“It bothers me that all who come to Verglas expect to use their powers to fight and kill.”
Farrin tilted his head. “You think they are dangerous?”
“No. I think it’s a sad thing when it doesn’t occur to us that magic could be used for so many other things.”
“Like what?”
Rakel pressed her lips together as she thought. “Like entertainment, like improving our lives. I know some think it is silly whenever I let Phile boss me into making ice sculptures for her stories, but it’sfun. It makes the children laugh.” She hesitated. “That is what I want for Verglas magic users—that their first thought would be how to help others, not that they must defend and destroy.”
“You could teach them,” Farrin said.
“Wecould teach them.”
Farrin snaked an arm around her waist and tugged her closer. “It won’t be an easy thing to relearn.”
She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. “That’s what I feared. I was thinking I might need to open a school sooner than I thought. I was hoping for years—or at least a few seasons. I don’t think I have that kind of time.”
Farrin nodded. “More and more refugees will come as word spreads of the way magic users are treated in Verglas.”
Rakel frowned. “Magic users—that’s a phrase I want to get rid of.”
“Why?”
“Because it carries all the connotations of the past. People used to spit it out like it was a curse. I don’t want that memory.”
Farrin glided his fingertips up her back. “Then what would you have us called?”
Rakel shut her eyes and leaned into the heat Farrin radiated. “What do you think of mage?”
“Wonderful,” Farrin said.
Rakel groaned in aggravation and leaned back so she could give him an accusatory look. “You’re just saying that because I suggested it.”
“Perhaps,” Farrin said. “I often think most of your ideas—provided they do not include risking your neck—are wonderful.”
Rakel groaned in aggravation, and Farrin kissed her on the lips.
“Hey, lovebirds.” Phile popped up next to the two of them and unabashedly stared.
Farrin rumbled in his throat as Rakel chuckled and pulled back from him. “Yes, Phile?”
“I was thinking that if refugee arrivals become common—and I expect they will—you ought to think about leaving a few of your craftiest and most perceptive magic users by the border. They could question everyone before sending them north to you.”
Farrin frowned thoughtfully. “She is right. You cannot come south whenever there is a swell of refugees, Rakel. It’s not efficient.”
“I suppose so.” Rakel winced. “I hope Steinar is in a good mood when we get back. I’ll be asking him for a lot—magic users to stay at the borders, space to begin training refugees, learning materials.”
“Hey, I got you a bunch of books for your birthday,” Phile complained.
“Yes, and half of them are in dialects that are no longer spoken,” Rakel said.
“Maybe, but they must be very powerful or very helpful. The guard they were under is usually a pretty good indication of what level of value an item has, and the defense measures placed on those books? I didn’t know musty ol’ books could be that valuable,” Phile said.
Farrin ignored the Robber Maiden’s questionable observation. “Steinar will give you whatever you want—surely you know this.”
“Yes, but I still don’t like asking him for things.”
“He’s a king, and you won his country for him,” Phile said ruthlessly. “The least he can do is pony-up for your magic school.”
