“Indeed.” Pordis tapped her chin. “As it stands, I do believe you will have the Chosen booted from Verglas in another season or two.”
Rakel winced. “It is to be hoped it doesn’t take us that long.”
A rumbling boom made icicles hanging from roofs fall, and the ground shuddered. Rakel staggered and looked in the direction from which the boom had come.
“You think they got out?” Pordis ran her fingers down the flat of her shortsword.
“It is possible,” Rakel said. To keep the Chosen forces from escaping, she had sealed up the city gates with ice, but depending on which of the Chosen magic users were stationed in Kiby, they might be able to break out regardless.
Farrin sheathed his sword. “Should we check?”
“I am reluctant to leave our post,” Rakel said as Bunny—still in her bear body—chased a Chosen soldier past them.
An arrow shrieked. Farrin tapped his speed magic and was in front of Rakel with his sheathed sword raised—though Rakel’s magic had reacted as well and bubbled between the ex-colonel and herself. The arrow bounced off Farrin’s sword.
Farrin held out his hand. “Dagger.”
“It won’t be balanced.” Rakel pressed her lips together in concentration and did her best to forge a dagger that mimicked Foedus.
Farrin gave the ice dagger a wry smile but took it. His grey eyes traced the rooftops. He flicked his wrist, throwing the weapon, and a soldier crouched in the shadows of a two-story home yelped and fell off the roof.
Rakel tried to adjust her hair—Phile had twisted it into another strange, warrior-like braid—and melted the ice on the street when she heard hoof beats.
“Mount up, Little Wolf. We’ve got some runners.” Phile burst on the scene with her horse, Frigid, and a spare horse for Farrin.
“If you’ll excuse us, Lady Pordis. Tollak and Bunny will guard you,” Rakel said.
Pordis waved to the trio. “I understand.”
“Go, go, go.” Phile impatiently turned her horse in a circle.
Rakel balked at mounting Frigid—it was always difficult to climb on top.
“No time—the reindeer won’t be able to keep up,” Farrin said. He grabbed her by the waist and lifted her up onto the spare horse, then mounted up behind her.
“Lady Pordis, if you don’t mind.” Rakel’s voice jarred as the horse started trotting.
“I’ll watch the reindeer for you. Good luck!” Pordis snatched up Frigid’s reins and dragged him up towards the passageway where Tollak hid.
“I apologize, Rakel. The saddle is going to make this uncomfortable,” Farrin said.
“Your poufy dress doesn’t help,” Phile added as they raced down the streets.
“You were the one who made me wear this poufy dress,” Rakel said with gritted teeth.
“You should have argued more,” Phile said factually.
Rakel decided to be magnanimous and ignore the jab. “What happened?”
“One of the soldiers used Frodi’s power against him and lit a keg of firework powder, blowing a hole straight through the wall. Frodi used up so much energy, he got himself knocked out—though Eydìs was trying to shove food in his mouth when I left.”
“The hole is still open?” Rakel asked.
“Nope. Ragnar’s elf-friend is guarding it. A new one.”
Rakel bounced uncomfortably on the saddle. “Not Genovefa?”
“Nope. This one is a male.”
