“No,” Rakel said.
Captain Halvor blinked. “I beg your pardon?”
“Neither you nor your men will accompany me while I fight. Once I push the garrison out, you are free to reclaim the Verglas soldiers, but I will not allow anyone to stand with me while I fight.”
Captain Halvor scowled.
“It’s not wise to fight alone, Princess,” Oskar said, his voice gentle.
Rakel knew his words were wise…but the garrison was so close to the mountain that if she studied her geography, she could possibly manipulate a partial avalanche. The last thing she wanted was for Oskar and Captain Halvor, who had treated her with something akin to kindness, to see what she was capable of.
If they do, they’ll know how unnaturalI am.
“I am aware my demand is risky.”
Captain Halvor snorted.
“However, it is the only way I will face the garrison.”
Oskar and Captain Halvor exchanged glances. The captain flattened his lips in displeasure, but Oskar clasped a hand on Halvor’s shoulder. “Sheisthe princess,” he said.
“After taking out the garrison and reclaiming Verglas soldiers, where do we go?”
“Our end goal should be Ostfold—the capital. It’s been occupied for several weeks, and it has a large number of Verglas soldiers,” Captain Halvor said, pointing to the dot that marked the map.
“And my brother,” Rakel said.
“Yes.” The amount of care and studied nonchalance the good captain could put on one word was incredible.
“I agree we must free Ostfold as swiftly as possible, but shouldn’t we open up other pockets first?” Oskar asked.
“Yes,” the captain repeated—this time with relief. “There are several settlements and fortifications we should take out first. Depleting them will make it harder for the enemy to regroup and try to recapture Ostfold, if they are so inclined.”
“I see,” Rakel said.
Knut stomped into the room; another soldier—a younger man with a ruddy complexion and easy smile—followed in his wake. “I’ve brung Aleifr, and the elders have been notified. What next, Captain?”
Captain Halvor smiled—miraculously—a second time. “We go to war.”
CHAPTER 5
THE ROBBER MAIDEN
“You are certainallthe Verglas soldiers are in those four lean-tos?” Rakel asked. She had defeated Namsen with ease an hour or two ago.
Snorri—her guide to the Chosen’s garrison—spoke, his words quiet and indiscernible.
Rakel hesitated. “Could you repeat that?”
Snorri spoke again, his words still mumbled. Normally Rakel would take this as a sign of fear of her, but the manrarelyspoke at a regular volume.
“Speak up, Snorri. A badger gargling a mouthful of bees would sound clearer than you,” Oskar said.
Rakel eyed the pair, but when Snorri spoke, this time she could understand him. “The guards are changing, so no one of Verglas is working. When they aren’t working, they are kept in the lean-tos.”
“Thank you. You two should return to help the efforts at Namsen,” she said.
“Are you so anxious to ditch me, Princess?”
