The ships used by the rebels usually moved low in the air so as not to be detected by the enemy. This was also the case now. The Rebel base was located deep among the trees of the Ithilien Forest, a vast forest complex beyond the Grampians Mountains, in Scotland. After the Battle of Carmathown, Snow and Philip decided to move their main forces from the Mountains of the Moon, in order to confuse the enemy. Ravenna certainly expected them to locate their resources there, but they chose a different route.
The ships came up for landing. The wooden decks clattered to the ground, and their engines, which were a marvel of Exodor's invented technology, were shut down.
-Kids to the nannies one, two, three!- roared Eric. The rebellion had set as one of its main goals the destruction of Ravenna's criminal education system. Sown for nearly 12 years, it was soon to begin reaping its first harvest in the form of new soldiers or a society fully devoted to the queen. The targets were young children, who when they reached the age of 2 were taken from their parents and placed in schools. The rebellion sought out these schools and carried out attacks, with the goal of reclaiming the children.
Nannys were now taking over the toddlers from the team that took part in Ireland. William nodded in satisfaction. Another successful action. However, he matured as Emma, his foster sister, headed toward him.
-Well, Willie, she wants to see you. All three of you.
Robb, Will and Eric sighed and headed for the meeting room in the main building.
Snow White walked around and shook her head.
Robb, meanwhile, stretched his arms out in front of him and pointed at himself to Eric. Since Snow White had a tendency to raise her voice while being turned to face the interlocutor, Robb loved to mimic her movements while gesticulating vividly.
- You did not authorize the mission-she said loudly, and Robb began to move his lips in a comical way .
- You knew we didn't have a proven location. That there could be a lot of stormtroopers. And yet you did it against my authorization. And damn it Robert stop teasing me.
Robb stopped moving his hands and looked at the floor.
- What's with you guys ?"- asked Snow White- And you Will, dear. You are taking part in this? Now that we are about to get married?
William sighed heavily.
Erick straightened his head and said
-It was my responsibility. The boys were only with me because I asked them and they agreed...
- Enough, ,,Huntsman"
When Snow White used the word ,,Huntsman" it was clear that she was serious.
-It's not why we've been taking risks for a year that such actions should cost us so much nerve.
- You have imbibed politics, Snow White," Robb said tartly, "We have succeeded and so why dredge up the subject.
Refer to me with respect," Snow White raised her voice. Robb fell silent.
After a short pause, she continued:
-I know that you are fit. That you are successful. But think how much it costs us to risk losing as many people as you have taken. We are, after all, still in our infancy as a rebellion.
-Snow, that was the last time- replied William- I take responsibility for this mission as general of the rebellion. It was irresponsible despite the undoubted success.
The door to the room where they were talking opened
-Rheus has arrived!- shouted the messenger
Rheus Matir had been in the far North for nearly two months. Ravenna had conquered the Scandinavian territories, but the resistance of the people of Denmark, Norway or Sweden was not diminishing. The battle of Carmathown rekindled the spark that Rheus once spoke of. The beginnings of rebellions in other countries were also germinating. And the old knight went there to strengthen their independence drive. Matir greeted each of the soldiers, but his face lit up when he saw Robb-his apprentice.
-Hello, kid- greeted him with an affectionate embrace.
He involuntarily felt that the boy had grown muscles. , "So he started to mature faster," Rheus thought.
-Hope you bring us good news- said Robb with a smile. Rheus smiled tartly and nodded. He shook hands with William and Eric and bowed to Snow White.
-Your Highness.
-Give yourself to your friend- replied Snow White and embraced him tightly.
-Where is Fillip?
-They went hunting with a larger group a few days ago.
Rheus froze for a moment.
-Did the prince go mad? Such a risk?
- Calmly. It's not the first time they've done this and they should be back any day now.
Rheus burbled something under his breath
-Did the wizard speak up?
