Page 161 of Into the Isle

I hated what I was about to do. It’s necessary.

I needed to find my little menace, to satiate the twitch telling me something was wrong. To do that, I needed to speak with her. I knew Ravinica would never do that. Not after how I’d treated her all semester long.

She would need to see a friendly face. A trustworthy face. My fucking rival’s face will do. The same man I saw her naked with on the Lunar Night, in Delaveer Forest. Coupling, making me intensely jealous at the sight.

The same man currently jailed for a murder I knew he didn’t commit.

“Largul,” I said, emphasizing the end of her name. “Named after Bygul and Trjegul, the mythic felines who pull Freya’s chariot. You are a cat shifter.”

“Astute,” she answered.

I sighed. Then I swallowed my pride and shook my head, knowing my ancestors would be rolling over in their graves if they knew what I was doing—a hound bending the knee to a cat.

“I find myself, begrudgingly, in need of your assistance, Dagny.”

Dagny and I made our way north, toward the monolithic structure of Fort Woden and Gharvold Hall.

Along the way, a voice called out behind us, “Where are you two going?”

We turned to find Magnus Feldraug approaching us from a meadow. He looked lively, intense as usual, with his trench coat swishing along his body, hiding the tattoos he so expertly tried to keep out of eyesight.

Magnus gestured at us. “Cat and hound. This is not a combination I expected to see.” He stopped in front of us, scanning me with his unreadable eyes. “I went to Eir Wing. To Nottdeen Quarter. No one is around. What’s going on?”

I grunted. I didn’t know what he could do, but I figured he could be useful if he could fight at all.

“Come with us and you’ll see,” I said.

Magnus joined our little troop as we closed in on the prison. Classes were in session, which meant the campus was relatively free of meandering students. Our trio had more important things on our minds. I explained my theory that Ravinica was not on campus. Otherwise, I would have scented her.

“Why are we going to the prison?” Magnus asked.

“Because that’s where Grim Kollbjorn is, and we need to get him out.”

A look of shock passed over Magnus’ face. I took satisfaction in surprising the madman. “And you are going to do it? Is this the same Sven Torfen?”

“The one who hates bears? It is. Ravinica does not hate bears, however. I feel she would rather hear what I have to say coming from Grim.”

I left it at that.

“What is it you have to say?” Magnus asked.

“That fuckery is afoot, and I don’t think she’s safe. Call it a gut instinct.”

“If this is a trick, Sven, I’ll kill you.”

I nodded at his simplicity. “You can try, madman.”

We reached the smattering of longhouses used to house prisoners. From here, prisoners were transferred to Fort Woden’s detention center, which would be impossible to break into. We had a limited amount of time to act, which was why I’d gathered this ragtag band to help me now.

We hid behind a storeroom and some barrels outside. Just beyond, four Huscarls stood guard at a specific longhouse—clearly the one Grim was housed in.

I explained my plan to Dagny and Magnus. They both nodded.

“I can make things easier,” Magnus said.

I lifted a brow. “Do tell.”

“Easier to show.”

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