“Hmm … somber … “Nilsa mused. “I’ve got it! Somber is dark. Which has been after us for some time and will go on in the future: the Dark Rangers. It must mean that.”
Ingrid nodded, as did Lasgol.
“We’ve got to go and help him,” said Gerd.
“Yes, and right away,” Nilsa agreed.
Lasgol was silent and thoughtful, and Ingrid became aware of this. “What’s the matter, Lasgol?”
“There’s a small problem,” said Viggo.
“Problem? What is it?” Ingrid asked.
“Astrid …” Lasgol replied worriedly, still lost in his thoughts. He wanted to go and help Egil, and he would do it at once if only he could, but he had to go back for Astrid.
“Can’t we go back for Astrid after we go to see Egil?” Gerd asked.
“I’m afraid not,” said Lasgol. “I’ve already given my word to Eicewald that I’d leave tomorrow with the Star of Sea and Life in a ship he’s arranged for me. He recommended that I should leave at once, before Thoran or his brother or the nobles realize the value of the Object of Power, and try to keep it for themselves.”
“That’s very good advice,” Viggo agreed.
“I have to leave at once, before they ask where the Star is. I want to go and help Egil, you know that, but if I don’t leave now I’ll miss my chance, and I fear I won’t get another one.”
“You’re right to fear,” Viggo said. “Kings and nobles are extremely greedy.”
There was a silence. They all understood how complicated the situation was, and what Lasgol was going through because of having to choose between helping Egil or Astrid.
“Also, Eicewald’s very interested in studying Camu, and if I stay here in Norghana I worry that he’ll take him away from me, and that’s not going to happen in any way whatever. I’m taking him with me to get him a long way away from the Ice Magi and their ‘studies’.”
No studies, Camu transmitted uneasily.
Don’t worry, I won’t let them do anything to you.
Better leave.
Yeah, that’s what I think too.
“Every problem has a solution, as Egil would say,” Gerd pointed out.
“And that is …?” Viggo asked.
“We split up and help both of them,” Ingrid said confidently.
“We split up and help both of them?” Nilsa repeated in puzzlement.
“It’s the only solution we have,” said Ingrid.
“I agree with Blondie,” said Viggo. “We have two friends who both need us at the same time. We’ve got to help both of them. Therefore, we split up.”
Lasgol took a deep breath and thought about it. He did not relish the idea, since it implied dividing the team, and that was always risky. But they were right; there was no other viable solution.
“Agreed,” he said at last.
“All right, then, who goes on which mission?” Nilsa asked.
“I’m coming with the weirdo,” said Viggo. “Someone has to babysit him.”
“You want to come with me?” Lasgol said in surprise.
“Do I want to come with you? Of course, I want to come with you. A trip to exotic islands with beautiful beaches and girls even more beautiful and exotic … who wouldn’t want to go?”
“If this pumpkin-head is going,” Ingrid said suddenly, “then I’m coming too.”
“Can this be jealousy?” Viggo asked eagerly.
“Of course not, it’s common sense. If you go, I’ll have to come too, to keep order and make sure you don’t get into one of your messes and you both end up in the hands of pirates, or at the bottom of the sea, or something worse.”
“Worse than the bottom of the sea?”
“With you in the middle of things, it’s sure to be something worse.”
Nilsa laughed, and Gerd joined her. “That I can believe,” she said.
“Besides, Astrid’s mission is riskier, in my opinion, and therefore it’ll be best if I go on that one. This way there’d be three of us in each group.”
“How d’you work that out?” Gerd asked.
“The three of us on one side” – she pointed to herself, then to Viggo and Lasgol – “and then you, big guy, Nilsa and Egil on the other.”
“Oh yes, of course.”
“How does that look to you?” Lasgol asked them.
“I think Ingrid’s right,” Nilsa said thoughtfully. “Whatever he’s found out, Egil’s at the Camp, and the risk there is limited.”
“True, it’s less likely that we’d come up against serious trouble there,” Gerd agreed.
“Well, that’s it, then. We’ll split like that,” Ingrid said, passing judgment.
His friends’ gesture touched Lasgol’s heart. “You know that crossing the seas as far as the Turquoise Realm’s going to be dangerous. You oughtn’t to come … you’ve already done more than enough. I can go by myself, with Ona and Camu.”
His two faithful companions looked at him. I go. Fun, Camu transmitted happily.
You don’t say, as if I weren’t perfectly aware you’d enjoy the journey …
Ona not like ship. I do.
Poor Ona. Ona good.
The panther moaned and came to Lasgol’s feet, and he made a fuss of her.
Ona say she come.
Yes, because she’s very good,
“Nonsense,” said Viggo. “A little danger and excitement is what we need. I was all set to be bored to death during these holidays they’ve granted us.”
“Very well said!” Nilsa said, and applauded.
Gerd nodded. “I couldn’t have said it better. We’ll help Astrid and we’ll help Egil. The Snow Panthers don’t leave any of their own behind.”
Lasgol was speechless, and there was a lump in his throat. He had the best friends he could possibly have wanted: friends who would go to the end of the world for him, and do it all over again if it turned out to be necessary.
“Thank you … for myself, for Astrid and for Egil too. I know he’ll be really grateful.”
“Not at all,” Viggo hastened to say. “I need