Theodrill disappeared a few days after Duke Hammond's funeral. He was tasked with assembling a Council of Wizards to urge them to fight Ravenna. After Gideon the Wise, the former master of the order, was corrupted by Ravenna, the Council fell apart. Theodrill also sought help from other beings, such as ancient deities who had not spoken for decades.
-No- replied Eric- No updates.
They entered the main hall, where Snow White had earlier reproved Robb, Eric and Will. Rheus sat down at a table and spread his hands on the tabletop.
- The North of the Continent is on fire- he announced solemnly. William and Eric raised shouts of joy.
- Ravenna is sending more and more Ravennaers there. Riots continue in every city. De facto Sweden is on the brink of civil war. It is a bloodthirsty nation. Vikings from grandfather great-grandfather. They are on our side.
-We can build a coalition line- said Snow.
-There is one problem, however- began Rheus.
- What kind of problem ?" asked Robb.
Rheus scowled at Snow White with his eyes.
-A patch of icy wilderness adjacent to Scandinavia called Frosenia. They started attacking civilians. They are getting bolder and bolder.
Silence fell in the room. Snow White slumped back in her chair.
-Freya.- she quietly muttered to herself.
-The alliance of two sisters- said Rheus- It's official. It is necessary to support them in some way.
-How Rheus? We don't have the resources to send them north just like that. We are barely hiding from the Empire ourselves," growled William and put his hands in his pockets. Eric, meanwhile, nodded and left. Robb looked behind him. Strange behavior, to say the least.
-That what? -asked the Boy looking after the rest.
-Maybe he has some secrets of his own, too,‖ grinned Rheus, -However, I see that the name Frosenia tells you something, Snow White.
The princess looked into the window of the room. A fire from a small fireplace was crackling in the background.
-Yes, a memory from the distant past. If what you say is true Rheus- Snow White gripped her wand more tightly behind her bosom- Then we will have a serious problem and Theodrill had better gather the other Gods. For what is in Frosenia will terrify the bravest.
Freya stood in the middle of the night and her vast chamber was illuminated only by the hazy light of the Thoughtseer. The Ice Queen pulled individual thoughts from her head and placed them in an ancient bowl. Memories like threads mingled with others.
-Chess mate!- announced Freya cheerfully. Ravenna waved her hand but smiled.
- I always win with you Venna.
-I think I have a weakness for you,‖ said Ravenna calmly and got up from the table. As she did, she started circling the room.
- This prince...-started Ravenna.
Freya sighed. What else could she have wanted?
-What ? Will you forbid me ?" chuckled Freya.
-I could as a queen- lazily answered Ravenna however immediately afterwards she added- But don't go into it. She is promised to another.
- He will leave her. He promised.
- They always say that.
-He is different!- a little too strongly said Freya.
Ravenna shook her head and sat down.
-You have powers within you, like any of our lineage. Don't waste your talent.
-I don't know what it is in the first place. And secondly, I am an adult.
Ravenna turned her head and pouted her lips. Her golden crown rested on her loose hair.
-Oh yes I see how grown up you are. What month is it?
Freya clutched her stomach. How is that possible? How does she know?
Freya lifted her chin and looked at Ravenne seriously.
-You know a lot, Ravenna- she got up from the table- but you don't know absolutely everything.
After which she left the room.
The memory shifted to the sight of Cassandra, her daughter. She held her hand and was so happy. The little one was so beautiful.
-My lady, the Duke of Blackwood sends a message," said one of the servants handing her a letter. Freya handed her daughter back to the servant and opened the letter.
, "Meet me in the garden at midnight under the pear tree. The priest will give us a blessing and I will be with you always again."
Freya was so happy. At last. Just her, Thomas and Cassie. Finally together. How Suprised Ravenna will be!
Freya ran to the royal garden at the appointed hour. She waited under the Pear tree, but neither her prince nor her priest was in sight. Then she smelled smoke. She stepped out from under the cover of the trees and looked in the direction from which the smoke was coming. It was her tower! The tower where her baby was!
