Nilsa put her hands to her face in disbelief. “It can’t be them. I refuse to believe it. They’re Master Rangers.”
“Stranger things have been seen. Bear in mind that we know nothing about them. Nothing at all. It might be a good idea to look into their past and see what we can find out.”
“I’ll take care of that!” Nilsa cried eagerly.
“Good. But very carefully and without raising any suspicion. Will you manage to be subtle and do it without being noticed?”
“Of course.”
Lasgol was not very convinced by this. “Mm … I don’t know …”
“Take it easy, you wait and see. Leave it to me.” She nodded toward the Royal Rangers. “I’ll start with them. I’m sure they know things …”
“Okay, but don’t forget that one of them might be a Dark One. Be very careful with how you get hold of the information.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. I’ll ask casually, as if I’m just making conversation, don’t worry.”
“I’d prefer not to worry, but I do …”
“That’s because you have a heart of gold,” she said with a giggle.
Lasgol smiled. Suddenly a shadow took shape above him. He turned sideways on the bench and saw two Rangers behind him. He stiffened at once, and his hands reached instinctively for his weapons. Nilsa had also reached for her Ranger’s knife and short axe.
“Are you Lasgol Eklund?” asked a veteran Ranger. There was a younger one with him.
“Yes, that’s me.”
“I’m Enker Vastersen, Tireless Explorer Specialist. This is Misten Onsulson, Elemental Archer Specialist. We’ve been sent to find you. We’re leaving at once.”
Lasgol relaxed and let go of his weapons. “We’re leaving now?”
“Already?” Nilsa said, looking disappointed.
“The army’s already assembling in front of the Royal Castle.” Enker gestured with his thumb. “We need to get going.”
“Are you coming with me?”
“Yes, we’ve been assigned to help you guide the army.”
“Oh, that’s great!” Lasgol said. He knew that all the help he could get would be useful, particularly that of two Ranger Specialists.
“I know that area very well, the Frozen Territories,” Enker said. “I’ve had to go deep into them several times. Though I believe you know it too, right?”
“Not as well as an experienced Explorer,” Lasgol said, looking at him with respect. The veteran Specialist was blond and wore his hair tied in a queue in which silver strands were visible. Blue eyes in a hard face showed that he had lived through many experiences. “But yes, I know them. I’ve been to the area several times.”
“Good.” He nodded toward his partner. “Misten doesn’t know the area.”
“Most of my missions have been in the south of the kingdom,” Misten said. He looked four or five years older than Lasgol. “Around Orten’s duchy. That’s King Thoran’s brother.”
“We’ll wait for you outside,” Enker said. “Before you leave, call in on the second floor and get the gear you need. Ranger Helmond’s in charge of supplies, and he’ll give you whatever you need.” The two of them left the dining-hall.
“We’d better say goodbye,” Lasgol said to Nilsa.
She glanced at the other tables. “Better outside.”
Lasgol nodded and they went out to the tower stairs. There, away from prying eyes, they hugged tightly.
“Good luck,” she said.
“The same to you. See you soon.”
He went down a floor and picked up the equipment and food he would need. Helmond replenished the supply of herbs for his belt, and even gave him several ready-made elemental arrows. This seemed pure luxury to Lasgol, who thanked him. He fetched Trotter from the stables and joined Enker and Misten.
Commander Sven, First Ranger Gatik and no less than King Thoran himself, accompanied by his brother Orten and Count Volgren, were coming out of the castle, surrounded by the Royal Guard. Lasgol was impressed to see all the leaders of the East, who now controlled the crown and the kingdom, so close to him. Anyone could have reached out and seized them. Except that if he did, he would probably have his arm sliced off cleanly. It was not a good idea to get close to the lords of the Norghanian court. They spoke for a short time, then the King went back to his castle with his brother and the count, followed by the Guard.
Sven and Gatik mounted two magnificent stallions. As they went to join the soldiers, they passed next to Lasgol and clearly recognized him. He nodded respectfully and kept his head bowed as they passed. The Commander of the Guard and the First Ranger returned the greeting, their own being short and military, and went on without a word.
“Wow, you have important friends,” Enker said, impressed by what he had just seen.
“I wouldn’t call them friends, more like acquaintances.”
“Important ones, either way.”
“I’ll grant you that. Are they coming with us?”
“It looks like it,” Enker said, watching them leave the castle.
“Isn’t it strange? Shouldn’t it be a general leading the mission?” Lasgol found it odd that two such significant people, the King’s right and left hands, should be leading it.
“Everything about this expedition is pretty strange,” Misten said. He indicated five riders who were approaching them from another of the castle towers.
Lasgol recognized them at once. They were unmistakable. They wore long white robes with silver motifs, and their long straight hair was as white as those robes. The staves they held in one hand, and the horses they rode were white. Everything about them, in fact, was snow-white. They were not soldiers, but Ice Magi. At their head was Mage Eicewald. Unlike the others, he was as strong as a Royal Guard, and
