Page 133 of Into the Isle

So, the smarter move, Grim decided for us, was to go no-holds-barred and charge to the other team’s side. They would probably do the same, we’d meet somewhere in the middle for a face-off, and the winner of that face-off would end up being victorious.

I felt confident about our chances—even more than I had during Runeshaping Basics, when I wasn’t sure if I was a genius or if I was about to get disqualified. Thank the gods for Hersir Selken’s rebellious spirit and amusement in bending the rules for me. I mean, hells, she never said I had to use runeshaping to put out the flame. She only said I couldn’t touch the flame. And I didn’t.

Hersir Axel was more traditional about the rules. I didn’t expect he’d allow any ridiculousness to taint his test. Then again, he’d allowed me to take the bow and arrow from the garrison. So maybe his unbending stoicism was more for show than anything else.

As I walked up to Gharvold Hall, my team was already outside. Randi was stretching. Magnus was lazing under a tree. Grim was being quiet and pensive, arms crossed as he stared out to the edge of the trees beyond.

Walking up, I caught sight of Astrid, who Sven had chosen for one of his trainees. Her dark green hair seemed to glimmer in the hot afternoon sunlight.

I vaguely heard the end of a conversation she was having with one of her hangers-on girls as I walked toward my people.

Her minion said, “When is he going to bend you over that table and take your ass, huh?”

I blinked, eyebrows rising. I slowed my pace imperceptibly, because I wasn’t against spying for gossip.

Astrid scoffed.

“I mean, Sven didn’t even have you during the Lunar Night? What’s up with that?”

With a sneer, Astrid said, “Whatever. He was busy gallivanting around with his siblings. After I win today, I’m sure it’ll go down. He’ll claim me, Marin. Just you watch. I’m gonna give him no choice.”

I lost track of their convo after that, and shook my head as I neared my group. Go for it, Astrid. You two are perfect for each other. Silvermoor and silver-tongue.

Magnus pushed off the tree as I approached. Randi finished stretching her legs out and hopping up and down. Grim faced me with a frown.

I stopped. “Why does everyone look like someone just shit in your cereal?”

Randi scratched the back of her neck. “We got the call, Ravin. We’re facing off against Sven’s trio.”

I flared my nostrils and instinctively looked over my shoulder. Astrid was staring daggers into my soul. Ulf Torfen was alongside her, looking at Randi with an odd mix of apprehension and mirth. Their last member was Rolf Blisdan, the big man Arne had brought here as an initiate, who had tossed Randi around during their initial sparring session.

Behind them all, Sven Torfen smiled his torturously attractive smile, arms crossed just like Grim as he zeroed in on his next prey.

“Of course we fucking are,” I muttered.

“We have our gameplan?” Magnus asked me and Randi. We were huddled around our yellow flag, which was hidden among some bushes on a grassy knoll in the woods.

Somewhere out there, not far, was a blue flag with our names on it.

“Hells yeah,” Randi said, punching a small fist into her open palm.

“Contestants, ready yourselves!” Axel Osfen’s voice carried through the trees, somewhere in the middle of the competition arena.

I drew my dull-tipped spear. Randi had a couple of wooden daggers spinning in her hands. Magnus opted for bigger wooden instruments: two handaxes.

A whistle blew shrilly, sending birds flying into the air.

“Go!” Grim yelled at us from behind, near our flag.

He wasn’t allowed to participate, and could only watch helplessly if our flag was getting taken. It was a shame, because he was the scariest hand-to-hand participant in Combat & Strategy, far as I was concerned.

I jumped into action, sprinting from our clearing into the woods. Randi was right behind me, and we ducked left under some low-hanging branches toward the enemy’s side.

Magnus cut away from us to the right. None of us took the middle lane, which was the most overgrown area with thick trees, foliage, and greenery that would’ve made our run treacherous.

We opted to go around, staying inbounds of the invisible markers Hersir Axel had set. Using this trajectory to get to the enemy side was all well and good, except it also meant we were more likely to run into our adversaries who had the same idea.

The first one we ran into was Ulf Torfen.

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