“You disgust me,” Phile grunted as they turned up a side street. “And if I lose my nose to frostbite, I’m going to blame you.”
“It’s notthatcold. You would have to stay outside for several hours to manage that.”
“I, for once, don’t wish to test that time frame—especially as I am a delicate, Baris desert flower.”
“You have the delicacy of a wild boar.”
Phile gave a honk of laughter. “Did anyone ever tell you that you’ve got a wicked sense of humor when you allow yourself to stop worrying what people think of you?”
Rakel gathered her cape around her, a little uncomfortable with her own forthrightness. “No.”
“Well, you do. You should let it out more often—let it get some fresh air and sunshine. Though up here, you might accidentally let it freeze to death. Careful, now, we’re almost there.”
When they rounded a corner, a small courtyard opened up in front of them—which Rakel eyed with consideration.
“This is it. The big one is the municipal building Tryggvi mentioned, and it’s the one we want,” Phile said, pointing to the structure that crowned the courtyard. It was two-story, painted white, and supported by dark columns of wood. A tower jutted up from the center of the building—although calling it a tower was generous. Rakel didn’t think it was much over three stories high—the tower ofherice-castle reached much higher.
“The other buildings are just storage houses and guardhouses, if I remember correctly,” Phile said. “Well, what do you think?”
“The courtyard is a possibility. Is the municipal building used as offices or sleeping quarters for Chosen officers?”
“I don’t know. We could check it out.”
“It’s both,” a man said.
Phile leaped like a frightened cat and sprinted halfway across the courtyard, hissing as she went. Because Rakel recognized the voice, she was able to hold her ice magic in instead of blindly striking.
“Good evening, Snorri,” she said.
Snorri said what Rakel suspected was supposed to be “Princess,” and bowed.
“What is the matter with you? Don’t sneak up on your companions like that!” Phile said as she stalked back to them. “Although, that was a nifty trick. Think you could teach me it?”
“No,” Snorri said.
“Stingy.”
“You have inspected the interior of the municipal building?” Rakel asked.
Snorri nodded.
Phile fussed with one of her scarves. “Anything of interest?”
Snorri spoke but was incomprehensible.
Phile squinted. “Is he speaking another language?”
“You’re mumbling, Snorri,” Rakel said, her voice regal, but gentle.
“I found the offices of Colonel Graydim.”
It made sense that Farrin Graydim would be stationed here—it was the largest city closest to Rakel and the rebels. “Oh?” Rakel said.
“He was in it at the time. I was…”
“You were?” Phile said when he trailed off into another mumble.
“I was hoping he would leave so I might inspect it.”
