Rakel blinked. “What?”
“Your powers are a gift. You should never apologize for possessing them,” Steinar said.
“I love my magic,” she admitted. “But I know being related to me has put you in a difficult position.”
“I put myself in a difficult position when I continued your exile on Ensom after I had been crowned king. I should have called you home. I knew it was wrong to keep you there, but I was afraid,” Steinar said. “How could you forgive our family for how they had treated you—how could you forgive me for taking a throne that should have been yours?”
Rakel exhaled—as close to a groan as she would allow herself. “Everyone is overly concerned with the throne of Verglas,” she said.
Steinar stared into his lit fireplace.
“I don’t want the throne—it never even crossed my mind as I started reclaiming territory. A magic queen? I can almost feel the daggers in my back just thinking about it.” Rakel shivered in show, but Steinar didn’t laugh.
“If you want it,” he started.
“I don’t. And even if you abdicate, I would sooner see Halvor on the throne than myself,” Rakel said firmly. “I have no business trying to run a government—ignorant as I am.”
“If you had been raised at the palace with me?—”
“It still wouldn’t be a good idea. I have a terrifying amount of magic. I wouldn’t be revered; I would be feared. There would be no checks in place to stop me. No, magic users are meant to be a different kind of leader. Youhaveto lead the country, Steinar. There is no one else who can.”
“The people love you more.”
“Who wouldn’t love a hero who sweeps in and saves the day? It’s a story you can read in any child’s picture book. They love me loudly now, but even the resistance fighters must know I would make a terrible queen.”
“What if they don’t care?”
“They will,” Rakel said, recalling the words Oskar spoke to her long ago.He was right. I must leadthem to Steinar. They will love him for being a good king and for being human the way they are.
Steinar squeezed her hand, making her smile in delight.
She tilted her head thoughtfully when she noticed a number of maps arranged on the walls, almost exactly the way she arranged them in her library on Ensom Peak. “I believe I have that same set of maps.”
“Do you? Fascinating,” Steinar said. “About the Chosen—” He fell quiet when muffled shouts filled the hallway. He let go of Rakel’s hand and stood, reaching for his sword. “What was that?”
“I don’t know.” Rakel moved for the door, gathering her magic but withholding from showing it—she didn’t want to spook Steinar. Steinar cautiously opened the door, releasing the full blasts of the shouts in the hallway.
“Stop! You cannot go in there,” Knut said, holding Gerta back.
“No, let me go!” The little girl thrashed, fighting to get loose.
Oskar kneeled in front of her. “Gerta, the princess is busy. Can’t you wait a few minutes?”
“I need her!”
“Tell me what’s wrong. I’ll help.” Phile tried to soothe her.
“No! I need—Princess!” Gerta shouted when she saw Rakel and Steinar standing in his doorway. Knut let her go, and she ran down the hallway, scrubbing at her tear-streaked face. “You have to come quick!” she hiccupped.
Rakel reached out to take the little girl’s hands. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Kai. He’s gotmagic!”
CHAPTER 5
MOBILE MAGIC
Rakel’s heart stilled. “What?”
