“And you willingly follow him?” Rakel asked, finding it difficult to accept. Whenever she encountered Farrin, she was usually flooded with fear, but not because she thought he would do something foul to her. If she was being honest, he reminded her a little bit of the knights in one of her few storybooks.Why would he follow someone sotwisted?
“He saved my life. Without him, I would be dead—or worse,” Farrin said.
As Rakel wondered what the ominous “or worse,” was, his eyes flickered beyond her, and she heard a faint “Little Wolf!”
“I see it is time for me to go,” he said. In spite of his words, he drew closer to her. “Do not worry; your capital is safe, for now. Though I would appreciate it if you would return my property to me.”
“No,” Rakel said flatly.
Farrin breathed out in whatmighthave been considered a hushed chuckle. She eyed him as he leaned into her, and she was about to point out the ice swords floating around them when he surprised her by kissing her on the cheek. He lingered longer than was friendly, his lips brushing the corner of her mouth. It was foreign, strange, and gentle like sunlight. Just as the warmth of his lips threatened to spread through Rakel’s body, he withdrew.
Rakel stared blankly at him. The bestowal of his kiss had caught her entirely off guard and unprepared,andit made her realize there was another reason why he gave her information.Yes, he very much resembles a storybook knight.Her eyes traced the scar that crossed his nose and cheek bones.But what kind of terrible things has he seen that have given him such a strange combination of formidableness and vulnerability?
“Be well, Your Highness.”
Finally aware of the bit of power she had over him, Rakel let her minty magic flood her for reassurance. Farrin was only two steps away from her when she asked, “Why do you return to them?”
Farrin turned around, his eyebrows furrowed in puzzlement.
“You obviously disagree with whatever nefarious business is involved with the mirror—and with the actions of your leader. In spite of your protests, I do not think the idea of enslaving non-magic users pleases you. Why work with them?”
“Because they are all I’ve ever had.”
Rakel felt a moment of empathy. She would do much to keep Phile, Oskar, and Captain Halvor safe.But even I—starved for acceptance and friendship—am not stupid enough to befriend someone as evil as his leader!
Recalling the tenderness of his kiss, Rakel asked, “And could nothing entice you to leave them?”
Farrin raised both of his eyebrows and shook his head, although the corners of his mouth curled up gently. He looked beyond Rakel again and, with a swirl of his cloak and a bit of his speed magic, disappeared.
Phile skid to a stop at Rakel’s side. “Are you alright? Did he try to shake you down for his sword?”
“No,” Rakel said. “He came only to give me information.”
“That man. He’s not very innovative,” Phile sighed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“We need to return to Ostfold to tell General Halvor what he told me.”
“Alright, let’s go. I left the children with Frigid. They’ve probably pulled his tail by now. Ugh, running in all these clothes has made me sweaty,” Phile complained as she set out back the way she had come.
Rakel, however, stared off to where Farrin had disappeared. Helikedher—romantically. It had taken the kiss for her to realize it—though in her defense, she had never encountered nor entertained thoughts about romantic love before. It seemed trivial when her greatest desire was that people would stop trying to kill her—but his every touch and look declared it.
He couldn’t possibly love her—he didn’t know her well enough to delude himself into that emotion—but Rakel suspected that with a little encouragement, he would likely be open to the idea. And if that were true, perhaps he could be convinced to leave the Chosen. It was a calculating thought, but Rakel also suspected that luring him away from the Chosen would save him—as Phile, Oskar, and Captain Halvor had saved her.
“Something wrong?” Phile asked.
Rakel took a moment to make sure no part of her epiphany showed on her face. “No.”
“What are you thinking, then? You’ve got the same expression Halvor wears when he finds a winning strategy.”
“I merely came to an understanding over something mundane,” Rakel shrugged.
“Uh-huh. Right. And I’m an honest citizen.”
“It’s nothing noteworthy.”Yet.
