Page 114 of Into the Isle

Chapter 33

Ravinica

OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, I fell into a rhythm at Vikingrune.

During the days, I hit my classes hard. On the Monday of the second week of class, Hersir Kelvar the Whisperer finally made his grand appearance at Stealth & Interrogation. He was a slight man, black clothed, with long gray hair. Kelvar had a sharp gaze and countenance that heebied my fucking jeebies, like he knew things no one else knew. I got the sense he had more skeletons in his closet than anyone else at the academy.

Early evenings, I strolled through the woods with my escort and “tutor,” Grim. He showed me a few moves in secret in those woods—combat maneuvers I hadn’t learned or thought of before—that only endeared me to him more.

Then I would hit the mess hall, eat and chat with Dagny and Randi, and study until the late hours. Randi seemed to be getting closer to Ulf Torfen, and there was nothing I could do—or wanted to do—to stop it.

After eating, it was time to put my stealth to the test. I’d climb the pillars and rafters of Mimir Tomes, my heart launching to my throat, and sneak through the cracked window to resume my clandestine research with Magnus Feldraug.

Over the weekends, I practiced runeshaping, futilely, with Randi. I would spar, too, and occasionally Magnus would join us so we could plan our midterm pack tactics.

Speaking of pack, I avoided Sven and his kin like the plague. He didn’t scare me so much anymore, even if he had a broody expression whenever we ran across each other on campus. It always looked like he was plotting something—my demise, most likely. I couldn’t let it bother me, because I got the sense he was too busy to bully me and give me grief. I also had some defenders on my side now—Grim, Arne, and possibly Magnus.

Things were looking up. With me not being alone and afraid, it took away a lot of Sven’s power over me.

Occasionally, I’d run into my brother Eirik. I still hadn’t talked to him about his supposed friendship with Sven, my enemy. Eirik didn’t seem to be on campus much, staying with his comrades Ayla, Gryphon, and Tyrus. They lodged in a longhouse together near the western side of campus, which gave them easy access to fieldwork outside the academy.

I hoped their mission outside the walls of the school wasn’t to find the hideaway of the Lepers Who Leapt. I hadn’t run into any of them since Dieter and Frida helped me access Mimir Tomes’ records room.

I did spy Arne making his way to and from the western gate at odd hours of the night, pulling his own “fieldwork” I knew involved giving the Lepers academy secrets so they could remain hidden.

I wanted to get to know the Lepers better. It was hard to find the time to go to Isleton—or wherever their hideout was located—and meet the rest of their group.

In time, I told myself. I was still within my first couple months at the academy. I had more pressing issues, such as figuring out my heritage, accessing my inherent magic, and passing midterms so I could continue my studies and research at the academy.

The beautiful, mischievous Arne was skating on thin ice, and I got the sense he enjoyed the thrill of putting himself in peril. In that way, he was a bit of a daredevil like me.

The first time I ran across Arne since his sister had helped me get into the library was a chance encounter in the western cafeteria near Gharvold Hall. I had just finished combat class with Hersir Axel and my gang, and decided to head to the closest mess hall for a change.

He was sitting alone. Seeing him by himself, I waltzed up to him with a grin. I tilted the man’s face when I got to the side of him, relishing the shocked expression on his features, and then I bent down and kissed him lightly on the lips.

His lips were soft, accepting, and full.

Head reeling, his bright eyes flashed. “What the hell was that for?” His cheeks tinted a fine shade of pink.

So did mine. Feeling a bit reckless, still grinning, I said, “That’s a big thank you for opening my life up.” My midnight rendezvous with Magnus had truly changed my outlook here. I felt like I was on the right path to figuring out what I wanted to discover about my past, and about myself.

I couldn’t have done it without Arne.

I plopped down on the bench next to him. “You could call it a favor I’m returning, for you introducing me to your sister.” I winked at him.

His face darkened with a threatening look, and it threw me off. “Careful who you go kissing around here, lass. The wrong man might just fall in love with you.”

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