“What?”
“It cannot be done!”
“It took us that long to reclaim Glowma and Ostfold!”
“I cannot use my powers after the middle of spring,” Rakel said.
“Why?” Steinar tilted his head as he studied her. “Does it become too difficult?”
“Not at all; it is for the same reason that we cannot plan to remain in Ostfold and wait out attacks,” Rakel said. “If I extensively use my magic after spring, it will ruin the planting and harvest season. Fruit trees will not bud—and if they do, the bees that pollinate them would die in the cold, or snow and frost would destroy the buds themselves. Crops planted in areas that I freeze over would be ruined—for theyear. The grass is perhaps the only thing that would not be killed off, and there would be a hay crop, but it would be smaller than usual and most likely stunted.”
The army officers looked to each other in concern. The magic users appeared to be less worried, but many of them sported wrinkled foreheads and furrowed brows.
“The need to end the conflict supports my previous suggestion. We must travel south and begin facing Tenebris if we hope to defeat the Chosen while the princess can use her magic,” General Halvor said.
“Couldn’t you limit your usage?” Colonel Danr asked.
“I can,” Rakel agreed, “but it will greatly limit my combat abilities. I’ll be reduced to performing magic directly on soldiers and creating ice weapons. I won’t be able to cause avalanches, block roads with snowfall, or create structures of ice.”
Colonel Danr nodded in satisfaction and swiveled his gaze to General Halvor. “Very well. Where, then, do you wish for us to establish our new base?”
General Halvor pointed on the map to a village in the south. “The landscape around Tana will best suit our needs and is in a position to receive backup from the capitalorGlowma. As we continue to push south, we will change our main fortification, but Tana will remain a key outpost in our communication relay.”
“I thought Tana was abandoned. Most of its residents fled to Glowma or Ostfold when the Chosen swept in,” a soldier said.
“Correct,” General Halvor said. “It has been abandoned. We plan to ask for volunteer citizens to come with us.”
“Commoners should not be taken so close to the battlefield,” Frodi objected.
“Perhaps, but we need a support crew. The Battle of Gaula has left us poorly outnumbered. We need every soldier we can get. They cannot be spared to do the cleaning and tasks that soldiers normally do when moving as a unit,” General Halvor said.
“You will leave some soldiers in Ostfold and Glowma?” Steinar asked.
General Halvor bowed. “With your leave, my King. We will leave reinforcement troops in both cities, and a squad of guards to protect you.”
“The guards are unnecessary. I will travel with the army to Tana.” Steinar raised his chin—Rakel recognized it as a sign of stubbornness, for she had often done the same thing herself.
Again the room was swaddled in whispers—these more softly uttered and guarded as they gaped at the young king.
“With all due respect, my king, it is far too risky,” General Halvor said.
“Rakel will travel with you—and sheshouldbe the Queen,” Steinar said.
Rakel took a step towards her brother and wondered how she could intimidate him into silence.For so long, I have wished he would participate in our plans—but I did not think he would utter such stupid things! He’s worse than Phile. Is this what it means to have a sibling?
“I have magic,” Rakel reminded him.
“I’m going,” Steinar said.
Rakel’s chin also rose as she narrowed her wild blue eyes at him.
“Am I not King?” he asked.
The words sounded boastful, but Rakel understood their meaning.He will let me overrule him, but thenIwill be the ruler of Verglas.She glared at him.
Steinar stared back at her with the same emotionless mask she usually wore when facing someone uttering death threats.
Blast him for looking so much like me!
