The tightness eased in her shoulders, and she smiled. “Oskar.”
“Oh, I’m not alone—Sire?” Oskar stepped aside.
Steinar shuffled out from behind Oskar—Snorri in his shadow. When he saw Rakel, he smiled shyly. “Are you alright?” He hesitated and held out his arm for her to take.
A smile bloomed on Rakel’s lips. She was embarrassed but delighted with the attention—even if Farrin’s eyes made something twist in her—but seeing Steinar, herbrother, hold out his arm to her, her joy bubbled over.
“Yes!” Rakel laughed and threw her arms around Steinar, hugging him. Steinar returned the gesture and wrapped his arms around her.
Several of the village women in the area cooed and clapped. “Siblings,” they said. “So much alike.”
Rakel stepped back and turned to General Halvor. “Phile told me the magic users are practicing together.”
“Yes, outside of Tana,” General Halvor said.
“I would like to observe them—I assume you have news to share?”
“Indeed—quite a bit of it,” Oskar said.
“To the practice area!” Phile declared.
The audience scattered, and General Halvor and Snorri turned to go, Steinar walking between them. Oskar followed after the trio, and Phile pounced on him, twining her arm around his waist as they trailed after them.
Rakel hesitated and turned to Farrin. “Will you come with us?”
He offered her a deep bow. “It would be my pleasure. Please, allow me to tell you how breathtaking you are.”
“Thank you,” Rakel said, some of the heat returning to her cheeks.Don’t be foolish, she chided.This is just because of the new dress.They ambled after the group, walking side by side. “Phile told me you guarded me while I slept. Thank you.”
“There is no need to thank me. You asked me to guard you, and I will,” Farrin said.
Rakel stubbornly shook her head. “No, you deserve to be thanked. I do not wish to take you for granted. Ever since discovering my price, I have dreaded it. Your presence changes that.”
“I am glad,” Farrin said.
They walked in silence. She was hyper aware whenever his arm brushed hers, and she was tempted to scoot away from him, but she suspected it would feel like a retreat, so she did her best to ignore the warmth he radiated. When they reached Tana’s ice walls, she asked, “Are you satisfied with your treatment—and the treatment of your underlings?”
“Yes,” Farrin said. “We have faced less censure than I imagined we would.”
“Phile said things have been tense, but not dire.”
“I agree. Although I must credit the response to General Halvor, and to King Steinar.”
Rakel felt a small smile bud on her lips. “He’s more important than you thought, isn’t he?”
“General Halvor? I was always aware he was the military mind behind your battles.”
“No, Steinar.”
Farrin was quiet as they left the village and followed the group to the flat field that stretched to the west of the village. “Meeting you has changed him,” he finally said. “Previously he was hopeless… Have you asked him yet why he kept you on Ensom?”
“No,” Rakel admitted.
“Ask.”
Rakel was about to press the matter when a gruff female voice shouted, “Get off me, you stupid bird!”
Rakel peeked past Farrin and saw his scout—the shapeshifter—storm up the field. Holding her hand was Cronius Winderbag.
