It dug at the back of her mind, even though the sunshine felt warm and glorious on her face.
She lifted the hem of her dress—the underskirt was getting wet—and froze, taking another look at their surroundings.
Loads of snow had fallen off the trees, and the sun felt stronger. Rakel knelt and rubbed the snow between her fingers. It wasn’t powdery or icy, but wet and heavy. Some of it was even slush. When a person walked, instead of producing a crisp crunch of snow, it was a moist, sloshy sound.
Spring. Rakel gritted her teeth.It’s almost here. I’m running out of time.
“Is everything alright?” Farrin asked.
“Yes,” Rakel said, although her forehead furrowed with worry. She tried to smile when she realized he, Phile, and Snorri were watching her with concern.
Snorri hesitated, then said, “We always have several thaws and freezes, Princess. It will get cold again.”
Rakel nodded and stood. “It is just a reminder that we need to end this invasion as rapidly as possible.”
“Princess!” Oskar called. “Please allow me to introduce you to the new magic users!”
Rakel smiled at her friends and hurried to join her attendant—though the knowledge of spring’s impending arrival gnawed at the back of her mind.
CHAPTER 11
FUN WITH PHILE
After Rakel’s awakening, Tana held celebrations for three nights in a row. The last of them was held outdoors with everyone crowded around warm fires, joking and singing songs. The celebrations went late into the night, and almost everyone in Tana attended them, rejoicing over the battle against Tenebris, and mourning the loss of the soldiers who died in combat.
Rakel repositioned Gerta’s knitted hat on her head as Knut played a song of mourning on a zither. “Gerta, Kai.” The pair was tucked under her arms like sleepy kittens. “It’s time for you to go to bed.”
“But I’m not sleepy,” Gerta insisted—even though her eyes were closed, and a patch of drool on Rakel’s dress marked where the little girl had lain her head.
Kai ran his hands through his already mussed hair. “Me either.”
Rakel smiled and hugged them closer. “Even so, you need to sleep.”
“No,” Kai protested.
Phile plopped down on a tree trunk positioned next to Rakel. “Come, children. We’ll carry you there.”
“Would you first sing us a lullaby, Princess?” Her eyes were wide and pleading.
“A lullaby?” Rakel said.
“A song to make us sleep,” Kai said.
“Some other time,” Rakel said.
“Why?” Gerta asked.
“Yes, why?” Phile wore a mischievous grin. “I too would love to hear the princess’s singing voice.”
Rakel chose to be blunt rather than mince around the topic. “I don’t know any lullabies.”
Gerta’s jaw dropped. “You don’t knowany?”
Rakel placed her hand on top of Gerta’s head. “I’m afraid not.”
Phile sighed—a sound from deep within her soul. “King’s teeth, Little Wolf, I’m sorry. I always forget…”
Rakel offered her a smile. “It’s not your fault.”
