Page 109 of Into the Isle

I had a stack of three books in front of me. None of them had proven fruitful yet. But at least it was a start. “Time for what?”

He leaned down and blew out the candle, enveloping us in darkness, with only murky moonlight dappling sections of the records room in silver.

A wisp of smoke from the snuffed-out candle swirled across his face. “Time to go.”

My shoulders slumped. I had failed, and not found out anything.

“Don’t look so defeated. You think this is the first and only time I’ve come here?”

I cocked my head. “What do you mean?”

“Huscarls guard Mimir Tomes from around five in the morning ‘til midnight. That means five hours every night when no one is here. Lots of time to peruse the stacks.” His eyes flashed. “I’ve come here nearly every night since arriving at the academy. Lost a lot of gods-damned sleep, too.”

“If you’ve been coming here so frequently, why did you ask Arne to meet with you this weekend?”

“Because someone closed my window. I needed a new entrance to get in here.”

“Your . . . window?”

“How good are you at climbing, silvermoon?”

And then he showed me how I could leave and enter Mimir Tomes’ records room whenever I wanted.

I was in my bed, reclined, staring up at the ceiling. My mind buzzed with possibilities. My body ached. It had been an exhilarating night—one I knew I’d be paying for tomorrow.

I recalled a short conversation with Magnus before parting ways with him. He had taken me by the elbow, saying, “Let’s keep my bloodrending between me and you, yes?”

“You mean it’s a secret?”

“Only if you keep it.”

“What will happen if it’s discovered?”

“Nothing good.”

“Gods, Magnus. Why did you entrust me with this?!”

“Good question, silvermoon. I’ll let you know when I figure it out.”

We had exited through the third-story window. Climbing down the edifice and pillars of Mimir Tomes, from third story to first, had been one of the most exciting things I’d experienced yet at the academy.

Perhaps it had been exciting because Magnus had been with me every step of the way, showing me the footholds, the placements, the areas to pause and watch for anyone down below.

We’d managed to land on hard ground and leave the vicinity of the library a scant three minutes before Magnus said Huscarls would be on duty to patrol the grounds. The closeness of our escape had been riveting.

I couldn’t stop myself afterward: I threw a hug around Magnus before we separated, surprising the hell out of both of us. With hope gleaming in my eyes, I asked, “Until tomorrow?”

He smiled—the first smile I’d seen from the man, that I could recall. It didn’t look natural on his face, even if he looked beautiful when he tried, with the moonlight softly illuminating his pale skin.

“Until tomorrow, silvermoon,” he murmured, and then dashed away to head for Nottdan Quarter.

I was giddy when I arrived in Nottdeen.

Now I stared up at the ceiling, letting a warm sensation spread through me. My doubts and worries from earlier had been dashed, thanks to Magnus. I no longer fussed about fulfilling my oath. Now I had ample time to steal away to Mimir Tomes, and a comrade who indulged and supported my search.

I closed my eyes and sighed contentedly, smiling to myself. Visions of the four men who commanded my mind swam through me. The feeling in the pit of my belly grew, thrumming along my core, and I knew the sensation well enough. Hadn’t felt it in a while.

Grim’s touch on my face, tilting my chin before telling me I was worthy to be here. Such a soft touch for such a hard man.

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