“I have no desire to rule or make laws. But selfishly, I want to be the Snow Queen,” Rakel said. “If you tell Phile, I will deny it all my life, but the name delights me. I want to be the monarch of winter and to protect our people with what most would think the worst weather in the continent. If I could live out my days with those I consider important—with those I love…I would consider my life a blessed one.”
“I am sorry to tell you, my sister, but if I must be King of Verglas, you will not be able to live carefree,” Steinar said. Though he smiled, his eyes were sad. “You are powerful, and even after we defeat the Chosen, there will be some who crave power and will seek to test themselves against you.”
A cold hand clenched Rakel’s heart for a moment as she thought of the mirror.He’s right, but how can I stop it?
“Additionally, I don’t believe the magic community will let you sink into obscurity. You are wildly powerful, and you bring others hope. Don’t you wish to free magic users across the continent?”
She thought of Farrin and the pain in his eyes as he explained his past; she thought of Liv, who bravely accepted the censure of other women for her magic. “Yes.”
“So, I will be King of Verglas. You, sister of mine, will be the Snow Queen—ofallthe continent,” Steinar decreed.
Rakel chuckled. “As if the continent would have me.”
“They will,” Steinar predicted. “But first, if I were you, I would prepare myself for the backlash you will face from Tenebris. He will not take it kindly when you steal his best colonel.”
“True, but it will just be one of the many sins I have committed against him,” Rakel said.
“I hope Farrin joins—for your sake,” Steinar said. “You need a guard, and he would never leave you.”
“I am not Verglas’s only hope,” Rakel reminded him.
“No. But you offer the path of the least bloodshed.”
But I don’t. If word gets out about the mirror, Verglas will be bathed in blood.A feeling of hopelessness threatened to storm Rakel. Even if she could recruit Farrin and rid Verglas of the Chosen, what then? It was just a matter of time before their doom arrived in a different body, veiled with a new shade of darkness.
As if sensing her troubling thoughts, Steinar straightened and smiled. “Come. The hour is late, and we need to sleep.”
“Very well. Thank you, brother.” She squeezed his arm.
“It is my pleasure, Rakel.”
CHAPTER 9
VOWS TO VERGLAS
Phile dropped from the sky like an owl and grunted when she landed on the snowy ground. “You called it, General. The Chosen troops began marching when we pulled out of Tana. If they continue on their current course, we will meet them in the valley between the Lowland Hills.”
General Halvor adjusted his grip on the reins of his mountain pony. “Excellent work. And Snorri?”
“Following up to make sure they stay on course. He’ll make the signal—though I don’t think we’ll miss ’em.” Phile glanced at Rakel, who was crouched on the ground rubbing snow between her fingers. “What’s wrong?”
“The temperature. It’s above freezing; the snow is starting to melt,” Rakel said. “I’ll have to lower the temperature.”
“Will that overtax you?” Oskar asked.
“No.” Rakel watched the Verglas army as the wind picked up. “It will be particularly easy with the hills on either side, isolating the wind.”
Though they were called the Lowland Hills, in truth, they were cliffs—nearly sheer cliffs with a large valley stretched between them.
“Very well. We will continue on this route.” General Halvor turned his pony to the front of the army. “Move out!”
Rakel managed to scramble on top of Frigid. He snorted, but he was less skittish than the reindeer pulling the supply sleighs. Rakel patted his furry neck and muttered, “Me, too.”
In spite of all her brave words to Phile, Steinar, and the rest, she was apprehensive.What if I’ve overestimated Farrin’s feelings for me? What if he doesn’t care about Tenebris’s actions?Rakel shifted on her blanket saddle, moving side to side with Frigid’s swaying walk.What if Tenebris was not using his full strength against my counter attack during the surprise ambush, and he is much stronger than I?
“Chin up, Princess,” Oskar said.
Rakel shook her head, clearing her mind of her grim thoughts. “I apologize, what did you say?”