Freya ran as hard as she could back to the castle. She passed the servants, who seemed puzzled by Lady Freya's nighttime running. Freya ran up the stairs and past Ravenna, who also seemed surprised.
-What are you...-she shouted after her sister, but Freya did not listen. She rushed into the chamber and looked at the cradle. There was a burning smell coming from it. Her baby had been...burned. Killed. Her gaze rested on the executor of the murder.
-No- she groaned. Her prince. He stood as if enchanted. He looked at his daughter's cradle and could not believe what he had done. He cast aside the burning torch and looked pleadingly at Freya.
-Dear one !
Freya roared in pain, and a ray sprang from under her fingers, consuming the entire floor and her beloved, who was approaching him. Soon he and his helpers turned into blocks of ice. Freya felt the Power that Ravenna spoke of. Suddenly she fell unconscious on the floor of the chamber.
Freya, now the Ice Queen, pulled her head out of the magic bowl. Enough memories for today.
-My lady- quietly said one of the guards.
-Yes-she said firmly.
-Tull came from Bornholm.
Indeed, after a while, Tull entered Freya's room. He was wearing numerous wounds, but held proudly in his hand the crown of the king of the local island.
-My lady, the last bastion of the north has fallen. Your flags are flying everywhere.
Tull bowed and handed her the crown of the King of Bornholm. Freya took it in her hand with boredom.
- This is just a formality- she said to herself turning the crown- We need to do a job for Ravenna. The goal is not to conquer the north, my child. Only to destroy their spirit.
Freya turned away from Tull and approached the Thoughtseed.
- Have no mercy. Loot their villages, kill their men. Give the women and children to slavery. Children preferably to ours. The huntsmen must destroy something that allowed them to make such a rebellion.
-Yes, sir!- shouted Tull.
- And call Sarah to me-she announced tartly.
Rheus awoke breathless in the middle of the night. He could feel it. Great changes in the Force. The North was burning with Freya's wrath. Ravenna's sister had unequivocally sided with the Raven Empire.
Matir stepped outside the household to get some air. A crisp morning greeted him. The sun was rising above the top of the forest.
-Can't sleep?
Rheus turned around and saw Eric sitting on the porch smoking a pipe.
-Huntsman. I got up because I was awakened by a strange change in the Force. Something bad happened in the north. A rush of blood and the screams of thousands of lives.
-Freya- said Eric softly.
- You know her, don't you?
Eric looked penetratingly at the knight.
-That's an old story. But I know her. I used to call her something else.
-Mother.
Eric sighed. He looked at the sunrise.
- I broke her rules once. I was banished. And by chance I ended up in Tabor, scion when Ravenna, her sister, came there.
- I have to go there, Eric said. I spent some time with these people. The north is crucial for us to have a chance to put up a fight against Ravenna.
-Why are you telling me this?
-Because it's a secret mission. I'm not taking many with me. But I want to take you and Robb. We will explore the area.
- Why me?" asked Eric.
-You know the terrain- replied Rheus cheerfully- You are reliable and I think you may have unfinished business in Frosenia. Believe, here you will be of no use. The time of politics is coming. And we, my friend, are spies. Tools in the hands of the authorities.
-I'll make up my mind- said Eric and got up to check on the horses.
- And one more thing, - And one more thing about the spies," he threw to Rheus in passing. He calmly approached the knight and said:
-In Tabor someone is spying. He's giving us info as to bases, schools where they keep kids, supply places.
Rheus looked up squinting.
- Checked?
-All correct.
-How long?
-Three months. Someone whose name is Galen. Does that tell you something?
-It's a nickname- replied Matir- In honor of Galen McDuall, an inventor from the time of King Harald V, Snow White's great-great-grandfather. Galen invented the escalation ladder tactic that helped win the war against the Yorkus people.
-Has any significance?" asked Eric.
- We will see. I don't know who one of you is in contact with, but it's better not to tell him the details. But if someone is helping us, it can illuminate a lot.