“If you wish to come with us, my king, we will begin planning for it,” Halvor said. “However, I do not feel it is a tactically wise move. To have the two remaining members of the royal family present on the battlefield would be…risky.”
“If I die or am taken captive, Rakel can rule,” Steinar said. “I give her my blessing.”
“If you die or are taken captive, I will already be incapacitated,” Rakel promised.
Steinar tilted his head. “If you are incapacitated, the fight will be over and the war lost.”
Why did I ever long to meet him? He’s such a little troll!Though Rakel’s thoughts were furious, she did grudgingly admire him.He’d been held captive in his own palace under threat of death. He had great courage to insist on going to the new base camp.
“Very well, my king,” General Halvor conceded after a few horribly stilted moments.
“No, it’s too dangerous,” Rakel said.
“Aw, Little Wolf,” Phile said, popping up to her feet. “You’re just being a protective older sister.” She threw her arm around Rakel’s shoulders and dragged her close. “You want him to rule? Then leave him be. If he doesn’t doanythingheroic or brave, the people won’t follow him,” she whispered.
“As you wish,” Rakel said stiffly. She knew there was truth to Phile’s words, but her concern still crackled like thawing ice in the back of her mind. She slipped away from Phile and Halvor and went to sit down in her chair next to Steinar. “I should have let Phile dress you in a Bunad,” she muttered.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“We’ll have a better idea of the size of our travel party when we see how many villagers volunteer to move with us and establish our new camp, but I plan to send two waves of forces. The bulk of the villagers will travel with the second wave,” General Halvor said, starting to map out the details.
The officers took notes, and the magic users listened thoughtfully.
“Before we leave, all soldiers—and volunteers—will be debriefed on Tenebris Malus’s magic, as well as the magic we know his officers possess,” Halvor continued.
As he spoke, Rakel’s thoughts drifted.It is strange…it has only been a few months since Oskar first approached me on Ensom, but Verglas has changed so much. Our people are no longer divided or seeped in shadows of hatred. Perhaps that is why we can stand against the Chosen and not because of my magic.
Farrin adjustedhis sword belt as he navigated his way through camp, making for his tent. After a day of extensive patrols and tedious scouting and spy work, he was ready to fall into his bedroll and let his night officers take over.
Tenebris’s arrival meant security had to be heightened and more precautions taken. Additionally, Kavon had arrived earlier in the day to report that a large number of his mercenaries were gone. Reports said they had gone out to raid the small village of Begna roughly three weeks ago and had never returned. Farrin did not think it would be wise to tell Tenebris it was because Rakel had walled them out of Verglas.
Farrin held no grudge against Kavon, but he didn’t like the disorderly manner he held towards his post and troops. His soldiers were undisciplined and unruly, causing great tension between Kavon’s men and Farrin’s.
Whether the troops have magic or not, they need to feel respected and work as a unit if we wish to accomplish anything.
Farrin slipped inside his tent and gave his eyes a moment to adjust. He heard a noise and realized he wasn’t alone. He unsheathed his new sword—a clunky thing compared to his previous weapon—then realized it was Tenebris.
“Relax, Runt. It’s just me.”
“Sir.” Farrin saluted and sheathed his sword.
“How fares our camp?” Tenebris asked.
Farrin lit an oil lamp, illuminating his leader—who was sitting cross-legged on a cushion. “Well enough, sir.”
“Has Kavon’s arrival caused any upsets?”
“None worth your notice.”
“Good.” Tenebris’s gold eyes lingered on Farrin’s sword belt. “It surprised me when I heard the Verglas Princess swiped your sword. I thought you treasured it greatly.”
“I do, sir. It was inconvenient, but my magic works just as well with my new sword,” Farrin lied. Using his magic with a new weapon wasn’t as easy as that. He knew every groove and notch in his two-handed broadsword. He knew its balance and could counter swing and parry with it with his eyes closed. Getting to know a new weapon so intimately would take time—more time than Farrin had.When I can get away long enough, I’ll have to reclaim my sword—and speak to Rakel if she is in Ostfold.
“That is good to hear,” Tenebris said, his voice light and easy. “I certainly wouldn’t want my best colonel hindered in any way.”
“Yes, sir.”
