Crow gave the shapeshifter a charming smile. “No. I intend to never part with you, precious!”
“If you don’t, I will gnaw your arm off.” The shapeshifter glowered.
“Don’t say that. The whole camp knows we will soon marry and have little crow hatchlings of our own.”
Rakel stared at the spectacle. The shapeshifter always seemed confident and controlled—if not a little rough and tumble. But now her ears were beet red, and her shoulders were hunched with embarrassment as she stomped around with Crow meandering in her trail.
“What happened?” Rakel asked.
“He caught sight of one of Bunny’s animal forms when I sent her off to spy,” Farrin said.
Phile joined their conversation—she had reluctantly been forced to part with Oskar, and now dragged Snorri behind her instead. “He’s taken quite a shine to her.”
“Why?” Rakel asked.
Snorri mumbled, and Phile elbowed him. “She can shift into a crow,” Snorri said—louder and more clearly.
“He’s been infatuated ever since,” Phile added.
Rakel considered the matter. “There is some humor to the situation,” she said.
“Some?” Phile snorted. “It’s been the best campsite entertainment since Knut lost five card games and had to dress up like a maid.”
At that moment, Bunny stopped to fix a Verglas magic user’s stance. “What?” she barked when she realized Crow was staring at her.
Crow gave an exaggerated, love-addled sigh. “I love me a strong woman.”
Bunny’s face twisted, and she turned on her heels and strode away from him.
Rakel glanced up at Farrin. “Do you think she’ll become annoyed enough to hurt him?”
“No,” Farrin said.
“If I could recruit Bunny—and Crow—for my guild, we could pull off many a pretty heist,” Phile said, rubbing her chin. “Of course, Bunnyisfemale.”
“As are you,” Rakel pointed out.
“Yes, but if I want to rival you and have a group of handsome men around me, I need to strenuously recruit the male demographic. Hmm, say, Snorri, what plans do you have for your future after the war?”
“Army,” Snorri said, not at all fazed even though Phile leaned against him.
“We’ll see,” Phile said. She glanced at Farrin.
He raised his eyebrow. “Yes?”
“No, I’m not even going to bother asking you—though you would give us a dashing air!” Phile said.
Farrin didn’t say anything in response, but he gave Snorri a nod of respect.
Snorri sighed and returned the nod.
“Was that a wordless exchange of compliments?” Phile asked.
“Yes,” Snorri said.
Phile squawked and kept speaking, but Rakel’s attention was drawn to the practice field.
It was a beautiful sight to behold—all the different magic users sparring and fighting. Tollak was huddled with Bluff, showing him some sort of lightning rod. Ragnar was drilling a few of the Verglas magic users who were villagers and possessed no formal training. Big balls of fire were sure signposts for Frodi’s location…but…something about it bothered her.
