Page 37 of Return of the Nutcracker Prince

“Thank you, gentlemen.Your report, if you please.”

Lieutenant Braun began.“Unfortunately, we lost fifty percent of our company.”

Bile rose in the back of his throat.“Fifty?”

Mother Gingerbread tried to comfort him.“That includes injuries, Highness.And the mages are all accounted for.”

Klaus was afraid to ask his next question, but it had to be done.“How many soldiers are dead?”

“Twenty percent.”

He released the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding and closed his eyes.“The enemy?”

“They suffered many casualties at the mage’s hands, but we’re not sure of the number.”

He’d led his first battle, and he’d failed miserably.“It’s no matter, they were only a small portion of the mouse army.”

“As were we, Highness,” Lieutenant Braun assured him.

Lieutenant Sauer spoke up for the first time, his voice grim.“It was a draw, and that’s being kind.”

Klaus resigned himself to the loss.Being so close to the tunnel wasn’t helping his stress any.“How soon until we move out?”

“As soon as we load the injured soldiers onto the wagon, and double up riders on the horses.Marching back this soon is going to be difficult.”

“Leave no one behind.”

“Yes, My Prince.”Lieutenants Sauer and Braun saluted him once more, and after returning it, he turned to Mother Gingerbread.

“Head Mage, a word?”

They stepped towards the edge of the space their company occupied.“What do you think of Clara?”

“She’s got a lot of power, but it needs refining.And it seems to mostly spike with her emotions.”Zelda shook her head.“We don’t have much time.The Mouse Kingwillstrike back.”

“I know.”Klaus clenched his fists in frustration.“I put her in needless danger just to save us.”

“She’s one of us by blood, Klaus.I don’t think you made a mistake here.”

He sighed, but nodded anyway.“I appreciate you saying so.But without time to refine her power, how are we supposed to win?”

Zelda shrugged.“There are… ways to enhance a mage’s power.”

“Like Uncle Ludwig?”

The head mage started fidgeting.“I don’t think a Tinkerer’s charm is going to be enough here.Talk to Galiena, she may have an idea.”

Klaus narrowed his eyes.Mother Gingerbread was hiding something from him.She knew, but didn’t want to say.“I’ll do that, thank you.”

She bowed her head and returned to her mages.

He wandered through the makeshift camp, helping to lift the wounded as he passed through.Despite the chill, dark forest, and the grim defeat, all Klaus felt when he spied Clara was the racing of his pulse.She had reunited with Tinsel, who nuzzled her face and nickered at her.

“I’m glad you’re okay, too, Tinsel.”

“Clara?”

She startled and turned to face him.“Yes?”

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