Page 36 of Into the Isle

We stepped outside the building, into the twilit evening. Up on the hill was cold, the wind whipping the trees around. The high walls of the academy plateau shielded me a bit.

Eirik put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed lightly. “I didn’t do it for you, Vini. I did it because it’s true. You will be a worthy addition here.”

My eyes strangely burned. I blinked away the emotions and the lump in my throat, and nodded wordlessly to my brother.

Eirik turned away, staring up at the moonlit sky. A raven flew overhead. We watched it caw and disappear into the trees. “I have to go find my people now, Vini. Head south, ask someone for directions to Nottdeen Quarter if you get lost.”

I blinked at him. “Wait, you’re not coming with me?”

“Orientation is tomorrow. As a Drengr, there are things I need to discuss with my comrades.” He gave me a small smile. “Don’t worry. You’ll be safe here.”

I opened my mouth to say more as he started walking away, and then clamped my lips shut. I was sad he walked away. He didn’t have to face the emotion written on my face after I’d thanked him.

I supposed I couldn’t fault my brother for leaving me in this strange place, alone. Apparently he was an important man here. He likely wanted me to get a feel for the academy on my own, to show some self-sufficiency.

I retraced our steps heading south, this time with the moon lighting my path. The air was clearer and crisper up here than it had been on the basin level of the Isle. I took in a deep lungful and smiled up at the sky as I walked, despite feeling like a fish out of water.

I saw more people walking around with my anxious tunnel vision on the way to Hersir Ingvus fading. Students, scholars, teachers—it was hard to tell who everyone was. Some wore old leather armor, some had on plain shirts and pants, and others wore robes.

Despite the varying garb, everyone had a homogenous look about them: generally tall, strong, severe. Not a lot of smiles going around, except for me. Mostly blond hair, but certainly some darker mops and a few redheads. Lots of people my own age, even younger. A decidedly human bent to everyone I passed. I didn’t see any other tapered ears, or half-tapered like mine.

Either these folk walking the paths were new arrivals from the other Wraith ships, or people were starting to show from their dormitories with the semester beginning soon.

I had no idea what to expect once it started. Guess I’ll learn tomorrow. For now, I needed to take my win and just be glad I was here.

As I ventured south, I got turned around by the sameness of the many buildings and dwellings. I scratched my cheek, trying to stop a passing couple. “Excuse me—”

They took one look at my hair and ears and passed me like I didn’t exist.

Flaring my nostrils, I swiped my hair from behind my ears to let it fall over and cover my ears. I could hide the rounded points, yet I couldn’t hide my silver mane.

The next few people I walked by didn’t seem inclined to help me, either. My frustration grew. Until a voice called out from the side, “Not having a lot of luck with the locals, eh?”

I glanced over as someone walked out from the shadow of a longhouse awning, moving lithely like a cat.

A smile broke out on my face before I could stop it. “Arne.”

He joined my side. “Follow me.”

“Where’s Rolf?”

“Deposited at Nottdan Quarter, with the other men. Thank the gods for it, too.”

I chuckled. “Happy to get away from your lumbering ward?”

“I’d rather be walking alongside a beautiful creature such as you.”

I tilted my head. Sounded backhand, calling me a creature, yet I’d take it. Men were weird.

“I’m assuming things went well with the Hersir,” he said as we continued walking south, through a row of hedges that split off into a small glade. “Else you wouldn’t still be here.”

I nodded. “I have a year to prove myself. If my powers don’t show themselves by then, I’m out.”

Arne mulled that over, tapping his chin. “Seems you have your work cut out for you.”

He took me to a two-story longhouse in the southeastern corner of the grounds, diagonally south of Fort Woden a couple miles away. A handful of women chatted near the front door, smiling, chuckling, carrying on. A knot formed in my stomach as I longed for that kind of camaraderie and friendship.

Arne stopped a stone’s throw from the door. “This is Nottdeen Quarter. Sleeping dormitory for women.” He crossed his arms. “I’m not allowed in there. Find Dagny Largul. She’ll help you get acquainted.”

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