The captain blinked. “No?”
Rakel was also surprised. “Why not? Normally male company is enough to swindle you into any task.”
“Perhaps, but for this trip, you must come with the other scouts and me.”
Rakel stared, dumbfounded. “Me?”
“Yes.”
“Absolutely not,” Captain Halvor growled.
“While I appreciate that you are trying to involve the princess, her skill set lies more in offensive action than spying,” Oskar delicately said.
“She doesn’t need spying abilities. She’ll be with me.”
“It’s too dangerous,” Captain Halvor said, the ridiculousness of the Robber Maiden’s request pulling more words from him than normal. “If the princess is captured, we will not be able to amass a rescue. She is our army, our sword, and our shield. Without her, all will be lost.”
“Then I’ll just be sure not to lose her,” Phile said.
“There is no reasonable argument for taking the princess with you, I’m afraid,” Oskar said.
“None,” Captain Halvor echoed.
“Of course there is. She needs to learn the layout of the city,” Phile said.
The revelation hit Rakel like an avalanche—not because Phile was right, but for other, more troubling reasons.
“All that means is that you’ll have to take extra care to scout well,” Oskar said.
“That is the duty of the scout,” Captain Halvor dryly added. “You’ll be going with Snorri and Aleifr, or I’ll pull you from the task.”
Rakel flattened her lips and considered the argument. “Phile does raise a valid point.”
“Princess?” Captain Halvor sounded scandalized as he swung his gaze to her.
Rakel settled her shoulders and said, in a very quiet voice, “I’ve never been anywhere near a city.”
Everyone was silent for several long moments.
“I don’t know what sort of layout they have or what kind of things are in them,” she continued. “I was able to get by with the villages because they are so small I can see the entire thing at a glance. But a city with walls? I can’t even begin to think of what the streets resemble.” Her voice faltered, and she fell silent.
Phile’s shoulders heaved. “The exile—it was that bad? You—” she started and stopped. She shook her head and glared at Oskar and Halvor. “And you two just stood by and watched?” She spun around and left the room, slamming the door shut with enough force to shake the temporary building.
Rakel watched her go, shifting uncomfortably.
“Fret not, Princess. She’s not mad at you,” Oskar sighed.
“Surely she’s not mad atyou,” Rakel ventured.
“Partially, and I can’t say I blame her for it,” Oskar said.
Captain Halvor shuffled his maps in silence for several awkward, weighty moments. “I’ll go with them. Phile, Snorri, the princess, and I can scout Glowma,” he said.
“You may as well include me. I can’t let you have all the fun,” Oskar said. His smile was worn and thin.
“I apologize that it’s necessary,” Rakel said.
“You havenothingto be sorry for, Princess,” Captain Halvor said with a surprising amount of feeling.
