“No. Just them—though they are magic users.”
The elf looked at them and frowned. “It is a pity—none of them are as strong as the previous foe. Still, it is my honor to fight on your behalf.” She drew her shortsword from its scabbard.
“Take her down!” the shapeshifter yelled. “Prioritize the princess and the elf.”
“That won’t be necessary,” the elf said, taking a step towards her. “I will be more than enough to face you.”
Rakel blinked, and the elf was on the shapeshifter, moving as fast as Farrin.
“Perhaps you should go, Princess. I believe we can handle this,” Ragnar said, joining Rakel in watching the battle.
Another one of their new allies—a woodsman from Glowma—cast a spell on the strength girl, slowing her movements to about half-speed. He sweated as he held her, but with her slow, bumbling speed, she was easy to dodge and flee.
Rakel looked out at the battle with awe and pride. The Verglas magic users were astounding to behold. “Thank you, Ragnar.”
“My pleasure, Princess.”
Rakel reclaimed Frigid’s reins. Rather than struggling onto his bony back again, Rakel dragged him along by his odd halter, heading east for the produce gardens.I hope Snorri’s maps are accurate,she thought.Based on how quickly Farrin manages to seek me out, if I flash my magic around a bit, he will find me.
They left the empty, northern side of the palace and entered the gardens that sprawled on the east side. The produce gardens were the farthest away; first they had to make their way through the snow-covered flower gardens which, oddly, had neatly shoveled cobblestone paths.
Rakel was admiring a frosted weeping willow when Frigid almost ripped the reins out of her hands. He tossed his head and bellowed. “Frigid?” Rakel asked. She felt a draft at her back, and she raised a shield of ice. She wasn’t fast enough, and she was struck on the back of the neck.
NO!
Rakel fell in a heap. Her head throbbed with pain, but she suspected she knew her attacker. “Farrin,” she growled, building her powers.
She was surprised when a woman in a dress knelt next to her and slapped a piece of paper onto her forehead.
In an instant, Rakel lost her sight and hearing. She screamed—a sound she couldn’t hear—and pushed herself away. She ripped the paper off her forehead, but her senses remained dead. She reached out, hoping to feel Frigid. She felt nothing but darkness.
“Frigid?” she called. Sheknewshe spoke, she could feel her lips move, but heard nothing.
Did they cut me off from?—?
No.
Rakel’s magic flooded her system, and she created a sword of ice, almost trembling in relief when she could feel it.
The reassurance flew away, though, as she realized her dire situation. She could use her powers, but she couldn’t see anything. She had no real idea of what her magic was doing, and thus, no way to control it.
Although her breath came faster and faster, she couldn’t get enough air. Her heart was too weak to pulse.
She was cut off from everyone and couldn’t properly use her magic. She was powerless.
“No. No!” Rakel screamed, her panic increasing at the silence of her own voice. Her magic erupted. She knew in her fright that ice snapped from the ground and coated the area, but she couldn’t see it, nor could she hear it.
It made the darkness that much more terrifying. She whimpered and backed up until her body touched ice. A warm hand found her.
“Getaway!” Rakel shouted, her magic ripping from her. The temperature fell, but all her panicked mind knew was darkness and silence…until somethingmoved.
It wasn’t so much that she could see it as she could sense it. It was an evil presence, one so vile its nearness choked her.
“No!” Rakel screamed. Her magic surged, and she pushed it out from her.
Whatever the presence was, her magic didn’t affect it. It strolled around her, sauntering closer—like a predator circling wounded prey.
Rakel pushed more and more of her magic into the surrounding area. She created ice daggers in her panic—though she couldn’t see them—and pelted them into the ground around her. Several hit her, drawing pain.
