Page 129 of Into the Isle

“All I’m saying,” I said, trying to return to the topic at hand, “is that your business is yours, and you’ll still be my friend.”

A look of sheer relief passed over her features. She bowed her head with a heavy sigh. “Okay, thank the gods,” she squeaked. “Because it is Ulf.”

I threw my head back. “I knew it!”

A blush came to her dark cheeks. “Damn you!”

I couldn’t stop smiling. I appreciated her ability to distract my mind from my impending doom over the midterm. Then I cocked my head. “Although . . .”

“Huh?”

“I just had an idea. Mind if I borrow one of those?”

“A condom?” She blinked wildly. “Borrow a condom?” Mischief dashed across her wagging eyebrows. “Oh, you little slut, Ravin. Just what are you scheming?”

Now it was my turn to blush. I shook my head. “It’s not what you think. Just—hells—can I?”

“Fine.” She turned around, ripped one of the packages off the other two, and handed it to me. “But if you’ve been fooling around with Grim Kollbjorn, I suspect you might need a bigger one. Liv’s Lost Supplies in Isleton is where I got ‘em.”

I rolled my eyes and backed out toward the door. Wagging the condom packaging in the air, I said, “Thanks, babe, I owe you one!”

Then I ran down the hall.

Randi poked her head out a second later. “Damn right you owe me one, slut! Another condom!” When I laughed, I heard Randi scowl and yell out, “What are you looking at, Matilda? Mind your damn business and pop your head back into your dorm room!”

That was my best friend—fiery, strangely protective despite being half my size, and ready to box a motherfucker just for looking at me the wrong way.

Loved her. And now she’d given me a fighting chance, in the most unconventional way possible.

I staked off to Gharvold Hall next. Herseir Axel was training some second-years in special fighting techniques when I arrived. It was still early in the morning, before my first class.

Grim was one of the second-years in the front room of the garrison, and so was Eirik. There were six other students, in a semi-circle around Hersir Axel, but only my brother and my berserker eyed me as I stormed in.

I ruffled Axel’s feathers just by showing up and distracting him from his lecture. The stout professor lowered the oversized axe he held. “Miss Linmyrr. You’re early. Your combat class is—”

“Not for another two hours,” I said, nodding. “I know, sir. I apologize. I need to borrow a weapon from the armory, if you don’t mind.”

His bushy beard twitched. “Pardon?”

“Please.” I bowed, just for good measure.

Men in uniform loved a respectful woman.

Axel narrowed his beady eyes at me. “What are you plotting, lass?”

I fired off the cuff, rolling my wrist at him. “Well, our class is Combat & Strategy, right? I’m utilizing some strategy, sir.”

I could see his deep frown past his beard. He also seemed just as curious as he did angry. “What kind of weapon do you need?”

“A bow. And an arrow. Please.”

“Just one arrow?” His frown had flipped into a smirk. The students next to Eirik and Grim snickered.

I winced. “Well, I think I’m only gonna have one shot. If I miss, I’m fucked. With all due respect. Sir.”

My last mission brought me to the western river, past Gharvold Hall. I left the second-years with a small wave, thanked Hersir Axel for his aid, begged for his discretion, and then set off.

At the river, I went to the shallowest point and kneeled, then looked over my shoulder to make sure no one was watching me. Gods, this is so freaking stupid.

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