Halvor blinked. “It?”
“The magic user.”
Halvor’s already stiff expression turned tighter.She should be called by her title. The Princess may have magic, but she is of royal blood.
“The gate has several latches and bars,” Captain Sten rambled. “But there is no key. When the doors are opened for Oskar, we commonly have all guards on duty remain at the gates. The villagers are a fine, respectful people—you’ll have no trouble with them. Large supply shipments arrive once a month, but there is usually at least one additional small shipment that arrives with the messenger every three weeks. You will have to write up a full report for the King to review with every small shipment. That is all. Once my men are replaced, I formally give you command.”
Halvor—a devoted believer in organization—scowled. “You will leave just like that?”
“Yes, and when your time is up, you will as well,” Captain Sten said. “It makes your hair stand on end—guarding such a monster for long. Here is my report for the past two weeks. Good luck, Captain Halvor. I wish you all the best.”
After passing off a few papers, Captain Sten mounted up and departed with great haste.
Halvor, slightly taken aback by the messiness of the exchange, shuffled his newly acquired papers.I had better meet my men at Fyran and get the first patrol team in place.He glanced at the large, unfriendly walls, and had to hold back a shiver.
There was some truth to Captain Sten’s words. It was important to remember they were guarding a dangerous charge. Between her royal blood and her magical powers, there was a chance that the Princess could bring the country to its knees.
That evening,Halvor sat in the small building that served as soldiers’ mess hall and sifted through the papers Captain Sten had left behind. As promised, the captain had left immediately after his soldiers were relieved. Halvor was trying to create order from the disarray that was left behind. He had managed to sort his men into temporary patrol rotations, but he had drafted them with such haste, he knew he would have to revise them later.
Halvor grunted and pushed a copy of an old report away from him and rubbed his eyes.
“You should eat, Captain. The paperwork can wait; you’ll be here for at least a year or two.”
A tall man with brilliant red hair and a good-natured grin sat down at the table and placed a wooden plate piled with food in front of Halvor. “I’m Oskar—the Princess’s personal attendant.”
“Captain Halvor. I apologize, I should have sought you out earlier.”
Oskar leaned back in his chair and shook his head. “No, no. You had plenty to worry about with Sten’s hasty exit. But I wanted to make sure I introduced myself tonight.”
“I thank you.”
“It is my pleasure.”
“How long have you worked on Ensom Peak?” Halvor asked.
“Since the Princess was sent here,” Oskar said.
Halvor blinked. “You have been here for five years without a replacement?” No servants or soldiers were kept on the mountain that long.Perhaps he angered a noble, and this is his punishment.
“Of course,” Oskar said with a cheerful smile. “I’m a volunteer.”
Halvor eyed the attendant—suspicious of his motive.
No one would volunteer to serve the Princess out of the goodness of their heart. The only reason he had requested the position several months after receiving command over his squad was because he suspected at least one of his soldiers possessed magic.
Halvor distrusted magic, but he knew his men, and they were all honorable and good. None of them deserved the treatment they would face if they were outed as magic users. He hoped to use the time on Ensom to bind the soldiers together. If all went well, the other soldiers would cover for those who were cursed with magic. Besides, what better place was there to hide magic users than in the shadow of the most feared one in the country?
Perhaps Oskar has magic as well…
Oskar laughed at Halvor’s expression. “No, I’m not addled in the head, and I haven’t been struck by brain fever.”
“Then why?”
Oskar pressed his lips together and drummed his fingers on the table. “You seem to be an honorable sort of man, Captain Halvor. You are respected, based on the way your soldiers look at you, so there may be a chance you’ll actually listen.”
Halvor narrowed his eyes. “What are you trying to say?”
“That I volunteered because the princess deserves a servant. She’s not a monster who has murdered and plundered—though you would think so with the way everyone fears her. She’s only seventeen, and she is far more frightened of us than we are of her. She’s a child.”
