In the bed beside his own, Camu was resting, stretched out to the same length as his own, sleeping belly-up with his legs in the air. Ona was lying on the floor between the two beds and was also drowsing, opening and shutting her beautiful cat-eyes without moving. Lasgol watched them for a moment and smiled. Having them at his side made him forget all his troubles. He gave thanks to the Ice Gods that he had them.
The door to his room in the Tower of the Rangers opened and Viggo came in determinedly, followed by Nilsa and Gerd.
“Up already, sleepyhead?” Viggo asked.
Lasgol nodded. He was sitting on the bed finishing dressing. “I feel much better, thanks for asking,” he said acidly.
Ona opened her eyes and yawned. She recognized her friends and stayed quiet. Camu went on sleeping, unconcerned.
“I know you’re fine, nothing happened to you... you complain about everything,” Viggo said sarcastically as he sat down beside him on the bed.
“What d’you mean, nothing happened to him?” Nilsa said. “That treacherous magic nearly killed him!” Her hands were on her hips, and she was staring at Viggo with her forehead creased.
“Don’t you start with all that magic is bad, magic kills and all that... my head hurts with hearing you say that over and over.”
“How can I not say anything! Weren’t you there? Didn’t you see what happened?”
“This time I’m with Nilsa,” Gerd said, as he shut the door behind them. “The Frozen Specter was a creature with magic, and to finish it off we needed several Ice Magi and a very powerful magical object. The whole mess was all about magic. It’d be better for us if it had never existed.”
“Whether we like it or not, Magic exists,” Lasgol pointed out, “and we’ve got to learn to deal with it, for good or ill.”
“It’s a shame I don’t have magic like you,” said Viggo. “The things I could do …” he added roguishly.
Nilsa put her hands to her head. “Oh no, never!”
“By all the snow-covered mountains, never!” Gerd agreed.
Viggo shrugged, looking amused. “I don’t know why you get so upset, it’d be a real laugh.”
“I think I’m with them on this,” Lasgol said with a smile.
“You’re just a bunch of boring party-poopers.”
“What are the rumors in the Castle?” Lasgol asked Nilsa. He knew she would be up to date with all the news.
“This time I’ve got good news for a change. They’ve confirmed that the hosts of the Frozen Continent have crossed the mountains. They’re heading back to the Frozen Territories.”
“What d’you think they’ll do?” Gerd asked. “Will they go back or stay?” He had decided to wake Camu up and was tickling his tummy. The creature seemed to be enjoying this immensely, and was twitching from one side to the other.
“I think part of them will stay in the Frozen Territories,” Lasgol said. “The Wild Ones of the Ice and the Semi-Giants regard those territories as theirs. The Tundra Dwellers and the Arcanes of the Glaciers I guess will go back to their land in the Frozen Continent.”
“Until they see another chance to come down and conquer us,” said Viggo.
“Very probably,” Lasgol had to agree.
“Gatik has sent some veteran Rangers to keep an eye on them.”
“Has the King sent any troops?” Lasgol asked.
Nilsa shook her head. “The whole army’s being kept in the city. Thoran isn’t confident, and he won’t move his forces out of the capital, where he’s strong. At least for now …”
“And not for a while yet,” Viggo said. “I have a feeling the King doesn’t trust his own shadow. He wants all his soldiers by his side, behind the walls.”
“The King has awarded Eicewald and the Ice Magi a decoration for their work in the defeat of the Specter,” Nilsa went on, “and for forcing the enemy to retreat.”
“I’m glad for Eicewald,” said Lasgol. “I’m surprised he didn’t tell me. He’s been coming to see me every day to make sure I’m well.”
“Well, better that than have his head chopped off, which was the alternative,” Viggo said, and Gerd nodded.
Nilsa winked at Viggo. “The King wants to prove that his Magi are exceptionally powerful, so that the kingdoms nearby who hear about what happened don’t get ideas into their heads.”
“That’s logical,” said Gerd. “The Zangrians are watching to see what happens, and the moment they see a chance …”
“Your friends the uglies, are licking their lips over our lands,” Viggo said ironically.
Gerd smiled. “They’re certainly not my friends, but ugly they certainly are. They’re not to be trusted, that much I can assure you.” And his smile vanished.
“Has the King said anything about us?” Lasgol asked. He was a little worried about the possible answer.
Nilsa shook her head. “As far as he’s concerned, we don’t exist. He didn’t even mention us. I think he was just interested in destroying the Specter, and we were just a handful of pawns who helped solve the problem. He’s not interested in us.”
“It’s almost better that way,” Gerd mused.
“Much better,” Lasgol assured him.
“And let’s hope it goes on like that,” Viggo added. “If he were to take an interest in any of us …”
Lasgol nodded emphatically.
“Although I have to say we deserve a statue.”
“You reckon so?”
