travel,” Oskar said glancing at the pink sky. “Do you want to go get your men, Halvor, or should I?”
“No,” Rakel said. She cleared her throat and repeated in a calmer tone, “That is unnecessary. I mean to return home tonight.”
Oskar stared at her. “You want to drive in the coldness of the night instead of sleep in a warm bed?”
“The path is clear, and with the moon shining on the snow, one can see clearly,” Rakel said.
“I won’t deny that, but are you certain?” Oskar asked.
Some villagers shifted behind her. “I am certain.”
“Halvor, help me reason with her,” Oskar said.
“As you wish, Princess,” Captain Halvor said, bending in a bow.
“You two have picked the most inconvenient time to join forces. Halvor, I’m going to hold you responsible if she catches a cold or chill,” Oskar sighed.
A chill? Me? In spite of our many years together, he has odd notions of my supposed humanity.
“At least allow me to give you food for your journey,” Hilda—Gerta’s grandmother—said.
“If you are willing, we would have you accompany us, Mistress,” Captain Halvor said.
“To watch the children?” she guessed.
